Ranger Command Interview – Carol Petrie – PRPVFX

We had the pleasure of interviewing Carol Petrie of PRPVFX, the company that supplies the visual effects footage for Power Rangers since Ninja Storm.

Carol and her team at PRPVFX recently wrapped on the visual effects on Power Rangers Super Megaforce in May. She took some time from her busy schedule to answer some of our questions.

How long have your worked with PRPVFX? Has your job role changed over the years?

I have worked here since the end of 1999, and started right after I graduated Art School. My role has definitely evolved a lot in that time! I started as a VFX artist on the shows “Cleopatra 2525”, “Jack of All Trades” and “Xena: Warrior Princess”. At the same time I was assisting the then VFX co-ordinator, to manage the deliveries for all 3 shows. I gradually took over that co-ordinator role, whilst also maintaining my work as a VFX artist.

Around the Jungle Fury time I started doing the VFX Producer side of things and by RPM I was VFX supervising and producing and still working on shots as an artist! (I was pretttty busy!!) Now I just concentrate on the supervising/producing role.

At PRPVFX is Power Rangers the only franchise you work on? If not, what other projects have you been involved in?

The other main TV series’s we have worked on are “Legend of the Seeker” and “Spartacus”, which were both made in Auckland, NZ. We were one of many vendors for Spartacus. On season 2 of “Legend of the Seeker”, we were the primary vendor, and I was also VFX producer. It was very VFX heavy! We were all pretty disappointed that it didn’t get picked up for a 3rd season!

You have recently completed the VFX work for the 21st season of Power Rangers with Super Megaforce. Was the work more challenging as an anniversary season featuring past teams?

I don’t think that it was necessarily more challenging for us, featuring the past teams. However I would say that it definitely would have been more logistically challenging for other departments! (especially costume!)

Going back to the anniversary subject, since PRPVFX was involved with Power Rangers since Ninja Storm, did you have a chance to reuse any effects from past seasons such as weapon effects or morphing effects? If you did reuse effects, did they have to be updated or completely redone for the new HD resolution Power Rangers is now filmed in?

We did need to dig up a few of the old effects. Our method was to find the working files (whether created 2D or 3D) then update them to the technology we are using now, which has come a long way in just a few years. An example was the Jungle Fury energy effect….we re-did that from scratch, while still keeping the vibe of the original effect.

Megaforce and Super Megaforce seemed like they were done filming a year ago and you have just recently wrapped effects on the last episode. Is this a typical time frame from filming to completed effects? Or did PRM/PRSM require more work than usual effects wise?

Its pretty typical for us to be working on the effects for many months after filming has wrapped. At the time of the PRSMF shooting wrap, we were still working on PRMF episodes, in post.

VFX is generally the department that needs to be involved in a production from Day 1, to the day that the very last shot is delivered in post!

In Megaforce, the robot character of Datas from Goseiger was non-existent, but his body formed part of one of the Megazord formations. What were the challenges in removing the character from some Megazord scenes?

Yes, good spotting! We quite often need to alter the Japanese footage to make it work for our storylines. Its never a straight forward job removing a zord or character in Japanese footage, especially when there is so much action, such as the megazord fights! Often we need to make new buildings in 3D and track them in, and match them to the buildings in the miniatures. Also re-creating smoke and atmos and getting it to blend seamlessly can be challenging.

Was there a particular season you enjoyed working on more than others in your time at PRPVFX?

I have a few favourites- starting with Ninja Storm. Since it was the first season we worked on, every day bought a new challenge, and we had to learn the Power Rangers language of storytelling! I personally modeled and did the work on the fur for Sensei, their guinea pig mentor.

I also really enjoyed SPD- Greg Aronowitz had a very distinctive aesthetic that he bought to that season. Also RPM was great… I thought that season had a very strong story arc. 🙂 Megaforce and Super Megaforce have been fun too, I have spent a lot more time on set these seasons than previous years, and I love that side of the job!

For any aspiring Visual Effects artists out there, can you offer any advice in terms of schooling?

I would recommend downloading the trial versions of the software you are interested in (ie: Maya, NUKE etc) and also the tutorials from their websites, and trying stuff out in your own time. If you are interested in compositing, shoot some footage on your phone, bring it into NUKE, and add a 3D object and make it look like its really there. You can get loads of models from Turbosquid to use, if 3D modelling isn’t your thing.

There are lots of great schools out there. We have a great one here in Auckland called Media Design School. Their students make a short film each year and they have done some incredible stuff.

Check them out here: http://www.mediadesignschool.com. They also take international students 🙂

Filming does not begin for Dino Charge until later this year. Do you have any upcoming projects or some well deserved time off?

…hahahahaha! time off, whats that? LOL…

We received some questions from #RangerNation:

George Hansen Jr. ‏@SilurianRanger – What is your favorite VFX shot that you’ve worked on? Is it an entire scene or one frame?

I really like some of the earlier morphs, although I think the quicker full morphs are more popular with the fans! One of my favourites was the Power Rangers Jungle Fury Rhino morph!

Shawn ‏@SnarkyShawn – How many explosions are needed to be considered excessive?

You can NEVER have too many explosions!

@dom340 – Hi. Two questions for you. Have you ever do VFX work on the ranger morphing sequence? Do you like working with Saban Brands?

Yes, we work on new morph sequences each season.

Each season for us has been a lot of fun. All the artists here enjoy working on Power Rangers.

Thank you Carol!

 Screenshots courtesy of PRPVFX Show reels and RangerCrew at Megaforce Cast