Strange Encounters Round 2 – Casting Call

Monday, July 26th, 2010 in: News, Travel

Walking through the lobby to visit a friend who had finished his term at the school and was heading back to England, I saw one of the other students sitting with a Chinese friend, chatting excitedly. As I passed, I saw them nudge each other and motion towards me, and they both stood at once, and asked if I was interested in being on TV…

“uh, I guess so? What’s this about?”

It turns out the friend does extra casting for TV shows and commercials, and they needed some people to play background foreigners for a party. Specifically they were looking for guys to play German ambassadors at a dinner party for a TV drama about the final years of the Qing dynasty (1840’s ~ 1911). I don’t think I look very German, but I guess I was foreign enough for the role. They had two Russian students from BLCU (Beijing Language and Culture University, down the road from us) to play our “wives.” Oh whatever, it sounds interesting. I agree, to the tune of 300 RMB.

OK! we’ll pick you up at 4PM sharp tomorrow afternoon! Don’t flake! 不要失信！

Um, alright. I walk away bewildered, unsure of exactly what it is I’ve gotten myself into.

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