Chapter 8

Actually, the explosive power of the car was very small, which was not surprising. Because if too much explosive were buried, causing the car's steel plates to really scatter and fly, it would become a car bomb in the true sense.

So the explosives placed inside were just for effect. What really completed the shot were the erupting flame mechanisms.

As for the shot of flames getting on the protagonist's pant legs, requiring him to reach out and pat them, that was truly an unplanned shot.

However, the director was already thinking that for the sake of realism, he would definitely edit this part into the final film. Even if there were slight flaws, he wouldn't mind if the stunt double's face was revealed.

Anyway, that's how Hollywood is; as long as a blooper disappears fast enough, it doesn't count as anything.

Besides, this wasn't a close-up of the protagonist. In a long shot, do you really think every audience member's eyes are so sharp that they can tell it's a different person?

Regardless, this shot was a success. As long as the cameraman didn't make a mistake and actually captured the footage, then the director believed he would definitely go down in history for this climactic explosion shot.

Of course, this is the confidence every creator has. But whether it actually turns out that way in the end is hard to say.

In any case, at this moment, he was so happy he was talking nonsense, hugging the producer and dancing around.

Having finished this shot, Henry immediately returned to being an extra. Changing out of the protagonist's costume, this time he had to play a passerby running for his life after the car explosion.

This kind of performance without technical requirements, as long as you don't break character and the actors don't mess up their positioning, causing them to bump into each other, it passes on the first take.

After a few street shots were filmed, the behind-the-scenes staff began to busily clean up the site, trying to restore the street to its original state. If the city government's restoration inspection didn't pass, they would be fined a large sum of money.

Although it wasn't even noon yet, the work for the extra group was finished for the day. The afternoon filming was all scenes for the leads and supporting actors. There were no scenes for extras.

Because it was less than a day, they could only receive half a day's pay.

Henry was considered the most prominent among the extras because he had performed an extra stunt shot, so he got a bit more than the others.

The pay for that set of shots was a full eight hundred dollars, which was the pay for an ordinary extra working for five or six days.

However, no one envied him, because everyone had seen the filming process, and this money really wasn't that easy to earn. Especially since it ended up burning his feet, and the actors weren't wearing fireproof suits; there might even be burns under his pants.

Everyone came here with star dreams. Although some got paid more, there was really nothing to envy about the behind-the-scenes staff.

After the extras were dismissed, Henry couldn't leave yet; he was kept behind by Qian Ning. The two found a coffee shop to sit in, which showed that the action team leader was quite satisfied with the stunt shot just now.

After buying cheap coffee for himself and the young man, Qian Ning got straight to the point: "Young man, you did well. Any interest in joining me? It's not just about stunts; I have many other ways to make money."

Henry didn't rush to agree. Having seen too many ugly capitalists in his past life, he was long since immune to all kinds of soft and hard PUA tactics.

Qian Ning's invitation was straightforward and didn't feel forceful. Actually, even if he were forced, Henry wouldn't want to stay in this team because their technology was simply too poor.

He didn't even need to think about a reason to refuse. Henry opened his mouth and said: "Qian Ning, thank you for coming to talk to me. But honestly, I still want to be an actor who shows his face. Stunt performers are just behind-the-scenes staff, and it's not very attractive to me."

"Are you sure you don't want to consider it more? You're very talented, and you'll earn more money than being an extra." Qian Ning thought for a moment and added: "Besides, it's not like there aren't stunt performers who have made it big and become stars. You still have a chance."

"Oh, come on. Are you talking about Buster Keaton or Harry Houdini? You don't even think about what era they were from. Or Jackie Chan? He's from Hong Kong."

Qian Ning said with a look of regret: "What a pity. You're talented and young; this is the time to strive. If you don't accumulate experience during this time, the chance of becoming a big star won't just fall into your lap."

"But Qian Ning, Hollywood's division of labor is becoming more and more refined. If I get typecast, will I still have a chance to get out of being a stunt performer? Besides, what can you earn in this path other than a body full of injuries? Even the Oscars don't have an award for stunt performers."

With just a few simple sentences, Qian Ning's mouth opened and closed, speechless. Because what Henry said was the truth; don't look at stunt performers earning more than extras, that's all for their own medical bills.

To become a millionaire, only by becoming a star is there a chance. Ordinary third-rate actors might even have to pay out of their own pockets just to fight for a chance to be on camera.

Qian Ning felt like he had been splashed with a bucket of cold water; he was wilted and couldn't persuade him any further.

Seeing this, Henry knew he had been a bit too heavy-handed. Don't just knock someone down to the ground; life has no fun, and they'll go looking for a tall building to end it all.

Thinking about it, Henry smiled: "Qian Ning, actually our way of working together is quite good. You have people under you to lead; you can't give all the opportunities to me."

"If you're really short-handed, or if there's any special good opportunity, then contact me. And I'll continue to chase my star dream, looking for opportunities in Hollywood. How about that?"

Not agreeing to join the other party's team directly—if they still come looking for him, it's probably for troublesome, shitty jobs like today's.

But if it really doesn't work out, he can just refuse then. Henry saying these things today was just to give both sides a way out, not to make enemies.

Qian Ning, having regained his composure, thought about it seriously and felt that this way wasn't a big problem. Or rather, this was how they did things anyway.

Qian Ning wasn't some serious agency or team boss; he just happened to have registered as an agent. There weren't actually many stunt performers who signed serious agency contracts.

The so-called action team was just a group of people who knew each other and were on good terms. Whenever he got an opportunity, he would assemble the necessary behind-the-scenes staff according to the producer's requirements.

There were no fixed members, at most members who collaborated more often. If these people had already taken other jobs, they would naturally prioritize those jobs.

When choosing actors, the priority was, of course, the producer's needs, and then his own people. If he couldn't find enough, he would look for suitable stunt performers from outside to supplement.

And Henry's answer wasn't a complete refusal. Would he refuse when the other party had no work?

It was just that when he was arranging people, Qian Ning's priority for finding Henry would be lower. Maintaining this relationship was actually enough.

After thinking it through, Qian Ning no longer insisted on persuading him, but said: "Alright, we'll contact you if we need to. Hope there will be opportunities to work together in the future."

"There will be." Henry said politely.

The new book is signed, please follow, bookmark, and recommend, thank you~~

