Attending such a star-studded awards ceremony for the first time, Hugo appeared calm on the surface, but deep down he couldn't help marveling: the event he had previously only watched on TV was so dazzling behind the scenes. All kinds of industry elites were gathered together — not just the most visible actors on screen, but also the producers and directors who held a movie's fate in their hands.
Even more captivating to Hugo were the behind-the-scenes contributors: screenwriters, cinematographers, editors, composers, lighting technicians, costume designers, visual effects artists… These were the unsung heroes of the film and television industry. Viewers rarely notice these details when watching a movie or TV show, but these countless intricacies are what bring the actor's performance to life on screen. Even if someone does notice, they often have no idea who crafted each component — a truly regrettable oversight.
As a viewer, Hugo had watched hundreds of films over more than a decade, yet he had never given these behind-the-scenes professionals enough attention. He knew how crucial each role was; without visual effects, there would be no The Lord of the Rings, Star Wars, or Avatar. Hugo always kept the idea in mind that "a film equals a team," yet he lacked channels to learn about the people behind the scenes — a limitation inherent to being an audience member.
However, through working on his past two films, Hugo gradually gained a deeper understanding of the crew. On The Few Good Men he first encountered film scoring; on Scent of a Woman he caught a glimpse of the iceberg that is screenplay adaptation. While he couldn't claim full insight, it was nonetheless a whole new world.
Today, Hugo had the chance to see these miracle workers in action behind the scenes — it was like watching a group of geeks finally stepping out from their small, confined box, and Hugo found it utterly fascinating.
As the ceremony began, Hugo, like a curious child, followed every development closely. It felt as if he weren't a participant but a spectator seated in the back of the auditorium. Yet Hugo also felt a bit frustrated: in the television categories of the Golden Globes, most early-1990s American TV shows were unfamiliar to him. Apart from a few series like Growing Pains and Beverly Hills, 90210, he recognized almost no TV stars, which left him feeling slightly regretful.
"Oh, I know him — Will Smith!" Hugo finally brightened upon spotting a familiar face in the TV category.
Uma heard his quiet exclamation and laughed, teasing, "I didn't know you liked that kind of comedy."
Will Smith, the future global superstar dubbed the "King of Box Office" for his consistent success in Hollywood, had dominated the big screen for over a decade. Nearly every one of his films earned over a hundred million dollars, earning him the nickname "Box Office King" among fans in his home country. In the United States, he and Denzel Washington were considered the two most beloved Black actors in the nation.
Before making it big on the big screen, Will's career began on television. The hit comedy The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air premiered in 1990 and ran for six seasons. It earned Will the nickname "Fresh Prince" and laid the foundation for his widespread popularity.
Hugo had just seen Will nominated for Best Actor in a Musical or Comedy Series. Shrugging in response to Uma's teasing, Hugo said innocently, "Relaxing comedies are always enjoyable." Even though he had never actually watched The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, seeing a familiar face brought him genuine joy.
Unfortunately, Will lost to John Goodman from Roseanne, a classic character actor who appeared in multiple Coen Brothers films. Hugo couldn't name Goodman's most iconic works but vaguely recalled seeing him in numerous classics.
Hugo then noticed Mark Harmon, the lead of one of his favorite shows, NCIS, which premiered in 2003, listed among the nominees. Harmon earned his nomination for Best Actor in a Drama Series for Reasonable Doubts, reminding Hugo of the generational gap between him and the early 1990s era — a time when he was still playing in the mud and pretending to be a superhero.
In film, old classics are repeatedly revisited, but television carries the marks of its era. For example, Growing Pains evokes nostalgia for those born in the 1980s; younger generations may be entirely unfamiliar with it. Similarly, Friends mainly resonates with the 1980s generation, with some appeal to the early 1990s cohort. By the 21st century, younger viewers were more likely to relate to shows like The Big Bang Theory.
Hugo, who hadn't felt such a generational gap in the past year, now experienced it firsthand: this was the early 1990s, a time he had only just been a child, playing in the sandbox.
While Hugo marveled at the ceremony, the event gradually moved into its latter half. When it was time to announce Best Supporting Actor, Uma instinctively grabbed Hugo's left hand. She realized her palm was sweaty, yet Hugo remained completely calm. Uma turned to him, and Hugo noticed her tension.
Uma silently mouthed, "Good luck!" Hugo finally realized: he was one of the nominees. Sure enough, the announcer called his name:
"Scent of a Woman, Hugo Lancaster…" followed by "A Few Good Men, Jack Nicholson." Each name was met with polite applause.
Until this moment, Hugo had been enjoying the ceremony, but now the tension in the room amplified his nerves. His heartbeat pounded in his ears, and his throat grew dry.
Although Hugo's double nomination this year was already a tremendous recognition, the odds of actually winning were not particularly high.
On one hand, there was the lingering negative effect of the Golden Raspberry Awards. Few people are willing to cast a vote for someone who won the Worst Actor award the previous year — not out of prejudice, but as a subconscious bias. People tend to think: "You were so bad last year; getting a nomination this year is already a major achievement. Are you really deserving of a win? Maybe not." This invisible psychological effect meant that the negative impact of the Razzies still exerted some influence.
On the other hand, Hugo faced extremely strong competitors. Both the Best Supporting Actor and Best Actor in a Drama categories were fiercely contested. Purely in terms of talent and performance, Hugo was not considered the frontrunner.
In the Best Supporting Actor category, Gene Hackman for Unforgiven and Jack Nicholson for A Few Good Men led the pack. First-time nominees David Paymer for Mr. Saturday Night and Hugo himself were seen as secondary contenders. Al Pacino for The Godfather Part III was also in the mix, but his main strength lay outside the supporting category. Therefore, most people expected the award to be a contest between Gene and Jack.
In the Best Actor in a Drama category, Al Pacino for Scent of a Woman was the frontrunner. Denzel Washington, who had just won the Best Actor award at the Berlin Film Festival for Malcolm X, followed closely. Meanwhile, Robert Downey Jr. for Chaplin and Hugo were both first-time nominees, considered long shots. Jack Nicholson for Hoffa presented a potential dark horse, though the odds were slim.
The double-nomination vote-splitting issue was magnified for the 25-year-old Hugo. Hollywood celebrated geniuses but rarely fully trusted them, especially male actors. While the Academy had awarded the Best Actress Oscar to 21-year-old Marlee Matlin in 1987 and, before 2014, more than a dozen women under 30 had won Best Actress, the equivalent for men was just a single case: Adrien Brody, who at 29 became the youngest Best Actor in 2003.
For 25-year-old Hugo, receiving two Golden Globe nominations was already a tremendous affirmation. Moreover, both of the films for which he was nominated were not overwhelmingly strong. In Scent of a Woman, he was slightly overshadowed by Al Pacino, while in A Few Good Men, he was on par with Jack Nicholson, but neither performance delivered a decisive edge. Therefore, it was hard for voters to commit wholeheartedly to Hugo.
Under these circumstances, Hugo had not initially expected to win. Yet, as the ceremony progressed, the tense atmosphere caused a surge of hope in his heart. After all, a nomination always carried the possibility of victory. As one of the contenders, it was natural to harbor hope, even if slim. Slowly, Hugo felt his dry palms begin to sweat.
Unfortunately, there were no surprises. Gene Hackman, thanks to his outstanding performance in Unforgiven, won his second Golden Globe — his first having been in 1972 for The French Connection, for which he also won the Oscar.
Hugo narrowly missed his first Golden Globe. The Best Actor in a Drama award followed the historical trajectory he remembered: Al Pacino won decisively for Scent of a Woman, delivering what many considered a perfect performance, moving him closer to his first Oscar.
Although Hugo's hopes were ultimately dashed, disappointment was short-lived. He quickly offered a bright smile and the warmest applause for Al. He had never expected to win outright, so missing the awards was not devastating. Moreover, Hugo's losses in both categories were the result of legitimate competition and not cause for sorrow.
Shortly after, even greater news arrived. Clint Eastwood won Best Director for Unforgiven, and Scent of a Woman captured Best Drama Film. This not only concluded the 50th Golden Globe Awards but also contributed to Hugo's already impressive rise in 1992, marking another step in his growing career.
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