From Music to TV to Films, an interview with Karan Ashley
Karan Ashley is known worldwide as Aisha Campbell, the Yellow Mighty Morphin’ Power Ranger. With the “Devon’s Ghost” movie premiere party in Dallas right around the corner, she still found time in her busy schedule to talk to me. Talking to her felt more like chatting with an old friend than an interview. Although she currently lives in Los Angeles, it’s clear that she has not forgotten her roots. Born in the small town of Odessa, Texas, she grew up in the Dallas area. Her latest movie, Devon’s Ghost, brought her home. Over 90 percent of the film was shot in Dallas and some of the cast consisted of the area’s local talent.
The multi-talented actress, believe it or not, first entry into show business was in music. She was a member of the girl group, KRUSH, back in the early 90’s. So not only can she act, but she can sing. And that’s just the tip of the iceberg. She’s also a writer and producer.
When working on the popular kids show, Mighty Morphin’ Power Rangers, Karan recalls the 15 hours days, 2 to 3 episodes a week schedule. Although she had a hectic schedule, it’s obvious that she still has fond memories of that time. Curious as to how long it would take to memorize a script under that type of pressure, Karan responded, “I can memorize a script in one day. I focus on what the character is doing and the emotions of the character.”
She’s humbled and surprised when people still recognize her. With the Mighty Morphin’ experience, Karan has been able to travel around the world and she loves “doing things for kids.”
She’s also guest starred on several popular sitcoms, including The Steve Harvey Show, The Parkers, Keenan & Kal, and One on One. When asked about her experience with working on the various sitcoms, she responded, “Mark Cooper, Steve Harvey and Holly Robinson-Pete, etc., were all professional and very nice to work with.”
What things do you look for when considering a script?
“The basics…what and why is something happening…strong character development…such as a character’s past, why is the character acting a certain way and how did they get into their current situation…the script should also have good twists and turns…even in a comedy, it should be some surprises that are not easy to predict.”
Karan and her two partners, Ron Day and Tim Grace formed Gag Order Films. Their current project is Devon’s Ghost, which stars Karan and Johnny Yong Bosch (Adam Park, the Black Mighty Morphin’ Ranger). The concept was developed from an idea the three of them had while just “sitting around brainstorming.” It’s a movie about a young abused boy, who grows up to become a killer.
What was the writing process?
“We planned out the script from start to finish.”
How long did it take to write the script?
“The total process took two months. One month to write the first draft and another month to iron it out.”
How long did it take to film the movie?
“Twenty days on a low budget. We did one week of filming in LA with the main characters, and the filming and cast for the remaining two weeks was done in Dallas. Once the shooting was done, we went into post-production. It took six to seven months to get it finished.”
Will the film be entered into any festivals?
“Yes, the Cannes Film Festival.”
Gag Order Films has plans on shooting more movies in Dallas. Whenever asked if it’s hard to find talent in Dallas as opposed to Los Angeles, Karan responded, “Dallas has a lot of untapped talent. Texas has just as much talent as LA. The only difference, LA actors may be more seasoned—meaning they have more experience auditioning.”
Karan is very excited about the upcoming movie premiere of “Devon’s Ghost,” which will be at The Lakewood Theatre on March 16, 2005. “Since the majority of the film was shot in Dallas, this will give the Dallas cast an opportunity to see it first.”
To read more about Devon’s Ghost and other projects that Gag Order Films is working on, please visit their website:
http://www.gagorderfilms.com.
