Huayu: I really am a genuine top star.

Chapter 80: The Courier! Special Guest! Has lines! Daily pay 500!

The group messages had already been refreshed several hundred times. Shen Li didn't rush to scroll up; she first clicked on the group announcement and glanced at it.

The announcement contained a copy of "A Must-Read for Newcomers! Survival Handbook for Extras (Revised September 2024 Edition)," signed by the group owner "Chen Ge Casting."

"

Shen Li read it word by word, and the more she read, the more she felt that this was a condensed version of "The Law of the Jungle in the Film and Television City".

Article 1: After the announcement is sent out, replying with "1" is considered registration. The group leader will @ the selected participants within three minutes. If you are not @ed, it means you were not selected. Do not send private messages to ask questions; those who do will be blocked.

Article 2: If you are more than 15 minutes late after being selected, half of your pay for the day will be deducted, and you will be invisible in any announcements for the following week.

Article 3: No taking photos on set, no asking for autographs, and no talking to the lead actors. Violators will be removed from the group immediately and the entire group will be notified.

Article 4: Each person shall receive one boxed meal. If more than one is found, the day's wages will be confiscated.

Article 5: Special note for female extras... If any assistant director, casting director, or team leader privately contacts you for a "screen test" or to "discuss the script," you must report it in the group immediately. The group will not be responsible for any incidents that occur if you fail to report.

Shen Li watched in amazement.

This Brother Chen, who looks like a rough, middle-aged man with a cigarette in his mouth, is surprisingly thorough when it comes to setting rules. Especially the fifth rule, which is clearly protecting the female extras.

These days, it's rare to see a group leader who's willing to openly write down these rules in the group chat.

He then browsed through Brother Chen's WeChat Moments.

Goodness, his style is completely different from Sister Hua and Sister Dong. Sister Hua is the "Queen of Imitations," and Sister Dong is the "Heroine of the Martial World," so what about this Brother Chen?

My WeChat Moments are only visible for three days, and the few posts I have are all candid snapshots from the film set...

At 4 a.m., outside the film studio, insulated food containers piled high with boxed lunches, and the backs of extras shoveling food onto the curb. The captions are never more than five words: "Starting work." "Finishing work." "Everyone's alive."

Shen Li labeled Brother Chen as: a pragmatist, a man of few words but firm in his principles, protective of his own but not indulgent. When dealing with this kind of person, don't beat around the bush, let your work speak for itself.

Continue scrolling down the group messages.

There weren't many announcements tonight, mostly just scattered requests like "filling in people tomorrow." Shen Li was looking through them when a new announcement popped up.

"The day after tomorrow morning, the period fantasy drama 'Sword Soul and Qin Heart' needs 15 male extras to play martial arts heroes/passersby. Requirements: height 175cm or above, presentable appearance, bring your own black cloth boots. Meet at 7:00 AM in Area A of the film studio. Daily pay 180 RMB, including boxed lunch. Those with action scene experience will be given priority, with an additional 50 RMB. Send a full-body photo to apply, don't send me one with a heavy beauty filter."

The ID that posted the announcement is "Brother Jian," and the profile picture is a prop sword stuck in a sand pile.

Shen Li clicked into Jian Ge's WeChat Moments, and the screen was full of action scenes... wire work, swords, and stunt doubles doing somersaults.

The captions were extremely bold: "Seven stuntmen were injured in today's fight, but they're all tough guys." "Newcomers, don't be afraid of falling, you'll get better with practice." "I've taken on a disciple who can do eight backflips in a row, there's a worthy successor."

The comments section was filled with praise such as "Brother Jian is awesome", "Brother Jian, take me under your wing", and "Does Brother Jian still accept apprentices?"

Jian Ge would occasionally reply, his tone like a master from a martial arts novel: "You've got a good foundation, kid. Come try it tomorrow." "Why would a girl like you practice somersaults? Go practice swordsmanship."

Shen Li labeled Brother Jian as: a martial arts leader, bold and rugged, valuing real kung fu. He's similar to Wu Yue, but even more "江湖气" (jianghu spirit). Wu Yue was a lean and fierce bandit, while Brother Jian is a rough-and-tumble hero.

[Remember the fastest online novel website: 121999.com]

The comments under Brother Jian's announcement were flooded with messages.

"1. Brother Jian! It's me! Ah Kun! I stood in for you in that fight scene last time, doing two moves!"

1. Information sent privately. Has experience in Sanda (Chinese kickboxing).

"Brother Jian, I'm a newbie looking for mentorship! I'm hardworking and not afraid of falling!"

Shen Li noticed that Jian Ge's way of replying was different from Hua Jie's and Chen Ge's.

He didn't tag anyone; instead, he sent a voice message directly in the group. Shen Li clicked on one and almost dropped her phone... The voice was as loud as a bell.

"Hey Ah Kun, about that fall you took last time, are your bones okay? If they're okay, that's good. Come back the day after tomorrow!"

Another message: "Hey you who practices Sanda, your style is too wild. What I'm looking for in this fight is elegance, not brutal punches. Next time there's a fight scene, I'll call you out."

Another message: "Newbie, you say you're not afraid of falling? Fine, come the day after tomorrow, and I'll personally throw you around a few times to see what happens."

Shen Li was dumbfounded. This Brother Jian's way of picking people is too hardcore. Try throwing them down a few times himself? Is he a group leader or a wrestling coach?

He then opened another voice message sent by Jian Ge, which was a reply to a female extra.

The female extra posted a video of herself practicing swordplay and asked Brother Jian if she could join in.

Brother Jian replied, "Girl, your sword flourishes are beautiful! But this is a fantasy martial arts story, not a sword dance performance. Your wrist is too soft, it lacks killing intent. Go back and practice in front of the mirror, your eyes need to be fierce, and your wrists need to be strong. Come back when you've mastered it."

Shen Li was impressed. This Brother Jian was rough around the edges but meticulous at heart; as bold as he was, he was absolutely professional.

Moreover, his attitude towards the female extras was neither like Sister Hua's condescending scrutiny nor like Sister Dong's protective tenderness, but rather... he treated them as "warriors".

Praise those who deserve praise, criticize those who deserve criticism, treat everyone equally.

Shen Li silently made a note in her memo: Brother Jian, the head of the stunt team, is bold and rugged but extremely professional. He treats male and female extras equally and has high standards. Strategy: If I want to take on action roles in the future, I need to solidify my skills before going to him. Don't pretend in front of him; pretending will only get you thrown around.

After leaving Jian Ge's WeChat Moments, Shen Li browsed through the posts of other group members.

One ID caught his attention... "Film City Insider". This person's speaking style was extremely unique; they never tried to steal the spotlight, and only did one thing: leak information.

"Have you heard? The director and producer of 'Sword Soul and Heart of the Qin' are arguing again because they can't decide on the female lead."

"Yesterday, in that Qing Dynasty drama in Zone C, the third male lead acted like a diva and was scolded by the director in front of everyone until he cried."

"A large crew is coming next week, it's a spy drama, and they need a lot of male extras, so make sure you're all in good spirits."

The comments below included phrases like "You're a brilliant informant," "Brother Bao is well-informed," and "What other inside stories are coming out?"

The gossip occasionally replied, his tone mysterious: "I can't say much, but just remember, in the spy drama group, the assistant director's surname is Liu. He's a nice guy, just don't offend him."

Shen Li labeled the informant: a film studio information broker who makes a living off information asymmetry. His words shouldn't be taken entirely at face value, but they shouldn't be completely disregarded either. He was listed as an "information source" and monitored regularly.

Dozens more messages flooded the group chat. Just as Shen Li was about to turn off his phone, a new announcement made his eyes light up.

"Urgent! The day after tomorrow afternoon, the modern urban drama 'Dear Client' needs a guest actor to play a deliveryman. There will be close-ups and three lines. Requirements: Male, 20-25 years old, down-to-earth appearance, able to ride an electric scooter, and those who bring their own deliveryman uniform will be given priority. Daily pay 500 RMB. Submit your model card and a self-introduction video to apply. Deadline is tonight at midnight."

The ID that posted the announcement was "Director Zhou's Casting," and the profile picture was a photo of a clapperboard, which looked quite legitimate.

Shen Li's heart began to race.

Deliveryman! Special hire! With lines! 500 a day! This is practically tailor-made for me!