It was already close to ten o’clock at night, yet Stella remained unreachable. After a few missed calls, her phone finally stopped ringing. She had completely forgotten that Weston was waiting for her at home.
After filming her first segment, Bradley was thoroughly impressed with her performance. He pointed out a few areas for improvement and had her try the scene again, following his guidance. Stella’s first attempt had been raw and unrefined—after all, it was her first time acting, and she didn’t know how to move in front of the camera. However, Bradley was quick to notice the emotions and expressions she conveyed. He saw great potential in her, and with just a bit of basic direction, she improved dramatically.
In his eyes, she was a talented actress.
When they finished, Bradley asked, “How did you feel about your performance?”
Stella, uncertain about his assessment, replied, “I’m not too sure…”
“Did you feel like you managed to get into character?”
“I suppose I did, a little.”
Bradley chuckled. “You’re very conservative with your words. Why the lack of confidence in yourself?”
Stella looked slightly troubled. “Am I?”
She thought for a moment before adding, “I really don’t have any experience in this. I have no idea what a truly professional performance is like. So, I’m not sure how I did…”
“You did very well,” Bradley said with certainty. “You’re extremely talented. Are you sure you don’t want to consider this career path?”
His demeanor had shifted from the usual sternness he exhibited on set to a much milder, kinder tone as he spoke to Stella.
Stella hesitated, about to shake her head in rejection, but Bradley quickly cut her off, clearly anticipating her response. “Don’t, don’t. I know you’re about to reject me again!”
He rubbed between his brows, a bit amused by the situation. As a well-known director in the industry, with numerous hit films under his belt, he was accustomed to being approached by famous actors and celebrities. Yet here he was, trying to convince an amateur with no acting experience to join his cast.
Curiosity got the best of him, and he asked, “May I ask what job you do? I’m surprised you can turn down such a great opportunity in the entertainment industry.”
Stella replied, “I’m just a dance teacher, teaching children at a training center.”
Bradley nodded thoughtfully, then asked, “How well are you paid?”
Stella scratched her head, unsure of where this conversation was heading. “Not bad, our boss is pretty generous.”
She gave him a rough figure, to which Bradley raised an eyebrow. “Do you know that you could make that amount by filming just one episode of a basic web drama?”
Stella’s eyes widened in shock. “Really?”
She was stunned. She had always known the entertainment industry was lucrative, but she assumed that kind of pay was reserved for the big stars. Amateurs like her were typically cast as extras, which meant long hours of waiting with little to show for it. Extras often earned just 15 to 30 dollars a day—if they even got a chance to act at all.
Bradley, noticing the disbelief on her face, smirked. “You don’t believe me?”
Stella rubbed her nose, still processing the idea. “It’s not that… I just don’t think I’m of that high a standard…”
She still couldn’t shake the mindset that only famous celebrities earned that much.
Skip to content