O.92
10-03-2007, 03:09 PM
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Q = Fan’s question
A = Jessica's Answer
Last Updated: Dec 31, 2007 9:19 AM CT
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Q: Have you seen any of Wild Force’s Sentai counterpart, Gaoranger?
A: I was able to see some of the episodes while we were filming and I thought they were amazing.
Q: Since there are many Cole/Alyssa fans out there, were the writers intentionally trying to push a Cole & Alyssa relationship?
A: Actually, it's funny because I was originally under the impression that I would be romantically involved with Merrick. Obviously, that didn't happen and I ended up with no romance. I'm not sure that the Cole/Alyssa thing was intentional or that we just always happened to be together.
Q: What other shows have you done since Power Rangers Wild Force ended?
A: The last show I did on television was "Rules of Engagement" on CBS. If you missed it, you can watch it on their website. The episode was called "Jeff's Wooby." I also just filmed a web series called "Hampton High" and that can be found on www.Hamptonhighrevealed.com. Both were fun projects and I hope to continue working in the entertainment industry. I'm also writing a book and coming out with a line of swimsuits in the near future
Q: Do you keep in touch with any of your Wild Force co-stars?
A: I have kept in touch with Ann Marie (Princess Shayla) and occasionally see the others around town at auditions and such.
Q: Did you get to keep anything from the show?
A: Yes, of course! I kept my "Alyssa" outfit and even got to take some of Toxica's crazy clothes. I have my growl phone and maybe, just maybe, I have my "Power Ranger" outfit. I also kept my memories, which are priceless.
Q: If given the chance, would you return for Power Rangers?
A: That would be fun! I always tell people what a great experience it was for me. A month before we wrapped up the show, I started crying because I knew it would soon be over. I cried and made other people cry. It was pretty funny.
Q: Do you still continue to do any kinds of martial arts?
A: Yes! I still continue to do martial arts today. Right now I am studying Jeet Kune Do and I love it! Doing stunts on Power Rangers was challenging and so much fun! In the scene with Branscombe, I actually asked him to hit me really hard so I could stir up the emotion to really cry. Well, he did and ouch it hurt! He's a big guy!
Q: How are you alike with your character Alyssa?
A: I identified with Alyssa in many ways. She was focused on school and realized the importance of higher education. My parents always drilled that into my head as a young child, so I went on to get my Master's Degree. Alyssa was always caring for everybody and I can also relate to that. I love to cook and feed everyone (including myself). We were opposite in the fact that Alyssa left her family business to go to school against her parent's wishes. I left school (but went back) to become an actress against my parent's wishes, but we both ended up Power Rangers in the end.
Q: What was your favorite part of working on Wild Force?
A: My favorite part was getting to work with such wonderful people. You never see the people behind the scenes, but they were all so wonderful and made my work so easy and enjoyable. Of course, doing stunts was a lot of fun and having my own action figure wasn't so bad, either!
Q: Would you like to live on Animarium if you could?
A: That would be exciting, but scary at the same time! I guess I would like it if the animals were all friendly and there were lots of penguins! Those guys are so cute.
Q: Out of all the roles you have done, which was your favorite to play?
A: Alyssa was definitely my favorite role to play because I identified with her in so many ways. Second best is the role I just did on my web series "Hampton High". Sometimes it's fun to play a mean girl, especially when you're so nice all the time (of course I'm talking about acting).
Q: You were on Days of Our Lives. Can you tell us about that?
A: It was fun while it lasted, but I don't think I am a soap opera kind of girl.
Q: How did you hear about the role for Alyssa?
A: The audition came through my agent at the time. It was my first television audition and I had no idea what I was doing. It wasn't until the 3rd callback that I realized I was auditioning for a series regular role and not some one-liner character. At that point, I got really nervous and thought I blew the audition, but I got it!
I had seen some PR episodes before getting the role, but I'd never seen a full season. I never thought in a million years that I would actually be one of them!
Q: Do you have any musical talent?
A: I play the piano and started learning how to play the drums, but it was a lot harder than I thought it would be.
Q: What was the best concert you’ve been to?
A: Hmmm...I went to a John Williams/LA Philharmonic show at the Hollywood Bowl and it was amazing. I couldn't believe how many people dressed up in Star Wars costumes.
Q: What kind of TV shows do you watch nowadays?
A: I don't really watch TV anymore because everything seems so immoral nowadays. It's sad.
Q: Any advice for anyone who wants to be on future Power Ranger seasons?
A: Hmmm... anytime I audition for something big, I get private coaching on it to make sure I'm making the right choices. Be prepared. And don't lie on your resume. The producers made me dance during a callback because they thought I might be lying. It was embarrassing because I danced with no music, but I proved to them that I could do everything my resume stated.
Q: Have you heard of Power Morphicon?
A: I can't say that I heard anything about it, but I do take time off in the summer to travel the world, so I wasn't here. Were any other Wild Force rangers there?
Q: What was your favorite Wild Force episode?
A: My favorite episode was "A Father's Footsteps" because I got to do some cool stunts and some emotional scenes. I also got to work with Branscombe Richmond, who is not only an awesome actor but my friend's father (in real life). It was a lot of fun.
Q: Do you play any other sports besides tennis?
A: I play golf-I'm a total nerd! I also love snowboarding.
Q: Any pranks pulled off while on the set?
A: Hmmm...I can't think of any pranks we pulled on each other specifically. We were always just goofing off (and sometimes getting in trouble for it). Phillip and I were like brother and sister, always joking around. I do remember one time we were filming in a cave and Jack wanted to know what I was listening to on my mp3 player. It happened to be Enrique Iglesias "Hero". He decided to step outside of the cave and act like Enrique Iglesias, singing into a flower he picked, and trying to be romantic. It was really funny until we heard a lot of people yelling and screaming outside of the cave. Apparently they had another crew filming shots outside and Jack had walked into the middle of it all, only he couldn't hear them because he had the headphones on. It was so funny. They must have gotten at least 5 minutes of his Enrique Iglesias impression on tape.
Q: Have you ever been to India?
A: No, I haven't been there yet. I do love the cuisine, though. Yum!
Q: What do you think of Latino culture?
A: I have been to the Philippines, Jamaica, Greece, and Turkey. The closest I've been to South America is Mexico. I think I've been to every resort place there- Acapulco, Cabo, Cancun, Playa del Carmen, Mazatlan, etc. I don't know what it is, but every time I go there, I get sick.
Q: Besides “A Father’s Footsteps”, which other episodes did you enjoy filming?
A: I liked filming the stuff towards the end of the season, with the rain. We used a rain machine in the middle of the night and would shoot until the sun came up. We were all cold and physically miserable, but it was great to bond with everyone like that.
Q: What is your favorite item in the Indian cuisine?
A: I love the bread. I think it's called naan. It's so yummy.
Q: What is your favorite Filipino food item?
A: I love Filipino food. I can eat lumpia and pancit all day long. Crispy pata is so good. I know mangoes are not Filipino, but my dad's family has a mango plantation in the Philippines I eat them all day long until I'm sick. They're my favorite fruit.
Q: What do you usually do when you visit the Philippines?
A: Well, I usually visit my grandmother in Manila, but she has passed away. I still have cousins there in Las Pinas and a lot of family in Zambales. Last time, I hung out in Makati and also went to Boracay with my mom and aunt. It's beautiful there. I want to plan a trip with my friends and go to Palawan (never been, but I hear it's gorgeous).
Q: Do you have any advice for an aspiring actor or actress?
A: If it's truly your passion, go for it. Study hard with good coaches and be on top of your game. There are people from all over the world who move to Hollywood to make their dreams come true. Be prepared to hear a lot of "no's" but persevere and keep your head up.
Q: Do you like video games?
A: I don't play videogames. Some of them are so violent and they make my head spin. I've also heard that they're very addicting, so I try to stay away.
Q: Where was Power Rangers Wild Force filmed?
A: We filmed WF in Valencia, California. Our studio was right next to JAG's studio and also near Six Flags Magic Mountain. At first, I thought that was so cool because I'd get to ride roller coasters after work. However, the only thing I wanted to do after work was go to sleep. It was a tiring job and hard work, but I loved it!
Q: Like Alyssa, were you a smart student?
A: I guess you could say I was a smart student in real life. I was actually quite a nerd with my head stuck in my books at all times. I graduated early from high school and then early from college and was the youngest in my class to get my master's degree. I think I could have gone to school forever, if I got paid for it!
Q: Can you tell us more about the set you worked on?
A: Our set was so awesome. It was like an indoor jungle. The main set was the Animarium and then we had the Org lair behind it. As beautiful as it was, I think I was somewhat allergic to it (I have really bad allergies) because most of the plants were real. At the end of the season, they were giving all the plants away and I think a lot of it got thrown out! We shot a lot of stuff on location, as you can imagine.
Q: Will your clothing line cater to all sizes?
A: Thanks for asking. Right now, we are in discussions about what sizes we will carry. I want to be able to cater to everyone, so hopefully the answer will be yes. Other than swimsuits, I will also be coming out with some really cute tees in the near future. Would you be interested in these?
Q: Can you tell us about some of the volunteer work you’ve done?
A: I have done lots of stuff with kids, mostly with the Make-a-Wish Foundation, which grants one wish to kids who are seriously ill. I've done lots of charity golf tournaments and bowling tournaments (I love bowling). Right now, I volunteer weekly at a hospital through my church and I pray with patients and give them encouragement. I occasionally help out with the homeless ministry as well. I'm also helping my friends start an adoption foundation. Lastly, I travel around giving talks to teens and young adults on living a virtuous life. I try not to spread myself too thin, but am always up for helping people do good.
Q: If you were stranded on an island, what 3 items would you like to have?
A: The Bible, a knife, and a jumbo pack of matches.
Q: Were you effected by the California fires?
A: Thank you for your concern! That's very sweet. My family and I were spared, but I do know lots of people who lost everything they had. They left their homes with nothing but the clothes on their backs.
Q: Do you go to church every Sunday?
A: That's awesome! Yes, I go every Sunday and I also go as many times during the week that I can. You can't ever get too much spiritual food.
Q: How was your relationship with the boys of Wild Force?
A: Phillip and Jack were like my brothers. We were always goofing off. Drew was also fun to hang out with. Ricardo and I were not the closest of friends.
Q: What was it like wearing the helmet?
A: Wearing the suit and the helmet was like major suffocation! It made us nuts. They wouldn't zip the suit up until right before we started shooting because we couldn't breathe. And none of us felt very attractive in them because they're so tight. Luckily, mine had a cute little skirt to go with it.
Q: Do you like Italian food?
A: Oh yes! I love Italian food. In fact, I just got back from New York and ate lots and lots of Italian food. It was good. I lived in Rome for a little bit, so I was spoiled with authentic Italian food. Now, it's hard for me to eat it in the USA.
Q: Do you have any regrets from Wild Force?
A: No regrets about WF.
Q = Fan’s question
A = Jessica's Answer
Last Updated: Dec 31, 2007 9:19 AM CT
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Q: Have you seen any of Wild Force’s Sentai counterpart, Gaoranger?
A: I was able to see some of the episodes while we were filming and I thought they were amazing.
Q: Since there are many Cole/Alyssa fans out there, were the writers intentionally trying to push a Cole & Alyssa relationship?
A: Actually, it's funny because I was originally under the impression that I would be romantically involved with Merrick. Obviously, that didn't happen and I ended up with no romance. I'm not sure that the Cole/Alyssa thing was intentional or that we just always happened to be together.
Q: What other shows have you done since Power Rangers Wild Force ended?
A: The last show I did on television was "Rules of Engagement" on CBS. If you missed it, you can watch it on their website. The episode was called "Jeff's Wooby." I also just filmed a web series called "Hampton High" and that can be found on www.Hamptonhighrevealed.com. Both were fun projects and I hope to continue working in the entertainment industry. I'm also writing a book and coming out with a line of swimsuits in the near future
Q: Do you keep in touch with any of your Wild Force co-stars?
A: I have kept in touch with Ann Marie (Princess Shayla) and occasionally see the others around town at auditions and such.
Q: Did you get to keep anything from the show?
A: Yes, of course! I kept my "Alyssa" outfit and even got to take some of Toxica's crazy clothes. I have my growl phone and maybe, just maybe, I have my "Power Ranger" outfit. I also kept my memories, which are priceless.
Q: If given the chance, would you return for Power Rangers?
A: That would be fun! I always tell people what a great experience it was for me. A month before we wrapped up the show, I started crying because I knew it would soon be over. I cried and made other people cry. It was pretty funny.
Q: Do you still continue to do any kinds of martial arts?
A: Yes! I still continue to do martial arts today. Right now I am studying Jeet Kune Do and I love it! Doing stunts on Power Rangers was challenging and so much fun! In the scene with Branscombe, I actually asked him to hit me really hard so I could stir up the emotion to really cry. Well, he did and ouch it hurt! He's a big guy!
Q: How are you alike with your character Alyssa?
A: I identified with Alyssa in many ways. She was focused on school and realized the importance of higher education. My parents always drilled that into my head as a young child, so I went on to get my Master's Degree. Alyssa was always caring for everybody and I can also relate to that. I love to cook and feed everyone (including myself). We were opposite in the fact that Alyssa left her family business to go to school against her parent's wishes. I left school (but went back) to become an actress against my parent's wishes, but we both ended up Power Rangers in the end.
Q: What was your favorite part of working on Wild Force?
A: My favorite part was getting to work with such wonderful people. You never see the people behind the scenes, but they were all so wonderful and made my work so easy and enjoyable. Of course, doing stunts was a lot of fun and having my own action figure wasn't so bad, either!
Q: Would you like to live on Animarium if you could?
A: That would be exciting, but scary at the same time! I guess I would like it if the animals were all friendly and there were lots of penguins! Those guys are so cute.
Q: Out of all the roles you have done, which was your favorite to play?
A: Alyssa was definitely my favorite role to play because I identified with her in so many ways. Second best is the role I just did on my web series "Hampton High". Sometimes it's fun to play a mean girl, especially when you're so nice all the time (of course I'm talking about acting).
Q: You were on Days of Our Lives. Can you tell us about that?
A: It was fun while it lasted, but I don't think I am a soap opera kind of girl.
Q: How did you hear about the role for Alyssa?
A: The audition came through my agent at the time. It was my first television audition and I had no idea what I was doing. It wasn't until the 3rd callback that I realized I was auditioning for a series regular role and not some one-liner character. At that point, I got really nervous and thought I blew the audition, but I got it!
I had seen some PR episodes before getting the role, but I'd never seen a full season. I never thought in a million years that I would actually be one of them!
Q: Do you have any musical talent?
A: I play the piano and started learning how to play the drums, but it was a lot harder than I thought it would be.
Q: What was the best concert you’ve been to?
A: Hmmm...I went to a John Williams/LA Philharmonic show at the Hollywood Bowl and it was amazing. I couldn't believe how many people dressed up in Star Wars costumes.
Q: What kind of TV shows do you watch nowadays?
A: I don't really watch TV anymore because everything seems so immoral nowadays. It's sad.
Q: Any advice for anyone who wants to be on future Power Ranger seasons?
A: Hmmm... anytime I audition for something big, I get private coaching on it to make sure I'm making the right choices. Be prepared. And don't lie on your resume. The producers made me dance during a callback because they thought I might be lying. It was embarrassing because I danced with no music, but I proved to them that I could do everything my resume stated.
Q: Have you heard of Power Morphicon?
A: I can't say that I heard anything about it, but I do take time off in the summer to travel the world, so I wasn't here. Were any other Wild Force rangers there?
Q: What was your favorite Wild Force episode?
A: My favorite episode was "A Father's Footsteps" because I got to do some cool stunts and some emotional scenes. I also got to work with Branscombe Richmond, who is not only an awesome actor but my friend's father (in real life). It was a lot of fun.
Q: Do you play any other sports besides tennis?
A: I play golf-I'm a total nerd! I also love snowboarding.
Q: Any pranks pulled off while on the set?
A: Hmmm...I can't think of any pranks we pulled on each other specifically. We were always just goofing off (and sometimes getting in trouble for it). Phillip and I were like brother and sister, always joking around. I do remember one time we were filming in a cave and Jack wanted to know what I was listening to on my mp3 player. It happened to be Enrique Iglesias "Hero". He decided to step outside of the cave and act like Enrique Iglesias, singing into a flower he picked, and trying to be romantic. It was really funny until we heard a lot of people yelling and screaming outside of the cave. Apparently they had another crew filming shots outside and Jack had walked into the middle of it all, only he couldn't hear them because he had the headphones on. It was so funny. They must have gotten at least 5 minutes of his Enrique Iglesias impression on tape.
Q: Have you ever been to India?
A: No, I haven't been there yet. I do love the cuisine, though. Yum!
Q: What do you think of Latino culture?
A: I have been to the Philippines, Jamaica, Greece, and Turkey. The closest I've been to South America is Mexico. I think I've been to every resort place there- Acapulco, Cabo, Cancun, Playa del Carmen, Mazatlan, etc. I don't know what it is, but every time I go there, I get sick.
Q: Besides “A Father’s Footsteps”, which other episodes did you enjoy filming?
A: I liked filming the stuff towards the end of the season, with the rain. We used a rain machine in the middle of the night and would shoot until the sun came up. We were all cold and physically miserable, but it was great to bond with everyone like that.
Q: What is your favorite item in the Indian cuisine?
A: I love the bread. I think it's called naan. It's so yummy.
Q: What is your favorite Filipino food item?
A: I love Filipino food. I can eat lumpia and pancit all day long. Crispy pata is so good. I know mangoes are not Filipino, but my dad's family has a mango plantation in the Philippines I eat them all day long until I'm sick. They're my favorite fruit.
Q: What do you usually do when you visit the Philippines?
A: Well, I usually visit my grandmother in Manila, but she has passed away. I still have cousins there in Las Pinas and a lot of family in Zambales. Last time, I hung out in Makati and also went to Boracay with my mom and aunt. It's beautiful there. I want to plan a trip with my friends and go to Palawan (never been, but I hear it's gorgeous).
Q: Do you have any advice for an aspiring actor or actress?
A: If it's truly your passion, go for it. Study hard with good coaches and be on top of your game. There are people from all over the world who move to Hollywood to make their dreams come true. Be prepared to hear a lot of "no's" but persevere and keep your head up.
Q: Do you like video games?
A: I don't play videogames. Some of them are so violent and they make my head spin. I've also heard that they're very addicting, so I try to stay away.
Q: Where was Power Rangers Wild Force filmed?
A: We filmed WF in Valencia, California. Our studio was right next to JAG's studio and also near Six Flags Magic Mountain. At first, I thought that was so cool because I'd get to ride roller coasters after work. However, the only thing I wanted to do after work was go to sleep. It was a tiring job and hard work, but I loved it!
Q: Like Alyssa, were you a smart student?
A: I guess you could say I was a smart student in real life. I was actually quite a nerd with my head stuck in my books at all times. I graduated early from high school and then early from college and was the youngest in my class to get my master's degree. I think I could have gone to school forever, if I got paid for it!
Q: Can you tell us more about the set you worked on?
A: Our set was so awesome. It was like an indoor jungle. The main set was the Animarium and then we had the Org lair behind it. As beautiful as it was, I think I was somewhat allergic to it (I have really bad allergies) because most of the plants were real. At the end of the season, they were giving all the plants away and I think a lot of it got thrown out! We shot a lot of stuff on location, as you can imagine.
Q: Will your clothing line cater to all sizes?
A: Thanks for asking. Right now, we are in discussions about what sizes we will carry. I want to be able to cater to everyone, so hopefully the answer will be yes. Other than swimsuits, I will also be coming out with some really cute tees in the near future. Would you be interested in these?
Q: Can you tell us about some of the volunteer work you’ve done?
A: I have done lots of stuff with kids, mostly with the Make-a-Wish Foundation, which grants one wish to kids who are seriously ill. I've done lots of charity golf tournaments and bowling tournaments (I love bowling). Right now, I volunteer weekly at a hospital through my church and I pray with patients and give them encouragement. I occasionally help out with the homeless ministry as well. I'm also helping my friends start an adoption foundation. Lastly, I travel around giving talks to teens and young adults on living a virtuous life. I try not to spread myself too thin, but am always up for helping people do good.
Q: If you were stranded on an island, what 3 items would you like to have?
A: The Bible, a knife, and a jumbo pack of matches.
Q: Were you effected by the California fires?
A: Thank you for your concern! That's very sweet. My family and I were spared, but I do know lots of people who lost everything they had. They left their homes with nothing but the clothes on their backs.
Q: Do you go to church every Sunday?
A: That's awesome! Yes, I go every Sunday and I also go as many times during the week that I can. You can't ever get too much spiritual food.
Q: How was your relationship with the boys of Wild Force?
A: Phillip and Jack were like my brothers. We were always goofing off. Drew was also fun to hang out with. Ricardo and I were not the closest of friends.
Q: What was it like wearing the helmet?
A: Wearing the suit and the helmet was like major suffocation! It made us nuts. They wouldn't zip the suit up until right before we started shooting because we couldn't breathe. And none of us felt very attractive in them because they're so tight. Luckily, mine had a cute little skirt to go with it.
Q: Do you like Italian food?
A: Oh yes! I love Italian food. In fact, I just got back from New York and ate lots and lots of Italian food. It was good. I lived in Rome for a little bit, so I was spoiled with authentic Italian food. Now, it's hard for me to eat it in the USA.
Q: Do you have any regrets from Wild Force?
A: No regrets about WF.