Director Rupert paused briefly.
"Filming a movie of this scale is like going through a long campaign. We always encounter some unforeseen challenges."
Many core crew members who were in the know involuntarily let their gazes drift toward Cassius, who was standing beside Kristen.
Cassius felt those eyes on him, but he kept his expression calm, merely swirling the champagne in his glass slightly.
Director Rupert didn't look at Cassius. His gaze swept across the entire room, his voice steady.
"Here, I must extend a special thanks to a friend. He wasn't an official member of our crew, but in a crucial moment of crisis, he displayed extraordinary courage and composure, averting a potential tragedy."
"His actions protected a very important member of our crew and safeguarded the integrity of our big family."
He didn't mention a name, nor the specific incident.
But everyone present understood tacitly.
Although the incident with the falling spotlight was quickly contained and news hadn't leaked on a large scale, the insiders all knew how close a call it was that day.
Mentioning the protection of a "very important member" naturally made everyone think of the female production assistant who was nearly crushed.
The leads, Kristen and Chris, who were not far away, were also spared because of it.
After speaking, Director Rupert gave a slight nod in Cassius's general direction, then raised his glass.
In an instant, warm and sustained applause erupted in the banquet hall.
This applause wasn't just etiquette; it carried the gratitude of survivors.
Many crew members, especially those who were on set that day, cast warm and approving glances at Cassius.
Amidst the applause, Kristen quietly nudged Cassius with her elbow, a faint smile of shared pride on her lips as she whispered:
"Hear that? Big hero."
Cassius could feel a general, slight increase in the [Favorability] values around him, especially from the direction of the crew members.
Maintaining a polite smile, he raised his glass in return to Director Rupert and the applauding crowd.
[Rupert Sanders Favorability +5, Current Favorability: 60]
[Crew Members (Group) Average Favorability Significantly Increased]
The director's words made Cassius feel more comfortable than being dragged on stage for praise directly.
This showed the crew's maturity in handling sensitive issues and also gave him enough respect and space.
The speech segment ended in a warm atmosphere. Music played again, and the banquet hall returned to its previous liveliness.
The gaffer walked over to clink glasses with him. "Beautiful job, bro!"
The female production assistant he saved also cast a grateful look at him from afar, her favorability score as high as [88].
Kristen watched him navigate the crowd with ease, sometimes composed, sometimes with his eyes shining slightly, and couldn't help but smile.
This guy was sometimes terrifyingly mature, and other times like a child who found a new toy.
The wrap party dispersed before midnight.
Back at the now-familiar mansion in Beverly Hills, Cassius took off his suit jacket, which smelled of smoke and alcohol, tossed it onto the expensive sofa in the living room, and let out a long breath.
It was fine at first, but later, as more and more people sought him out for drinks, he got exhausted!
His face was stiff from smiling!
He now somewhat understood the actors who handled such occasions with ease!
He also understood why there were so many attribute orbs to pick up at cocktail parties!
Life is like a play; it all depends on acting!
For Cassius, who had just entered this circle, dealing with such occasions was more tiring than squatting on the street in Santa Monica all day waiting for a gig.
"Can I apply to leave early for the next event like this?"
He loosened his tie and complained to Kristen, who was kicking off her high heels.
Kristen stepped onto the carpet with bare feet, rolling her eyes at him.
"Be content. Do you know how many people want to squeeze into this circle but can't find the door?"
She walked to the mini-bar, poured herself a glass of water, and tossed a bottle of mineral water to Cassius.
"Thanks!"
Cassius caught it, unscrewed the cap, and took a few gulps.
The cold water slid down his throat, dispelling some of the fatigue.
He walked to the sofa and sat down, habitually taking out his phone to check emails.
Rob had emailed in the afternoon saying the payment from the Snow White production had arrived and told him to check it.
Rob had been handling Cassius's contracts before, and now he was basically half an agent!
Rob was happy to do it, too.
Cassius's recent traffic had brought Rob widespread praise, and his own status in the industry was rising along with it!
Cassius opened his mobile banking app.
Logged in.
When he saw the account balance displayed on the screen, his fingers holding the phone tightened slightly, and his breath hitched for half a second.
Ones, tens, hundreds, thousands, ten thousands, hundred thousands...
$115,387.42
Cassius stared at the string of numbers without blinking.
He knew the Snow White production paid $15,000 after tax for the role of the Elf Scout. This wasn't high for a union actor, but for him, it was a huge sum.
But what was with the extra hundred grand?
"What are you looking at? Your eyes are glazed over."
Kristen leaned in, glancing curiously at his phone screen.
Then she whistled. "Wow! It arrived? They moved pretty fast."
She clearly knew the inside story.
"What's with this hundred thousand? Did accounting make a mistake?"
Cassius pointed at the excess amount and looked at her.
He didn't want the IRS inviting him for tea because a huge sum of money inexplicably appeared in his account.
"Relax, it's after tax!"
Kristen waved her hand with a tone that suggested it was just pocket change. She sat down next to him, curling her legs up.
"That's a bonus from Rupert and the producers. Thanks for what you did on set... well, you know."
Cassius paused before realizing she was talking about the falling spotlight incident.
"This is way too much!" He frowned.
A hundred thousand dollars!
Just for a warning shout?
Earning this money felt a bit unreal to him.
"Too much?"
Kristen acted like she heard something funny.
"Do you know how much the production would have to pay if someone actually got hit?"
"How much is lost for a day of halted production?"
"How much would the subsequent PR crisis cost?"
She counted on her fingers.
"And you didn't just save a PA. Chris and I weren't standing far away either. This money isn't even a fraction of their PR budget."
She patted Cassius's shoulder, her tone teasing.
"Take it, hero. You deserve it. One of the rules of Hollywood: gratitude paid promptly is much more practical than belated praise!"
Cassius looked at the account balance and was silent for a few seconds.
Compared to empty thanks, cold hard cash indeed showed more sincerity.
With this money, plus the previous payments from Insidious and Dark Currents, after deducting rent, living expenses, and the cost of getting his SAG card, he had actually saved up a net worth of nearly $110,000.
For a former bottom-rung extra who was thrilled over a $20 corpse role a few months ago and whose account rarely exceeded three digits, this was simply a fortune.
An indescribable sense of security rose from the bottom of his heart.
I've finally fucking got a foothold!
Kristen tilted her head to look at him and suddenly smiled.
"How is it? Does it feel amazing to earn six figures on your own for the first time?"
She was more excited than when she got her own paycheck.
Cassius nodded honestly. "Feels like I can finally breathe!"
Before, he really had to tighten his belt, opening his eyes every day wondering where to get money. Now at least he didn't have to worry about next month's rent and food.
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