“Good boy, what a fine lad.”
Chen Cheng pulled a massive stone weighing over 170 kilograms into the air with one hand.
Director Li, who had never believed it before, also became excited.
With talent like this, the wire-fu scene he was about to film would be much easier.
Chen Cheng alone would be enough at the front.
Of course.
For safety, several people would still need to pull the ropes from behind.
But with Chen Cheng joining in,
since he was strong enough, this wire-fu scene could feature several more variations.
For example, a slow, steady ascent, a rapid ascent, or even a change of pace midway through...
These minor variations might not seem like much.
But once filmed and combined with some light-footedness special effects, they would be enough to amaze the audience.
“Get to work, get to work.”
With such a talent on hand, Director Li said no more. He grabbed a microphone and immediately announced that filming was beginning.
Likewise,
Chen Cheng, with his “double strength,” worked together with the other stunt performers and completed Director Li’s wire-fu scene flawlessly.
In the evening, when the film crew wrapped for the day, Director Li deliberately came over to Chen Cheng and asked, “Little brother, have you trained before?”
“No.”
Chen Cheng shook his head.
In his previous life, when he had been an actor, he had practiced a few moves for filming.
But with martial arts, unless one trained day after day for several decades, it was basically of little use.
Most of the time, what you put on display would be nothing more than flashy forms—good-looking but useless, and sometimes not even good-looking.
However, although Chen Cheng said no, Director Li nodded with immense satisfaction and said, “You’re a fine prospect. Are you a Stagehand right now?”
“Yes.”
“What made you become a Stagehand? With your looks, you could certainly become a special-role actor.”
“Mainly because I don’t have much talent for acting. All I have is brute strength.”
“How can you call that brute strength? By the way, are you interested in becoming a stunt performer?”
“A stunt performer?”
“You’d film martial arts scenes. With your skills, you could definitely become a stunt performer, and you’d earn much more than as a Stagehand.”
“Well... I haven’t thought about it for now.”
“That’s fine. There’ll be opportunities in the future.”
Director Li handed Chen Cheng a business card and then left.
..
“Chen Cheng, what did Director Li say to you just now?”
After Director Li left, unit production manager Liu Qiang also came over.
“Teacher Liu, Director Li asked whether I was interested in becoming a stunt performer.”
“What did you say?”
“I said I didn’t have any plans for it yet.”
“You fool. Stunt performers earn much more than Stagehands.”
“They do earn more... but I’m a Stagehand right now, aren’t I? Besides, Teacher Liu, you were the one who recruited me. How could I agree without saying a word to you?”
That was the truth.
Actually, the film crew was divided into two teams.
One was the Director Team.
The other was the Production Team.
Although the Production Team served the Director Team, the two teams were generally separate groups of people.
Stunt performers might earn more, but if he agreed to Director Li’s offer without saying anything, he would certainly offend the production side.
He still had to make a living in the film crew.
Although the production side generally did not participate in filming, if they decided to make things difficult for you, you would suffer terribly.
Therefore,
Chen Cheng had spoken honestly.
Of course, there was another reason.
Chen Cheng did not want to return to his former acting path, so he was not particularly interested in filming.
“Hahaha, Chen Cheng, you little fellow are quite interesting.”
Patting Chen Cheng on the shoulder, Liu Qiang was extremely happy. “You rendered great service today, so I can’t treat you unfairly. In a moment, go to the finance manager and collect a 200-yuan bonus as your reward for today. Also, starting today, you’re the Deputy Team Leader.”
“Deputy Team Leader? What kind of Deputy Team Leader?”
“Deputy Film Set Worker Team Leader.”
“Uh, isn’t that still a Stagehand?”
Liu Qiang was stunned.
Then he remembered the joke he had made that morning and laughed. “What, you look down on it? Then I’ll take it back.”
“Don’t!”
Chen Cheng quickly waved his hands. “I’m joking, I’m joking. Teacher Liu, you told me that I’d become the Overlord of the Stagehand world someday. Since I’m going to become the Overlord, I have to start as the Deputy Team Leader.”
“I didn’t expect you to be such a smooth talker. All right, work hard. I’m off.”
Laughing, Liu Qiang felt extremely pleased today.
..
“Chen Cheng, congratulations, congratulations!”
“Brother Cheng, you’re amazing. You became the Deputy Film Set Worker Team Leader after just one month.”
“Brother Cheng, I really admire you. You have to look out for me someday.”
Although the Deputy Film Set Worker Team Leader was still a Stagehand, it was more or less a promotion.
The Stagehand colleagues who heard the news came to Chen Cheng’s room with drinks and snacks to celebrate.
Since they still had to film the next day, the film crew could not drink alcohol, so Chen Cheng brought out the Wahaha he had bought a few days earlier.
“You guys are making such a big production out of this. It’s only becoming a Deputy Team Leader. Isn’t it still the same as before? I’m still a Stagehand.”
“Besides, this Deputy Team Leader position isn’t very useful. Once this show finishes filming, the film crew will disband, and we’ll all have to fend for ourselves.”
That was true.
Although the Deputy Film Set Worker Team Leader was a Deputy Team Leader, he was still a Stagehand.
He still had to do odd jobs as well.
That was what they said, anyway.
But he was still a Deputy Team Leader, so his pay and benefits had improved somewhat.
Thus, although Chen Cheng was modest, he was also very happy.
This also proved that he had made the right choice by pursuing a behind-the-scenes path.
Although a behind-the-scenes path was inconspicuous, it was steadier than the path taken by glamorous actors.
However, Chen Cheng’s modest words prompted everyone to complain. “Chen Cheng, when you put it that way, I feel like Stagehands are the only miserable people in the entire film crew.”
“That’s right. We earn the least while doing the hardest, most exhausting, and dirtiest work.”
“Damn it, if I weren’t poor, I wouldn’t want to do this anymore.”
However, Uncle Leng, who was nearby, said, “Don’t put it that way. Being a Stagehand is hard, but the wages aren’t delayed, and there’s overtime pay for overtime work. As long as you work hard, you can earn money. As for the dirt, hardship, and exhaustion, that’s normal. Other professions are actually much the same. Take those stars, for example. They may look glamorous on the outside, but how many of them are really stars? Countless actors can’t even get roles and go for several months without income.”
Chen Cheng also agreed. “Uncle Leng is right. Being a Stagehand isn’t so bad. At least academic credentials and looks don’t matter; all you need to do is put in the effort. Besides, if we work hard, everyone can do it. Look at me—I’ve become a Deputy Film Set Worker Team Leader. If we get a little lucky in the future, maybe we can start as Stagehands and eventually become Producers.”
“Wow, Chen Cheng, you even dare to dream of becoming a Producer?”
“Why not? You have to have ideals. What if they come true?”
“No way...”
Everyone was amused by Chen Cheng’s words.
Several Stagehands laughed and jokingly raised their drinks. “Then let’s toast to our future Producer Chen.”
“Right, let’s toast to our future Producer Chen.”
“Hahaha, I’m in too.”
Uncle Leng also picked up his drink to celebrate Chen Cheng.
“Thank you, Uncle Leng.”
Chen Cheng was very happy today.
Although he knew that none of his colleagues had taken his words seriously,
after all, Chen Cheng’s words were equivalent to a background actor saying that he wanted to become a Major Star or a great actor.
That was simply impossible.
However, Chen Cheng said nothing and went along with his colleagues’ words, joining in the joking. “Come on, let’s have a drink. Once I become a Producer, I’ll find good jobs for everyone.”
“Oh, you’re serious? Chen Cheng, tell us this: if you become a Producer in the future, what kind of job could you find for me?”
“That’s easy. Aren’t you great at keeping accounts? You can be the finance manager and handle the film crew’s money.”
“Finance manager? That sounds good. What about me? What about me?”
“You? I think you’re quite meticulous. You can be the Production Coordinator.”
“Production Coordinator? What does that do?”
“They’re responsible for arranging the day’s work. For example, if an actor has a scene to film, it’s written down in the Production Coordinator’s notebook first. Once the actor receives the notebook, they’ll know what they have to do that day.”
“Oh, oh, that’s easy. I can do that.”
“What about me? What about me?”
another colleague said.
“You definitely need an important responsibility.”
“What important responsibility?”
“Aren’t you very knowledgeable about filmmaking? You’re always complaining that those Directors can’t film as well as you can.”
“That’s right.”
“So from now on, you’ll be the Producer. Keep those lousy Directors in line and make them film according to your requirements.”
“Hahaha, that sounds great. I like it.”
“What about me, Chen Cheng? What will I be?”
“Didn’t you say you were a rich second-generation heir?”
“I am a rich second-generation heir. I’m here to experience life.”
“Fine. Then you’ll be the Production Company.”
“What does the Production Company do?”
“Nothing. It only has to provide the money. Besides, it can engage in a little Unspoken Rules.”
“Who would I be using the Unspoken Rules on?”
“Whoever you want. Just don’t use them on me.”
“Get lost. I’m not into that.”
“Hahaha...”
That night, everyone chatted until very late.