Well Power Morphicon is finally over and the You Tube videos and Ranger blogs are chuck full of information from the event. But over here at the GKA Times we are
daring to go a little bit further in finding out what the event was like from someone who was apart of putting it together.
Lisa J is one of the Rangerdom's renisance women. One of the awesome hosts of the popular Rangercast podcast series and the hostess of her very own podcast series
No Pink Spandex. [So we welcome back Jason David Frank's #1 fan Lisa J for this interview.
Giant Killers Anonymous:Now Lisa lets get a little background on you.
GKA:How old were you when you started watching the
show and what do you remember from the first episode you
watched?
Lisa J:The first episode I watched was Season 1’s
“Foul Play in the Sky.” I thought the episode was
horrendous. It didn’t help that the episode was about Kimberly, so I didn’t bother going back to the show.
Then one Sunday in church, I heard a bunch of my cousins talking excitedly. I asked my cousin Jocelyn
what was up, and she responded with "Power Rangers!"
I was skeptical, but she insisted on telling me about
the show and its characters. I remember specifically
that she wrote out the names of the rangers, and she
spelled “Tommy” wrong (Spelled it with one M). I told
her it was wrong, but she disagreed. So I watched the
show again just to make sure I was right about the
spelling, and I got hooked. All of this at the ripe
age of 8.
GKA:When choosing your Gourmet Power Rangers, do you
prefer Saban or Disney flavor?
Lisa J:I rarely think of Power Rangers as “Saban” or
“Disney.” Two of my all-time favorite seasons are from
each “side”: Zeo and Dino Thunder. I just look at the
season for its merits and not who supplied the
dollars.
During the first run, I gave up on In Space
through Wild Force. I tried watching Ninja Storm, but
I couldn’t take it. I found a million flaws with SPD
and Mystic Force….
Now looking back, there are seasons that I can enjoy,
i.e. Ninja Storm and SPD (to a degree)
There are seasons that I can respect, i.e. In Space (but nothing
in this world will get me to like Andros, lol). I
honestly can’t say Saban or Disney. Can I say
Sabisney? Diban?
GKA:So lets talk about Rangercast, what's it like
working with those guys.
Lisa J:The guys were cool. I don’t do as many shows
with them because of my own projects and this little
thing called “real life needs your attention because
life would like you to graduate and get a career
sometime this century.”
When RC first started out, we
really didn’t know what we were doing, and in a way it
was great to figure it out together. Now you see
people going off and doing other projects, and I think
it’s great that we can grow and every once in a while
come back to…not knowing what we’re doing. Ha ha! I
kid I kid!
GKA:What is the process of putting together your own
podcast show
Lisa J:Oy. You really wanna know that? Ok, where do we
start? LOL! A “normal” recording involves asking Jer
and Katie randomly “So, you wanna record now?” And
then we get on Skype (with the help of various
recording tools which have changed over the past year)
and just ham it out.
As far as my interviews with
different Power Ranger alums, there’s a lot of typing,
a lot of waiting, and a lot of hoping. The worst thing
that can happen is that you don’t get a response, and
then there are the good times where it’s possible to
meet up in person!
That’s part of the crapshoot. Add in finding web
space, setting up various accounts for feeds and such,
advertising (HA! I’m really good at this one >.>),
investing in good equipment (It really doesn’t look
professional if you interview people with your
taped-up, almost dilapidated computer microphone),
massive editing….do you see why I said, “Where do we
start?”
There are books and articles just on
podcasting, and I’d suggest people searching online to
find out more.
GKA:You seem to carry a camera around alot, you plan
to be a film maker?
Lisa J:I’m a Media major at my college, my focus being
on video production/video editing. So yes, I do carry
some kind of camera a lot because I’m always trying to
capture pictures better.
Even just carrying a still
digital camera can help you so much in videography.
The cinematography of a shot can make or break your
project, so I’m always trying to improve upon that.
A filmmaker? Maybe someday I’ll be one, but right now,
I just want to be the best editor in the history of
editors. I was hooked on editing ever since sophomore
year of high school. One video workshop at the local
library and now I’m constantly “carry[ing] a camera.”
-Gka:Lets get into the Morphicon questions shall
we?
GKA:Describe your part in Power Morphicon
Lisa J:I was the Head of Graphical Design. Ooo, sounds
fancy, eh? Really though, my job first started as just
designing the logo and badges for the convention, but
I knew it wouldn't just stop there. I noticed that the
staff needed some help, so I asked a few questions of
a few people, and then I was upgraded as Katy's
helper, Power Morphicon Inc Secretary, in informing
the public on basically anything.
Then I got upgraded
some more, and basically did anything that Maureen and
Sabrina needed (And Katy and Hayden and Josh and.).
My main, self-imposed job at PMC was to videotape the
event. I planned on doing that anyway before joining
the staff, so I had to follow through.
If it weren'tfor Amy, and Funaro and Jesse's posse, two-thirds of
this event wouldn't have been documented. For people
who do not know, PMC's schedule each day was packed
filled with panels, autograph signings, more panels,
concerts, more panels, film screenings, even more
panels.hard to document that by yourself. Thanks
again for the folks who helped me out with
videotaping!
We'll have to see how this documentation will be
distributed, but I will keep people posted over at
http://powermorphicon.org/forums
GKA:What was it like watching Power Rangers as a kid
then being a bit older meeting them face to face in
the flesh at Power Morphicon?
Lisa J:It wasn't anything completely new because I've
met ranger actors in the past. At the same time
though, I couldn't believe the number of guests that
showed up for PMC. I still can't believe that the MMPR
guys (sans Jason David Frank and David Yost) were
there, but that initial shock wore off quickly when
you have to escort this actor, remind that actor of
their schedule, etc.
GKA:Did any of the Rangers have you star struck?
Lisa J:That's hard to say because part of me has met ranger
actors in the past already, and another part of me is
just really shy when meeting people for the very first
time. So it really doesn't matter whether you're Steve
Cardenas or OmegaRed85 on Rangerboard, I get shy.
I do have to say that for some odd reason, I couldn't
get the nerve to talk to Walter Jones for a while. I'd
always say, Oh, he looks busy. I shouldn't bother him
now or Oh, I don't want to bother him right after
the panel.
Finally, I did get to talk with him and it
was just fine after that initial, Soooo..[insert
question here] But really, I go through that thought
process with any stranger. Odd, but true.
GKA:What were the fans who attended like?
Lisa J:Old and young, tall and short, black, white, yellow,
purple! Overall, the fans were great! Some were a bit
over-zealous, but overall the fans really made the
guests feel loved. My favorites were the children.
There was this one little boy in a Red Ninja Storm
suit with a Tyranno Staff. He got so excited when I
talked to him about Ninja Storm. It was so cute! The
kids really got me smiling.
GKA:If suddenly Circuit popped out of the sky and
gave you a time ship to whip back in time and pick up
another guest, and you could only pick one, who would
that be? (we all know the answer but please, humor us)
Lisa J:Can I just say how interesting it is that
people expect instant JDF glee from me on various
things, but then they don't? LOL! So no, I wouldn't
have gotten JDF. It would totally have to be Shuki
Levy. I haven't heard too much about him except for
Austin's Shuki impression (by the way, very
hilarious!) and would love to hear his knowledge on
the show.
GKA:Do you think Power Morphicon was a success?
Lisa J:It was a total failure. Maureen and Sabrina
should quit their day jobs to save themselves from the
SHAME that they'd have to face the next work day. Call
it quits, gals!
I'm just kidding! Of course Power Morphicon was a
success! Not only did the VIPs have a fabulous time
and would love to do it again, not only does Disney
want Power Morphicon Inc. to do it again, but the fans
can't stop talking about it. What kept me going was to
see attendees, young and old, be completely enthralled
with the whole weekend.
Did certain things flub up now and again? Of course. But there's nothing like seeing something you've worked on for so long become a
wonderful experience for so many people.
