An Interview with Matt Austin – Laugh at a Styrofoam Monster!
MMPR-Remastered, a new Power Rangers website about to go live, conducted an interview with Matt Austin recently. Matt Austin, for those who don’t know, performed Bridge Carson in Power Rangers SPD and has done almost everything under the sun in regards to the industry. Matt has wrapped up production on a documentary called, Don’t You Forget About Me, discussing the legend that was John Hughes. Matt was nice enough to take time out of his schedule to talk with me. Without any further ado, here’s the interview.
(Photo Credit: Patrick Kerney)
GENERAL QUESTIONS
Q: To start off with, how did you get into acting?
A: I played a thug in a play in grade three, begged my parents to get me an agent, but they said no. They didn’t want me to get involved in the industry at such a young age. Years later, I was asked to try out for the lead in my high school’s annual play. I got the part. The rest is history.
Q: You’ve done pretty much everything under the sun in the industry, whether it is writing, directing, composing, producing and acting. What advice would you give to people aspiring to get into those fields?
A: Just do it. Things have changed rapidly since I started. Computer programs are available for almost everything now. You can get a cheap camera and shoot, edit and screen your film to a massive audience thanks to YouTube, etc. Find someone in your city that does what you want to do, pick their brain and maybe shadow them for a while.
Q: Speaking of doing everything under the sun, what would be your favorite field to be in and why?
A: My absolute favorite is writing music, especially the songs I write for my daughter.
Q: What is your favorite character you’ve played and why?
A: I really enjoyed playing a character in a short film called Broke Body Saints. He was a street kid. It’s a character I rarely get to play because I’m often typecast as the “quirky” character.
POWER RANGERS QUESTIONS
Q: Let’s launch into the Power Rangers questions. How did you get the role of Bridge Carson in ‘Power Rangers SPD’?
A: I auditioned. My flailing around was apparently fun to watch. Actually, Bridge’s dialogue was written in a very particular way. Somehow I was the only one that made him sound like a real person.
RPM Synopses – Episodes 31 & 32
Jason David Frank and Johnny Yong Bosch Appearing at Ikkicon
Jason David Frank and Johnny Yong Bosch will appear at Ikkicon January 1-3, 2010 in Austin, TX. See site for details.
Keith Robinson Featured on iTunes
Keith Robinson (Joel from Power Rangers Lightspeed Rescue) has two new singles out on iTunes, and he’s even featured in the R&B section:
Give a listen to Gurl and DJ Lady, and if you like them, buy them! My advice: Try not talking about taking ladies clothes off. Just saying!
Episode 85: Interview with Associate Producer Morgan Robinson, MTV’s True Life
[audio:http://www.archive.org/download/LisaJNoPinkSpandex-Episode85_InterviewwithAssociateProducerMorganRobinson_MTV_sTrue/NPS085.mp3]
Show Notes
Hosted by: Lisa J
Topics: Shoutout from Jessica Rey, Interview with Associate Producer Morgan Robinson from MTV’s True Life: I’m a Fanboy
Brought to you by: Emma Lahana Musician/Actress and Reprolabels
Official Teaser and Cover Art for Matt Austin’s John Hughes Documentary
Matt Austin (Bridge from Power Rangers SPD) just released the official teaser for his John Hughes documentary “Don’t You Forget About Me”:
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y0fPLN459_I[/youtube]
The movie will be available in Canada on November 3rd in stores and iTunes, and HMV is currently taking pre-orders. No word on when it will be available in the US, but info is coming soon.
Blast from the Power Past – And Use a No. 2 Pencil
When I was in middle and high school, I lived in libraries. Not only because I had term papers to do, but because I grew to love them. So when I could find the time to procrastinate on a paper, I took that opportunity and ran with it. This find is the result of one of my procrastinating sessions. And while I don’t encourage such behavior, to this day, I’m glad I spent a good 2-3 hours on a computer looking up newspaper archives on Power Rangers.
THE HARTFORD COURANT
June 30, 1995 Friday, STATEWIDE
SECTION: CONNECTICUT LIVING; Pg. E1
HEADLINE: FOR WOMEN WHO LOVE MORPHIN RANGERS TOO MUCH
BYLINE: COLIN McENROE; Courant Columnist
“I get some crazy letters from some older women . . . The strangest one said that she could feel my hair, I’m in her dreams, fate put us together and that I’m a ‘gargoyle of God’ to her.”
– Jason David Frank, who plays Tommy, the white Mighty Morphin Power Ranger
RPM Synopses – Episodes 29 & 30
Dan Ewing in Mars Commercial
Dan Ewing (Dillon from Power Rangers RPM) can be seen in this Mars commercial. Missed him? He’s the guy with the wings.
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sNcz34eUP2A[/youtube]
(Courtesy: HeroPower)
Episode 84: Chaturantabuted
No Pink Spandex – Episode 84: Chaturantabuted (1:22:06, 54 MB)
[audio:http://www.archive.org/download/LisaJNoPinkSpandex-Episode84_Chaturantabuted/NPS084.mp3]
Show Notes
Hosted by: Lisa J, Jer, Tristan, and Spy
Topics: THE JER AND SPY SHOW! – Kamen Rider Dragon Knight Episode 27 “Attack of the No Men”, Extreme Heist starring Johnny Yong Bosch and Jason Narvy, Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: The Movie, and more!
Brought to you by: Emma Lahana Musician/Actress and Reprolabels
Dan Ewing in Mizone Water Commercial
Dan Ewing (Dillon from Power Rangers RPM) can be seen in a new Mizone commercial down under. And the man never looked so happy in a role…ever! He’s reeaaallly happy. Cue a “water” joke…
(Courtesy: Zhane via Rangerboard)
Pua Magasiva in Lift Drink Commercial
Pua Magasiva (Shane from Power Rangers Ninja Storm) is getting a beat down in this old Lift Plus Energy Drink commercial that was seen in New Zealand and Australia many moons ago. A beat down with a wooden spoon. Enjoy!
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j-WDVjuVLKI[/youtube]
(Courtesy: Zhoombarango via Rangerboard)
Power Rangers RPM DVDs Vols. 3 and 4
We will be getting two more volumes of Power Rangers RPM! Hurray! Volume 3: Mastering The Machines and Volume 4: Revved-Up Rescue will be available exclusively at Amazon.com. No word on when they’ll be available.
(Courtesy: Linear Ranger via Rangerboard)
Video of New Line of MMPR Toys
Disney Store locations are giving out free DVDs, and on the DVD is a preview of the new Mighty Morphin Power Rangers coming in 2010. Take a look for yourself!
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i3gTj02zg0o[/youtube]
(Courtesy: Linear Ranger via YouTube)
Archie Kao in “The People I’ve Slept With”
Archie Kao (Kai from Power Rangers Lost Galaxy) is in the new indie film The People I’ve Slept With as Jefferson, the “mystery man” who is a potential baby-daddy to the promiscuous Angela. The movie can be seen at a film festival near you, but in the meantime, enjoy the trailer and pictures below. Hellooooo Archie!
Episode 83: House Part 2
No Pink Spandex – Episode 83: House Part 2 (54:37, 38 MB)
[audio:http://www.archive.org/download/LisaJNoPinkSpandex-Episode83_HousePart2/NPS083.mp3]
Show Notes
Hosted by: Lisa J, Jer, Tristan, and Spy
Topics: MTV’s “True Life: I’m a Fanboy” Correction, and Power Rangers RPM Episode 28 “Run Ziggy Run”.
Brought to you by: Emma Lahana Musician/Actress
Episode 82: House Part 1
No Pink Spandex – Episode 82: House Part 1 (1:53:58, 78 MB)
[audio:http://www.archive.org/download/LisaJNoPinkSpandex-Episode82_HousePart1_0/NPS082.mp3]
Show Notes
Hosted by: Lisa J, Jer, Tristan, and Spy
Topics: Mighty Morphin Power Rangers News, Kamen Rider Dragon Knight Episode 26 “Kamen Rider Wrath”, Power Rangers RPM Episode 27 “Control – Alt – Delete”, and Discussion on John Tellegen Interview.
Brought to you by: Emma Lahana Musician/Actress
Neil Kaplan Appearing at Big Apple Comic Con
Neil Kaplan (Voice of Diabolico from Power Rangers Lightspeed Rescue) will appear at Big Apple Comic Con October 16-18 in New York, NY. See site for details.
Episode 81: That’s What She Said
No Pink Spandex – Episode 81: That’s What She Said (2:26:56, 101 MB)
[audio:http://www.archive.org/download/LisaJNoPinkSpandex-Episode81_That_sWhatSheSaid/NPS081.mp3]
Show Notes
Hosted by: Lisa J, Jer, Tristan, and Spy
Topics: RPM Toys, Kamen Rider Dragon Knight Episode 25 “Dropping the Axe”, Power Rangers RPM Episode 25 “Key to the Past” and Episode 26 “Beyond a Doubt”, and MTV’s “True Life: I’m a Fanboy”.
I apologize in advance. This is our longest show yet!
Brought to you by: Emma Lahana Musician/Actress
Blast from the Power Past – Unitards and Fanny Packs
When Mighty Morphin Power Rangers was insanely huge, the ranger actors would make various appearances at malls, schools, television and radio interviews, etc. I’ve never felt so sorry for Jason David Frank than I do right now. I don’t know what’s worse, the ugly unitards or the fanny packs? Oh, and that black man is way too happy in the morning.
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7kv-PL5ifzo[/youtube]