"Stella, have you really seen VIY?"

"Do I need to lie to you? Yesterday at noon, he suddenly came to our restaurant for lunch, and there was a girl, I found out later that it was Gia Coppola, and she and Ye Wei should have a leg. There's also a man I don't know who, a strong bear. ”

"Strong bear?"

“...... A type of gay man. ”

"Can you tell me what VIY said to you?"

"Alas, he said I wasn't fit for his draft. What a rare opportunity! Usually those main roles have special role auditions, Ye Wei's project actually holds this kind of public audition! Can you imagine, those of us who are not anyone, have the opportunity to sit there and audition with Emma Watson! It's crazy, awesome, but I've been eliminated......"

"I'm sorry. Do you know where there are cheap guesthouses around here? the kind that costs $10-15 a night. ”

"What? I see, this way, Mody, I share a single room in an apartment with a girl named Safi, I don't think your situation is much better, you give me the 15 yuan, and I will let you spend the night in our apartment, sleep on the sofa in the living room?"

"Is there anyone else in the living room?"

"No, we said we couldn't take the man back, I didn't want to listen to people moaning all night. ”

"Oh...... Can it be cheaper, $12 a night? I don't have much money. ”

"Okay, okay, $12 a night, you'd better not sleepwalk, I can't stand people sleepwalking. ”

......

As night falls, the moonlight shines on Santa Monica.

It's not a fancy apartment building, it's not bad, it's boxy like a motel, and it's like returning to Logan.

Mody was sitting on the old beige sofa in the living room, looking around, the most valuable thing was probably the old TV in front of her, the rest of the decoration was ordinary and old, there were a lot of girls' belongings, but there was nothing to show that there were actors living here.

This familiar sense of poverty did not discourage her, and after a few moments of entering, the Swiss Army knife was in the pocket of her coat, ready to reach out.

She didn't tell Stella about her experience in the first two days of her arrival in Los Angeles, only that she was from Utah, didn't have much money, and came to Los Angeles to pursue an acting career and prepare to participate in VIY's talent show.

Unexpectedly, Stella is an actress, and has played some small roles, and said that she entertained Ye Wei in the restaurant where she worked yesterday. This is all what she said, and Mody was skeptical, without any mood swings, like listening to a myth.

The studio is small, with a living room and kitchen adjoined, two bedrooms and a bathroom, and a small balcony. Mody wondered if Stella had played a few small roles, and if she was an actress?

"Your coffee. Stella came from the kitchen with two cups of coffee, sat down on the couch, and exhaled tiredly.

"Thank you. Modi took the coffee and was about to take a sip, but suddenly stopped, not daring to drink it......

Stella sensed her hesitation and said in surprise, "What's the matter?" You are afraid that I will drug you?" She took a funny drink of her cup of coffee, "Little sister, I took you in because I saw that you were living on the streets, and you think I rarely earned your $12? Yesterday VIY gave me a tip of 800 yuan! He is so generous!"

Speaking of this, she sighed, at first she didn't pay attention to the money on the table, but when Ye Wei and the three left, she counted and found that Ye Wei gave her 800 yuan, and the rich people brought more cash.

"I don't know how many celebrities would be so generous, but it's the biggest tip I've ever received in my waiter's career. Stella took out her wallet and took out a hundred-dollar bill that she had in her possession, and showed it to Mody a little proudly, and on the right side of Franklin's portrait it was written: For-Dream

She said: "That's why I thought, do something good for VIY, because at first glance, you know that you are a country girl, let you wander outside alone, not a month, you didn't die on the street, you were definitely cheated of money and sex." ”

"I ......" Mody frowned, still didn't drink the cup of coffee, and asked sincerely, "Can you prove that you are an actor?" ”

Without saying a word, Stella got up and walked to her bedroom. Mody was on guard, and after a while, Stella came back with a document and handed it to her, "This is my actor resume, if you don't believe it, I can't help it." She still held a business card in both hands, and said with a smile: "This is the business card of the VIY casting group, although it is useless, but it is commemorative." ”

Mody looked at the business card and looked at the resume in his hand:

"________________________ Stella Cockburn________________________

Member of the Screen Actors Guild

Height: 1. 63m/5'3''___________ Brokerage: Cameron-Talent____ Broker: Bertha-Haider

Weight: 54 kg / 120 lbs______________ Address: 2500-BROADWAY-BLDG-F-STE-F-125-SANTA-MONICA

Eye color: light brown__________________ Zip code: CA-90404

Hair Color: Gold ____________________ Company Phone: 4242384462

【Performance】

Film: "The Ghost of the Murderous House", Ghost Tourist, 2005

........................』

"Do you have an agent?" Mo Di couldn't help but exclaim, even more puzzled, this doesn't look like the residence of an actor with an agent, right?

"Everybody has an agent, and LA has more agents than actors. Stella rolled her eyes and recalled, "Every time I look at my resume, I remember that I have an agent." In almost half a year, I have seen her twice, the first time in her office where we signed an appointment, and the second time in the supermarket, where we met by chance and she was buying diapers for her children. ”

Mody flipped through her resume and saw a black-and-white close-up photo, with her face and hair as the center, with some shoulders, Stella in light makeup pursed her lips and smiled, looking directly at the camera, without any accessories, and her long hair was naturally draped, looking very friendly and beautiful.

"Rookie, look at it. On this damn avatar photo, I've taken a lot of detours. Stella shook her head in embarrassment, "I really couldn't find a job for a while, so I took a very provocative photo to cast out my avatar, and after a few days, a coming-of-age film crew contacted me." What kind of eyes do you have, I didn't shoot. ”

"Can I see that business card?" asked Mody. Stella cautiously handed it to her, "Be careful, don't crumple it." Mo Di looked at the business card, the information and format on it were completely different from the one she gave, and asked, "There is no specific casting director?"

Stella doesn't have much anger towards Safi, but she has a good eye for Mody, maybe she sees her former self in her.

"Listen, I'm putting money in your pocket, this is the business card of Ye Wei's casting team, he has a team of people. Casting directors who specialize in working on one project are all small roles, and reputable casting directors are all freelancers who work on many projects at the same time. Do you know who works for VIY?"

In fact, she didn't know before she submitted her resume last night, and then she teased to Mody: "Ivy Kaufman! She was last year's best casting director." ”

Mo Di nodded silently, not knowing what to think, and asked softly: "Is it possible to be discovered by Ye Wei's casting director while walking on the street, and then invited to audition?"

"Possibly. Stella scratched her face, "But other people are busy turning through their resumes, and if you think about it, Ivy Kaufman sent casting information to those agents, and then published it in the industry newspapers of The Hollywood Reporter, and we flocked to it." Isn't that what the draft will be?

Therefore, it is impossible for the casting director to find people on the street, it will be a waste of time, and finding out that you will only be a chance encounter. ”

Mody was getting goosebumps all over her body, "Is it possible that I need to pay for the costume to participate in the audition?"

"No way. If there is anything to wear in particular, they will provide it. And if you wear your own clothes to the show, you can still get an honorarium for this, and the crew will have to subsidize a dry cleaning fee......" Stella said and stopped, suddenly understanding something, "You've been deceived, you've been deceived, right?" ”

Mody was in a trance for a moment before nodding.

"Welcome to the City of Angels. Stella didn't ask about the specific situation, and smiled a little complicated, "When the tuition is paid, see if you still have money left, I was cheated even more badly." In short, you remember that all the 'opportunities' that require a sum of money to be discovered by the big guys will certainly not allow you to be discovered.

DO YOU THINK THE BIG GUYS WILL LACK YOUR MONEY? VIY GAVE ME A TIP OF 800 YUAN! What about your resume as an actor?

"I haven't yet. Mody pursed her lips. Stella took a sip of coffee and looked at her, "Then you haven't even taken a profile photo yet?" When it comes to money, Mody becomes vigilant, "Can you just take care of yourself?"

"You think that because you haven't learned enough! The difference between a good photographer and a bad photographer is too big. Stella picked up her resume on the coffee table, "And this information, you don't know how much work and stupidity I have wasted to make my resume." ”

Mody looked at the resume, of course she wanted to learn some experience, if Stella was really an actress, "Can you tell me?"

Stella clicked on the "height" piece of information, "See, I didn't write my age, I'm 20 years old, if I write it, then I can only get a character around 20 years old." Filling in the age is done by the stars, not us. At first, I didn't understand, but since I removed the age bar, I've been given a character who can be 30 years old. ”

"You're 20 years old?" Mody was a little surprised, thinking that the other party was 24 or 25 years old.

"I know why Ye Wei eliminated me, I'm really unwilling. Stella let out a long sigh, and Mody apologized "I'm sorry", she shook her head and kindly advised: "Don't go my wrong way, take care of your beautiful face, I feel that you can succeed." ”

"Thank you......" Mody finally dared to touch the cup of coffee, sipped slightly, and her mouth was full of bitterness, "Stella, can you tell me how to join the Screen Actors Guild?"

"You, what are you doing with SAG?" Stella was speechless. Mody was stunned: "I want to be an actor and find a job as an actor...... Stella giggled: "If you don't join SAG, you're not an actor? Modi, you really still have something to learn. ”

"I don't understand. Mody looked at her inquiringly.

"There are many benefits to joining a union, such as helping us defend our rights, and the union also provides a lot of services and benefits," Stella said. She thought as she counted, "It seems that I went to a seminar or training course, I went there once, and it was useless." For example, I found housing here from the information of the union, and you can also go to the bulletin board of the union to find someone to share a house and find a job...... That's a lot of good things. ”

"...... then?" Mody wondered, then why shouldn't I join?

"You're a newcomer, you're nobody, and there's only a disadvantage to joining a union. Stella spread her hands, "I'm ready to leave the meeting first." Do you know how many opportunities you lose when you join the union? When you join the union, you can't perform any non-union-approved projects, and those crews can't and won't hire you, for fear of getting into trouble. But you don't have to be in a union, you can still play a project approved by the union. ”

Mody listened intently, "Is that okay?"

"Of course. Stella nodded, thinking about the question that had once puzzled her, "What is that bill called, what is it ......called, what is it called?"

She got up again and walked to the bedroom, and when she came back, she took the notebook and flipped it over, saying, "This is my secret, and I am a little reluctant to share it with you." ”

"I thank you. Mody didn't know what to say.

"Yes, it's called the Taft-Hartley-Act!" said Stella, sitting back on the couch, looking at the handwritten notes on the secret note.

The TH method is the most common way to help actors join SAG, allowing non-union actors to participate in union-sanctioned projects for up to 30 days. Usually union programs only hire member actors, but this hinders the development of new actors, so the TH law provides new actors with the opportunity to join the union.

"Is it hard to join a union?" said Mody, who had another question.

"It's not difficult, it's just that you are really an actor. Stella continued.

In addition to the TH method, there are three main ways to join SAG:

1. Show that you are willing to play a role in a movie that is approved by the union. 2. Show that you have played a role in a movie approved by the union. 3. Show that you have joined one of the 4A federations, have paid membership dues for at least one year, and have played a major role in a project recognized by the organization.

The so-called 4A federation refers to the Screen Actors Guild (SAG), the Screen Actors Guild of America (AEA/Equity), the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (AFTRA), and the American Musical Theatre Artists Association (AGMA).

AFTRA is a person who can join at any time if you give money, and once you have AFTRA-approved acting experience, you can apply to join SAG.

Because AFTRA is recognized, it is usually recognized by other 3A's. So in fact, if you are an AFTRA member and meet the conditions for connecting with SAG, you are actually eligible to enter SAG for a long time, but the advantage of this interconnection route is that you do not need to pay the full entrance fee of SAG.

"And the first one, if you show your will, you can enter?" asked Mody.

"You have to prove that you are an actor and that you will continue to act. The union has a lot of benefits, aren't you an actor letting you go in and fish in troubled waters?"

Stella shrugged, "But it's not much of a bargain, SAG's full entrance fee is very high for us, more than a thousand dollars! After joining the club, we have to pay the membership fee regularly, once every six months, depending on the grade of your performance income, I paid 100 yuan last time." Modi, it's not that you can develop if you join the club, most of the SAG members are like me, I don't earn more than 10,000 yuan a year, I am poorer than the poor, and I have to spend a lot of money on image and something. ”

Seeing that Mody's face changed, Stella giggled and said, "Scared, aren't you? But if you use the "Taft-Hartley Method", as long as you mix in a character with a "ah" sound, you will automatically be eligible for membership, and the entrance fee will be different." ”

She said with emotion: "An agent told me that there is a primary goal of being an actor, which is to 'get a SAG membership card', and there is a condition that is not written into the union's membership requirements, but the most important thing is: Is your time come?

Spend a thousand dollars and cut off all non-4A union projects, but these projects are the easiest way for you to start, and then you have to fight with us old people for union roles.

SAG is a must, but when your time comes, you have to enter, which is the most difficult condition for joining. ”

"Oh, I see......" Mody nodded as she listened, so it was, it was......

"I'll tell you another secret. Stella was a little pretentious, "Have you ever watched the contestants of those TV game shows, like guessing what they answered and getting a prize, they shouted excitedly, are they ordinary people? No, most of them are actors."

I've signed up for two programs, both of which are programs on local TV stations, and I win money as income, even if I can't win money, I can still show my face on TV, maybe I will suddenly become popular. However, if you're a SAG member, you can only participate in three TV game shows, or as many as you want. ”

"That's it!" Mo Di couldn't help but be surprised, how could she have thought about such a thing when she watched shows such as "Wheel of Fortune" before.

"Anyway, no matter which 4A you enter, you won't be able to star in projects they don't approve of, and that whole bunch of restrictions won't be what newcomers want, unless you're a second-generation star. ”

Stella sighed, gloomy at not wanting to participate in Ye Wei's draft, and sighed: "Modi, come out and don't believe that you are lucky." Luck has nothing to do with us people, if we are lucky, will we come out of the country, will we live here, worry about whether to fill in the age on the resume, whether to join the union?

Those of us, in the past two years, I have been again and again, once I think I am lucky, I will end up unlucky. ”

"I'm sorry. Mody seldom comforted others, and after a while, she said, "May God bless you." ”

"God doesn't care about me. Stella shook her head and took her coffee.

"Stella, I don't have much money, I need to find a job as soon as possible, can you tell me what job opportunities there are......?

Before Mody could finish speaking, Stella interrupted loudly: "Don't be an extra, you go to be an extra, it's no different from acting in a human film." ”

“...... Why?" said Mody.

"Extras, adult actors, full-fledged actors, three different worlds!" Stella said as she knew as she knew about it: "You can be an extras as long as you live, sit in a corner of the set for more than ten hours a day, take 50-100 yuan, sometimes more, and a free lunch, and see the big people up close."

Why don't I become an extra? I have to work part-time as a waiter in a restaurant? As long as you are diligent and full-time as a group performer, and your total annual income is higher than the income of most SAG members, why don't you become an extra?"

Mody shook her head, "I don't know." ”

Stella recalled what a kind director had told her, almost repeatedly: "Because it's the rules of the game." The norm of an industry is that everyone tries to abide by these rules of the game that are not easy to establish, and whoever does not comply will be in trouble.

There are two kinds of extras, one is short-term, one is a day or two, and you are familiar with the set, and the other is long-term, when three days is long-term, then you are an extra, you are not an actor, you are an extra. No matter how good you are, if you are recognized, no one will let you play a formal role.

No extras can play a formal role, just like no adult movie star can be on the screen. ”

"I don't quite understand......," Mody pondered, "Why? Isn't the ensemble like an apprentice?"

"I didn't understand it at first, but then I realized that it had to be this way. Stella held up a few fingers, "You calculate, those full-time group performers can earn three or four thousand a month, thirty or forty thousand a year, just sit there, you make sweaters, read books, and write scripts...... As long as you don't make a sound, don't disturb others, and are on call, you can do anything.

What about us young actors? We are busy working every day, auditioning here, attending performances there, and working part-time to support ourselves, and it is difficult to earn 1,000 yuan a month, but not 10,000 yuan a year. If the group performer can be promoted and promoted, this game cannot be played! Everyone is competing to be a group performer, and it will be a mess.

So they earn their thirty or forty thousand safely, and we work hard to rise, this is the rule of the game.

A group performance is a group performance, an actor is an actor, if you become a group performance, you are not an actor, and the longer you are a performer, the more unlikely it is to turn back.

Group performances can never enter SAG, only actors can do it, what is an actor? An actor is at least you 'ah', this is called a role, if you can enter the cast, then you are an actor.

But group performances also have their unions, Modi, group performances also have contracts, agents, and unions, how long have you been a group performer, others want to check, and you can find out clearly. Those producers and directors didn't dare to disobey, because who used group performances to play official roles, we actors were not satisfied, and the good of the 4A Federation came out at this time, you broke the rules, and the actors gave you an act? So no one did it.

When I was a group performer, I tried to hook up with those important people, and they wouldn't look at you more, the group performance was not even a person, the group performance was a penguin. That's how they call it a group performer, would you find a penguin to pretend to be a human?"

"Oh......" Mo Di understood thoroughly, she really didn't know this, and she had been thinking about starting her acting career as a group performer, "So, two days?"

"Don't be a group performer. Stella said angrily, "Although no one knows us, we are actors! ”

Mody nodded silently, feeling that she was lucky now, although she was deceived, she met a veteran actor, Stella must be an actress, maybe she really met VIY. Her eyes were a little brighter, "Can you tell me more?"

Stella looked at the hundred-dollar bill with "For-Dream" written on it and waved her hand, "Okay, I'll take you to take a photo of your head tomorrow, or you'll be cheated again." ”

"Thank you. Mody smiled shyly, "I still have to find a job...... Is your restaurant still hiring?"

"I don't know, I didn't open the restaurant, I'll take you to ask tomorrow. ”