It was Wednesday evening, June 1, 2016. I was at the Media Welcome Reception for Wizard World Philadelphia at the Field House in Center City Philadelphia. The venue was bustling with media, cosplayers, organizers, and select celebrities. It was a frenetic event designed to ramp up excitement for opening day. Members of the press were invited to a quick sit-down with their celebrity of choice for what felt like a speed-dating interview session. I picked Jason David Frank, aka Tommy Oliver, from the legendary Power Rangers franchise.
The purpose of the interview was to get quotes about Wizard World Philadelphia for a last-minute article to entice people to attend. Jason gave me what I needed… and so much more. However, for the article, I only used a few short quotes about the fans and what to expect at the Wizard World event. That meant the bulk of our conversation was never published.
At the time, Jason was already having meetings with Aaron Schoenke of Bat in the Sun Productions to discuss what would eventually become Legend of the White Dragon. Looking back, many of the topics we talked about in that brief interview turned out to be the heart and soul of the film. Today, over a decade later, I am publishing the bits of our conversation which never ran. His words create a wonderful snapshot that reveals what a remarkable individual he was. Jason David Frank wasn’t just an actor playing a hero; he was one in real life.
Despite the hectic pace of the event, Jason insisted we document the occasion by taking a selfie together. I had never taken a selfie, but when Jason David Frank says it’s important, you listen. You can see on the handheld recorder that this selfie happened just 12 seconds into my meeting him for the first time. Jason was all about appreciating and valuing others and giving everyone the best experience possible, right from the moment he met them.
Hopefully, this lost interview will inspire you to see Jason David Frank’s final movie, Legend of the White Dragon, and send you on a journey to get to know the incredible human being he truly was.
What is it that makes being here for the fans [at Wizard World Philadelphia] so important?
I tell you, man, it’s the people, it’s the stories, it’s the love. I don’t take appearance fees at these shows; I don’t want to feel owned by a corporation. When you get to my table, I want to be able to do what I want. Of course, the photo ops and the VIPs, that’s their thing, that’s the promoter’s thing. But at my table, I want to take care of people.
I have a reputation for taking care of people. It has nothing to do with anything else, except that I want to count my blessings. When I leave, I can say I helped that person, I made that person smile, I did the shout-out for that person, or I donated something for their charity. Counting the blessings is the only thing that’s getting me through this.
If you’re at a comic con and you see me. Don’t stand in line because you don’t have the dollars in your pocket. Just come up and see me. I’ve learned to invest in the fans emotionally. I don’t do it for any other reason except because I want to do it.
What was in your upbringing that gave you such strong values?
[I got some of] the values from what my dad used to do. My dad, he’s a truck driver. He would go to the yard where the trucks are parked and buy everyone food. He didn’t have the money to do it, but he did it anyway. And people appreciated it. So the giving aspect, I got that from my dad.
The work ethic is from karate. Man, karate taught me discipline. I’m my own boss. I can call it whenever I want. But I don’t. I’ve got no one on my side. No agent is forcing me to do this. There’s no obligation. Fans will leave here happy. That’s what drives me.
I’m beginning to understand that this is not a role for you. You’re not playing a character. I feel this is who you are at your core. You truly believe in people, and you are always looking for ways to raise them up.
I really think everyone has what it takes to clean their life up, to go out there and be a good person and make a living for themselves. Success, for me, is not measured by money; success is measured by your inner being. Am I happy being here? Am I happy doing what I’m doing? Am I happy doing your interview? Yes! You can see it. You can sense it. When you watch the Green Ranger, kids felt passion through that television. They could see I was real. I started a training program through the internet. It’s not just to give people karate lessons, it’s to inspire them because that’s what makes the difference.
What can you say to the average person who might not have that fire inside them like you do? How do you inspire them?
I think for the everyday average person, you need to have the basic philosophy of saying, “I can.” Not, “I can’t.” In karate, they never let me say, “I can’t.” I always say, “I can.” Even if you are asked to kick the ceiling, don’t say, “I can’t.” Say you’re having difficulty or say you’re having trouble, but always aim high. Always aim for that ceiling. You know what I mean? That’s what’s important.
You have a reputation for being a genuine, real-life good guy. How do you stay so positive?
People do good things for other people. The other day I was working, but I sat down with a lot of homeless people. They don’t judge. They don’t care who you are. This one guy gave me his last box of raisins. He didn’t judge me. He didn’t do that because he knew I was on Power Rangers. He doesn’t know what I do. But he knows me for who I am. That’s what’s important: it’s not what I do, it’s who I am.
And that is what I do. I’ve got a spotless reputation. The people who are sitting there saying, “Oh, you’re fake,” are just haters. But everyone in life has haters. When you’re on top, everyone wants to bring you down. But when I’m on top, I’m still in the valley. I’m still doing the humble things that I need to do.
People ask me all the time, “How do you know which interview is the big interview?” Well, the simple answer is you don’t. And you shouldn’t. You do every one equal. The same with fans. From the first fan that comes into my line to the last fan, I make sure I treat them all as if they are the first.
What is it like meeting your fans?
We were one of the biggest kids’ shows in history. These kids have grown up now. It doesn’t matter if they’re 30; they’re still 8 years old when they meet you. They’re still a kid when they meet you. A fan needs to hear inspiration. A fan needs to hear, “Hey man, always say I can and never say I can’t.”
Is there anything we missed?
They’re doing a big reboot. The Power Rangers movie will be released in March next year [2017]. I’m doing a reality show, My Morphing Life. And I’m working on something new with Bat in the Sun, which is going to be huge! [Entertaining Options believes Jason was talking about the very first stages of Legend of the White Dragon.]
I want to thank you for doing this interview because without you guys, I couldn’t spread the message. So, ultimately, this 14-minute interview comes down to one thing: say, “I can.” That’s it. That’s what is most important.
This Friday, August 28, 2026, Jason’s final movie, Legend of the White Dragon, opens in over 600 theaters — quite an accomplishment for a Kickstarter project! For all the film’s details, please read the extensive interview with one of the film’s stars, Rachele Brooke Smith, on Entertaining Options. To find a theater that is playing Legend of the White Dragon near you and buy tickets, click here.
Featured photo Jason Faunt, Jason David Frank, and Rachele Brooke Smith (“Legend of the White Dragon”), courtesy of Rachele Brooke Smith.
Entertaining Options 