monkeyjb1988
Lurker
I wrote this a while ago when there were first talks of animating Power Rangers. I thought I would share it again. I know the title says Super Sentai, but this can aplly to Super Sentai as well.
A little while ago, when there was a ton of talk of Power Rangers going animated, some people on a board started flinging the notion of possibly going where Star Trek fans have gone before:
DaMouse: If nothing else, there would be several fan-made Power Rangers coming out. I can assure you of that.
Ambassador: The problem with fan-PR shows is that they are really hard to make, in terms of costumes and stunts, compared to say, Fan Star Trek shows.
DaMouse: Mmmm true, but people would do it, I'm fairly certain of that.
I was wondering, after I read that, about why there were no notable Power Ranger fan films, Scorpion Rain notwithstanding. Then it occurred to me that someone who wants to do the film may not know what to, as most fan films are based on Star Trek, an almost entirely different idea than Power Rangers (no matter how much the Astro Megaship’s interiors look like the Enterprise’s
). I thought that there are ways to make it possible, so I decided to compile this list to show how a Power Ranger fan film is just as doable as any film starring Vulcans and Klingons.
Do you think a good Power Rangers fan film is possible? I would think so. It can't be tougher than a Star Trek fan film. Here are my thoughts: (this can also apply to a Super Sentai fan film)
Costumes: Both Star Trek and Power Rangers have some unique costume elements, such as Starfleet uniforms and morphed uniforms. They would require study of the original costumes for a film based on an existing team or a design phase for a new team. Power Rangers do have helmets, but Star Trek has to deal with latex appliances that take hours to apply to look right (www.studiocreations.com is good site for vacuum-forming info; they demonstrate with a Stormtrooper, but I'm sure the techniques can work for a Power Ranger). You can probably do a human-like villain, like Lothor or Miratrix, cheaply and easily, as well as a scary looking fursuit for a monster. The extremely difficult costumes, like Battlizers, may have to be sacrificed but, hey, that show business. They are doable, don’t get me wrong, but if push came to shove in terms of budget, the Battlizer would probably be the first casualty.
Stunts: This is probably the most difficult part. Star Trek can get away with phasers and spaceships, but a Power Rangers film without stunts is like a sandwich without bread: kinda not happening. However, there are a ton of independent film-making books that could tell how to do stunts safely and still make them look cool. A search on Amazon can reveal tons of books on filmmaking, like Secrets of Hollywood Special Effects and Stage Combat: Fisticuffs, Stunts, and Swordplay for Theater and Film. If vision's a concern, then I probably didn't mention that most fan helmets have a ton of holes drilled in the visor so the stuntman can actually look out the helmet. Also, a ton of rehearsal is essential, especially for big and dangerous stunts. You don’t want to kill anyone while making your movies All in all, it is this aspect that is the reason there are more Star Trek fan films than Power Ranger fan films.
Sets: As stunts can hinder the Power Rangers and not worry Star trek, sets can hinder Star Trek and not worry the Power Rangers. Seriously, how hard is it to fake a headquarters? You can make something akin to Dino Thunder's base in your own basement, with a cardboard box as the big computer, with graphics made and composited with a paint program. Cockpits could also be done easily, with some nicely painted plywood and cardboard. It's much easier than trying to make a decent starship interior.
Visual effects: Probably the easiest part. Star Trek has space ships, phasers, and beam-ins by the transporter, all done (today) on a computer. The effects required for Power Rangers can similarly be done on a computer, like the morphing sequences and, probably the most obvious use, the zords although, if you can do it, the PR stand-by of suits can work too. The monster can be filmed on a blue screen and be composited in with the zords. Sure, you need to know, or have someone that knows, how to use a CGI program, but remember this: Someone who can’t do CGI would as big a hindrance on a Power Rangers visual effects team as they would be on a Star Trek visual effects team. Also, someone working on both could get tired and make a mistake. Can anyone say "The Enterprise is attacking the Megazord"?
If you’re still not sold on CGI as a tool for the Megazord (and I’m sure some Star Trek fan-film makers prefer models to CG), suits can work too. Again, Studio Creations can be a help for making the Megazord. You could probably get away with just measuring the body parts of your Megazord actor and just sculpt it to those measurements. Use some straps to hold the pieces to the actor and, boom, your Megazord is born.
A miniature city maybe a slight pain, but it is doable. Just remember: PR and SS aren’t accepting any realistic miniature award any time soon, so don’t worry if yours is less than perfect. Just get it to look as close in accuracy as you can and your golden.
Morphing sequences can range from simple (MMPR) to complex (SPD, OO). Whatever looks right to you and that you can make work is most likely going to be fine.
Props: Both Star Trek and Power Rangers require specially made props or toy versions, like morphers, weapons, and phasers. Again, the Studio Creation site could be useful.
The following three points can be for any type of film, not just fan films:
Actors: Get good actors right for the part, no matter what film you're doing. Nuff said.
Story: If the story sucks, don't even bother making it into a film. Period.
Legal: As you should know, you won’t be able to make money off your work, as Disney is the owner of the Power Rangers franchise and Toei is the owner of the Super Sentai franchise. The most you can hope for is distribution for free on DVD or on Veoh or Youtube. If you don’t make a profit, you may not get into any trouble, but this is no way absolute. There is a possibility that you get sued by Disney or Toei for making your film. I’m just not sure.
All in all, I think a Power Rangers fan film is just as possible as a Star Trek fan film. However, I am always open to possibilities, so please post. Also, tell me about any Power rangers fan film you may know about. Live Long and Prosper and May The Power Protect You.
A little while ago, when there was a ton of talk of Power Rangers going animated, some people on a board started flinging the notion of possibly going where Star Trek fans have gone before:
DaMouse: If nothing else, there would be several fan-made Power Rangers coming out. I can assure you of that.
Ambassador: The problem with fan-PR shows is that they are really hard to make, in terms of costumes and stunts, compared to say, Fan Star Trek shows.
DaMouse: Mmmm true, but people would do it, I'm fairly certain of that.
I was wondering, after I read that, about why there were no notable Power Ranger fan films, Scorpion Rain notwithstanding. Then it occurred to me that someone who wants to do the film may not know what to, as most fan films are based on Star Trek, an almost entirely different idea than Power Rangers (no matter how much the Astro Megaship’s interiors look like the Enterprise’s
). I thought that there are ways to make it possible, so I decided to compile this list to show how a Power Ranger fan film is just as doable as any film starring Vulcans and Klingons.Do you think a good Power Rangers fan film is possible? I would think so. It can't be tougher than a Star Trek fan film. Here are my thoughts: (this can also apply to a Super Sentai fan film)
Costumes: Both Star Trek and Power Rangers have some unique costume elements, such as Starfleet uniforms and morphed uniforms. They would require study of the original costumes for a film based on an existing team or a design phase for a new team. Power Rangers do have helmets, but Star Trek has to deal with latex appliances that take hours to apply to look right (www.studiocreations.com is good site for vacuum-forming info; they demonstrate with a Stormtrooper, but I'm sure the techniques can work for a Power Ranger). You can probably do a human-like villain, like Lothor or Miratrix, cheaply and easily, as well as a scary looking fursuit for a monster. The extremely difficult costumes, like Battlizers, may have to be sacrificed but, hey, that show business. They are doable, don’t get me wrong, but if push came to shove in terms of budget, the Battlizer would probably be the first casualty.
Stunts: This is probably the most difficult part. Star Trek can get away with phasers and spaceships, but a Power Rangers film without stunts is like a sandwich without bread: kinda not happening. However, there are a ton of independent film-making books that could tell how to do stunts safely and still make them look cool. A search on Amazon can reveal tons of books on filmmaking, like Secrets of Hollywood Special Effects and Stage Combat: Fisticuffs, Stunts, and Swordplay for Theater and Film. If vision's a concern, then I probably didn't mention that most fan helmets have a ton of holes drilled in the visor so the stuntman can actually look out the helmet. Also, a ton of rehearsal is essential, especially for big and dangerous stunts. You don’t want to kill anyone while making your movies All in all, it is this aspect that is the reason there are more Star Trek fan films than Power Ranger fan films.
Sets: As stunts can hinder the Power Rangers and not worry Star trek, sets can hinder Star Trek and not worry the Power Rangers. Seriously, how hard is it to fake a headquarters? You can make something akin to Dino Thunder's base in your own basement, with a cardboard box as the big computer, with graphics made and composited with a paint program. Cockpits could also be done easily, with some nicely painted plywood and cardboard. It's much easier than trying to make a decent starship interior.
Visual effects: Probably the easiest part. Star Trek has space ships, phasers, and beam-ins by the transporter, all done (today) on a computer. The effects required for Power Rangers can similarly be done on a computer, like the morphing sequences and, probably the most obvious use, the zords although, if you can do it, the PR stand-by of suits can work too. The monster can be filmed on a blue screen and be composited in with the zords. Sure, you need to know, or have someone that knows, how to use a CGI program, but remember this: Someone who can’t do CGI would as big a hindrance on a Power Rangers visual effects team as they would be on a Star Trek visual effects team. Also, someone working on both could get tired and make a mistake. Can anyone say "The Enterprise is attacking the Megazord"?
If you’re still not sold on CGI as a tool for the Megazord (and I’m sure some Star Trek fan-film makers prefer models to CG), suits can work too. Again, Studio Creations can be a help for making the Megazord. You could probably get away with just measuring the body parts of your Megazord actor and just sculpt it to those measurements. Use some straps to hold the pieces to the actor and, boom, your Megazord is born.
A miniature city maybe a slight pain, but it is doable. Just remember: PR and SS aren’t accepting any realistic miniature award any time soon, so don’t worry if yours is less than perfect. Just get it to look as close in accuracy as you can and your golden.
Morphing sequences can range from simple (MMPR) to complex (SPD, OO). Whatever looks right to you and that you can make work is most likely going to be fine.
Props: Both Star Trek and Power Rangers require specially made props or toy versions, like morphers, weapons, and phasers. Again, the Studio Creation site could be useful.
The following three points can be for any type of film, not just fan films:
Actors: Get good actors right for the part, no matter what film you're doing. Nuff said.
Story: If the story sucks, don't even bother making it into a film. Period.
Legal: As you should know, you won’t be able to make money off your work, as Disney is the owner of the Power Rangers franchise and Toei is the owner of the Super Sentai franchise. The most you can hope for is distribution for free on DVD or on Veoh or Youtube. If you don’t make a profit, you may not get into any trouble, but this is no way absolute. There is a possibility that you get sued by Disney or Toei for making your film. I’m just not sure.
All in all, I think a Power Rangers fan film is just as possible as a Star Trek fan film. However, I am always open to possibilities, so please post. Also, tell me about any Power rangers fan film you may know about. Live Long and Prosper and May The Power Protect You.
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