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Dreamwatch Magazine | #41, January 1998 Interview by Sue Schneider Gordon Michael Woolvett: Reb's a common sense guy, a problem solver. He ultimately becomes the captain of the ship by default. He struggles with trying to balance the conflicts that arise amongst the crew. His crew members are all around the same age. We are all clones.
The ship is a freight ship, that they just do over real quick as a last ditch effort before the virus reaches Mars and send it out. For five hundred years it hums through the Universe silently, until the computerised timer clicks and we begin growing and being developed. When the alien ship attacks us, the computer, represented by a hologram named Gen, [the Genesis series five] awakens us early, because she needs a human crew to defend the ship. So although we are young adults, our bodies could be anywhere from just one year to a few years old. That could be how long it takes or it could take the actual time period of eighteen to twenty years, which is around what our age would be. Mentally, because our implants would be done in terms of importance, our skills and abilities, we have the minds of people much older than us — people who would be experienced and old enough to be an officer or a captain, because my character represents a fully trained engineer. Those would have been done first. Our social development would be sort of the last thing. Basically we wake up having no clue how to deal with each other, how to deal with our feelings as young people, and that's what we struggle with the most. This causes conflicts with our jobs as crew members and ultimately heightens the conflict. We face, let's say, an alien ship and we don't know whether to fight or flee. Reb will have to decide which one we go with, deal with the discontent and stress that will come from that decision and balance everyone out... as well as save the day! [laughs] "Reb balances the conflict that arises from the crew, who aren't quite sure why they should be there or who they are" How did you get this role?
I auditioned for it. I think they liked the hair and I just came with it. [laughs]I did a lot of research, because we are clones. If you wake up as a clone your posture will be perfect, just like a baby. If you watch a baby sit, its back is perfectly straight, because it hasn't learned bad habits yet. I did a lot of research trying to find ways to act as though my body were brand new. I sat down with Barry Pearson, one of our producers, during the audition process, and talked to him about what he wanted. The other thing I did: I just went 'off book'. I know a lot of producers and writers don't like that, but I really like to make a script my own and make sure that I get the point and the intent across. To put it into words that have a little bit more clarity or more natural, or just learn the beats and meaning behind the script as opposed to the lines. I did that... I think that it was a risk that panned out. Photos ©Sci-Fi Channel |
