@lemon lover:

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yingjiang_County

@RealDeal: In general, no. In fact, it's a pretty welcoming place overall.

There are a few areas/situations I do try to avoid. Kundu has had some nasty situations with foreigners getting jumped by drunken clubgoers. Other bar areas known for cheap drinks by the dozen should also be avoided in general, unless with a group of friends.

Other than that, it's much safer than most Western cities.

Also, if anyone does take this job, PAY ATTENTION:

When you join the cast, do not, under any circumstances, let your passport out of your sight. Sure, they'll need it to register you with the police and whatnot, but just go with them when that happens. If they have control of your passport, then if things break down, you can't just walk away.

@Peter99: a big part of that is the kinds of shows that get shot in Yunnan.

@Alien: You're right. Most of my experience has been for speaking roles.

The reason I said so much about schedule is that you're going to be subject to the whims of the directors, with absolutely no control over time. It's best to define in advance exactly what counts as an hour and what counts as a day, so you can sit around and read while the director and cinematographer argue on set and not worry about these things.

@Peter99: that has nothing to do with whether it's propaganda. It's all about whether the agent, casting director or production company wants to stiff you. The content of the show, and even the quality of shooting will tell you nothing about that. (Source: I acted in a dozen different shows back in the day).

Everyone else: The post looks legitimate, but I wouldn't just send the passport without meeting them.

It's likely they need the passport for one of two reasons:

- to get permission to bring that many foreigners to a border region for that many days. They'll probably have to put something on file with the army border guard.

- to file taxes. The tax bureau doesn't care if you have the right visa. They'll take your taxes either way. The company, however, needs to withhold the proper amount of tax every time they pay an individual. Otherwise, they have to buy a pile of fapiaos to cover it.

If you're interested in the job, this is something you should ask about. Will they pay your taxes? Will they subtract it from the 600 RMB, or is the 600 RMB an after-tax figure? (Whatever the answer, make sure it says so in the contract).

Also, clarify from the beginning whether or not they will subtract an agent's fee from the stated price.

Also, it says 300 for a half day, 600 for a full day. At how many hours does it begin to count as a full day? Does the time spent on the bus or waiting on set count? It damn well should. Otherwise, you could be on a bus two hours each way to get to the set, then sit around the set for two hours before filming for an hour, and have them claim it as a half day.

Also, I usually negotiated an upper limit for what counts as a "full day." Sometimes you'll be on the set for 15 hours, and they won't want to compensate you for overtime.

You should get a contract (and it MUST be stamped by the company). This isn't iron-clad, because you may not have the right to enter into contracts in China, but it should be enough to cover your ass if they try to screw you over.

Unfortunately, as an extra, they probably won't want to give you a lot of the conditions I described above. Just something to keep in mind.

Also, bring a small folding chair and plenty to read. You WILL be spending most of your time waiting around, and no one in the crew will have time to find you a seat or entertain you.