Behind the Camera (Scarlett Johansson x female reader)

Filming

Jade's POV

I woke up early the next morning. I already feel much better than yesterday and actually feel energised to start filming. I get out of bed and take a quick shower. Once I got dressed, I packed my filming equipment and left the hotel.

My feet instinctively take me towards the refugees I spotted along the shore yesterday. It only takes me five minutes before I spot the first tent in the distance. I make my way over and see a woman with two children. I greet her in my limited Arab and try explaining what I'm doing. I'm really thanking that Arab course I took two years ago. She agrees to a short interview, but gestures that her children are off-limits, which I respect.

I film her and as I'm filming a man comes over and offers a translation. He must have seen me struggling. I thank him and the woman continues her story. After she is done talking the man starts explaining to me what her journey was like.

"She comes from Afghanistan, where her husband still is. She came here on a boat with 40 others, including her two children. She says that the war in Afghanistan took away most of her family members and that her father, who was a government official, was killed by ISIS. Her husband is stuck in Afghanistan and she has no way to know if he is okay. He might be dead, but she has no idea." He translates. I start getting a little teary-eyed as he explains the hardships this woman has been through.

"Could you ask her what the journey itself was like for her and her children?" I ask him. He nods and starts talking to the woman in Arab. She takes a moment to think before explaining. He turns to me and translates once again.

"The journey was very difficult for them. On land, the 'guides' would be very violent with them and often hit them or threaten to kill them if they did not cooperate. The ride on the boat lasted days, which means they went days without food. They had to share water bottles and many got seasick. One man fell overboard due to a rough patch of sea and nobody could save him. When they finally got to Lesbos, they were rejected by the locals and now they are stuck inside this tent for temporary refuge. They will probably have to continue their journey to a place that accepts them." He says.

It breaks my heart that this is what many people have to go through for a small amount of freedom. Even in Europe and other places, refugees are seen as a burden and even terrorists. All these people want is to get away from the war and live in peace.

I thank the man for translating and thank the woman in Arab. I wish her the best of luck and give her some food I still had in my bag. She tries denying the gesture, but I basically force it in her hand. She thanks me profusely and I pack up my filming equipment before continuing throughout the tents. Many refugees here share the same kind of experience as the woman I spoke.

In the distance, I notice many people gathered and walk over. I see a boat arriving in the distance and scramble to set up everything to film this moment. I smile as it feels like I stumbled upon a goldmine of footage. I film the moment the boat arrives and all hell breaks loose. Some people try to stop the boat from angering down while NGO (A/N: Non-Governmental Organisation) workers try to help the refugees get to shore. Many people on the boats look tired and defeated, but with a glimmer of newfound hope as they get to shore.

The refugees are guided off of the boats and given blankets to warm up from the cold trip across the ocean. You'd think Greece would be warm and that is certainly the case, but imagine staying on the ocean for days on-end with winds coming at you from all sides. All the workers take care of the refugees and I decide to go up to one of the workers.

"Excuse me," I start as she turns to me. "Hi, how can I help you?" She asks. "My name's Jade Cosmer and I'm currently filming a documentary about the refugee crisis on the island. I was wondering if you'd be open to an interview about the work you do with the NGO?" I ask her. She gives me a slight smile. "I know your work! Loved the one about the homelessness crisis in California. I'm down for an interview, but I'm really busy right now with these people. Maybe we can schedule a moment tomorrow to meet here and I can be in uniform, but without this hectic situation here." She offers.

"That would be great! Thanks so much for helping, I know how busy you all are right now." I say. "It's no problem at all, I'm really happy someone is shining a light on the situation in the way you do. Often it's just short news articles, so we really appreciate this as well. Why don't you give me your number and I'll text you the time." I nod and give her my number. "What's your name?" I ask. "It's Ava." She responds while holding her hand out for me to shake. I take it. "Nice to meet you, Ava. We'll keep in touch about tomorrow. See you then!" I tell her before waving and walking away.

I get back to the hotel room and feel really happy about the footage I managed to get today. I order room service since I'm lazy and put on the TV. I text Scarlett about my day, knowing she was busy today with work so she couldn't have a call. I hear my phone ping and look, expecting it to be Scar. It's from an unknown number, which makes me remember Ava.

Ava: Hi Jade! Now you have my number too. Why don't we get some coffee tomorrow morning and do the interview afterwards?

I smile at the kind offer before responding.

Jade: Hi Ava. Sounds good, should we meet around 10?

Ava: I can do 10! Let's meet at Ampelia Cafe, it's in the centre.

Jade: Alright. See you then.

I put down the phone and continue watching TV eating my room service for the rest of the night.

A/N: So... First impressions of Ava?  👀