novellhall Chapter 20 Hollywood ID Card!
Chapter 20 Hollywood ID Card!
Chen Xun took a deep breath and stepped forward.
He could feel the scrutinizing gazes of Mike and the others, especially the burly stagehand, whose disdain was almost palpable.
He didn't start immediately. Instead, he closed his eyes and quickly replayed Mike's movements in his mind, while simultaneously engaging his physical attributes and feeling the improvement in muscle memory and coordination.
When he opened his eyes, his gaze had become focused.
Action!
He moved!
The straight punch is swift and powerful, whistling through the air; it's no longer just for show.
The side kick was clean and crisp, the waist and stance perfectly coordinated, as steady as if nailed to the ground.
The sweeping leg kick was incredibly fast, kicking up dust from the ground.
The most crucial part is the transition after the sweeping leg kick.
He barely paused, using the momentum of his rotation to pounce like a cheetah, his right hand forming a claw, precisely and fiercely locking onto the imaginary enemy's throat.
It stopped abruptly at the moment of contact.
The movements were clean and powerful!
The entire movement was fluid and graceful!
It's fast, powerful, and has a ruthless feel to it, unlike the previous ones who were either weak or flashy.
The scene fell silent for a moment.
The burly stagehand who had been holding his arms down had somehow lowered them, and the contempt in his eyes had turned into surprise.
Action director Mike raised an eyebrow, a look of interest appearing on his face for the first time.
The Asian extra who had just been swearing in Chinese was now staring with his mouth agape, looking as if he had swallowed an egg whole.
Chen Xun maintained the final chokehold, his breathing steady.
The instant he completed his movement, a blue orb of light fell from his body:
[Physical Attributes - On-the-spot Performance +3]!
absorb!
A sudden realization of his increased control over improvisation surged into his body.
"Good! Very good!"
The casting director pushed up his glasses, his tone noticeably more enthusiastic:
"Your movements are powerful and modern. Have you trained?"
Chen Xun finished his stance and humbly replied, "I studied with a martial arts instructor in China for a few days and then figured it out on my own."
"A few days?"
Mike walked over, looked Chen Xun up and down, pinched his arm, and patted his shoulder:
"His core strength is good; it's not just stiff muscle from working out at the gym. His movements are still a bit rough, but he's got the feel for it, and he's got the punch."
The burly stagehand also came over, his tone much softer:
"Hey kid, that was pretty good. Want to try taking a couple of real hits? Let's see your reaction."
Chen Xun knew that this was a further test.
He nodded: "No problem!"
The burly stagehand put on boxing gloves and symbolically threw a few punches at Chen Xun.
Using the dodging and recovery techniques he had learned in the past few days, combined with his physical attributes, Chen Xun dodged quite skillfully, and his occasional parries also appeared very solid.
"OK! That's it!"
Mike called a halt, a smile spreading across his face, and said to the casting director:
"I think he's the one! He has a foundation, learns quickly, and his appearance fits the bill, unlike some people who are either frail or have a face full of wrinkles."
The casting director clearly respected Mike's opinion and said to Chen Xun:
"Chen, really? Congratulations, this role is yours. We'll discuss the contract details with your agent or directly with you."
"Just talk to me directly!"
Chen Xun suppressed his overwhelming joy and tried his best to remain calm.
As Chen Xun left the warehouse, he could feel the gazes behind him.
There was envy, jealousy, and also the complex gaze of that Asian extra who had previously been cursing.
He didn't turn around.
Stepping out of the building, the Los Angeles sun was still shining brightly.
He clenched his fist, feeling the surging power within him and the new attributes he had just absorbed.
This time, he didn't rely on pure luck or Rob's help.
He used his genuine abilities to break down prejudices and win the opportunity.
With a few days left before filming was scheduled to begin, Chen Xun, clutching two official actor contracts, walked into the SAG-AFTRA (Screen Actors Guild) office in Los Angeles.
My visa is expiring soon, so I need to resolve my immigration status as soon as possible.
The office was well-air-conditioned and brightly lit, a stark contrast to the sweltering chaos of the Santa Monica street corner.
Queue up, take a number, and wait.
Most of the actors around him were white, with a few African Americans or Latinos, and very few with a pure Asian face like his.
His number was called.
He walked to the designated window, where a white woman in her forties with neatly combed brown hair sat, her name tag reading Susan.
"How can I help you?"
Susan spoke in a standard tone, with a professional smile.
Chen Xun pushed the two contracts and his own documents through the window.
"Hello, I would like to apply to become a SAG-Eligible actor and obtain a union card."
Susan took the document and skillfully flipped through it.
When she saw Chen Xun's name and role description on the contract, especially the words "major supporting role with fight scenes" in that independent action film, a crack appeared on her standard smile, and she looked up to examine Chen Xun carefully.
"Are both contracts yours?"
She confirmed it, her tone carrying a hint of barely perceptible surprise.
"Yes!"
Chen Xun nodded.
Susan looked down at the document again, especially at the production company's stamp and signature area, as if confirming its authenticity.
"Very rare!"
She muttered something under her breath, almost to herself, then looked at Chen Xun again, her smile becoming more genuine:
"I mean, it's very difficult to get two formal contracts at this stage, especially for Asian actors, particularly Chinese male actors. Congratulations, Mr. Chen."
Chen Xun breathed a sigh of relief.
It seems that although the two projects that Rob introduced were not expensive, they were at least recognized by the union.
"Based on your contract and working hours, you are fully qualified."
Susan began working on the computer: "The initial union fee is three thousand dollars, the first year's annual fee..."
Upon hearing the number, Chen Xun's eye twitched slightly, but he still deftly pulled out his bank card.
This is almost all of his current savings, including advance payments for two performance agreements.
He had saved it for a long time, and even when he couldn't afford to eat, he never thought of touching the money inside.
But it's worth it for that card!
The procedures were completed very quickly.
When the hard card with his name and the SAG-AFTRA logo printed on it was handed to him, Chen Xun felt his heart skip a beat.
The card was light, yet it felt incredibly heavy.
"Welcome to the union, Mr. Chen."
Susan smiled and said, "This will open up more opportunities for you. With this and your contract, you can start dealing with visa matters."
"Thanks!"
Chen Xun clutched the card tightly.
Leaving the union building, the Los Angeles sun was blinding.
He stood by the roadside, looking down at the small card in his hand, staring at it for a long time.
When I took out my phone, the first person I thought of was Shen Man.
But after hesitating for a moment, he still clicked on Lee So-yeon's profile.
He sent a message: "Don't have pizza tonight, it's on me, and there's plenty of fried chicken!"
A few seconds later, Lee So-yeon called directly: "Oppa! Did you get the union card? Is the visa okay?"
Her voice was filled with excitement.
"Okay, all done!"
"Daebak! Fried chicken! We have to celebrate! I want a double flavor of sweet and spicy and soy sauce!"
Lee So-yeon cheered on the other end of the phone.
That evening, Chen Xun, clutching his union card and feeling finally relaxed, prepared to go to the fried chicken shop with Li Suyan.
But when he was about to leave, Lee So-yeon remained seated on the living room carpet.
"Oppa~"
She blinked, a mischievous glint in her eyes: "Can we skip the fried chicken?"
Chen Xun was taken aback: "Didn't you say you wanted food?"
"I've changed my mind!"
Li Suyan got up, ran to the kitchen, and took out the bottle of soy sauce and a few wilted green peppers:
"I want to eat that dish you make that has magical effects—stir-fried pork with chili peppers!"
Chen Xun looked at the meager ingredients in her hand and was somewhat speechless: "This is it? You're celebrating with this?"
"This is more meaningful than fried chicken!"
Lee So-yeon insisted, "I think it tastes delicious, even more like a celebration than fried chicken!"
Seeing her foodie expression, Chen Xun had no choice but to agree!
"Alright!"
He took out the leftover slices of meat from the freezer, rolled up his sleeves, and said, "But the ingredients are so bad, don't blame me if the taste suffers."
"No, no!"
Lee So-yeon immediately handed over the ingredients, like a little assistant.
The familiar sizzling sound rang out again in the kitchen as ginger and garlic were sautéed and slices of meat were added to the pan.
Amidst the swirling smoke, Chen Xun skillfully stir-fried the ingredients.
Lee So-yeon was still leaning against the door frame, inhaling the fragrance with relish, drool involuntarily dripping from the corner of her mouth.
When the stir-fried pork with chili peppers and scrambled eggs with scallions were served again on the coffee table, Li Suyan took a bite and squinted her eyes in satisfaction:
"Mmm~ It still tastes the same! Better than fried chicken!"
Chen Xun ate his meal, feeling the warmth in his stomach and the peace of mind in his heart.
He took out the union card and placed it on the coffee table.
Lee So-yeon picked it up and examined it from all angles, as if it were some rare treasure:
"This is Hollywood's ID card...so many people are fighting tooth and nail for it."
"Just the first step!"
Chen Xun shoveled food into his mouth, his tone calm: "The road ahead is still long!"
"But at least you don't have to leave, right?" Lee So-yeon looked at him, her eyes shining.
"Okay, we don't need to leave for now!"