Unfortunately, I’m not talking about tears of joy, either.
I’ve wanted to meet Jason Frank for 20 years. I’ve been planning on meeting him at the Salt Lake Fan Xperience Convention for months, and so has my 11-year-old daughter (who’s also a big MMPR fan.) I’ve been thinking of the things I wanted to say for months. I can't emphasize enough what a big deal this was to me!
So, yesterday was the big day. We’d signed up to have a professional photo taken with him (along with about 75 other people apparently) at 11:15 am. They rushed us through without so much as a chance to shake hands or even see if one of us blinked or preview the photo (this is “Epic Photos”. AVOID. My daughter and I were posing with Mr. Frank with Morphers and her hand was blocking her face and they didn’t say a word! The photo alone was about $68 said and done.) I expected not to be able to talk to JDF then, it was fine. But we waited around for half the day to meet him at his booth. Next comes the really disappointing part.
I paid more money so that he would sign the photo we got, and when we finally got up to meet him after an hour’s wait, he barely made any eye contact. Didn’t smile once. I told him I’d been wanting to meet him for 20 years and congratulated him on his Guinness World Record while he signed our photo. In the meantime, the booth attendant (his assistant?) moved my daughter, who was waiting to talk to him after me, in front of me in line more towards the exit. I had a nice copy of a drawing I’d done years ago and gave it to him. He looked at it for a couple of seconds and said “thank you.” I started to tell Jason about how I was going through a really tough time when Mighty Morphin season 2 was on, and... (I was going to say how his strength really showed through Tommy and gave me strength) but was CUT OFF mid-sentence with “Thanks man. Do you follow me on Facebook? Check out my Facebook.” I was shocked. We had probably been up there 15 seconds. They showed us the way out of his line and as one of the volunteers there asked “how was it?” My daughter started to cry! She had worked hard to make him a drawing of her own and said in tears “I didn’t even get to give him my picture!” The volunteer went and said something and they brought her back to him and he was nice and thanked her.
So, we went out with mixed feelings. We wandered around and did some other stuff, and when we came back by his booth, there weren’t 100 people like before, there were about 8. So, we debated about stopping by again, thinking we’d have a little bit more of a chance to talk and that he’d be a little more attentive because of what happened last time. We decided to do it, and there were only about 5 people behind us when we got to him, so we figured he wasn’t hard-pressed. I let my daughter go first this time, asking him her question: which Ranger color was his favorite. He didn’t even look at her, he just messed around on his phone and said nonchalantly “I dunno. Maybe green.” Then I asked if he did any of his own stunts for White Ranger vs. Scorpion and, continuing on his phone said “a few.” Hoping to get a smile or something out of him, I asked him if he really fed David Yost a sandwich with a fly in it, to which he plainly responded “he’s the one who ate it.” Never looked at me.
Now in all fairness, I heard that JDF was sick with altitude sickness when he got in the day before, so maybe that’s why he didn’t smile and wasn’t as engaging. But I don’t think that excuses him from cutting me off mid-sentence, or ignoring us on behalf of his phone at the end. He’s not the only one whose time is valuable.
Are there plenty of you out there who have had good experiences meeting him? I’m sure there are, and I’m happy for you. Do I want to hear about those as replies to my post? No (but it’s a free forum.) Right now I’m honestly in somewhat of a grieving stage and I’m posting this for two reasons: 1) to vent, and 2) to warn others that meeting him may very well not be what you’ve been hoping for. He does a good job putting on a show about how it’s all for the fans, and he’d do anything for them. I don’t believe that anymore.
I wish I’d never met him –it would have been better not to. We were absolutely crushed. I wish I had my money for the photo and signing back. I don’t even want to put the stupid photo up. I know he thinks a lot of himself, but I thought he was more genuine than that. For as arrogant as he is, I thought he honestly cared more about his fans. We spent nearly a whole day and $100 to get a nice signed photo and talk to him for a minute, and got rushed through everything and got an insincere 30 seconds with him.
The bright side to the story? The four male Rangers from Samurai/Super Samurai were there. We’d actually met them at the Comic Con here last September, and they were just as nice yesterday as they were last year. They even remembered us, and greeted us warmly! Engaging and fun to be around, these guys are the best. They’re talented, sincere and care about their fans. Hector even gave my daughter a hug and did 3 flips for her (which as a Dad I was very grateful for because it took the sting out of what happened with JDF.) It’s interesting, because as reserved, quiet and serious as Jaden was on the show, Alex is a big smile waiting to greet you! Steven and Najee are wonderful, too. We just love these guys (wish so much they were still on the show!) Meet Alex, Steven, Hector and Najee if you have the chance. Seriously! MAKE TIME FOR THEM. They’re the best.
I’ve wanted to meet Jason Frank for 20 years. I’ve been planning on meeting him at the Salt Lake Fan Xperience Convention for months, and so has my 11-year-old daughter (who’s also a big MMPR fan.) I’ve been thinking of the things I wanted to say for months. I can't emphasize enough what a big deal this was to me!
So, yesterday was the big day. We’d signed up to have a professional photo taken with him (along with about 75 other people apparently) at 11:15 am. They rushed us through without so much as a chance to shake hands or even see if one of us blinked or preview the photo (this is “Epic Photos”. AVOID. My daughter and I were posing with Mr. Frank with Morphers and her hand was blocking her face and they didn’t say a word! The photo alone was about $68 said and done.) I expected not to be able to talk to JDF then, it was fine. But we waited around for half the day to meet him at his booth. Next comes the really disappointing part.
I paid more money so that he would sign the photo we got, and when we finally got up to meet him after an hour’s wait, he barely made any eye contact. Didn’t smile once. I told him I’d been wanting to meet him for 20 years and congratulated him on his Guinness World Record while he signed our photo. In the meantime, the booth attendant (his assistant?) moved my daughter, who was waiting to talk to him after me, in front of me in line more towards the exit. I had a nice copy of a drawing I’d done years ago and gave it to him. He looked at it for a couple of seconds and said “thank you.” I started to tell Jason about how I was going through a really tough time when Mighty Morphin season 2 was on, and... (I was going to say how his strength really showed through Tommy and gave me strength) but was CUT OFF mid-sentence with “Thanks man. Do you follow me on Facebook? Check out my Facebook.” I was shocked. We had probably been up there 15 seconds. They showed us the way out of his line and as one of the volunteers there asked “how was it?” My daughter started to cry! She had worked hard to make him a drawing of her own and said in tears “I didn’t even get to give him my picture!” The volunteer went and said something and they brought her back to him and he was nice and thanked her.
So, we went out with mixed feelings. We wandered around and did some other stuff, and when we came back by his booth, there weren’t 100 people like before, there were about 8. So, we debated about stopping by again, thinking we’d have a little bit more of a chance to talk and that he’d be a little more attentive because of what happened last time. We decided to do it, and there were only about 5 people behind us when we got to him, so we figured he wasn’t hard-pressed. I let my daughter go first this time, asking him her question: which Ranger color was his favorite. He didn’t even look at her, he just messed around on his phone and said nonchalantly “I dunno. Maybe green.” Then I asked if he did any of his own stunts for White Ranger vs. Scorpion and, continuing on his phone said “a few.” Hoping to get a smile or something out of him, I asked him if he really fed David Yost a sandwich with a fly in it, to which he plainly responded “he’s the one who ate it.” Never looked at me.
Now in all fairness, I heard that JDF was sick with altitude sickness when he got in the day before, so maybe that’s why he didn’t smile and wasn’t as engaging. But I don’t think that excuses him from cutting me off mid-sentence, or ignoring us on behalf of his phone at the end. He’s not the only one whose time is valuable.
Are there plenty of you out there who have had good experiences meeting him? I’m sure there are, and I’m happy for you. Do I want to hear about those as replies to my post? No (but it’s a free forum.) Right now I’m honestly in somewhat of a grieving stage and I’m posting this for two reasons: 1) to vent, and 2) to warn others that meeting him may very well not be what you’ve been hoping for. He does a good job putting on a show about how it’s all for the fans, and he’d do anything for them. I don’t believe that anymore.
I wish I’d never met him –it would have been better not to. We were absolutely crushed. I wish I had my money for the photo and signing back. I don’t even want to put the stupid photo up. I know he thinks a lot of himself, but I thought he was more genuine than that. For as arrogant as he is, I thought he honestly cared more about his fans. We spent nearly a whole day and $100 to get a nice signed photo and talk to him for a minute, and got rushed through everything and got an insincere 30 seconds with him.
The bright side to the story? The four male Rangers from Samurai/Super Samurai were there. We’d actually met them at the Comic Con here last September, and they were just as nice yesterday as they were last year. They even remembered us, and greeted us warmly! Engaging and fun to be around, these guys are the best. They’re talented, sincere and care about their fans. Hector even gave my daughter a hug and did 3 flips for her (which as a Dad I was very grateful for because it took the sting out of what happened with JDF.) It’s interesting, because as reserved, quiet and serious as Jaden was on the show, Alex is a big smile waiting to greet you! Steven and Najee are wonderful, too. We just love these guys (wish so much they were still on the show!) Meet Alex, Steven, Hector and Najee if you have the chance. Seriously! MAKE TIME FOR THEM. They’re the best.
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