In the conference room, the other actors were all fully engrossed in rehearsing the script, but the actors without lines gradually noticed a subtle shift in the atmosphere: everyone's attention was focused on Hugo.
It wasn't because Hugo, playing the lawyer, held the right to ask questions, nor because he was the male lead, and not even because his voice was louder at the moment but rather, during the confrontation between Hugo and Kiefer, everyone's hearing and vision were unconsciously influenced by Hugo. Before anyone realized it, all their energy, heartbeat, and breathing were moving with the rhythm and volume of Hugo's voice. This feeling of being controlled felt more like a kind of intoxication.
After all, the other actors were merely bystanders like a live jury and unknowingly, they were already being led by Hugo. If even the bystanders were affected like this, it was easy to imagine that Kiefer, who was acting directly opposite Hugo, must be feeling quite uncomfortable.
Kiefer felt his rhythm was completely thrown off. He didn't even realize he was losing control, just that his mind was a tangled mess while delivering lines it was difficult to sort out a clear thought. It wasn't a pleasant feeling.
Hugo, immersed in his own exploration of the character, could sense that he had caught hold of a small yet crucial piece of the role, but it still needed continued refinement. At this moment, Hugo experienced a particularly special realization: when actors portray a character, their performance can never be made up of 100% pure acting there must always be a part that belongs to themselves. But how to perfectly fuse that personal part with the character is different for everyone.
Some actors perform as themselves, meaning more than 80% of the role is drawn from their own personality. Others take a transformative approach, possibly bringing out a side of themselves unknown to the public. Some act based on their own experiences and understanding of the character, which hinges on how accurately they interpret the role. But truly outstanding actors will analyze the character's experiences and story, combine them with their own perspective, find a point of resonance, and blend the two together.
What Al once told Hugo "Don't figure out the acting, figure out the character" was exactly this. Only by truly understanding the meaning behind the role, and treating the character as a real person, could the portrayal come alive. Even though a character exists within the framework of a film's story, they still possess a full and complete personality their upbringing, their psychology, their traits, and so on are not born from nothing. The process of creating the character is actually the process of an actor gaining insight into that character.
So why must every character inherently include a part of the actor? Because actors are individuals too. Different actors have different appearances, expressions, movements, backgrounds, personalities in short, Hugo playing Daniel, Tom playing him, or Brad portraying the same role would result in entirely different effects. Even if all three used the same method of acting, the image presented on the big screen would vary. What's more, if different actors used the same acting method, it would feel like seeing countless masks, lacking any originality.
Thus, actors must shape the role with their own traits, breathe life into the character, and imprint it with their unique identity. Only then can the role become one of a kind this is what true personal acting is all about.
Hugo was starting to vaguely sense this now. But what should he do? He was trying hoping to showcase Daniel's personality through his speech. Speaking includes various components: tone, inflection, volume each detail can produce a completely different effect. Even something as simple as "Hello" could feel utterly different depending on how it's spoken.
Right now, Hugo was still far from skilled, but he was trying to master it. Though it was just the tip of the iceberg, he had touched the threshold of his first acting breakthrough. That was why, in front of the other actors, his performance was so striking, so dazzlingly impressive.
The script rehearsal was still ongoing. Immersed in their performance, Hugo and Kiefer hadn't noticed the unusual atmosphere in the room they were still professionally focused on continuing the practice.
Hugo's hypothetical line of questioning was once again interrupted by Kevin. This time, the judge again upheld Kevin's objection. Hugo paused briefly before rallying again. "Captain, the reason Dawson's final report received a rating below average was it because you found out he secretly gave Bell some food?"
This time Kevin objected again, but the judge overruled it. Kiefer had no choice but to look at Hugo. "Private Dawson received a below-average rating because he violated military regulations."
"Military regulations?" Hugo raised his voice slightly not sternly, but with a touch of lightness, as if genuinely curious. "What regulation did he break?" But faced with the question, Kiefer had no answer. Hugo didn't intend to give him more time to think, continuing, "Captain Kendrick, which regulation did Dawson break by feeding a hungry man?" Hugo deliberately slowed down his pace, exaggerating the absurdity of the matter.
"He disobeyed an order," Kiefer was forced to answer. But Hugo quickly followed up, "Because he followed his values," Hugo's pace picked up, and with it, his volume rose slightly. He delivered his point clearly and forcefully into everyone's ears. "He made a decision related to a fellow Marine's health, and this clashed with your orders so he had to be punished. Is that correct?"
Hugo didn't yell or raise his voice, but his words carried an overwhelming sense of pressure that made Kiefer extremely uncomfortable. Kiefer shouted back in defiance, "Private Dawson disobeyed an order!"
"But it wasn't a real order, was it?" Hugo stayed on the offensive, but his tone now carried a hint of ease, even a touch of sarcasm. "After all, this is peacetime. He wasn't ordered to guard a hill or storm a beachhead. I mean, a Marine with Dawson's capabilities could very well decide for himself which orders mattered, and which might be… morally questionable?"
Kiefer was rendered speechless again. "Captain Kendrick?" Hugo obviously wasn't ready to let go. "Is that right? Dawson gets to decide which orders to obey?"
"No, he does not." Kiefer was forced to give a negative answer.
"The Curtis-Bell incident taught him a lesson, right?" Hugo's voice was calm, but under the surface was taut tension, immediately answered by Kiefer through gritted teeth, "You're sure about that, aren't you?"
"Objection!"
"Sustained!"
Kevin and the judge once again cut off Hugo's relentless questioning.
"Captain Kendrick, one last question." Hugo suddenly flashed a smile at Kiefer, a taunting one that nearly pushed Kiefer to the brink of an outburst but Hugo quickly retracted the smile, sharpened his tone, and pronounced every word clearly. "If you ordered Dawson to carry out the Code Red on Santiago—"
Sure enough, Kiefer couldn't hold back any longer. He roared, interrupting Hugo, "I specifically ordered my men—" But Hugo was unfazed, raising his voice to drown Kiefer out and finished his sentence in a tone as heavy as lead, "Would he disobey that order again?"
"Captain, no need to answer," Kevin interjected once more.
Hugo shot Kevin a hard glare. "No need for an answer—I'm done asking."
"Captain Kendrick, do you…" Kevin began speaking to Kiefer again, but before he could finish, sudden applause echoed through the meeting room, interrupting Kevin's script rehearsal. Instantly, everyone wore expressions of anger: this was a script rehearsal, not a Broadway performance. Polite applause had no place here, especially not to interrupt practice it was absolutely unacceptable.
So everyone turned angrily to search for the culprit. But when they looked up, they found Jack Nicholson clapping his hands. He wore a faint smile on his face, completely unfazed by his disruption, and looked at Hugo with eyes full of approval. Everyone immediately backed down.
Jack's action couldn't have been clearer he was extremely satisfied with Hugo's performance just now. Hugo had earned Jack's respect through his outstanding acting. The rest of the actors in the room had nothing more to say either. Even though Hugo had been late that morning, even though Hugo's fame didn't match up to Tom's, in today's rehearsal, Hugo had proved himself with a hardworking attitude and an absolutely brilliant performance.
It had to be said everyone now saw Hugo in a new light. This current Golden Raspberry Award recipient for Worst Actor was clearly not just a pretty face his strength was enough to make people take notice.
Jack only clapped a few times. Once he finished, he looked at Robert, whose eyes were also filled with delight. In fact, the reason Jack had interrupted the rehearsal was precisely because Hugo's part had ended. He had to express his approval immediately.
But when the room fell silent and all eyes turned to Hugo, Jack merely said, "Sorry for interrupting the rehearsal. Carry on." It seemed he had no intention of publicly praising Hugo he just expressed his recognition, and nothing more.
At first, Hugo was a bit surprised. The joy in his heart started to bubble up, but it was quickly extinguished by Jack. Hugo hurried to flatten the smile that hadn't yet reached the corners of his mouth, then lowered his head and looked back down at the script. Although Jack hadn't said much, at least Hugo knew that the effort he just put in was headed in the right direction. That gave Hugo enough confidence to believe that, during the filming of A Few Good Men, he would be able to learn even more.
...
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