Dream Raider, the first ever HBO Asia Original science-fiction series, is set in a future where a fringe team of cops and scientists are trying to solve a criminal conspiracy by using technology that enables them to enter the dreamscapes of others.
Ellen Wu (吳子霏) plays Dr. Cheng An-Ya, a scholar of human consciousness and quantum mechanics who agrees to help the police in the strange and surreal case that they’ve embarked on.
Umapagan Ampikaipakan: This is your first foray into science fiction. Are you a sci-fi fan? What was it about this series and this part that made you want to take it on?
Ellen Wu: I have always found sci-fi to be a fascinating genre in the way they give the audience such a huge realm of imagination to experience. With sci-fi, you also give the audience a feeling of how technology is constantly advancing, sometimes to the point of predicting the directions in which technology progresses.
I also loved the script because the theme revolves around consciousness and dreams; these are topics which have fascinated me for a long time.
Furthermore, I personally relate to the father-daughter conflict between Anya and her dad. Playing this role and going through her problems seemed like a cathartic journey for me and helped me look at my own family story in a new light.
Because of all these reasons, I was more than excited and thankful when I learned that I had gotten the role.
UA: There are two things that are particularly tricky about doing science fiction. The first is all the technical language and jargon. The second is having to perform with a lot of CGI and VFX. How did you approach the material? Was there any specific preparation that you did for the role? (I read that you went back to University for two months! That’s amazing!)
EW: To prepare for my role in Dream Raider, I worked on script analysis with the director and screen-wright for two months prior to shooting. I also took one-on-one lessons with a neuroscientist, Professor Ying-Chen Yang at National Ilan University, to familiarise myself with all the relevant jargon and terminology. After building a solid foundation of the character’s personality and expertise, I did a complete analysis of her appearance and constructed her personal style.
It was important for me to be able to portray Anya as a complete character. For example, although it was not portrayed on-screen, Anya grew up learning gymnastics so I made the decision to take up yoga lessons and increase my flexibility.
The biggest challenge in Dream Raider was to act in front of a green screen, which was necessary for some of the action scenes. In addition to all my preparations, the special effects director also showed me the actual special effects on the film. This helped me to imagine and prepare for what I needed to do.
This is the first time I have participated in a role that requires so much special effects. I plan to continue to learn and train my imagination for roles like this, and I look forward to having more opportunities to work with special effects in the future.
UA: You’ve now done romance, comedy, and science-fiction. Is there another genre you’re looking at tackling next?
EW: I don’t set any limits on based on genre. I believe that taking on roles across multiple genres challenges me and helps me improve as an actor. For me, the most important factor is the script – it must move me. However, with my interest in action movies, it would certainly be great to tackle action sometime in the future.
UA: How have you been keeping yourself busy during this quarantine period? What have you been watching lately?
EW: I’ve been watching many movies and TV series. A film that I really enjoyed was Gabriel and the Mountain, and I have been watching Westworld too. Besides that, I have been reading books and took some courses, including boxing, Japanese and English lessons.
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