Chapter 55: Grand Recruitment of Actors

  Having solved the technical staff problem of the filming crew, what Yi Feiyang will face next is the actor's problem, which is the most critical part of the three plays.

  To know whether a play is good or not, apart from having a solid script, the most important thing is that the actors' acting skills must be good.

  "There's no such thing as a bad script, only bad actors!"

  Especially the three plays that are about to be filmed, have certain standards for actors. Like "Buried Alive", it's almost a one-man show for the male lead, from start to finish, he needs to use his exquisite acting skills to conquer the audience, making it a highlight without any dullness.

  So, except for Natasha and Da Niao Ruci, Yi Feiyang directly gave up hiring other AV actors. He needed some different or more professional actors, rather than just men and women who only knew how to roll around in bed.

  It's easy to find actors in Hollywood and it's also easy to find professional actors with acting skills, because all you need to do is find the Actors' Equity Association in Los Angeles.

  The American Actors' Guild was founded in 1933 and now has over a million members, including all kinds of talents in film and television.

  All you have to do is fill out a form with the American actors' union and pay a certain processing fee, and they can find the male or female actor you need through the actors' union. Among them, there are those who specialize in comedy, romance, suspense, and of course, horror...

  However, the actors' union guarantees the interests of the actors. If you want to find a suitable actor here, you must sign a series of labor contracts and pay remuneration that is not less than the market value. More importantly, if any accidents occur on the set, as the producer, you must take full responsibility. In other words, the actors' union completely protects the legitimate interests of the actors, and the responsibilities you bear as the producer are beyond your imagination.

  From private attorney Louis Kessler, Yi Fei Yang learned more about the actors' union. According to Kessler's introduction, anyone who signs a contract with the American Actors Union in the film and television industry is a member of the association. In the membership contract, there are many provisions to ensure the safety of members on set, such as when shooting scenes involving stunts, the set will be fully equipped with qualified medical personnel and mobile nursing vehicles.

  At first, Yi Feiyang tried to find the American Actors' Guild in the Los Angeles area for the three plays to start shooting smoothly as soon as possible. However, he immediately retreated, not because he couldn't find good actors here, but because the labor costs offered by the local guild were ridiculously high.

  Not to mention other things, the labor costs of the actors alone are exorbitant. One actor charges $40 per hour, which is $320 per day, and overtime pay is doubled. Such labor costs are absolutely high in the US, and for Easy Flyer, who is severely underfunded, it's a sky-high price, with one person costing over HK$2,000 per day.

  Yi Feiyang negotiated with the fat woman in charge of negotiations, saying that his company had just been established and had financial problems, hoping to be flexible and give himself an opportunity, as well as giving those actors some opportunities, after all they didn't have films to shoot every day.

  Moreover, the script is great, and any actor who reads it will like it. They might even be willing to perform for free. After this play is performed, it will have a good effect and can also be considered as helping the trade union with publicity.

  Finally, everyone took a step back and made good relations this time. It will be easier to cooperate in the future. Coming and going is the most important thing.

  No matter what you say, the fat woman is unmoved and unshakeable, just like her weight. She says no matter who you are or which company you're from, as long as you want to use our actors' guild members to shoot a film, you must follow our contract! Not one cent can be less!

  Yi Feiyang asked her: "What if we're not satisfied with the actors?"

  The fat woman said: "Please trust our actors, they are all professionals! If you're really not satisfied, we can change until you're satisfied."

  Seeing the fat woman's attitude was so resolute, Yi Feiyang figured it out - this guy wouldn't budge no matter what.

  It wasn't until the end that Yiyang understood why the actor's guild had such a tough attitude.

  The reason is simple, this guy took kickbacks!

  Originally, after signing an employment contract with the Actors Guild, not all of the actors' salaries were their own. A portion had to be handed over to the guild, nominally as a "consulting fee", but in Yifei Yang's opinion it was simply a "protection fee".

  Since he couldn't get the actors he needed through the regular channels of the Actors' Guild, Yi Feiyang had to think of another way.

  Is this Hollywood or what? Can't find actors who want to shoot a movie?! Maybe there are some who don't even need to be paid and would still be willing to appear on camera!

  Yi Feiyang made up his mind and directly posted a rather eye-catching "actor recruitment notice" on an entertainment newspaper in Los Angeles.

  "Are you still complaining that God didn't give you the opportunity? Are you still sighing that your acting skills are superb but you're not meeting the right role? Are you struggling to find a suitable role? Are you a talent in the entertainment industry? Our Dream Fantasy Film Company, the door is open, welcome to join us!"

  "Come on, we need those excellent actors who have dreams in their hearts but are hard to achieve!"

  "Fantastic recruitment, immediate effect! The bigger the heart, the bigger the stage! Choose Dream Film Industry, you and I, together create a golden future!"

  As soon as this "recruitment notice" was issued, it immediately attracted a lot of attention.

  After all, this is Los Angeles, and the holy land of Los Angeles is Hollywood. It's rare for people not to want to be actors or set foot in the entertainment industry here. On the contrary, many outsiders come from afar, even if it means hard work. Some of them have achieved great success, such as "Schwarzenegger" from Austria and "Van Damme" from Brussels. These two predecessors are among the most successful people. Of course, compared to those who succeeded, more people drowned in this vast ocean of Hollywood without even getting a chance to surface.

  So everyone saw an opportunity and swarmed towards 13 Chinatown, Dream Movie Company.

  The whole Chinatown is boiling!

  ……

  October 12, 1998.

  There are 18 days left until Halloween.

  Dream Movie Company.

  When those amateur actors who have dreams and struggles in their hearts come to the front of the three-story building of Dream Movie Company, they see this unfinished, shabby, and mottled "movie company" in front of them, and collectively stare blankly.

  A dilapidated building, a rough ground, and in the yard, all sorts of junk were piled up, including tattered sofas, broken tables and chairs, even some newspapers and magazines, empty bottles...

  Oh no!

  Is this a movie company?

  Is it still a waste collection station? !

  A gust of wind blew in, and the withered yellow leaves on the ground in the courtyard were like the hearts of these job applicants, drifting away coldly.

  What's wrong?

  Is it an empty shell company?

  Is it still a leather goods company?

  Or is it just a prank?

  This shabby appearance, where is it as beautiful and magnificent as written in the recruitment advertisement?!

  ……

  Endless thoughts churned in her mind.

  Well, since I'm here, might as well take a look and then decide what to do.

  Some people have made up their minds and are waiting for what they call a miracle.

  The reason is actually very simple. It's said that the person in charge of recruitment this time is actually Yi Feiyang, a Chinese filmmaker who created a box office hit of 200 million and broke the dark horse record!

  For this magical Chinese who can turn stones into gold, everyone has a great curiosity, you know, in the past few days, all of Hollywood was spreading news about him.

  Apart from this, there is another reason why these people are like this. As marginal figures in the Hollywood film circle, they have few opportunities to act. For amateur actors like them who do not have the conditions to join the union, their work status is basically "hit and run". Today they eat their fill, tomorrow they go hungry, so it's already very difficult for them to make a living.

  Don't let go of an opportunity!

  In the originally empty and spacious factory courtyard, a long dragon queue formed in a short period of time.

  Black chicks, white girls, hip-hop groups, punk boys, metalheads, all sorts of people.

  Some of them chatted in line, discussing some crappy news and celebrity gossip. Some were busy grooming themselves, either applying nail polish or lipstick, and styling their hair. What's more, two young celebrities hit it off and started kissing passionately on the spot, causing a commotion among the crowd.

  Looking at these interviewees who are completely without any highlights, rules, freedom, and are scattered all over the place, just like they're here on a tour, Rabbit Bill felt a chill in his heart.

  Is this the future talent of Hollywood?

  What brings everyone here?!

  Look around at the men and women, are we really like a "garbage" recycling center?!

  Is it all trash, stuffed in here?!