I know, I know, I said I was going to take a break, but I hadn't realized how many threads there were on this and how out of hand the "discussion" had gotten. But this is it, I promise.

As for all the discussion about contracts, I should point out that the eight or nine foreign extras who were hired to work the day I met Jasmine had all been working on this movie for a couple of weeks already and had worked longer hours and been paid less than promised by Jasmine on several occasions. They were so frustrated at being repeatedly lied to by her that they asked me, as the eldest one there that day, I suppose (I am [18 x 3] + 2!), to write a simple contract stating the hourly rate and payment schedule, which I did. After about an hour of trying to get her to read it and having her ignore us, she finally signed it and threw it in my face with a few choice epitaphs. What the well meaning people on this and the other threads that Jasmine started don't understand is that Jasmine doesn't need advice about contracts because her fundamental lack of decency makes her terrified of them. And of course, at the end of the day she didn't honor the contract that she had signed only that morning, to no one's surprise.

All this whining by Jasmine about how tough it is to be an agent is really of no concern to the people she hires, whether they be daily extras, professional actors, Chinese, foreign, have work visas or not. The people she hires have no control over the people she works for. She needs to figure out a way to do her job in a professional manner or do something else.

One last thing; I am also surprised to see the depth of animosity between some Chinese and foreigners in Kunming expressed on these threads. I hope they are the minority. Speaking for myself, with one notable exception (guess who?), I have been overwhelmed with kindness, generosity and true friendship by the vast majority of Chinese I have met during my time here. Maybe exercising good judgment about who you associate with is a good idea no matter where on the planet you live, whether you are a foreigner or a local in whatever country you find yourself. I wouldn't trade my Kunming experience and my wonderful Chinese friends for anything. And I do feel very lucky to be a foreigner in China at this time, but I don't think I'm spoiled. I work hard at what I do, give good value for money, and make much less than I would in my home country. And it's pointless to compare my salary with my Chinese counterparts, because I have skills that they simply don't. I'm not putting them down, that's just the reality of the situation. That's why the government issues work visas and foreign expert certificates, because right now, China needs them. It's as simple as that.

*

o

Just for the record:

I haven't posted again on this thread until now because my internet has been out for the last week (downstairs neighbor disconnected me by accident and then left town!)

I have had a legal working visa the whole three and a half years I have been in Kunming. However, I don't believe it is ethical to offer foreigners jobs who don't have working visas and then use that fact to screw them over. This is exactly the kind of practice that I was trying to warn people about.

I posted the link to Jasmine's photo out of concern that she might simply change her English nickname to avoid the consequences of her unethical behavior in the future. Although, if, as she claims, her business is so fraught with difficulties and she, in fact, is the one who is always being cheated, why does she continue? Because she is doing very well indeed, at least monetarily. And there is no law against posting people's photos on the internet. It's actually a perfectly nice one, I think. There are laws against slander, of course, so Jasmine, if you can prove that anything I said isn't true, knock yourself out. It was your latest escapade involving Ira (who I do know personally) that prompted me to post the warning, but it was my own first hand experience with you a year and a half ago that I drew on to make my judgment about you as a liar and a con-artist, so we're not talking about a "rumor". I was there. I lived it. And there were eight or nine witnesses who will happily attest to the facts of the matter.

As for all the discussion about contracts, I should point out that the eight or nine foreign extras who were hired to work the day I met Jasmine had all been working on this movie for a couple of weeks already and had worked longer hours and been paid less than promised by Jasmine on several occasions. They were so frustrated at being repeatedly lied to by her that they asked me, as the eldest one there that day, I suppose (I am [18 x 3] + 2!), to write a simple contract stating the hourly rate and payment schedule, which I did. After about an hour of trying to get her to read it and having her ignore us, she finally signed it and threw it in my face with a few choice epitaphs. What the well meaning people on this and the other threads that Jasmine started don't understand is that Jasmine doesn't need advice about contracts because her fundamental lack of decency makes her terrified of them. And of course, at the end of the day she didn't honor the contract that she had signed only that morning, to no one's surprise.

All this whining by Jasmine about how tough it is to be an agent is really of no concern to the people she hires, whether they be daily extras, professional actors, Chinese, foreign, have work visas or not. The people she hires have no control over the people she works for. She needs to figure out a way to do her job in a professional manner or do something else.

I probably shouldn't be, but I am a little shocked by the comments from people who say things like "get a legitimate job" or "maybe the complainer should be prosecuted for not paying taxes or not having a business license". I have a legitimate, full time job and I pay taxes. Jasmine approached me, not the other way around, and begged me to "save" her in her emergency because they needed more actors with no prior notice. She could have cared less about who had a visa or whether taxes were being paid (by her or anyone else). If anyone should be concerned about the police, it should be her. Not that the police are likely to give a damn about any of this tiresomeness.

One last thing; I am also surprised to see the depth of animosity between some Chinese and foreigners in Kunming expressed on these threads. I hope they are the minority. Speaking for myself, with one notable exception (guess who?), I have been overwhelmed with kindness, generosity and true friendship by the vast majority of Chinese I have met during my time here. Maybe exercising good judgment about who you associate with is a good idea no matter where on the planet you live, whether you are a foreigner or a local in whatever country you find yourself. I wouldn't trade my Kunming experience and my wonderful Chinese friends for anything. And I do feel very lucky to be a foreigner in China at this time, but I don't think I'm spoiled. I work hard at what I do, give good value for money, and make much less than I would in my home country. And it's pointless to compare my salary with my Chinese counterparts, because I have skills that they simply don't. I'm not putting them down, that's just the reality of the situation. That's why the government issues work visas and foreign expert certificates, because right now, China needs them. It's as simple as that.

Thanks for listening. Think I'll take a break from reading forums for a while. I discovered that not having internet for a week was actually kind of liberating and peaceful.

Peace

Just for the record:

I haven't posted again on this thread until now because my internet has been out for the last week (downstairs neighbor disconnected me by accident and then left town!)

I have had a legal working visa the whole three and a half years I have been in Kunming. However, I don't believe it is ethical to offer foreigners jobs who don't have working visas and then use that fact to screw them over. This is exactly the kind of practice that I was trying to warn people about.

I posted the link to Jasmine's photo out of concern that she might simply change her English nickname to avoid the consequences of her unethical behavior in the future. Although, if, as she claims, her business is so fraught with difficulties and she, in fact, is the one who is always being cheated, why does she continue? Because she is doing very well indeed, at least monetarily. And there is no law against posting people's photos on the internet. It's actually a perfectly nice one, I think. There are laws against slander, of course, so Jasmine, if you can prove that anything I said isn't true, knock yourself out. It was your latest escapade involving Ira (who I do know personally) that prompted me to post the warning, but it was my own first hand experience with you a year and a half ago that I drew on to make my judgment about you as a liar and a con-artist, so we're not talking about a "rumor". I was there. I lived it. And there were eight or nine witnesses who will happily attest to the facts of the matter.

I probably shouldn't be, but I am a little shocked by the comments from people who say things like "get a legitimate job" or "maybe the complainer should be prosecuted for not paying taxes or not having a business license". I have a legitimate, full time job and I pay taxes. Jasmine approached me, not the other way around, and begged me to "save" her in her emergency because they needed more actors with no prior notice. She could have cared less about who had a visa or whether taxes were being paid (by her or anyone else). If anyone should be concerned about the police, it should be her. Not that the police are likely to give a damn about any of this tiresomeness.

Thanks for listening. Think I'll take a break from reading forums for a while. I discovered that not having internet for a week was actually kind of liberating and peaceful.

Peace

I have decided to post a warning to foreigners in Kunming about a Chinese woman who has been operating here for quite some time now, after hearing from a friend who was recently cheated out of 10,000 kuai by her(!!!). This con-artist's English name is Jasmine. She trawls the cafes and bars where foreigners hang out looking for people to do modeling and acting gigs and promises good pay. When the job is finished, she either pays much less than promised or not at all and disappears under the rock she crawled out from under until the next time she needs someone to defraud. She has cheated me and several people I know personally in the last two years in Kunming. You can link to her photo here: www.flickr.com/photos/39772445@N00/5725919814/

You've been warned!

You can also get decaf coffee drinks at Mazagran if you can handle the country and western music.