A new business has recently come into being in China, which involves searching for the stars of the future.

Thanks to the rise of a new business-the talent agency-- it's no longer difficult in China for those who dream of becoming stars.

As you walk along the street or chat in a bar, don't be surprised if a stranger approaches you with a business card and says, "Hi, I work for Trans Continental Talent, the world's largest talent agency. I think you have the potential to be a gifted model."

Pu Yang, a Talent Scout

Trans Continental Talent (TCT), the world's largest company in search of stars, first opened for business in Shanghai.

Pu Yang, one of TCT's best employees in Shanghai, discovers an average of 50 potential stars a week. As he has become more experienced, he has, in turn, become more professional and particular about whom he chooses to approach. "Now I can judge people from the front, back, side, and even by the way they walk," Pu says. "I can also guess whether a target is approachable or not from his/her facial expression and their walking speed. I enjoy observing people and guessing what's on their minds."
Pu Yang is only one of the 30 talent scouts in Shanghai who hang around streets, malls, and bars "hunting."

What kinds of people are suitable for star searching, then? "The most important thing is to have sharp eyes," explains Wu Wei, manager of TCT's Beijing Branch. "He must be capable of finding treasures in the field. Dealing with strangers, he must have a strong affinity with people and be good at communicating. And he must be good looking, of course."

The company trains its employees and gives them chances to practice before they start work in earnest.
Just Waiting To Be Found

The talent scouts pick out potential stars from a sea of people, who will then be interviewed by experts at TCT. The company will forward the detailed information of the selected candidates to companies that have signed contracts with TCT, including agents, photographers, magazines, ad companies, and other clients.

It was interviewing day when I first visited their office in Beijing. Fashionable young men and women occupied the passageway; each of them had various forms in their hands. On the walls were pictures of film stars and fashion models. "Maybe they are the products of TCT," I thought to myself.
Since talent searching is a new concept in China, many of the candidates were very careful not to be too trusting.

"I didn't think too much when they gave me their business card and told me that their company was reliable," a young man from the Beijing Film College said. "I'm here to see how it works."
"I never expected to be involved in show business," a young lady from a travel agency told me. "I'm just curious. I won't be quitting my job, though."

There were also people there who wanted to try their luck at possibly realizing their dream of becoming stars.

"I've been dreaming of becoming a fashion model or an actor," remarked a coach from a health center. "I'm here to see if I have a chance." "But, will you pay for their services?" I asked. "I'll think about it," he replied. "I won't pay even if I'm chosen," a young lady next to him interjected. "I don't think that I know them well enough."

The TCT Way

As China's first talent agency, TCT knows what it has to offer compared to other agents. First, it provides a stage for newly rising stars to excel. The key to any of the candidates' success lies in their personal talent and performance. Second, the agency's partners include not only agent companies, but also companies involved in media and ads, which directly contact selected candidates. Also, TCT doesn't charge their partners for referrals. Third, once a candidate is selected, he or she will be a member of TCT's giant star database, and be required to pay TCT 2,650 yuan at the very beginning and 100 yuan each month afterwards for Internet services.

The agency is very strict with its services, and a scout should only present TCT's business card. Each card has a serial number so that the client can feel safe. Questions such as "What's your name?" and "May I have your phone number?" are absolutely forbidden. For information, the clients can call TCT or visit its web site. Both the agency's telephone number and web address are available on the card.
The company judges their employees' work according to the business cards in candidates' hands. If a candidate is selected, the company pays the scout a substantial finder's fee.

Nevertheless, it's not easy to make a deal. After the first interview, only 15 candidates are chosen out of 100, and only two or three of the 15 candidates are lucky to sign contracts with TCT. A talent scout might hand out 20 cards a day, but hit the mark only once or twice in ten days.

Star Searching: On Its Way

With no exception, the first step is always difficult for a new business. There are less than a hundred talent scouts in Beijing and Shanghai, respectively. However, searching for stars is promising to be big business as China's show business grows.

According to TCT, when the Shanghai Branch was established, 60 new stars were discovered within the first month. With the founding of the Beijing Branch, 15 subsidiaries of TCT will be set up in Hong Kong and other metropolises in China, such as Guangzhou, Hangzhou, Chengdu, Tianjin, Xi'an, and Harbin.
The rise of the talent agency will undoubtedly promote China's film and television industry as well as its advertising industry.
(Shanghai Star   Aug 22, 2003)