At a time when we seem to know everything about a movie before it gets released, I loved how director Joseph Kahn and producer Adi Shankar released their Power/Rangers  short film out of nowhere and knocked it out of the park. Not only was the short really well done (watch it here), but everyone watched without knowing what might happen next. While I know a big studio can’t release a film without spoiling some of the surprises since they have to get people into a theater opening weekend, I do think it’s important to talk about the fact that as a society, we’ve moved into an era where too many are casual about spoilers and it’s damaging the magic of going to the movies. Rant over.

The other day I landed an exclusive video interview with Joseph Kahn and Adi Shankar. During the extended conversation that was interrupted many times by a Terminator 2 pinball machine, they talked about making Power/Rangers, how Raiders of the Lost Ark would be rated R if it was released today, how Kahn had a different mindset about Power/Rangers getting file shared than his last film Detention and why, their thoughts on what is fair use on an intellectual property, and so much more. If you’re curious about how Power/Rangers came together and the way these two view filmmaking and the state of Hollywood, you’re going to enjoy this interview.

Here’s the interview followed by a time index to provide an overview of the conversation.

 

power-rangers-bootleg-short-film
Image via Adi Shankar

Joseph Kahn and Adi Shankar Time Index:

  • What was the hope they would reach with the short film? How many views?
  • What was the genesis of Power/Rangers?
  • They talk about the original script and how it changed.
  • 4:45 – How did they keep it under wraps for so long without anyone knowing?
  • 6:20 – The post production process and the challenge of doing it independently.
  • 7:45 – Did they have any deleted scenes?
  • 8:25 – How much was storyboarded?
  • 10:00- How they love Saban entertainment
  • 10:50 – What was the biggest challenge of making the short film?
  • 12:50 – How the audience doesn’t really care what the budget of a film is.
  • 14:00- How he used a lot of the crew he works with on his music videos and other jobs.
  • 15:30 – How their short pushes the boundaries of what is fair use on an intellectual property.
  • 18:00 – How they wanted to make something that was dark and gritty but really pushes the boundaries.
  • 18:50 – How much are they reading the comments?
  • 20:30 – The way the short film got everyone talking.
  • 22:00 – Music talk.
  • 22:40 – Are they talking about working together again? Adi says he wants Kahn to do Dredd 2.
  • 23:40 – Would they consider making a Dredd sequel the way they made Power/Rangers?
  • 24:45 – How movies aren’t the only thing out there and there are a lot of distractions compared to the way it used to be years ago.
  • 25:25 - How Kahn feels that studios are a bit trapped with the way they need to make films for a four quadrant audience due to costs involved.
  • power-rangers-poster-adi-shankar
    Image via Adi Shankar
    27:15 – How marketing a movie gives away so much of the surprise.
  • 27:45 – Would they consider using Kickstarter for a future big project? Kahn talks about how he doesn’t think rich people should ask for money on Kickstarter.
  • 30:45 – Is Adi making more bootlegs right now?
  • 31:45 – Adi has an idea for Captain Planet and talks about his childhood idea.
  • 33:30 – G.I. Joe talk. Plus their thoughts on modern day movie villains.
  • 36:15 – How the intensity of movie villains are weak.
  • 37:10 – What was the last great movie they saw in theaters.
  • 38:15 – How Empire Strikes Back really went for it with what happened to Luke towards the end.
  • 39:30 – How Raiders of the Lost Ark would be rated R if it was released today.
  • 42:00 – What did they learn from Power/Rangers that might impact future projects?
  • 42:45 – Kahn talks about the difference between releasing Detention and Power/Rangers.
  • 45:30 – Releasing it for free talk.
  • 46:15 – Future project talk.
  • 47:00 – How much did their phones blow up after the short exploded online?
power rangers short film
Image via Adi Shankar