Lumina interviewed by Dimsum Cinema in both Spanish and English

*[Please click here for the article**](http://dimsumcinema.wordpress.com/2010/03/04/entrevista-lumina-02-juju-chan/)Here is the English version1. Tell us how was being the lead actress of a modern fantasy tale as Lumina?*

@page { margin: 2cm } P { margin-bottom: 0.21cm } A:link { so-language: zxx }Being Lumina in a modern fantasy tale was a wonderful experience and I was totally into Lumina’s world for 12 days (shooting days), I felt myself became a person who has actually been hiding inside myself. It has given me a chance to release the inner side of me who has always been searching and looking for a perfect and mysterious prince.

2. How did you get involved with the LUMINA project?

It’s all begins with the Internet.

I was connected to my producer/writer/director, Jen Thym, through a friend in New York who was Jen’s online gamer friend – one of her Final Fantasy XI guild mates. In July 2008, we met up in a Pacific Coffee shop, and Jen talked to me about the LUMINA project on our first meeting. She showed me the first script of LUMINA which was a very interesting vampire story. I still remembered we had a three hours meeting that day, talking about the 1st version of the LUMINA project, getting to know each other, and did some cold reading of the script. After the first meeting, I was on board, and stayed attached to the project through its various incarnations and story revisions.

3. How much of Juju is in Lumina, and how much of Lumina is in Juju?

I think JuJu is 100% in Lumina and Lumina is 100%in JuJu

We definitely share the same outlook, believes, and character. I am a very strong believer in the fairy tale type of love just like Lumina, and I am still waiting for my fairy tale :p I think what a fairy tale love means is to believe in fate and to never give up on your love. I do believe in fate, I don’t mind meeting a man from another world, from the reflective surface, if I do meet him, that’s fate. That’s exactly what Lumina and JuJu are both thinking when they met Ryder. Hey! How often will things happen like this? Follow your heart, and believe in fate!

4. Was it hard to act from this side of the mirror having Ryder on the other side?

Acting with mirrors in films can be challenging. Very often, actors need to act, respond, and express feelings to another actor who is in the mirror reflection without actually seeing them from their angle. There was this one scene where Ryder had to convince Lumina that he’s real. Michael and I were face to face, separated by a glass, which placed Ryder in the Mirror reflection, and Lumina leaning against the mirror talking to him. Our hands could overlap, but again this was the closest we could ever get together. To achieve the perfect camera angle and framing, we were placed in a physically unnatural and awkward way where our heads were so close to each other and it’s impossible for us to see each other’s expression. That was a very challenging scene to play for both of us, since we could not see each other’s expression but needs to act for a scene with lots of chemistry, feelings and expression between us. But sure there was almost as much fun as there was challenge to play that scene, and it was interesting for us to know that the crew really enjoyed our chemistry and performance ****

5. Lumina is set in Hong Kong. What do you think it makes it so special that it answers to viewers from all over to world?

Lumina webseries is a modern fairy tale, a dark fable that has its foundation in the seemingly simple girl meets boy scenario. This scenario is an allegory for the mysterious field of online relationships that are happening in this Internet Age everyday. This can happen in any places in the world, but what makes Hong Kong a special place for Lumina is its reputation for dramatic and romantic images along with the gateway to the mysteries and the abundant riches of the Orient meeting the West. In a world-class competitive metropolitan like Hong Kong, many overworked single women choose to have the experience in meeting or dating men online. The fascinating reality of new age women living in a fast pace melting pot of the East and the West makes Hong Kong the perfect place for viewers from all around the world to be interested in or even relate to the story. And I am sure women watching LUMINA will love to find out how Lumina and Ryder can be so close together yet so far apart. They would love the romantic fantasy fairytale between Lumina and Ryder who are in two different worlds.****

6. Can you tell us about your favorite LUMINA scene? Do you remember any funny facts during the shot of the series?

Sure! There are so many scenes I love, because we shot all over Hong Kong, and we also looked for the stranger corners, the bits of Hong Kong that you don’t always see in Hollywood films and every scene in LUMINA is unique and carefully selected. One of them is definitely the scene where I was taking to Ryder in a taxi. This is a very interesting and romantic scene, where you will see Ryder in the taxi window reflection and Lumina inside the taxi leaning against the window with the beautiful evening Hong Kong street lights outside the taxi window. Though Ryder doesn’t appear inside the taxi but in the reflection, we actually shot the scene with two of us inside the taxi.

For funny moments, sure there were a lot  The scene which I mentioned before where Ryder and Lumina were only separated by a glass and placed in a physically unnatural and awkward way with their heads close to each other. We ended fogging the glass several times and couldn’t stop laughing during rehearsals :p

7. So, model, actress and a good dancer if I am not mistaken, which one do u enjoy the most?****

This is a tough question. Can I say all of them plus singing? I’ve always been passionate about performing, no matter it’s acting, dancing, singing, or modeling, whenever there’s a chance for me to be on stage or on camera, I will treasure the chance. I guess the reason for me to love performing so much is because of the challenge and accomplishment I get from every performance. Every performance is a challenge, because every performance is different, and many times a performer would need to learn new skills, choreography, routine, etc. for a new performance. Being a performer keeps you constantly learning new things and challenging yourself. When a performance is over, you will feel great joy in your accomplishments and achievements. I am very fortunate to be brought up in a family that supported me for all my interests. My parents sent me to ballet school to practice ballet, and music school to learn piano and vocals at the age of three. I had my first dance, singing, and piano performances when I was four years old. I’ve always loved being on stage, and my goal is always to be a successful performing artist. A modeling scout discovered me when I was sixteen, and I started modeling since then for fashion and beauty magazines, commercial ads, and fashion shows. I started acting in high school in school dramas and plays. My first major stage drama role was in high school, then I started acting in some film and TV projects in Hong Kong and New York.****

8. You were chosen Miss Congeniality in the United Nation Pageants International 2009, how was the experience?

Being able to represent my own culture to the United Nation Pageants Intl. was a great honor. By participating in this international pageant, it gives me the opportunity to earn the titles and honor and become the ambassador to inspire others, to give back to the community, to make a difference in other people’s lives and to spread the Chinese Culture to different parts of the world. Throughout the pageant week, I’ve become friends with many talented and beautiful ladies around the world, and many of them became my good friends and we are still in contact.

9. Any clues of what can we expect for Lumina in season 2?

We’re working on finding investors for a bigger, and better LUMINA season 2, and our producer/director/writer, Jen Thym is also working on the script for season 2. I am not sure what exactly is going to happen yet, but I am sure Lumina season 2 will definitely be even more exciting and involve more love, hate, action, evilness, cruelty, etc…****

10. What are your plans for this 2010?

2010 is a busy and exciting year  I’ve just finished a theater drama two weeks ago, and also recently got a part in a new musical show which will be in theater this summer. There are 2 independent projects which will start shooting in Spring. I am writing a book at the moment which will be published in March, and also have some modeling, dancing, and singing gigs planed for this year. Last but not least, my top priority project – LUMINA season 2!! I am ready for the second season anytime, just waiting for Jen’s call 

11. Any words for your Spanish viewers?

Thanks for all your support in Spain, and I hope you enjoyed LUMINA And if you want to know more about me, you can do it at:

Twitter: http://twitter.com/juju_chan

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/juju.chan.page

Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/user/JuJutheArtist

Blog: http://www.alivenotdead.com/JuJuChan