Description
In this eighth episode, it's time to move on from the world of waffles and step into the realm of Taiwanese castings. I'll be sharing my unique experience as an actor in this intriguing environment. It's also the moment to leave the capital and embark on my journey eastward, which means I must bid a fond farewell to Fiona.
Hébergé par Ausha. Visitez ausha.co/politique-de-confidentialite pour plus d'informations.
Transcription
Thank you for joining me in this 8th episode of the Keep Your Wings podcast. We continue our journey in Taiwan. We finally leave the world of waffles to discover Taiwanese castings. After sending a message under the influence of alcohol, I found myself selected to star in a commercial. Keep Your Wings, le podcast. Chapter 8. Under the Spotlight. Merry Christmas and above all, thank God work is over. After this month of hard labor my fingers are burnt all over, my nails are filled with caramel and my forehead is sweating mixed with fryer smoke. The last day of work and ended with taking down the booth and moving all the equipment to the central kitchen. During the drive, I asked Dominique about the future of our collaboration. Despite the overtime pay being less than fair, he was my only source of income until now, so I couldn't easily let go of this job. So, is the restaurant in Taichung opening soon? I asked with interest.
Yeah, in a few days.
He muttered without continuing the conversation. I don't know if you remember, but you mentioned a job opening in Taichung during the interview. What's the status on that now?
I would like to, but I'm not sure yet. We need to see how the restaurant performs first. After that, you can always prepare some waffle dough when I need it. But it won't be on the time, obviously. Listen, I'll let you know soon.
He replied evasively. Resolved, I figured I would probably never hear from Dominique again. Luckily, a few days later, I got a call asking if I wanted to be in a commercial. Back in November, I had taken the advice of a friend and signed up for a modeling agency. The value of foreigners, which had already become apparent over the past two months, was also evident in this field. Desperately seeking new faces, new profiles, read white foreigners, modeling agency rarely turn anyone away.
Even you,
you get a shot.
A friend had joked. And what a punch in the gut, thanks. I decided to highlight my uniqueness and draft a passionate cover letter. Dear sir or madam, my name is Sebastian. I'm a 29-year-old Belgian looking for an opportunity to work as an actor model. I have three years of theater experience. which is giving me confidence and poise. I likely have a profile that doesn't fit the standards you will find at other agencies. My blue eyes and grey hair are my charm, something your other candidates already lack. Motivated, reliable and mature, I also have a solid sense of humor. I hope you noticed. Laughing after writing this letter while half drunk, I decided to send in some photos from a play I had the chance to perform back in 2017. The day after sending my message via Facebook, I received a response inviting me to an interview.
I would like to invite you to our studio so I can explain our line of work and take some photos of you.
A week later, I arrived at the specified location. Upon arrival, Patty, a young Taiwanese woman, explained the rules of this new job and took some photos of me with instruction.
Look at me, more intense with your eyes. and button your shirt.
I try not to laugh. I didn't sign a contract stating what I could and couldn't do, such as not revealing a new product before the hat was officially released or working for a competing agency. Roles that don't require casting are paid less, but even that was already much more than selling waffles and fries. So I only hope for more opportunities. But since signing up in mid-November, I hadn't heard anything from Patty. So my surprise was all the greater when I received a message to shoot the commercial. Of course, I accepted the offer without hesitation. Mike, my roommate, who's used to shooting ads, told me he's making a killing with each appearance. After signing several exclusive contracts with big brands and appearing in numerous ads, driving luxury cars, wearing outrageous outfits or promoting headphones, he has become a go-to for the agency I'm also working with. He loves what he does so much that he even created a Facebook page for his modeling career. His girlfriend, meanwhile, signed a contract with a brand developing high mirror. A smart device that tells you your skin type, or to apply makeup, or to treat sebum issues. Fascinating stuff. A few days later, I found myself in front of the building where the commercial would be filmed. I took the elevator to the 10th floor. It was total chaos. Technicians were running everywhere, agents were shouting for their protégé, and the big boss was strutting around with a megaphone. It was easy to spot the people who were already used to the circus. Real jerks.
The coffee was better last time. Did you see how small the sandwich is? Hard as hell. there's only one dish per person today.
I'm going to do a Facebook live for my fans.
Comments like this made me shake my head in disbelief, especially coming from wannabe stars who mainly do hats for toilet paper and vanilla cookies. Shortly after, I met up with Patty, who introduced me to her group of actors. To be honest, it was a mixed bag. All types of profile were soaked. Tall, thin, bald, short, fat. No one was really left out. Patty was quite pleased. We all landed important roles. who were playing employees of two companies announcing their merger and the creation of a virtual currency to compete with Bitcoin. While some of my colleagues had speaking roles, mostly native English speakers, let's be honest, I was given a non-speaking part. The stylists asked me what I had brought. I showed them my name. my bag of clothes. With one glance, they told me to leave it aside and handed me other outfits. I then went through makeup and hair styling and within half an hour, I was ready to shoot. But the production teams didn't agree and dragged things out. Two hours had passed and still hadn't done anything except gorgon chocolate cake. It took another 30 minutes before filming finally began. The pitch was terribly bad. A stage press conference where the members of the two companies announce the benefits of the merger, the creation of this virtual currency and a final scene between journalists and company members ending up with champagne toast. The filming itself was fun, despite some constraints inherent to this type of work.
Let's do it again. Take 24.
For walking down a hallway. Delightful. The funniest part was that my fellow actors and I had fake identities. Identities that, according to the script and company guidelines, were part of the marketing strategy. Photos were taken to be headed to a website announcing this event. So we were... actually part of the company in the eyes of the outside world. Our photos, linked to our roles, were meant to make people believe in our existence and the authenticity of this infomercial. In the end, 8 hours had passed and I had managed to earn 7200 NT, so around 205 euros. It was a celebration. In comparison, after working 10 hours cooking and selling waffles, I had earned 40 euros. So what happened to the commercial? Frankly, I still don't know at this moment. My agent still doesn't receive it. Is it in post-production? Was it abandoned? I'm disappointed not to have seen the final result. And I'm probably not the only one. Bastard. After this experience, I painfully realized that I couldn't stay in Taipei forever. The cost of living in the capital is too high. My rent is quite expensive though. 380 euros without utilities. And the Belgian restaurant job doesn't pay enough. And it's too irregular. These factors made it impossible for me to stay there. I said goodbye to my closest friend and left my share apartment. Before that, I had one more person to see to announce my decision. Fiona remained impassive. After I explained my desire to head east to continue my journey, she didn't know what to say.
I understand.
She whispered softly. I could sense a hint of sadness in her voice. I think she was already quite attached to me. Looking back, I realized it had only been two months since we started seeing each other. But most Taiwanese women like Fiona are very romantic and are looking for Prince Charming. I think she hoped I would abandon my plans to stay with her. We parted with a final bitter kiss. I watched her walk away and descend to the metro station, feeling a slight pang in my heart. Only a return to Taipei will give me the chance to see her again. It's time to head east, known for its beauty and considered the countryside of Taiwan. I'm not visiting in the best season, as it's still winter in January, so it's not warm, it rains often, the wind blows strongly. While the weather is improving in Taipei, with less rain and some fairly warm sunny spells, I encountered unpleasant temperatures again, between 15 and 20 degrees, in hostels without heating, poorly insulated, and with hard as rock mattresses. I couldn't get a restful night's sleep. The fault also lies with Taiwanese people who start yelling at sunrise, or talking, depending on the point of view, I guess. What I can't overlook since my escape to the east are the trash on the beaches and on the roadside. And if I had known at that time that compared to Vietnam or Indonesia, Taiwan is relatively unpolluted, I wouldn't have believed it at first. What also lurks around every corner is unnecessarily trash, but a filthy stray dog ready to bite at any given moment. Indeed, like any other Asian countries, these stray dogs aren't really considered full-fledged members of a household, but are fed by the locals. As a result, they protect what they consider to be their territory, and bark as soon as you set even a millimeter into their environment. I've always hated dogs, and this isn't about to change in Taiwan. I think of rabies, I fear infection at every street corner. No matter, I'll find a way to distract myself and gradually learn to overcome this fear. For the record, I was once chased by a three-legged dog. After trying a barking technique to scare it off, yes, I actually barked back at the dog. I splashed water at it, which made it run away. But enough excitement for now, I continue my adventure, heading east. Next stop, Huanien.
Description
In this eighth episode, it's time to move on from the world of waffles and step into the realm of Taiwanese castings. I'll be sharing my unique experience as an actor in this intriguing environment. It's also the moment to leave the capital and embark on my journey eastward, which means I must bid a fond farewell to Fiona.
Hébergé par Ausha. Visitez ausha.co/politique-de-confidentialite pour plus d'informations.
Transcription
Thank you for joining me in this 8th episode of the Keep Your Wings podcast. We continue our journey in Taiwan. We finally leave the world of waffles to discover Taiwanese castings. After sending a message under the influence of alcohol, I found myself selected to star in a commercial. Keep Your Wings, le podcast. Chapter 8. Under the Spotlight. Merry Christmas and above all, thank God work is over. After this month of hard labor my fingers are burnt all over, my nails are filled with caramel and my forehead is sweating mixed with fryer smoke. The last day of work and ended with taking down the booth and moving all the equipment to the central kitchen. During the drive, I asked Dominique about the future of our collaboration. Despite the overtime pay being less than fair, he was my only source of income until now, so I couldn't easily let go of this job. So, is the restaurant in Taichung opening soon? I asked with interest.
Yeah, in a few days.
He muttered without continuing the conversation. I don't know if you remember, but you mentioned a job opening in Taichung during the interview. What's the status on that now?
I would like to, but I'm not sure yet. We need to see how the restaurant performs first. After that, you can always prepare some waffle dough when I need it. But it won't be on the time, obviously. Listen, I'll let you know soon.
He replied evasively. Resolved, I figured I would probably never hear from Dominique again. Luckily, a few days later, I got a call asking if I wanted to be in a commercial. Back in November, I had taken the advice of a friend and signed up for a modeling agency. The value of foreigners, which had already become apparent over the past two months, was also evident in this field. Desperately seeking new faces, new profiles, read white foreigners, modeling agency rarely turn anyone away.
Even you,
you get a shot.
A friend had joked. And what a punch in the gut, thanks. I decided to highlight my uniqueness and draft a passionate cover letter. Dear sir or madam, my name is Sebastian. I'm a 29-year-old Belgian looking for an opportunity to work as an actor model. I have three years of theater experience. which is giving me confidence and poise. I likely have a profile that doesn't fit the standards you will find at other agencies. My blue eyes and grey hair are my charm, something your other candidates already lack. Motivated, reliable and mature, I also have a solid sense of humor. I hope you noticed. Laughing after writing this letter while half drunk, I decided to send in some photos from a play I had the chance to perform back in 2017. The day after sending my message via Facebook, I received a response inviting me to an interview.
I would like to invite you to our studio so I can explain our line of work and take some photos of you.
A week later, I arrived at the specified location. Upon arrival, Patty, a young Taiwanese woman, explained the rules of this new job and took some photos of me with instruction.
Look at me, more intense with your eyes. and button your shirt.
I try not to laugh. I didn't sign a contract stating what I could and couldn't do, such as not revealing a new product before the hat was officially released or working for a competing agency. Roles that don't require casting are paid less, but even that was already much more than selling waffles and fries. So I only hope for more opportunities. But since signing up in mid-November, I hadn't heard anything from Patty. So my surprise was all the greater when I received a message to shoot the commercial. Of course, I accepted the offer without hesitation. Mike, my roommate, who's used to shooting ads, told me he's making a killing with each appearance. After signing several exclusive contracts with big brands and appearing in numerous ads, driving luxury cars, wearing outrageous outfits or promoting headphones, he has become a go-to for the agency I'm also working with. He loves what he does so much that he even created a Facebook page for his modeling career. His girlfriend, meanwhile, signed a contract with a brand developing high mirror. A smart device that tells you your skin type, or to apply makeup, or to treat sebum issues. Fascinating stuff. A few days later, I found myself in front of the building where the commercial would be filmed. I took the elevator to the 10th floor. It was total chaos. Technicians were running everywhere, agents were shouting for their protégé, and the big boss was strutting around with a megaphone. It was easy to spot the people who were already used to the circus. Real jerks.
The coffee was better last time. Did you see how small the sandwich is? Hard as hell. there's only one dish per person today.
I'm going to do a Facebook live for my fans.
Comments like this made me shake my head in disbelief, especially coming from wannabe stars who mainly do hats for toilet paper and vanilla cookies. Shortly after, I met up with Patty, who introduced me to her group of actors. To be honest, it was a mixed bag. All types of profile were soaked. Tall, thin, bald, short, fat. No one was really left out. Patty was quite pleased. We all landed important roles. who were playing employees of two companies announcing their merger and the creation of a virtual currency to compete with Bitcoin. While some of my colleagues had speaking roles, mostly native English speakers, let's be honest, I was given a non-speaking part. The stylists asked me what I had brought. I showed them my name. my bag of clothes. With one glance, they told me to leave it aside and handed me other outfits. I then went through makeup and hair styling and within half an hour, I was ready to shoot. But the production teams didn't agree and dragged things out. Two hours had passed and still hadn't done anything except gorgon chocolate cake. It took another 30 minutes before filming finally began. The pitch was terribly bad. A stage press conference where the members of the two companies announce the benefits of the merger, the creation of this virtual currency and a final scene between journalists and company members ending up with champagne toast. The filming itself was fun, despite some constraints inherent to this type of work.
Let's do it again. Take 24.
For walking down a hallway. Delightful. The funniest part was that my fellow actors and I had fake identities. Identities that, according to the script and company guidelines, were part of the marketing strategy. Photos were taken to be headed to a website announcing this event. So we were... actually part of the company in the eyes of the outside world. Our photos, linked to our roles, were meant to make people believe in our existence and the authenticity of this infomercial. In the end, 8 hours had passed and I had managed to earn 7200 NT, so around 205 euros. It was a celebration. In comparison, after working 10 hours cooking and selling waffles, I had earned 40 euros. So what happened to the commercial? Frankly, I still don't know at this moment. My agent still doesn't receive it. Is it in post-production? Was it abandoned? I'm disappointed not to have seen the final result. And I'm probably not the only one. Bastard. After this experience, I painfully realized that I couldn't stay in Taipei forever. The cost of living in the capital is too high. My rent is quite expensive though. 380 euros without utilities. And the Belgian restaurant job doesn't pay enough. And it's too irregular. These factors made it impossible for me to stay there. I said goodbye to my closest friend and left my share apartment. Before that, I had one more person to see to announce my decision. Fiona remained impassive. After I explained my desire to head east to continue my journey, she didn't know what to say.
I understand.
She whispered softly. I could sense a hint of sadness in her voice. I think she was already quite attached to me. Looking back, I realized it had only been two months since we started seeing each other. But most Taiwanese women like Fiona are very romantic and are looking for Prince Charming. I think she hoped I would abandon my plans to stay with her. We parted with a final bitter kiss. I watched her walk away and descend to the metro station, feeling a slight pang in my heart. Only a return to Taipei will give me the chance to see her again. It's time to head east, known for its beauty and considered the countryside of Taiwan. I'm not visiting in the best season, as it's still winter in January, so it's not warm, it rains often, the wind blows strongly. While the weather is improving in Taipei, with less rain and some fairly warm sunny spells, I encountered unpleasant temperatures again, between 15 and 20 degrees, in hostels without heating, poorly insulated, and with hard as rock mattresses. I couldn't get a restful night's sleep. The fault also lies with Taiwanese people who start yelling at sunrise, or talking, depending on the point of view, I guess. What I can't overlook since my escape to the east are the trash on the beaches and on the roadside. And if I had known at that time that compared to Vietnam or Indonesia, Taiwan is relatively unpolluted, I wouldn't have believed it at first. What also lurks around every corner is unnecessarily trash, but a filthy stray dog ready to bite at any given moment. Indeed, like any other Asian countries, these stray dogs aren't really considered full-fledged members of a household, but are fed by the locals. As a result, they protect what they consider to be their territory, and bark as soon as you set even a millimeter into their environment. I've always hated dogs, and this isn't about to change in Taiwan. I think of rabies, I fear infection at every street corner. No matter, I'll find a way to distract myself and gradually learn to overcome this fear. For the record, I was once chased by a three-legged dog. After trying a barking technique to scare it off, yes, I actually barked back at the dog. I splashed water at it, which made it run away. But enough excitement for now, I continue my adventure, heading east. Next stop, Huanien.
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Description
In this eighth episode, it's time to move on from the world of waffles and step into the realm of Taiwanese castings. I'll be sharing my unique experience as an actor in this intriguing environment. It's also the moment to leave the capital and embark on my journey eastward, which means I must bid a fond farewell to Fiona.
Hébergé par Ausha. Visitez ausha.co/politique-de-confidentialite pour plus d'informations.
Transcription
Thank you for joining me in this 8th episode of the Keep Your Wings podcast. We continue our journey in Taiwan. We finally leave the world of waffles to discover Taiwanese castings. After sending a message under the influence of alcohol, I found myself selected to star in a commercial. Keep Your Wings, le podcast. Chapter 8. Under the Spotlight. Merry Christmas and above all, thank God work is over. After this month of hard labor my fingers are burnt all over, my nails are filled with caramel and my forehead is sweating mixed with fryer smoke. The last day of work and ended with taking down the booth and moving all the equipment to the central kitchen. During the drive, I asked Dominique about the future of our collaboration. Despite the overtime pay being less than fair, he was my only source of income until now, so I couldn't easily let go of this job. So, is the restaurant in Taichung opening soon? I asked with interest.
Yeah, in a few days.
He muttered without continuing the conversation. I don't know if you remember, but you mentioned a job opening in Taichung during the interview. What's the status on that now?
I would like to, but I'm not sure yet. We need to see how the restaurant performs first. After that, you can always prepare some waffle dough when I need it. But it won't be on the time, obviously. Listen, I'll let you know soon.
He replied evasively. Resolved, I figured I would probably never hear from Dominique again. Luckily, a few days later, I got a call asking if I wanted to be in a commercial. Back in November, I had taken the advice of a friend and signed up for a modeling agency. The value of foreigners, which had already become apparent over the past two months, was also evident in this field. Desperately seeking new faces, new profiles, read white foreigners, modeling agency rarely turn anyone away.
Even you,
you get a shot.
A friend had joked. And what a punch in the gut, thanks. I decided to highlight my uniqueness and draft a passionate cover letter. Dear sir or madam, my name is Sebastian. I'm a 29-year-old Belgian looking for an opportunity to work as an actor model. I have three years of theater experience. which is giving me confidence and poise. I likely have a profile that doesn't fit the standards you will find at other agencies. My blue eyes and grey hair are my charm, something your other candidates already lack. Motivated, reliable and mature, I also have a solid sense of humor. I hope you noticed. Laughing after writing this letter while half drunk, I decided to send in some photos from a play I had the chance to perform back in 2017. The day after sending my message via Facebook, I received a response inviting me to an interview.
I would like to invite you to our studio so I can explain our line of work and take some photos of you.
A week later, I arrived at the specified location. Upon arrival, Patty, a young Taiwanese woman, explained the rules of this new job and took some photos of me with instruction.
Look at me, more intense with your eyes. and button your shirt.
I try not to laugh. I didn't sign a contract stating what I could and couldn't do, such as not revealing a new product before the hat was officially released or working for a competing agency. Roles that don't require casting are paid less, but even that was already much more than selling waffles and fries. So I only hope for more opportunities. But since signing up in mid-November, I hadn't heard anything from Patty. So my surprise was all the greater when I received a message to shoot the commercial. Of course, I accepted the offer without hesitation. Mike, my roommate, who's used to shooting ads, told me he's making a killing with each appearance. After signing several exclusive contracts with big brands and appearing in numerous ads, driving luxury cars, wearing outrageous outfits or promoting headphones, he has become a go-to for the agency I'm also working with. He loves what he does so much that he even created a Facebook page for his modeling career. His girlfriend, meanwhile, signed a contract with a brand developing high mirror. A smart device that tells you your skin type, or to apply makeup, or to treat sebum issues. Fascinating stuff. A few days later, I found myself in front of the building where the commercial would be filmed. I took the elevator to the 10th floor. It was total chaos. Technicians were running everywhere, agents were shouting for their protégé, and the big boss was strutting around with a megaphone. It was easy to spot the people who were already used to the circus. Real jerks.
The coffee was better last time. Did you see how small the sandwich is? Hard as hell. there's only one dish per person today.
I'm going to do a Facebook live for my fans.
Comments like this made me shake my head in disbelief, especially coming from wannabe stars who mainly do hats for toilet paper and vanilla cookies. Shortly after, I met up with Patty, who introduced me to her group of actors. To be honest, it was a mixed bag. All types of profile were soaked. Tall, thin, bald, short, fat. No one was really left out. Patty was quite pleased. We all landed important roles. who were playing employees of two companies announcing their merger and the creation of a virtual currency to compete with Bitcoin. While some of my colleagues had speaking roles, mostly native English speakers, let's be honest, I was given a non-speaking part. The stylists asked me what I had brought. I showed them my name. my bag of clothes. With one glance, they told me to leave it aside and handed me other outfits. I then went through makeup and hair styling and within half an hour, I was ready to shoot. But the production teams didn't agree and dragged things out. Two hours had passed and still hadn't done anything except gorgon chocolate cake. It took another 30 minutes before filming finally began. The pitch was terribly bad. A stage press conference where the members of the two companies announce the benefits of the merger, the creation of this virtual currency and a final scene between journalists and company members ending up with champagne toast. The filming itself was fun, despite some constraints inherent to this type of work.
Let's do it again. Take 24.
For walking down a hallway. Delightful. The funniest part was that my fellow actors and I had fake identities. Identities that, according to the script and company guidelines, were part of the marketing strategy. Photos were taken to be headed to a website announcing this event. So we were... actually part of the company in the eyes of the outside world. Our photos, linked to our roles, were meant to make people believe in our existence and the authenticity of this infomercial. In the end, 8 hours had passed and I had managed to earn 7200 NT, so around 205 euros. It was a celebration. In comparison, after working 10 hours cooking and selling waffles, I had earned 40 euros. So what happened to the commercial? Frankly, I still don't know at this moment. My agent still doesn't receive it. Is it in post-production? Was it abandoned? I'm disappointed not to have seen the final result. And I'm probably not the only one. Bastard. After this experience, I painfully realized that I couldn't stay in Taipei forever. The cost of living in the capital is too high. My rent is quite expensive though. 380 euros without utilities. And the Belgian restaurant job doesn't pay enough. And it's too irregular. These factors made it impossible for me to stay there. I said goodbye to my closest friend and left my share apartment. Before that, I had one more person to see to announce my decision. Fiona remained impassive. After I explained my desire to head east to continue my journey, she didn't know what to say.
I understand.
She whispered softly. I could sense a hint of sadness in her voice. I think she was already quite attached to me. Looking back, I realized it had only been two months since we started seeing each other. But most Taiwanese women like Fiona are very romantic and are looking for Prince Charming. I think she hoped I would abandon my plans to stay with her. We parted with a final bitter kiss. I watched her walk away and descend to the metro station, feeling a slight pang in my heart. Only a return to Taipei will give me the chance to see her again. It's time to head east, known for its beauty and considered the countryside of Taiwan. I'm not visiting in the best season, as it's still winter in January, so it's not warm, it rains often, the wind blows strongly. While the weather is improving in Taipei, with less rain and some fairly warm sunny spells, I encountered unpleasant temperatures again, between 15 and 20 degrees, in hostels without heating, poorly insulated, and with hard as rock mattresses. I couldn't get a restful night's sleep. The fault also lies with Taiwanese people who start yelling at sunrise, or talking, depending on the point of view, I guess. What I can't overlook since my escape to the east are the trash on the beaches and on the roadside. And if I had known at that time that compared to Vietnam or Indonesia, Taiwan is relatively unpolluted, I wouldn't have believed it at first. What also lurks around every corner is unnecessarily trash, but a filthy stray dog ready to bite at any given moment. Indeed, like any other Asian countries, these stray dogs aren't really considered full-fledged members of a household, but are fed by the locals. As a result, they protect what they consider to be their territory, and bark as soon as you set even a millimeter into their environment. I've always hated dogs, and this isn't about to change in Taiwan. I think of rabies, I fear infection at every street corner. No matter, I'll find a way to distract myself and gradually learn to overcome this fear. For the record, I was once chased by a three-legged dog. After trying a barking technique to scare it off, yes, I actually barked back at the dog. I splashed water at it, which made it run away. But enough excitement for now, I continue my adventure, heading east. Next stop, Huanien.
Description
In this eighth episode, it's time to move on from the world of waffles and step into the realm of Taiwanese castings. I'll be sharing my unique experience as an actor in this intriguing environment. It's also the moment to leave the capital and embark on my journey eastward, which means I must bid a fond farewell to Fiona.
Hébergé par Ausha. Visitez ausha.co/politique-de-confidentialite pour plus d'informations.
Transcription
Thank you for joining me in this 8th episode of the Keep Your Wings podcast. We continue our journey in Taiwan. We finally leave the world of waffles to discover Taiwanese castings. After sending a message under the influence of alcohol, I found myself selected to star in a commercial. Keep Your Wings, le podcast. Chapter 8. Under the Spotlight. Merry Christmas and above all, thank God work is over. After this month of hard labor my fingers are burnt all over, my nails are filled with caramel and my forehead is sweating mixed with fryer smoke. The last day of work and ended with taking down the booth and moving all the equipment to the central kitchen. During the drive, I asked Dominique about the future of our collaboration. Despite the overtime pay being less than fair, he was my only source of income until now, so I couldn't easily let go of this job. So, is the restaurant in Taichung opening soon? I asked with interest.
Yeah, in a few days.
He muttered without continuing the conversation. I don't know if you remember, but you mentioned a job opening in Taichung during the interview. What's the status on that now?
I would like to, but I'm not sure yet. We need to see how the restaurant performs first. After that, you can always prepare some waffle dough when I need it. But it won't be on the time, obviously. Listen, I'll let you know soon.
He replied evasively. Resolved, I figured I would probably never hear from Dominique again. Luckily, a few days later, I got a call asking if I wanted to be in a commercial. Back in November, I had taken the advice of a friend and signed up for a modeling agency. The value of foreigners, which had already become apparent over the past two months, was also evident in this field. Desperately seeking new faces, new profiles, read white foreigners, modeling agency rarely turn anyone away.
Even you,
you get a shot.
A friend had joked. And what a punch in the gut, thanks. I decided to highlight my uniqueness and draft a passionate cover letter. Dear sir or madam, my name is Sebastian. I'm a 29-year-old Belgian looking for an opportunity to work as an actor model. I have three years of theater experience. which is giving me confidence and poise. I likely have a profile that doesn't fit the standards you will find at other agencies. My blue eyes and grey hair are my charm, something your other candidates already lack. Motivated, reliable and mature, I also have a solid sense of humor. I hope you noticed. Laughing after writing this letter while half drunk, I decided to send in some photos from a play I had the chance to perform back in 2017. The day after sending my message via Facebook, I received a response inviting me to an interview.
I would like to invite you to our studio so I can explain our line of work and take some photos of you.
A week later, I arrived at the specified location. Upon arrival, Patty, a young Taiwanese woman, explained the rules of this new job and took some photos of me with instruction.
Look at me, more intense with your eyes. and button your shirt.
I try not to laugh. I didn't sign a contract stating what I could and couldn't do, such as not revealing a new product before the hat was officially released or working for a competing agency. Roles that don't require casting are paid less, but even that was already much more than selling waffles and fries. So I only hope for more opportunities. But since signing up in mid-November, I hadn't heard anything from Patty. So my surprise was all the greater when I received a message to shoot the commercial. Of course, I accepted the offer without hesitation. Mike, my roommate, who's used to shooting ads, told me he's making a killing with each appearance. After signing several exclusive contracts with big brands and appearing in numerous ads, driving luxury cars, wearing outrageous outfits or promoting headphones, he has become a go-to for the agency I'm also working with. He loves what he does so much that he even created a Facebook page for his modeling career. His girlfriend, meanwhile, signed a contract with a brand developing high mirror. A smart device that tells you your skin type, or to apply makeup, or to treat sebum issues. Fascinating stuff. A few days later, I found myself in front of the building where the commercial would be filmed. I took the elevator to the 10th floor. It was total chaos. Technicians were running everywhere, agents were shouting for their protégé, and the big boss was strutting around with a megaphone. It was easy to spot the people who were already used to the circus. Real jerks.
The coffee was better last time. Did you see how small the sandwich is? Hard as hell. there's only one dish per person today.
I'm going to do a Facebook live for my fans.
Comments like this made me shake my head in disbelief, especially coming from wannabe stars who mainly do hats for toilet paper and vanilla cookies. Shortly after, I met up with Patty, who introduced me to her group of actors. To be honest, it was a mixed bag. All types of profile were soaked. Tall, thin, bald, short, fat. No one was really left out. Patty was quite pleased. We all landed important roles. who were playing employees of two companies announcing their merger and the creation of a virtual currency to compete with Bitcoin. While some of my colleagues had speaking roles, mostly native English speakers, let's be honest, I was given a non-speaking part. The stylists asked me what I had brought. I showed them my name. my bag of clothes. With one glance, they told me to leave it aside and handed me other outfits. I then went through makeup and hair styling and within half an hour, I was ready to shoot. But the production teams didn't agree and dragged things out. Two hours had passed and still hadn't done anything except gorgon chocolate cake. It took another 30 minutes before filming finally began. The pitch was terribly bad. A stage press conference where the members of the two companies announce the benefits of the merger, the creation of this virtual currency and a final scene between journalists and company members ending up with champagne toast. The filming itself was fun, despite some constraints inherent to this type of work.
Let's do it again. Take 24.
For walking down a hallway. Delightful. The funniest part was that my fellow actors and I had fake identities. Identities that, according to the script and company guidelines, were part of the marketing strategy. Photos were taken to be headed to a website announcing this event. So we were... actually part of the company in the eyes of the outside world. Our photos, linked to our roles, were meant to make people believe in our existence and the authenticity of this infomercial. In the end, 8 hours had passed and I had managed to earn 7200 NT, so around 205 euros. It was a celebration. In comparison, after working 10 hours cooking and selling waffles, I had earned 40 euros. So what happened to the commercial? Frankly, I still don't know at this moment. My agent still doesn't receive it. Is it in post-production? Was it abandoned? I'm disappointed not to have seen the final result. And I'm probably not the only one. Bastard. After this experience, I painfully realized that I couldn't stay in Taipei forever. The cost of living in the capital is too high. My rent is quite expensive though. 380 euros without utilities. And the Belgian restaurant job doesn't pay enough. And it's too irregular. These factors made it impossible for me to stay there. I said goodbye to my closest friend and left my share apartment. Before that, I had one more person to see to announce my decision. Fiona remained impassive. After I explained my desire to head east to continue my journey, she didn't know what to say.
I understand.
She whispered softly. I could sense a hint of sadness in her voice. I think she was already quite attached to me. Looking back, I realized it had only been two months since we started seeing each other. But most Taiwanese women like Fiona are very romantic and are looking for Prince Charming. I think she hoped I would abandon my plans to stay with her. We parted with a final bitter kiss. I watched her walk away and descend to the metro station, feeling a slight pang in my heart. Only a return to Taipei will give me the chance to see her again. It's time to head east, known for its beauty and considered the countryside of Taiwan. I'm not visiting in the best season, as it's still winter in January, so it's not warm, it rains often, the wind blows strongly. While the weather is improving in Taipei, with less rain and some fairly warm sunny spells, I encountered unpleasant temperatures again, between 15 and 20 degrees, in hostels without heating, poorly insulated, and with hard as rock mattresses. I couldn't get a restful night's sleep. The fault also lies with Taiwanese people who start yelling at sunrise, or talking, depending on the point of view, I guess. What I can't overlook since my escape to the east are the trash on the beaches and on the roadside. And if I had known at that time that compared to Vietnam or Indonesia, Taiwan is relatively unpolluted, I wouldn't have believed it at first. What also lurks around every corner is unnecessarily trash, but a filthy stray dog ready to bite at any given moment. Indeed, like any other Asian countries, these stray dogs aren't really considered full-fledged members of a household, but are fed by the locals. As a result, they protect what they consider to be their territory, and bark as soon as you set even a millimeter into their environment. I've always hated dogs, and this isn't about to change in Taiwan. I think of rabies, I fear infection at every street corner. No matter, I'll find a way to distract myself and gradually learn to overcome this fear. For the record, I was once chased by a three-legged dog. After trying a barking technique to scare it off, yes, I actually barked back at the dog. I splashed water at it, which made it run away. But enough excitement for now, I continue my adventure, heading east. Next stop, Huanien.
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