kamenr2j

Hi, Joe. My name is Eric, an aspiring filmmaker and I bug you on Twitter a lot (I also wrote this about you if you remember: http://www.thedishh.com/tk-music-videos-from-taylor-swift-s-blank-space-director-you-already-love). I’ve been a fan of your work since I was 8 watching Backstreet Boys's “Everybody” (influence from an older sister). I thought it was the most balls-crazy thing I had ever seen. If you do the math though, that also means I grew up on Power Rangers, and still love it. Consider it my Star Wars. So it was honestly really bizarre for me to see these worlds collide.

Before I ask about Power Rangers or POWER/RANGERS, I have a few questions about your career.

1. Broadly speaking, what influenced the look of “Blank Space”? It has this incredible aesthetic I fail to describe eloquently. That video is kind of an obsession of mine, I’ve been studying it and taking notes.

2. On Wikipedia, it goes from you dropping out at 1990 until the creation of SuperMega in 1999. What happened in those early years that got you recognized? How did you get your name out there? (This is for both curiosity and advice.)

3. How difficult is it to compromise your vision with the vision of the musician? I would imagine two artists with wildly different backgrounds will inevitably butt heads.

4. What is an advantage indie filmmakers had when you were starting out that indie filmmakers today don’t?

5. Correct me if I’m wrong (might have the name mixed up), but are you still trying to make Adobe Premiere your bitch? I’m not a master at all but I empathize, it took me awhile too.

6. Not a question, just wanted to say you’re lucky for getting to shoot Shakira and Rihanna and Mariah and Britney flirt with your camera.

About POWER/RANGERS. I’m one of those weird adult (I’m 23) fans but I swear I don’t wear cargo shorts.

1. I love Power Rangers because “it’s everything.” To me, it’s Star Wars/Saved By the Bell/Voltron/Shaw Brothers all in one. As a dumb millennial, why do older generations and film critics think it’s silly? I don’t think “Power Rangers” is Andrei Tarkovsky, but it has been good and I just want to know why I can’t have a real discussion about it in our pop culture.

2. After I saw Detention (still in love with it), I legitimately thought you would be a great filmmaker for an official film because of your sharp portrayal of teenagers. Why then, did you make your Power Rangers adults?

3. What were the reactions of James Van Der Beek and Katee Sackhoff when you first pitched it to them? Your name carries weight, but if it were me I’d worry they’d think I’m wasting their time when I tell them “Power Rangers.”

4. Haim Saban is a pretty ruthless billionaire who hasn’t allowed his product age with the fans. He tries very hard to aim for middle America — i.e., be as inoffensive as possible and aim for kids who have parents with deep pockets. A) What is it like to ruffle those feathers? B) If POWER/RANGERS actually does make the real product dark and gritty, would you consider your experiment to be successful or a failure? (In the sense that the intent was to satirize gritty pop nostalgia, after all.)

I’m sorry if again for the onslaught of questions, but thank you so much. I really admire your work, vision, and humor. I really hope to follow your career in someway. Gonna go watch #Beautiful while I wait for your response.

Hi Masi, nice speaking with you. One of the reasons why I loved "Heroes" was its diversity and global scope. As an Asian American who identifies as a "nerd," seeing Hiro do his thing (and see him fall in love, only for his heart to break) was inspiring and moving.

a) Were you aware of the impact Hiro and Ando had/has on the global audience? Did you hear a lot from fans expressing relating to Hiro on these grounds?

b) Do you happen to know what the plans were for Hiro and Ando had the show kept going? I always imagined they'd wind up as, like, the Kamen Riders of "Heroes." I got excited when Ando got a motorcycle.

Thanks again for spending the day with us! Cheers.

Sure. Really sorry.

1. Blank Space ruled. Can you describe what influenced its aesthetic?
2. How'd you get your name out after you dropped out in 1990?
3. How hard is it to deal with musicians with their own vision for the video when you have your own?
4. What do indie filmmakers from yesteryear have over filmmakers who can make stuff on Macbooks and YouTube today?
5. How's learning Adobe Premiere coming along?

About Power Rangers:

1. Kung-fu, robots, superheroes, teen drama are cool individually. Put together and you have Power Rangers but people hate it. Why?
2. Why did you make your Rangers adults? You made Detention that had awesome teenagers.
3. How did your actors not laugh when you asked them to do "Power Rangers"?
4. If POWER/RANGERS makes the actual Saban product dark and gritty, would that change your opinion on your experiment?

I write for a geek news website and am very used to asking long questions in interviews that turn into discussions than what IAmA is generally for. So, I get it.

Nah, I understand. He's pressed for time. I got really excited.