Ellen Dubin – The Collectors Guide

Q) What are some of the most recent projects that you are working on?

A) I just finished working on “The Dead Zone” with Anthony Michael Hall. I just wrapped that up and it will show sometime in the next few months on the USA network. I am waiting to see if I am going back on my television series “The Collector,” which is a supernatural drama about a man that collects souls for the devil. We have shot 22 episodes and we’ll know in the next couple of weeks when we’re coming back, depending on the finances. There was this old movie called The Brain That Didn’t Die, and it was one of the worst movies ever made, and they may be turning it into a stage musical like the “Rocky Horror Picture Show.” So, I am working on a workshop of that right now!

Q) What is it like on the set of “The Collector”?

A) Well, it is really interesting for me because most of the time I spend working with a boy named Aidan Drummond, who plays my son Gabe, who is Autistic. He hasn’t said a word since he was born, so his physical presence is there, but I spend a lot of time talking to him as if he is there, yet he doesn’t respond. So, it’s an interesting challenge as an actor to play that and when I do get somebody in there, a guest star or the leading man, I’m really excited because not that the young actor doesn’t give back, but as an Autistic kid there is a certain presence to him on camera that he is not supposed to look at me. When I get someone that comes in I am relieved to be able to play off of them and look into someone’s eyes. It’s a wonderful warm set that is very supporting, loving and it is very comfortable to take risks in my work and a very encouraging set. I am very lucky!

Q) What is a typical day like for you when filming “The Collector?”

A) The producers are very good in that we don’t have huge long hours, some sets you will work for seventeen hours, but we generally try to do it with twelve-hour days. It’s very organized and I think after you’ve done several episodes it is sort of a second language, an understanding and a communication. There is this kind of shorthand that we can kind of dive into it and get the scenes done really quickly, which is great. Very rarely do we take a lot of takes. Most of the directors know that we know what our characters are about and the stars that come in are absolutely astounding with their acting so it is pretty quick. I am really happy about that. So, I do get some kind of life after, sometimes you just get all consumed by a set. Believe me, I am a very intense actress and do my homework and do a lot of research on my part. It’s nice to be able to go for a walk in some kind of daylight and not at three in the morning.

Q) On the show “The Collector,” your character has an Autistic son. From your role, what have you learned about children with Autism that readers may not be aware of?

A) There is a very basic thing that fans may not be aware of. I have talked to a lot of parents of Autistic children and basically, you treat them like a child that is “healthy.” Even if they have a tantrum or are sitting, starring or rocking, you don’t talk down to them and you are not condescending, which is really important.  That was one of the best notes I got and every parent said the same thing. They said, “I do not treat my child differently as an Autistic child. Treat them as though they are healthy.” That really helped me. Yes, there is a difference that you will see in the behavior, but if a parent starts to be condescending it is not going to work in their relationship (the parent/child relationship).

Q) You have appeared on the show “Lexx” several times. What makes working on this program so appealing?

A) I love the fact that I get to be a wild, over the top, sexy, funny lady, no holds barred! Even a woman who is playing a crazy, wacky character, men are allowed to go even further than women are in comedy, but the fact that the producers said, “Ellen, make this your own. Do what ever you want. More is not enough,” was amazing. Usually, as an actress we are supposed to do “less is more” because we are not supposed to be over the top, but this was kind of doing a cartoon character like Cat Woman or something that was larger than life. I had a ball! It was the most fun I’ve ever had.

Q) You have worked on film, theater and television. Which of these facets do you prefer and why is it your favorite?

A) They each have their merits. The thing I love most about theater is that you get the audience’s reaction immediately. You get the laughter, the crying or the absolute silent if they don’t like it, but you can really feel the presences in the room. Also, the rehearsal process is longer so you have some sort of building up of the character in your relationship. In television and film, it is a faster medium and you get people coming in and coming out all of the time; especially as a regular on a show, so you get to work with a lot of different kinds of actors, which I really love. I love the fact that the eyes are everything on TV so the camera and film just captures what you are feeling without having to do too much where theater is a much bigger medium because you have to be able to project the last note and with TV and film that is minimal. I actually like doing that as well. I find it very challenging and I love going back and forth. As an actor, I love to challenge myself. So, I love them all. I would do them all in a heart beat and I like to keep doing them and changing back and forth because I like to keep myself on my toes and keep my audience guessing. I am very lucky that I am able to do all three mediums.

Q) How did you hear about your role on “The Dead Zone” and what was your audition like?

A) I was in Los Angeles and I was offered the role on “The Dead Zone” because I had auditioned for them a couple of times. I did it once in Vancouver for a part and they went a completely different way and then once in Los Angeles. They recalled my auditions and said that they were very memorable. They said they were just waiting for my time to free up because I was still busy doing “The Collector” and other projects. So, when it finally came about that I had free time they just offered me the role. It was great. They flew me up to Vancouver because I was in Los Angeles and I got to work with the wonderful Anthony Michael Hall.

Q) How did you decide to become an actress?

A) I didn’t! Kids always say they want to be an actor or actress when they grow up, but I was a very shy child and I’m making up for it now by being very outgoing. My parents put me in ballet class because I had flat feet and because I was really quiet. My mother thought it would be good to get me out of my shell, to improve my posture and to improve my confidence. To make a long story short, at the end of every ballet year they have a dance recital and during the recital I used to love (again this was the stage) the immediate reaction of the audience. I used to be the dying swan and I would always take ten extra beats and take a longer time to die or if it was a comedy ballet, I would always add extra things. My ballet teacher said, “You are a good dancer, but you are going to be an actress.” That’s kind of how the performance bug bit me, by being the shy child and going into bed.

Q) You were in the wildly successful film Napoleon Dynamite. When you were working on it, could you tell it was going to be such a hit?

A) You never know when you are working on something, what is going to happen with it. You just give one hundred million percent of a commitment and hope for the best. I knew that it was different when they sent me the script. I knew that the characters were quirky and unusual and I knew if the director would handle it properly (and obviously this guy did because this was his baby) that it could be something, but no. The movie was made for a couple hundred thousand dollars US in a small town of Idaho with a population of four thousand. You just do it and we had a great time doing it, but no it is beyond my wildest dreams. It’s amazing!

Q) Who would you most like to work with in the future?

A) I saw the guy that was playing Elvis on a recent TV movie, he was pretty cute, Jonathan Rhys Myers. There are many gorgeous people in the world, but not only is he gorgeous, but he is immensely talented. He’s my new wish list. The old wish list would be Jeff Bridges, Liam Neeson, Cate Blanchett, Meryl Streep and others to follow.

Q) What has been your favorite project to work on and why was it your favorite?

A) I would have to say that “Lexx” was one of my favorites because very few times you get to play four different characters; you die and the producers bring you back because the audience response was so great. I am very grateful to have the chance to do that and to do that show over and over again. To come back four different times, it is kind of unusual in the sci-fi world, to play four different characters. I also enjoyed playing the pope and being the first female pope in Science Fiction history. I don’t think the pope in Italy would be too happy with the pope I played because my religion was golf. It was really irreverent and out there. I really had a good time doing that. I also loved doing Napoleon Dynamite because of the response and how it is has become the little film that grew and that is very satisfying too.

Q) What do you do in your spare time?

A) I love to see movies. I am a movie buff and I go to see to every type of movie from European movies to A-list action movies. I love going try different kinds of restaurants; I am a big Thai and Asian food fanatic. I love eating. I do pilates, I work out and when I have some time off I have to see my family because I am very close to my parents. I have been working nonstop for two years so I take advantage of my time off.

Q) What would you like to say to your fans and supporters? 

A) I would like to say to them: Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! I adore you and I am really thankful and grateful for all of your support. I hope that you continue on this long wonderful ride that I am on right now and I really appreciate them!