Live Action Anime recently got the opportunity to score an interview with Shavon Kirksey whom plays a new addition character known as Emi. She mentions aspects on her small role, her relation to Chi Chi and other various information.
LAA: How did you get involved with Dragonball? Was there an audition process or were you called in?
Shavon: Yes, I got a call from my agency telling me to check my email because I have an audition for the Dragonball live action movie. So first I read on tape with the casting director, John Papsidera, then went to callbacks. The very next day my agent and manager called me telling me I booked it and that I am leaving for Mexico soon! I was so excited!! This is my first role in a film and I got to film out of the country! How fun is that?
LAA: Sounds like a lot! In the movie you play a character named Emi. Fans have been curious about this character as she is new to the Dragonball universe. What can you tell us about her role in the film and about her character in general?
Shavon: Well, my character was made up for the film. Emi and Chi Chi are best friends in the movie. We are the “it” girls on our high school campus, and we only like to hang out with other popular kids and the football players, so we can maintain our popular image. Everyone wants to be in our circle but emi wont allow it unless she thinks your cool enough [laughs]. But emi is a cool down to earth girl and she’s very smart, but she just wants everyone to see her as the perfect popular girl.
LAA: I’ve heard from several that there was a pretty quick shooting schedule? Did it feel that way to you?
Shavon: No actually, I didn’t feel rushed at all. The only thing that seemed quick was when I booked the part and left out of the country like a week and a half later to film. [laughs]
LAA: So what was it like filming down there in Durango?
Shavon: Actually my scenes were filmed in Mexico City. We were there for two weeks and after Christmas break production moved on to Durango. Mexico city was definitely an interesting experience, but we all had fun! My castmates were awesome! Which made this a great experience for me!
LAA: What was your wardrobe like in the film? We’ve seen pictures of some pretty interesting costumes. Did you get to wear anything cool?
Shavon: I loved my wardrobe! Im not gonna tell you exactly what I wore [laughs], but everyone looked really good, and we all had very cool and unique styles.
LAA: Have you seen any of the footage from the film yet?
Shavon: No, not yet, I have to wait just like everyone else, lol, but I cant wait to see how it turned out. Im so excited!
LAA: Well the trailer is supposed to release in October so maybe you can see something then.
Shavon: Oh I didn’t know about the trailer, thats so exciting!! Thanks for telling me.
LAA: No problem! So tell us a little about Shavon Kirksey. How long have you been acting?
Shavon: I’ve been acting professionally for almost three years now. Ive always wanted to act since I was a little girl, I did plays and stuff growing up, and as a little girl I would make up my own commercials and put together my own productions and make my family and friends participate and I would have my dad video tape me. I was like 9 years old, but I had an over active imagination. [Laughs]
LAA: So, I noticed that you did some television acting before this. How was it different to you working on a film rather than a tv set?
Shavon: Well, from my experience it seems like television is a little more fast pace, You can [shoot] a bunch of scenes in one day [with tv], but sometimes with film you do one or two scene for the whole day. I guess it just really depends, Sometimes you have to get a bunch of different angles and that can take all day.
LAA: So what’s up next for you?
Shavon: Well right now im auditioning, reading scripts, and studying in acting class, I had a scene in Eddie Murphy’s film, “A Thousand Words,” which I filmed at the end of June. That was a fun shoot too, we shot at the beach all day [laughs] so that was cool. But im working hard and hoping the business will pick up soon, the last couple months have been very slow, so I cant wait for it to get going again!
LAA: Well, I think that’s about it. From everyone at Live Action Anime, I’d like to thank you for doing this. Do you have any last words before we go or anything else you’d like to say to the fans about the Dragonball movie?
Shavon: I would like to say thank you all for the love and support of this movie. The fan base for this movie is incredible and I hope you all love the movie! Im really excited myself and thanks for all the messages and nice comments I receive on Myspace! You guys rock!!
Tags: Dragonball Evolution, emi
