Potential actors should not take underpaid work. Especially if what they have is in short supply.
Remember a days shooting can equal almost 3 days of your time. Day one travel, it may not be all day, but if more than four hours your day is gone. Same for the return. Or you travel all night, and so the next day is shot. You may even be asked to come to costume fit on another day, no pay.

Balance what is on offer, with what you could earn for 3 days teaching. Or equivalent bar shifts.

Remember free transportation and accommodation is not pay.
Just think, 600rmb for one day (possibly 2-3 days) of your time.

Remember the agent will get the best price they can for you and then pay the minimum they can away with.
Remember the agent is not your friend, you are their commodity, you mean no more to them than a sack of rice.
Remember that many agents are bottom feeders. I only answer adds from the production companies. They do come up. You don't really need an agent.

Sig
Cynical Me.

background extra is different with teaching or waiter's work.teaching work have fixed schedule.
as I know,foreigner teacher don't teach everyday.some foreigner have have one class teach in one day,one class 100-150RMB.so,this day,he make 100-150RMB.naxt day,if he dont teach,he make zero.maximum he can have 6 class in one day.can get pay 600RMB.extra work,if one day is long day stay at set,he can get 600-800RMB.

teach work only pay when he teach,but extra work,when he didn't acting,but stay at set also get pay.

if the teach work pay by month,in kunming,foreign English teach work the salary is 1,500-10,000RMB.
for example a Tv play shooting in Kunming or Dali,a foreigner do the extra,he don't shooting everyday,only when they need foreign extra,he come to set.sometime 1,2 hours,sometime 8,10 hours.in one month,he make 10,000-18,000RMB.depend on how many day,how many hours he stay at set.

obviously,Dazzer only have did one day's extra work.all you know is one day's extra.

so funny,how many production companies you know? do they know you? do they want you? do you fit any foreign role? no matter this role is female or male,young or old,tall or short? you are one person,can you acting 10-50 foreign extra in same time? and show different face?do you know why the production need a agent?I can tell,you don't know this industry at all.

most foreigner come to acting just for fun,don't care the pay.or someone traviling here,the film company offer free accommodation,and pay some money.but if he go to Dali or Lijiang by himself,he have to pay anything,food,ticket,hotel room...but if go to acting,the film company pay ticket,accommodation.in no shooting day,he can travil around.so,why no?

remember extra acting work is a part-time work,you can't do it for living.

many actor begin form extra.when he do the extra,he don't care the pay,because everytime is a oppotunity to proof his acting,get more acting work opportunity.get to know more people.when he get to know more producer,director,acting more Tv and movie.his pay will be more.

Dazzer,how much you make for the teach work? or work in Bar? you want do acting work for living? ok,I can tell you,an American actor in China,he live in china 15 years,he has acting over 100 Tv and movie in china,but still he is happy if a agent intruduce a acting work to him.also he would happy to pay the commission.he said,because he can't know all film company.or have good relationship with them.2 years ago,he acting a TV play,2 monthes,get pay 400,000RMB.unfortunately,I can tell you will never make this money.

few years ago,a youngman teach English in Kunming,one day he go to acting as extra,it;s not in Kunming,in another town.yes,no pay for the travil day and custume try day.and the acting day is 400RMB,but he never complain that,he met an Australian guy,after that he get a new job,work in an Australian company.this work must better than teach work,he quit the teach work.unfortunately,this kind of opportunity Dazzer will never meet too.

oh,a poor guy with a poor life and a hopeless future.

I dont know much about this. but all I know is dont work for an agent who goes by the name of "Jasmine". I did a few days work for her a while ago and she didnt pay me and killed my cat.

Beware

I heard that she eats cats.

poor hopeless woman.

Dazzer is lier.he said something just his image,but not truth.what your mean is mimnum? your get 600RMB a day for the extra work,agent get 100-200RMB.600 is minimum,200 is maximum? haha! funny!

if something you don't know,zip your mouth.

Chingis,which one Jasmine? so you will work for an agent who goes by the name Camellia? how she killed your cat? you bring your cat go to work? she have gun or sword? why she didn't pay you? what you did?

Debaser,I have to say you have super illusion ability. eat cats?! oh,maybe it;s not Jasmine,it;s you.I know some chinese eat dog,but nobody eat cat!

poor hopeless loser.

FYI 'It is estimated that around 4 million cats are eaten in China each year, and that the number is rising.' - Xinhua / Peoples Daily

news.xinhuanet.com/english/indepth/2012-01/13/c_131358233.htm

Hmmmm -

dream maker - Jasmine?

Lol at this thread and agents. I do music, not acting, but i have never dealt with an agent that knows anything about the business they are working in.

Oh yea, and dont do jobs unless it works out to be 100rmb an hour. This includes travel time and waiting around. This should be a standard that all laowai should follow.