Samuell Benta

[O.92]

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Q = Fan’s question
A = Samuell’s Answer

Last Updated: Dec 31, 2007 8:05 AM CT
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Sam: Hey guys how’s it going? I thought this would be a better way of talking to you guys as well as talking to other cast members.

Q: Sam, Operation Overdrive is winding down. What was your favorite moment on set?
A: You know what, I didn’t really have a particular favorite moment.

Q: Hey Sam, I have a question about music. Do you listen to American rappers?
A: To be honest, 90% of Brits listen to American Rap,

Q: What was your favorite episode to film?
A: Ummm, that would have to be episode 30, but you guys are yet to know what happens.

Q: Can you give us a little hint on episode 30?
A: Now u know I can’t do that!

Q: Hi Sam. With Operation Overdrive now airing in the UK, have kids there started recognizing you a lot?
A: To be honest not really. Only up to episode 7 has shown here so far.

Q: Samuell, what did you think of the Operation Overdrive theme song if you have heard it?
A: Well I know I could’ve done better.

Q: Do you have a girlfriend?
A: Haha, hey that’s a bit personal don’t you think?

Q: Are you or any other cast members that showed up for the convention collecting pictures from Morphicon?
A: Errm, I don’t know, but I'll ask them.

Q: If there would be another Morphicon, do you think you would be able to attend it?
A: Most definatley!

Q: Have you ever watched and liked Power Rangers before filming Operation Overdrive?
A: I used to watch Mighty Morphin’ when I was younger, ever since then I didn’t know Power Rangers still existed. lol

Q: I was just wondering what it was like doing the episode 'Just Like Me', when Dwayne was suppose to be copying your image and actions?
A: It was great filming Just Like Me. Dwayne is a funny guy and a blast to work with. I really enjoyed it.

Q: How do you get away nervousness for an audtion?
A: Slap yourself in the face and say to yourself, stop being a nervous freak, then you kick that door down with your head up, and march in like you've done this all before.

Q: What was it like working on Hotel Babylon?
A: Hotel Babylon was a great show with great actors. I really enjoyed it and class it as one of the best jobs I have had. Yes there was a twist at the end. lol

Q: Also was it hard portraying a pretty depressed guy in Silent Witness?
A: Silent Witness was a great job, but a very depressing job seeing as I had to be very upset throughout in order to stay in character for that show. I had to not really interact with cast off set because I didn’t want to laugh, as it would be hard to get back into character.

Q: I was just wondering, with you being from the UK which football (soccer) team do you support?
A: Not really a football fan sorry. lol

Q: If you are invited back to reprise your role in next year’s season for an episode or two, would you return?
A: I’ve already received confirmation that there isn’t going to be a team up next year due to budgets, but if there were a miracle, yes I probably would do an extra episode or two.

Q: Who is, in your opinion, your biggest influence and why?
A: I’d say it has to be Will Smith. His ways, ideas, and decisions as an actor. I’m truly inspired by him and his work!

Q: Did you guys get to keep your costumes as a memorabilia of some sort?
A: No, Disney would flip!

Q: Did you think that your character Will was a stereotype?
A: No not at all. Many people from different cultural backgrounds auditioned for the part, and I got it. I know I’m black but I am not a stereotype and have no intention of reinforcing what may seem one.

Q: Do you watch Sentai? If you have, what do you think of your Japanese counterpart?
A: I think he is great. He tries the whole ''attitude'' when fighting. You can tell in certain fight sequences.

Q: Since you know there are other series, will you be catching all the other ones?
A: Probably, because I'll be curious.

Q: Do you have any favorite hobbies you want to share with us?
A: Music, songwriting, and helping others when I can.

Q: What do you think about becoming an action star?
A: It’s my dream, because those are the roles I love best.

Q: Do you know if there has there been any talks with anyone on the OO cast to return next year for Jungle Fury in a new role?
A: Ria would most probably get another role, and maybe Caitlin, Gareth, or James because they live near New Zealand. Myself and Rhoda probably have no chance because we would cost more money, but who knows?

Q: Would you ever like to act in a role alongside Will Smith?
A: You'd have to shoot me to stop me!

Q: Whats your favorite country that you have traveled too?
A: Well, I was in New Zealand for a long time so I’d say NZ!

Q: What was it like working with the guest stars (Johnny Yong Bosch, Sally Martin, Emma Lahana, Matt Austin, and Richard Brancatisano) in Operation Overdrive?
A: It was cool. They are fun people

Q: So how involved is Kalish in Power Rangers. Does he make all the decisions or is it a team effort?
A: He has the overall decision on things because he's the executive! But don’t get me wrong, the cast did have a say in terms of direction with character. So yeah, I guess it’s a team effort.

Q: Was it hard for you to get "into" (as some might say) your character as Will on OO or was it something that came easy for you?
A: I had slight trouble at first because I always used to think negatively with Will, but it took a bit of time to actually tone my character down, to come across as friendly.

Q: What characteristics, if any do you believe you share with the Will in OO?
A: Characteristics.... well, I can say that I do like to work alone most times. Not much else really.

Q: What part, if any did you just plane hate about filming the show?
A: I just hated the fact that there were so many restrictions in terms of the way I could act. I really frustrated me! Especially in “Both Sides Now'', I wanted come across more evil, but the director wouldn’t allow it. Oh well!

Q: Was it hard for you and the other actors to do the voice over in the Sentai Boukenger scenes?
A: I found it easy. In fact, I loved doing it! I loved it so much that I would consider voice acting in cartoons!

Q: Do you feel comfortable knowing that you have an older audience watching the show and talking about it online?
A: It wasn’t what I expected in terms of an older audience, but my main priority is the kids (no offense) because that is my market in terms of the show. So I’m not trying to impress any age above my market, but if I do, then great!

Q: Have you ever been interested in martial arts movies before?
A: Yes, I have. I like Jet Li, Jackie Chan, Steven Segul, and Wesley Snipes. I love those movies!

Q: When doing unmorphed fight scenes, were you disappointed that the stunt doubles did a lot of the work?
A: Good question. I argued all the time to do my own stuff, but it was because of me why Overdrive has a lot of unmorphed fights! They don’t want to harm the actors which is understandable.

Q: What was it like working with Kelson In Ronny On Empty?
A: Hilarious and fun! Kelson is a blast and great to work with.

Q: Are their any chances of us seeing you in the USA outside of Power Rangers?
A: Who knows, .anything can happen in the world of acting!

Q: If you could work with any actor or actress from any Power Rangers series, who would you like to work with and why?
A: Walter Emannuel Jones so we can reinforce black power! Haha.

Q: Was there another role you tried out for before the character Will?
A: No it was only Will.

Q: Do you have a certain celebrity crush?
A: Celebrity crush, no not really.

Q: How did you find out about the audition and where did you do it? Did you make the audition in London or in New Zealand??
A: I did the audition in London around this time last year! I found out about the audition through my agent.

Q: What did you and your cast mates tend to do most to take up that time in between?
A: Talking, playing cards, sleeping, rehearsing, and chilling in the production office. I can’t think of anything else really.

Q: If you were lost on a deserted island, what is the one thing you can't live without and why?
A: I’m guessing it would be water and my mobile (cell) phone. Lol

Q: How easy or difficult was it to practice running the Overdrive Tracker down your arm and stopping at a point before you rolled it right off into thin air for the morphing sequences?
A: Very easy. lol

Q: What feelings were you going through seeing how many fans attended Morphicon?
A: I was actually expecting more fans to be there, especially younger fans.

Q: So, Sam, you've just won a million dollars (not really, but still). What's some of the first things you'll buy?
A: Don’t tease me with money please. Haha

[O.92]

Q: What was your first reaction when your agent told you about Power Rangers?
A: I was shocked! Like I said, after MMPR I didn’t know it still existed, but it was exciting to hear as it’s not your average acting job.

Q: If you weren't Will, what character would you like to be?
A: I can’t picture myself being any other character.

Q: Was there ever any talk about an Operation Overdrive movie?
A: That is not going to happen.

Q: Do you ever plan on releasing an official CD or anything of that sort?
A: Hey who knows? If I get signed, then yeah, definitely!

Q: Say it's summer time, you have a week off, what are your plans?
A: Well I’m going to Greece in a few days time. I’m gonna’ be there for a week celebrating my 21st!

Q: What was it like wearing the Power Ranger suit?
A: The spandex was very tight. I found it so hard to move in it, but what I hated the most was the boots. My feet were so sore wearing them.

Q: Was it hard speaking and breathing with that huge ranger helmet on?
A: Well, all talk in the helmets is actually recorded in a studio. We call it ADR which is Additional Dialogue Recording.

Q: Is Power Rangers taken negatively in the UK, and if so, why?
A: Yes it is, because it’s mainly an action packed show that doesn’t really show much quality in an actor and the fact that it’s a cheesy kid’s show!

Q: Can you tell us about what kind of changes you wanted to make to “Both Sides Now”?
A: I wanted to be more evil in a sense where i was a bit of a maniac with the way I said things. Lines were cut out from the episode as well. For example, the scene where Will communicated in Morse code to the rangers and then routed them to where his location was: Rose said a line like ''It’s a trap'' and Will was supposed to respond ''You are always the smartest! You've got a big brain Rose'', but that got axed! (Rhoda if you're reading this, you know what im talking about as I used to tease you with it all the time on set) This is a shame because the way Will said it would have made you guys laugh, but at the same time make Rose look stupid. There was also the scene where Miratrix discovered Will tricked her. After Will joined back with the rangers, he teases Miratrix with a little dance, but that got axed! All together there were many things I did that got axed all due to time, but it was always the stuff that I personally wanted to portray! Oh well.

Q: Can you tell us about some outtakes on set?
A: There was one fight as the Black Ranger with Kamdor which got axed in ''Both Sides Now'', but the footage for that was used for another episode. I can’t remember which one. There was always outtakes everyday on set, but talking about all of them would take up pages and pages! But Rhoda had lots of big words in her lines, and I remember one day in particular where it was a command centre scene and she was saying a line, and then screamed ''F@!*'' due to her frustration, but it made the cast and crew laugh (sorry Rhoda). Episode 4, “Heart Of Blue”, Spencer was Lady Penelope when his skirt fell down. That was a mistake which was used. It wasn’t scripted! There are more, but I can’t expose everything.

Q: If you had the power to do so, what would be some of the first things you’d change in the UK?
A: If I had an interview on TV, I would talk about the gun/gang culture in Britain and to a certain degree with my culture itself. I intend to make a special group of young people take effect on my actions to better themselves as young black people. By being a young black man myself and by having a high status in my country, my culture would see me as a degree of influence to minus themselves from certain situations because there are a lot of safer paths out there that they might not know exist. I am fed up of young kids dying at young ages and young girls getting pregnant and being single mothers. The population is increasing and the environment is getting more harsh, but the way London is living at the moment is off of misunderstandings/insecurities and selfishness!

Q: Do online Power Ranger romances creep you out?
A: Yeah.

Q: How was Greece?
A: I was in Kavos in Corfu and I went on a cruise around the island, visiting various sites. I even went champagne diving which was quite fun.

Q: What is your favorite color?
A: Well let’s just say out of red, blue, pink, yellow, and black, it’s got to be black!

Q: Are you a Simpsons fan?
A: Hell yeah I’m a Simpsons fan.

Q: Were you ever able to imitate any cartoon characters?
A: I guess I could, but unfortunately, I can’t show you, but guess I could try anyone.

Q: What did you and the others think of the PSA’s you had to film?
A: We absolutely hated them! It was first thing we filmed before episode 1.

Q: Did you film any other promotional footage for Overdrive other than the PSA’s?
A: No, we didn’t film anything else.

Q: Would you come back on Power Rangers if they asked you to be the first male pink ranger?
A: Black to pink, I don’t think so!

Q: Did you hang out with the cast members from previous Power Ranger seasons at Morphicon?
A: We spoke, but we didn’t hang. Like I said, everyone has their own personalities; some relationships are just strictly professional, which is understandable, but a shame too.

Q: Are you going to watch some of Power Rangers Jungle Fury next year?
A: They won’t be showing that until the end of next year here in the UK, but out of curiosity, yeah, I will watch it.

Q: Do you prefer coffee or chocolate?
A: I guess I would choose coffee.

[O.92]

Q: What did you think of Mack being an android?
A: Well in answer to your question, it was a shock for me. I don’t know about the rest of the cast, but it was exciting, but the cast didn’t know about the whole robot thing until a couple episodes before it. But now that I’ve been watching the season, it does answer my questions that I had for the show.

Q: Tell us about the scenes where you were in your spy gear.
A: I loved those scenes, but they are quite harmful, in episode 1, Will’s entrance. I was hanging and my harness wasn’t put on properly, and it was hard for me to breathe. It was on tight which stopped the blood flow to my head, and I felt quite woozy after it. In ‘Both Sides Now’, there was a scene where Will broke in a building to get the ''thermal bi-valve reticulating laser''. I was quite proud of that scene because I was able to do my own stunt in terms of cart wheeling and rolling through the lasers, except, the lasers weren’t really there when we were filming.

Q: What is your second favorite color?
A: Yellow.

Q: What kind of automobile do you drive?
A: My car that I currently own is a Volkswagen Urban Fox. A lot of people haven’t even heard of it, but then again I’m probably one of the only people that own one because I haven’t seen anybody else driving it.

Q: How was it being in the Halloween costume?
A: I picked it myself!

Q: Have you ever been ridiculed for being a Power Ranger?
A: No one has made fun of me for being a Power Ranger, but to be honest, it wouldn’t really make a difference.

Q: How was it meeting some of the Mighty Morphin’ Power Rangers cast you used to watch, at Morphicon?
A: It was weird, but at the same time it was an honor. I mean, I used to watch those guys when I was a kid and they were my heroes, and now I’m standing beside them. It was weird. As for the non-MMPR cast, it wasn’t a bigger deal because I knew some of them already from the team-up and I never used to watch them before.

Q: What percent of Will’s fighting did you do?
A: Well, out of all the cast, I did the most fighting, because I was always keen to do my own fights, but in terms of percentage, I’d say 70%.

Q: What happened if you were injured during filming, say, a broken leg or arm?
A: Yes, things would be behind, but you'd be replaced because there would be too much money wasted because on your injury, you'd easily be replaced and the script would easily be amended to explain the reason why your character disappeared so sudden. Heartless, but hey, that’s the industry!

Q: Are you happy with Will’s genetic powers?
A: Actually, I quite like my powers. Without me, the rangers would be fighting deaf and blind.

Q: Do you like video games?
A: I have an Xbox and a PS2, and hopefully I’ll get a PS3 for Xmas! The type of games I’m into are the espionage types like Metal Gear, Splinter Cell, etc., and I also like shoot-em-ups and Resident Evil series.

Q: Were the explosions ever a problem for you?
A: Actually I loved all the explosions, but I must admit, they can be a bit too much now and then, but hey, the kids love that stuff!

Q: Are there any last words you’d like to share about Operation Overdrive now that it’s over?
A: All I can say is, thanks for watching, and I have enjoyed working on the show. It will definitely be something to remember! I hope that casting directors and producers can see beyond the action and consider me for more dramatic roles. Throughout the whole experience, I have met some wonderful people that I class as my family. When I watched the last episode I got a bit emotional because it’s finally over, but inside it will never be. When people see that I laugh whilst watching the show, they don’t understand. That’s because they will never see Power Rangers like I do: The in’s, the out’s, the people, the locations, the experience! To me personally it’s not just a kids show, it was a life experience that will never be forgotten. Thank you everybody for all your support/comments/criticism. It is well appreciated!