After the announcement of the show being picked up by the studio, the cast was immediately given the next few episode scripts. The premiere of the first episode was scheduled for the end of the month. With half the week filled with rehearsals and filming, the other half was filled with PR for the start of the season. Emi had been the one cast member that did not have many PR activities scheduled, compared to the rest of the cast. Emi would take the later half of the PR as the stunt crew wanted to work on her scenes the most as Emi was fresh out of training.
The stunt coordinator Leader scheduled Emi to be at filming to get her set of PR videos out. "How did you think that went, Emi?"
Emi gave it some thought and responded, "It felt right and I ended up using all the techniques that you all taught me over the past 2 ½ months." The stunt coordinator leader agreed and announced that Emi's PR videos and most of her solo scenes were ready to be sent to editing.
Once Lia got the confirmation, she was able to start talking with the media team and set up the reveal of Emi as an actress. After several meetings with the directors and the media team, they felt it best that Emi make her debut on Good Morning America as well as help host the Summer Concert Series for that week's guest.
"How I was only just expecting a small interview alongside DK or Henney in all honesty?" Emi doubted what she had just heard.
Lia admitted, "DK and Henney both agreed that it was a great opportunity for your debut, but also have you do a stand alone. They have a lot of faith in you. I'm glad they see your hard work."
"Lia, GMA is a big platform. I'm just not that confident in doing an interview and hosting for some big name star. You know they only have big name stars performing at Central Park."
"Em, you are going to do great. There is still a week to prepare and it sounds like Stewart is willing to give you pointers." That was a comforting thing to hear. Someone who has been in the spotlight since he was a child was willing to help build her confidence.
*
*
"So Emi, I could give you the typical 'just be yourself' advice, but you and I are both very aware that is not always the most comfortable thing to do. What do you think is the best approach to questions that want to know more about the show?" Stewart decided to see how Emi would think on her feet, rather than just give her prepared answers.
"I would focus on the storyline and the inspiration of the show, based on the lore and world of magic. I would also emphasize the countless hours of research the writing and production teams have done to make this story what it is." Stewart was impressed to see how she would spin that into a shorter answer as well as any follow up questions they may have for her.
"All right, that's a pretty safe bet. The anchors of GMA are pretty straight to the point and do not usually ask personal questions. One thing I think they will ask though is how you landed this role."
Emi knew that would be one of the questions that would be done in her interview. Actually there were a handful of questions that could come up and she knew she would never be able to fully explain herself if they came up. So she had prepared some answers for those questions if they were ever asked.
After an hour of speaking with Stewart, they both went to filming their next fight scene:
In this scene, their characters, Min and Lucas, were investigating a recent attack on a town nearby, but it was revealed that it was a trap by the mysterious master of the Shoosuva, which had attacked them in the first episode. Uncle Lee, luckily, was not too far behind them as Jung felt uneasy about sending his daughter with some stranger to investigate another attack. At the beginning of the ambush, Uncle Lee was severely injured as he was flung into a building by an earth elemental. Min and Lucas were then cornered after attending to Lee's injuries.
Filming was finished for the day. Emi was more beat than she had expected when she arrived at her accommodations. She had finished for the night but was to come straight back early in the morning for more training and another scene to be filmed with both DK and Henney. Kai and Lia were in their offices working on the next few months of scheduling, which now included some trips to Korea to work with Teacher Lia Kim and her choreographers as well as promoting Ancestors to the Korean audience.
Emi only had a few hours to get some sleep. After feeding Pabu, Emi headed straight for her room. Throughout the first month of filming, Lia and Kai were truly the leaders of her endeavors. They prepared everything as she was at training and at rehearsals. Not only were they the manager and legal team, Kai was in constant meetings with the writers and other stylists to ensure that Emi was dressed as her character would be. Lia studied the script to a tee to make sure that the makeup and effects matched the scenario, but also did not take away from Emi's natural look.
As she laid in bed, Emi ran different ideas through her head to show her appreciation for her team for getting her this far. Nothing that she thought of could truly express her appreciation for Lia and Kai. Just as she was falling asleep, her bedroom door opened and a burst of light blinded her from seeing who was entering.
"Em, are you asleep?" the familiar voice said, blocking the light from the hallway.
"Oh god, why are you here?" Emi 'greeted' Charles as sat at her bed. Charles was in a flannel and joggers, throwing his socks at the foot of the door before sitting on her bed.
"My call time was moved to tomorrow morning. I wanted to chill here and then leave."
"Don't you share an apartment with JJ? Isn't he gonna be looking for you?"
"Nah. He's filming through the night with the rest of the main cast. Us, the secondary cast, will be coming in the morning. Why do I get the feeling that you don't want me here?"
"C, you're so receptive. It's scary."
"Don't worry, I'm not here to watch a movie. I'm your alarm. Lia figured you could use a change of pace since your schedule has become so tight. Get some sleep, I'll wake you up. I'm gonna sleep here too, after I read some chapters."
"Okay, thanks for coming over. I owe you one." Emi hid her face in the blanket as Charles adjusted his reading light.
"Night, Em," Charles said as he was already engrossed in his book.
"Night, C," Emi murmured as she dozed off.
*
*
Charles tried to time Emi's deep sleep. She was not the person to be woken up during a REM cycle and he did not want to be on the receiving end of Emi's groggy state. He lightly shook Emi awake before and she swung her arm in his direction. "You gotta get up. You're filming with the directors today. Let's go," Charles whispered as he dragged her out of the bed. "Lia will meet you there. Kai is sleeping, so don't be too loud." Emi was half asleep when Charles handed her an outfit. She slowly walked into the bathroom and got ready for the day.
After 15 minutes, Charles knocked on the bathroom door and Emi came out not noticing her hoodie was on backwards. "Uh, Em...the hoodie?" Charles quizzically reacted.
"Shhh...it's fine," Emi said, shooing him away. Charles shook his head and handed her a thermos of green tea and ginseng.
"Let's go, Em. I took Pabu for a walk already so we can just get going."
Charles could tell she was still getting used to her unpredictable schedule. The last time he saw her this way was after her mom died and she felt like she needed to get life together immediately after. Charles nudged Emi as she dozed off in the car, signaling her to drink and read over her lines.
After 10 minutes, she was fully awake, finishing her drink, and reading over her lines once more before getting out of the car. "Thanks for the wake up call and drop off, C. Reminds me of college a lot. Did not realize that I missed those times so much," Emi showed a beaming smile and waved as he drove off. She ran into the makeup trailer just as Lia took out the first set of brushes from her case. Emi took off her hoodie and let Lia do her magic.
Emi was ready for her, what could only be categorized as an emotionally heavy scene after a fight scene.
Emi walked into the studio and was greeted by Daniel Henney and Daniel Kim. The camera and lights were turned on and the scene was slated to start.
YOU ARE READING
Threads and Strings
Fanfiction"I know there will be more people in your life that will be become more than someone you pass by." As a speech pathologist working with little kids, Emi Kim had been through enough in her 24 years of life that could have broke her, especially in 201...
