Masked Rider
Masked Rider Has Returned
First of id like to thank you for agreeing to do this interview it's an
honor.
You're welcome.
Could you start of with telling us a little bit about yourself and
how you got to the position as director/voice over artist for Power rangers, Masked Rider, Vr Troopers and many others?
Well I started out as an actor. I've done stage, T.V., and films. I
auditioned for a voice job many years ago when I was just starting out. I got the job re-looping the lead of the film. After that I just started working
like crazy.
One day I was doing voice work at this studio and they asked me if I could
direct and write ADR. I said, 'sure'. They gave me a project that no one
wanted. It was called 'Captain Schnauzer'. I took it and totally re-wrote it
and made it funny and it did very well. The company came back to the studio and this time they had a series, 'Swiss Family Robinson' and they wanted me to write and direct it. After that I never stopped writing, directing and doing a lot of voice work. How I got involved with PR, Masked Rider and VR Troopers was I was doing a lot of voice work for Saban, the company that produced all those shows you mentioned. They started using me as a writer and director and I directed a lot of ADR on Power Rangers, Masked Rider and VR Trooper, and I also did a lot of the monster voices in all those shows. Remember'Colonel Icebot?'
Is there anything that really inspired you to become involved in the whole
Television industry?
I was lucky in that I always knew that I wanted to be an actor.
Ok let's talk Masked Rider, I'm a huge huge fan of it, I even run a site on
it (and other shows) www.american-toku.com, can you tell me what the atmosphere was like on the set and did you enjoy working on it?
Masked Rider was fine. Personally I thought the show could have been
stonger. The 'atomosphere' was professsional and everyone was very nice
for the most part. You probably know more about the show than I do. You have to remember that I've done hundreds of shows. When I'm working I show up and do my work and leave. Some of the shows stand out and I have vivid memories, but most of them don't.
Is the rumour true that a second series was not developed as the Owner of Kamen Rider the Japanese equivalent to Masked Rider would not sell Saban any more footage as he didn't like what Saban done with it?
I wouldn't doubt it. A lot of people were mad at Saban for various
reasons. He pretty much did what he wanted with the shows. But he did have a knack for turning that stuff into hit shows. For that I give him credit.
Do you still keep in touch with Ted Jan Roberts (Dex) or any past cast
members you worked with on Masked Rider/VR Troopers and Beetleborgs?
I don't really know Ted, so no I don't hang out with him. But I do see
a lot of the old guys that I used to work with on the show. For example I still
see Mike Sorich, Scott Page-Pagter, Steve Prince, Dave Mallow, Mike Reynolds, Tony Oliver, and a lot of the other guys that used to work on those shows with me.
Do you think Masked Rider would be able to achieve more success than it did back in 1995 if they started filming a new series now in 2005 with new
advances in video editing and such, and would you want to be a part of it
either directing or voicing?
They have made incredible advances since we first did the show, so yes,
I think it would be more successful and do and look a lot better than before. I would
love to be part of it as either a director or as an actor.
Was there ever a last episode of Masked Rider created but never aired and
if there was what happened and if there was not then what way would you want it to end?
I don't know anything about that.
Ok let's move onto VR Troopers once again another great show I still own
many episodes and I own the DVD's.
You voiced some great characters on VR
Troopers like Colonel Icebot and others but one which I find unforgettable
which is Dark Heart, I have the 4 episodes of Defending dark heart and I
must say I never seen anyone get into a voice charter like that you could
feel so much connection and emotion between you playing Dark Heart and Brad Hawkins playing Ryan Steele tell me did you have to do much preparation and research for the character to work?
First of all, thank you for the nice compliment. I did really enjoy
doing Dark
Heart because of the emotion. I really liked Brad so it was easy for me to
connect to him as my son. I didn't do any prep or research, I show up and do
my job. You have to remember that I've been doing this a long, long time. So
I'm not just showing up 'cold'. I'm bringing twenty some years of experience
with me everytime I get into that booth.
You also played many other voiced characters, who has been your favourite
to play out of all the characters you have voiced?
I have several favorites characters, 'Dark Heart' and 'Icebot' are certainly
some of them. In the animated world, I really like doing 'Batou' in Ghost in
the Shell'. I've done the movies, the series and all the games. I also like
doing 'Jigen' in 'Lupin the Third'. 'Hiko' in 'Rurouni Kenshin', 'Ziggy' in
'Xenosaga' the game. 'Ben Dixon', 'Lunk', 'Grel' and the upcoming
'Capt. Vince
Grant' all of 'Robotech'. 'Racer X' in the new 'SpeedRacer', 'Armorhide' in
'Transformers' and I could go on and on.
You directed Beetleborgs; on set was it very stressful trying to control 3
kids and adults dressed as monsters on set?
I did not direct the show. I directed the ADR. I was not on the set. I saw
them later when we had to do dialogue replacement.
Your Resume is very very impressing you have first of a lot of films on the resume and a lot of famous films on it which I love such as the gladiator,
seven and mortal combat. Whets your favourite work to do on a film write,
direct or voice?
I love it all. I suppose that if I could choose, I would like to do a
lot more
on camera work. I also supervise for DreamWorks and Universal Pictures and
that work has taken me all around the world.
Have you watched any recent Power Rangers Series since you quit the show and if you have what is your opinion on them?
I don't have a lot of time to watch the shows I work on let alone the
ones that
I don't do. But since you asked, I think it was a huge mistake of Disney to
move the show to New Zealand. I think you have all the people here
like, Scott
Page-Pagter and Tony Oliver that really know how the show is done.
If you had the chance would you revive the American-Toku Franchise? (Masked Rider, Vr Troopers etc)
I wouldn't mind if there was a market for that type of show. Do you know
something I don't?
Did you ever think a show like power rangers would have lasted 13 seasons
long and still not cancelled or replaced?
That was one show that I really never thought would last, but people
really seem
to like it.
Did you get to keep any props used on Masked Rider/VR Troopers/Beetleborgs and Power Rangers?
No sorry.
What future projects are you working on?
I'm working on one right now that's very hush-hush. I can't even talk
about it.
But I'm always working on something. We just finished up a bunch of
'Lupin the
Third' episodes that I direct and do the voice of 'Jigen' in. We did 104
episodes of 'Fighting Spirit' which I also direct and do the voice of
'Kamagawa', and I'm doing the lead in a new series called, 'Bobobo' that will
soon be on Cartoon Network, and I'm still doing the voice of 'Batou' in 'Ghost
in the Shell-Stand Alone Complex' which also airs on Cartoon Network.
When you are not working on movies, and television what do you like doing on your days of?
I really spend most of time working. Any free time my family gets. I do like
working out, golf, poker and traveling.
And to wrap this up is there anything would like to say to the
American-Toku or Power Ranger fandom?
I'd like to say hello! If you've enjoyed my work, I really appreciate it. I
love what I do and I'm glad I can share it with you.
All the best-
Richard Epcar
My Feeback:
I personally thought that was great it was my first interview so not to bad i think. It was also good to find out some more knowledge on the shows.
Rember to visit http://www.richardepcar.com/
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