Hollywood Insider: COLLECTING THOUGHTS - AN EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW WITH
‘THE COLLECTOR’ STAR ELLEN DUBIN
Posted by Marla R Reed on 2005/9/29 15:20:00

Ellen Dubin is a beautiful and versatile actress who hails from Toronto, Canada and has graced TV and movie screens in such productions as the cult scifi series LEXX, where she played three different characters including the beautiful Giggerota. Ellen can currently be seen in such recent projects as Napoleon Dynamite, The Dead Zone episode ‘Heroes and Demons’, the Lifetime Movie ‘Jean’s Fate and the soon to be aired Scifi Channel Original Movie ‘Swarmed’ with Stargate: SG-1 actor Michael Shanks.
Ellen is also one of the stars of the hit Canadian supernatural drama ‘The Collector’ which is about a man named Morgan Pym who collects souls for the Devil. The Collector is produced by Jon Cooksey and Ali Marie Matheson, the people behind the Disney's spooky series, ’So Weird’. ‘The Collector first aired in June of 2004 on Canadian TV. In ‘The Collector’ Ellen Dubin plays reporter Jeri Slate, who has an autistic son and a passion for her job. ‘The Collector’ airs on CityTV-CHUM Networks in Canada and has recently been released for worldwide distribution for airing in other countries.

Ellen Dubin recently took time out of her busy schedule to do a Q&A on her role as reporter Jeri Slate. The first thing Dubin revealed was that she had been a bit nervous about starting a new TV series when she got the role on ‘The Collector’ and it wasn’t until she met up with fellow Canadian actor Michael Shanks, whom she had worked with in the PAX TV Movie, ‘Mary Higgins Clark’s All Around The Town’ (and most recently in the soon to be released Scifi Channel Movie ‘Swarmed’), that she found a way to overcome that bout of nerves.

Ellen Dubin and Michael Shanks on the set of the movie ‘Swarmed’.

“I saw him (Michael Shanks) at the Los Angeles airport when we were both waiting for planes and I was about to start my new series ‘The Collector’. He was very encouraging and positive about series work because of the success of his series ‘Stargate: SG-1. I was very grateful to Michael for his advice and will never forget it. It was a very generous and heartfelt thing for him to do so I always kept that with me and he probably doesn’t even know how wonderful he was that day to me.”

Following is a very insightful look into this talented actress and her work on the TV series ‘The Collector.’...

ЕМ: What drew you most to the character of Jeri Slate when you auditioned for the role and really made you want it?

ED: I love the combination of playing a woman who is a fast talking passionate ballsy girl but also has a softer side as a mother. So the character presented a wonderful combination of a strong and vulnerable side, I also got to play that fast talking woman who was very prominent in the old classic movies.

ЕМ: Did you do research on autism to play the mother of an autistic child and how did that research change the way you look at things in life?

ED: I did do homework on how parents deal with autistic children. I spoke to a lot of mothers and how they deal with their kids in various situations. I learned that these mothers basically are like any other parent and that an autistic child is treated like a "healthy " child and they never talk down to their kids. I really appreciate the dedication and devotion these parents have for their kids.

ЕМ: Did you spend some time researching how a journalist/reporter does their job? What did you find out about journalism or being a reporter that you never knew about before? Did one certain journalist 'inspire' your characterization or was it just an incorporation of several of them?

ED: I have friends who are journalists so I have been observing them over the years. One thing I definitely decided is to wear comfortable shoes because my character Jeri Slate is constantly on the run. She is a single mother and doesn't have time to wear sexy Jimmy Choo shoes. Practical, comfortable footwear and a great raincoat in the tradition of the old-fashioned movie stars- ala Bogart.

I didn't model my character after anyone in particular. I actually watched some old movies and observed the fast talking broad type of tradition of journalist. “Talk fast, be charming and get the story no matter what it takes.” My character is relentless in her pursuit of a story especially if she sees injustice. I know you are not supposed to get personally involved in stories but my character does.

ЕМ: What was the most difficult episode for you to film and why?

ED: If I tell you that, I will be giving away a major plot point. But what I can say is that the scene involves my character and the little boy who plays my son Gabe (Aidan Drummond). It is a simply beautiful emotional scene that the audience will not expect. Very moving, I tear up when I think of it.

ЕМ: What was the most rewarding episode or the one you felt was your 'personal best' so far and why?

ED: When I do scenes with the little boy, I am blown away by his commitment and dedication to the work. It is so beautiful to watch him play this autistic child. I am also grateful to work with an amazing team of actors especially my leading man Chris Kramer who plays the character of Morgan Pym. When the scenes flow and the actors are relating one to another it is truly a rewarding experience. That is the most rewarding - like a beautiful piece of music or incredible lovemaking.

ЕМ: Was there ever something written for your character that you felt was 'out of character' for her?

ED: Excellent question. I am very lucky to be surrounded by a creative team lead by Larry Sugar, JB Sugar, Jon Cooksey and Ali Matheson so on the whole everything written for my character Jeri Slate is very playable.

There was one episode early on in the season (episode 2) called ‘The Prosecutor’ where my character Jeri, who is a passionate journalist, has to try and coerce a guard to let her through some prison gates. Nothing works until she flashes him a bit of flesh. I thought this was completely the wrong direction as Jeri only operates from a point of intellect. She uses her brains and NOT her body. I am not a prude about it - but the character worked very hard to get where she was through hard work and brains.

But then I thought about the situation that the writers created and I went with it. Here is a guard who has a one-track mind and has no brains so this was the only way to get into the prison so Jeri could get that important story.- the only way to manipulate his character. So in the end my opinion about this use of sexuality changed. In life we all do things out of character – no one is one thing all the time. So it all worked out in the end.

ЕМ: If you could have the power to change one thing about the character, what would it be?

ED: Jeri Slate has no love interest. I am dying to have a lover in the show. I am all work or I spend my time being a single mom raising my autistic son. So it would be great to have some love scenes.

ЕМ: Do the supernatural aspects of the series ever spook you out or stay with you when you go home? What supernatural event depicted in the series or episode really affected you and in what way?

ED: The supernatural elements of the show add dimension to ‘The Collector’. Of course a lot of people are afraid of the concept of the devil and hell. There have been many debates over the centuries about this one. What is really "spooky" about the show is not the special effects or the fact that people may or may not go to hell. The scariest part of the show is the choices people have to make in life when faced with their mortality.

That to me is the most interesting and frightening part of our show. It makes our audiences think- what happens when you as a human being have to make choices in life- do you choose instant gratification knowing you can suffer consequences down the road. Do you choose love, life??? Do you try and run away from the choices you make when you are up against time and the devil. Fascinating to think about.

That to me is scarier than any other supernatural elements.