NinjaJack
Member
The Spunky Ninjasaurus Rex
Notes on Mr. Doug Sloan & Ms. Ann Austen
They exited in PRT, after runs on MMPR and Zeo
Returned six months prior to PRNS.
PR is a production nightmare, an artist’s playground
and a writer's dream. When PR started life as an
ambitious idea from Haim Saban’s head to a bunch of sketchy
Fox high brass executives in the 90s, it was people like Ann
Austen who stood out from the skeptics and gave the
show a chance.
Power Rangers has proven that it
is not a show for the weak in either
the mind, body or spirit.
Like the PRLR theme states in the opening credits, “The danger will test youâ€Â. This isn’t just your generic television show that lasts a mere 12 episodes,
it’s a massive cooperation of three countries, a marathon of eps and
hundreds of hands working in the back to keep the
show together and running.
MMPR in comparison to modern day Power
productions was a cake walk.
Back then there was no Koichi Sakamoto, there was no
Alpha Stunts. The words Time Force, Forever Red and
Power Rangers In Space had no meaning.
This was TV at its bare minimum.
There was an American cast, who fought putties and
hung out at the Juice bar. But when it came to
morphing it was all about good dubbing and careful
editing. But Without Jonathan Tzachor at the helm PR would
have crashed and burned TV eons ago. Without a
commander, without a captain to helm, a ship will
always sink.
This show has took on and taken out the Teenage Mutant
Ninja Turtles. They endured Pokemon’s invasion of the
west and continues to rake in over a billion a year
around the globe. PR is a juggernaut, not just
because they are as instantly recognizable as G.I.
Joe or The Transformers. Or that it’s been on TV
almost 15 years.
It’s “power†comes from it being an undying evergreen
giant in a world of tall stale trees.
But for a year or so they would be truly tested.
2001 was the year Saban sold his company and PR along
with it to Disney Co.
For the GREAT MMPR Productions it was the beginning of
the end.
2002 was to much of the crew a swan song year. They
had brought this thing from a glorified dubbing
project and made it into a phenomenon even after the
fad faded, it went on to great stories, incredible action and
excellent direction.
When Haim made nearly a billion overnight by signing
on the dotted line, therefore signing his company over
to Michael Eisner, he royally screwed the entire MMPR
crew in the process.
In 2002 Disney dissolved Saban entertainment
including MMPR Prods. They then moved future Ranger
productions to the beautiful New Zealand. Power
Rangers’ fate fell under the mercy of Buena Vista and
Village Roadshow Productions. Village was involved
with putting out the Matrix, Hercules, Xena, LOTR and
many other films and television events you like.
The ONE thing they didn’t know was “What the heck is
a Power Ranger?â€Â. Back about eight years ago the Kiwis
banned Mighty Morphin Power Rangers due to the
violence.
A whole virgin nation for almost a decade being
utterly benign to PR, suddenly were in charge of
producing it.
So the high brass at Buena Vista sought out someone
already in their disposal. The people that made the
cut were Ann Austen and Doug Sloan, who had just won
an award for their Johnny Tsunami Disney movie.
Doug and Ann were put in charge of PR, which had
evolved into a far different creature than the PR of
97. Ann and Doug were the new Executive Producers in
charge of a crew of hundreds of professionals finely
skilled in the art of film making, but not one knew
the difference between a Morpher and a Megazord.
There were issues with sound editing and splicing and
ADR. The Hurricanger open helmet shots was by far one
of the worst production problems MMPR Prods had to
face back with PRLR and GoGoV. Now there were fully
exposed helmets instead of being half-way covered.
Doug and Ann had to get Hurricanger’s suits on lease
from Toei so they could re-shoot the scenes with the
new cast.
Hurricanger provided some major production problems
before it was all said and done.
-A core team of only three Rangers as opposed to five
-Two evil Rangers for almost half the season.
-Cool but awkward fight scenes
-Weird plots
-and a whole slew of things, such as no Tao Zanto
costume, and crazier things that Doug could probably
tell you about.
All these Sentai issues mixed in with issues just
relating to PR, plus Disney, Toei, Bandai and Village
Roadshow high brass were breathing down their necks
and looking over their shoulders.
Michel Eisner’s lap dogs and The FCC began a review
of PR’s level of violence after 9/11. Editing old PR
master tapes and limiting what all future PR could
pull off in a fight scene. Because of Operation Iraqi
Freedom, Doug, Ann, Koichi and crew were ordered to go
back and re-shoot an earlier episode because it wasn’t
politically correct to air at the time.
Somewhere, falling between February and March 2003
Doug went the extra mile and began to seek the
commentary and opinions of the older Ranger audience.
But they didn’t like him (at least at first)
His previous contributions to the show most recently
coming from Power Rangers Turbo, left a strong impression on the fandom. Some hated his
sometimes “whacky“ stories and some didn’t. He wrote
with a lot of heart and human spirit. But whatever his
old style was it seemed outdated in the contemporary
series format. The negativity against Ninja Storm’s
first half was limited to a very vocal minority. But
the damage was done.
Their points for opposition shot through the Net like
a silver bullet with deadly accuracy. And they met
their targets with the cast and crew of Power Rangers
Ninja Storm.
This crew is something else.
They learned how to cooperate with Koichi Sakamoto and
his new Alpha Stunts Crew.
Pouring all they had to muster into the show. They are an
overworked hard working bunch.
PRNS saw a new breed of Ranger actors, they helped out
around set. Moving set and prop pieces. These Rangers
worked a lot of elbow grease into this for the good of
the project.
Jackie Merchand wrote and continues to write some of
the most important episodes ever brought before our
eyes. But she was no where to be seen in Wild Force.
Ninja Storms’ “Looming Thunder†was her return to the
fold, but she might never have if not for her friend Doug
being at the helm.
The cast, the crew and the writers loved working on
the show and they all loved Doug.
And amazingly, after all the flaming Doug still loved
the fans. So much to the point of re-structuring
PRNS ending to a more serious and modern ending. Marah
& Kapri suddenly gained new intellects, Lothor
stopped making jokes and started taking names.
To some and more than a few PRNS ending, “Storm
Before The Calmâ€Â, seemed rushed, awkward yet awesome
all at once. Something became brutally honest to the
whole lot of us, we were being listened too and
actually heard!
Where Ninja Storm surprised us {I.E Amphibidor’s line
to Tori), Dino Thunder gave us a bigger diagnosis of
shock and awe than the Iraqi invasion.
The return of Tommy Oliver as a full player, tons of
MMPR references, a look at Sentai’s Rangers and two
episodes focusing on the Rangers exploits over the
last 500 episodes.
But one could argue “Is too much of a good thing,
still, really still good?â€Â
There are two major demographics in this fandom, yes
only two. Those who watch for the simple human aspect, with cheese, action and story. And those who look for the
drama, action and villains. The problem with PRDT
was that in an attempt to please both parties Dino
Thunder became a man stretched between two horses.
Some eps went from wacky to whacked( “It's A Mad
Mackerel†and “Isn't It Lava-lyâ€Â)
While other eps were so exciting and dramatic( “Truth
and Consequences†and “The Missing Bone) that it
almost seemed that as if PRDT were two seasons in
one.
2005 marked Bruce Kalish debut as executive producer
of the consistent phenomenon.
He’s the former producer of Jett Jackson and has a
better understanding of writing people roles because
he’s been at it just a bit longer. With Bruce’s fluid
grown up Power Rangers, it’s easy for some to forget
how much Doug and Ann did for us and the franchise
outside of penning the series. PRNS brought PR BACK
into the limelight.
After spending years fading out of public view PR was
seen as good TV, or at least fun for all ages by the media again.
Critics started really seeing the potential in the show beyond calling it Mighty Morphin Power Rangers, where as before it had fallen under the radar.
Power Rangers
has become the window to some great talent across the
pond. Great casts and great acting thanks to Koichi
and the rest of the directors and producers. A lot of these thanks
to the leadership of Ms. Austen and Mr. Sloan.
You might not have loved all of his written work, but
love his effort, love hers as well.
And realize that this dynamic duo tried to be
passionate about the show they truly most certainly
loved. And that at the very least deserves the up most
respect.
Notes on Mr. Doug Sloan & Ms. Ann Austen
They exited in PRT, after runs on MMPR and Zeo
Returned six months prior to PRNS.
PR is a production nightmare, an artist’s playground
and a writer's dream. When PR started life as an
ambitious idea from Haim Saban’s head to a bunch of sketchy
Fox high brass executives in the 90s, it was people like Ann
Austen who stood out from the skeptics and gave the
show a chance.
Power Rangers has proven that it
is not a show for the weak in either
the mind, body or spirit.
Like the PRLR theme states in the opening credits, “The danger will test youâ€Â. This isn’t just your generic television show that lasts a mere 12 episodes,
it’s a massive cooperation of three countries, a marathon of eps and
hundreds of hands working in the back to keep the
show together and running.
MMPR in comparison to modern day Power
productions was a cake walk.
Back then there was no Koichi Sakamoto, there was no
Alpha Stunts. The words Time Force, Forever Red and
Power Rangers In Space had no meaning.
This was TV at its bare minimum.
There was an American cast, who fought putties and
hung out at the Juice bar. But when it came to
morphing it was all about good dubbing and careful
editing. But Without Jonathan Tzachor at the helm PR would
have crashed and burned TV eons ago. Without a
commander, without a captain to helm, a ship will
always sink.
This show has took on and taken out the Teenage Mutant
Ninja Turtles. They endured Pokemon’s invasion of the
west and continues to rake in over a billion a year
around the globe. PR is a juggernaut, not just
because they are as instantly recognizable as G.I.
Joe or The Transformers. Or that it’s been on TV
almost 15 years.
It’s “power†comes from it being an undying evergreen
giant in a world of tall stale trees.
But for a year or so they would be truly tested.
2001 was the year Saban sold his company and PR along
with it to Disney Co.
For the GREAT MMPR Productions it was the beginning of
the end.
2002 was to much of the crew a swan song year. They
had brought this thing from a glorified dubbing
project and made it into a phenomenon even after the
fad faded, it went on to great stories, incredible action and
excellent direction.
When Haim made nearly a billion overnight by signing
on the dotted line, therefore signing his company over
to Michael Eisner, he royally screwed the entire MMPR
crew in the process.
In 2002 Disney dissolved Saban entertainment
including MMPR Prods. They then moved future Ranger
productions to the beautiful New Zealand. Power
Rangers’ fate fell under the mercy of Buena Vista and
Village Roadshow Productions. Village was involved
with putting out the Matrix, Hercules, Xena, LOTR and
many other films and television events you like.
The ONE thing they didn’t know was “What the heck is
a Power Ranger?â€Â. Back about eight years ago the Kiwis
banned Mighty Morphin Power Rangers due to the
violence.
A whole virgin nation for almost a decade being
utterly benign to PR, suddenly were in charge of
producing it.
So the high brass at Buena Vista sought out someone
already in their disposal. The people that made the
cut were Ann Austen and Doug Sloan, who had just won
an award for their Johnny Tsunami Disney movie.
Doug and Ann were put in charge of PR, which had
evolved into a far different creature than the PR of
97. Ann and Doug were the new Executive Producers in
charge of a crew of hundreds of professionals finely
skilled in the art of film making, but not one knew
the difference between a Morpher and a Megazord.
There were issues with sound editing and splicing and
ADR. The Hurricanger open helmet shots was by far one
of the worst production problems MMPR Prods had to
face back with PRLR and GoGoV. Now there were fully
exposed helmets instead of being half-way covered.
Doug and Ann had to get Hurricanger’s suits on lease
from Toei so they could re-shoot the scenes with the
new cast.
Hurricanger provided some major production problems
before it was all said and done.
-A core team of only three Rangers as opposed to five
-Two evil Rangers for almost half the season.
-Cool but awkward fight scenes
-Weird plots
-and a whole slew of things, such as no Tao Zanto
costume, and crazier things that Doug could probably
tell you about.
All these Sentai issues mixed in with issues just
relating to PR, plus Disney, Toei, Bandai and Village
Roadshow high brass were breathing down their necks
and looking over their shoulders.
Michel Eisner’s lap dogs and The FCC began a review
of PR’s level of violence after 9/11. Editing old PR
master tapes and limiting what all future PR could
pull off in a fight scene. Because of Operation Iraqi
Freedom, Doug, Ann, Koichi and crew were ordered to go
back and re-shoot an earlier episode because it wasn’t
politically correct to air at the time.
Somewhere, falling between February and March 2003
Doug went the extra mile and began to seek the
commentary and opinions of the older Ranger audience.
But they didn’t like him (at least at first)
His previous contributions to the show most recently
coming from Power Rangers Turbo, left a strong impression on the fandom. Some hated his
sometimes “whacky“ stories and some didn’t. He wrote
with a lot of heart and human spirit. But whatever his
old style was it seemed outdated in the contemporary
series format. The negativity against Ninja Storm’s
first half was limited to a very vocal minority. But
the damage was done.
Their points for opposition shot through the Net like
a silver bullet with deadly accuracy. And they met
their targets with the cast and crew of Power Rangers
Ninja Storm.
This crew is something else.
They learned how to cooperate with Koichi Sakamoto and
his new Alpha Stunts Crew.
Pouring all they had to muster into the show. They are an
overworked hard working bunch.
PRNS saw a new breed of Ranger actors, they helped out
around set. Moving set and prop pieces. These Rangers
worked a lot of elbow grease into this for the good of
the project.
Jackie Merchand wrote and continues to write some of
the most important episodes ever brought before our
eyes. But she was no where to be seen in Wild Force.
Ninja Storms’ “Looming Thunder†was her return to the
fold, but she might never have if not for her friend Doug
being at the helm.
The cast, the crew and the writers loved working on
the show and they all loved Doug.
And amazingly, after all the flaming Doug still loved
the fans. So much to the point of re-structuring
PRNS ending to a more serious and modern ending. Marah
& Kapri suddenly gained new intellects, Lothor
stopped making jokes and started taking names.
To some and more than a few PRNS ending, “Storm
Before The Calmâ€Â, seemed rushed, awkward yet awesome
all at once. Something became brutally honest to the
whole lot of us, we were being listened too and
actually heard!
Where Ninja Storm surprised us {I.E Amphibidor’s line
to Tori), Dino Thunder gave us a bigger diagnosis of
shock and awe than the Iraqi invasion.
The return of Tommy Oliver as a full player, tons of
MMPR references, a look at Sentai’s Rangers and two
episodes focusing on the Rangers exploits over the
last 500 episodes.
But one could argue “Is too much of a good thing,
still, really still good?â€Â
There are two major demographics in this fandom, yes
only two. Those who watch for the simple human aspect, with cheese, action and story. And those who look for the
drama, action and villains. The problem with PRDT
was that in an attempt to please both parties Dino
Thunder became a man stretched between two horses.
Some eps went from wacky to whacked( “It's A Mad
Mackerel†and “Isn't It Lava-lyâ€Â)
While other eps were so exciting and dramatic( “Truth
and Consequences†and “The Missing Bone) that it
almost seemed that as if PRDT were two seasons in
one.
2005 marked Bruce Kalish debut as executive producer
of the consistent phenomenon.
He’s the former producer of Jett Jackson and has a
better understanding of writing people roles because
he’s been at it just a bit longer. With Bruce’s fluid
grown up Power Rangers, it’s easy for some to forget
how much Doug and Ann did for us and the franchise
outside of penning the series. PRNS brought PR BACK
into the limelight.
After spending years fading out of public view PR was
seen as good TV, or at least fun for all ages by the media again.
Critics started really seeing the potential in the show beyond calling it Mighty Morphin Power Rangers, where as before it had fallen under the radar.
Power Rangers
has become the window to some great talent across the
pond. Great casts and great acting thanks to Koichi
and the rest of the directors and producers. A lot of these thanks
to the leadership of Ms. Austen and Mr. Sloan.
You might not have loved all of his written work, but
love his effort, love hers as well.
And realize that this dynamic duo tried to be
passionate about the show they truly most certainly
loved. And that at the very least deserves the up most
respect.
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