20 Years After Power Rangers, Walter E. Jones Keeps It Movin'

You might recognize Walter E. Jones for his breakout role as Zack (The Black Ranger) on "Mighty Morphin Power Rangers--but that was not the beginning of his career. If you watch movies like "Malcolm X" or "White Guys Can't Jump" closely, you will notice that he was already making moves in Hollywood.  [In fact, Mr. Jones has stated in previous interviews that his dance moves helped him land the Power Rangers role.]

At 43 years old, Mr. Jones continues to move forward as an actor but never too fast that fans can't keep up with him. Whether he is interacting on social media or at comic conventions, Mr. Jones shows his humility and appreciation for fans-- including yours truly here at Zack's TV. In a brief but hilarious interview, he was candid talking about life after Power Rangers and his "secret" for success.

How did you "beat the odds" growing up in Detroit?

I was surrounded by a supportive and loving family. My Mom especially. She gave me quite a bit of my self confidence. Her name was Jacqueline Jones. She was also the neighborhood mom.

What would you have done if Power Rangers had rejected you?  

Continued to audition. It wasn't my first audition. It would not have been my last. I very likely would have become a Cruise director for Princess Cruise Lines.

After Power Rangers, did you and the cast stay in touch? What are your memories of the late Thuy Trang?

Austin, Thuy and I stayed in touch. There was a period of separation between the Rangers that stayed. We are all still friends. When I see them we jump right back where we left off. 

My memories of Thuy are beautiful! She had a kind and warm spirit. Her career was cut too short. I'm sure she would have done amazing things. May she rest in peace.

If you could produce a superhero show, what would you like it to be about? 

I have an idea about a pack of Pups that help save the world.... To be continued.

Do you feel that Power Rangers paved the way for other multicultural casts?

Absolutely!  I have received fan mail stating that our show and my character inspired them to seek out more diverse friendships. What an honor to be part of something so positive in so many ways!

Which celebrity do people mistake you for the most? (You know that happens)

My "half-brother" Wayne Brady. Lol! In the past, I would always get Larenz Tate. Maybe we should all do a film together.

What is your greatest "secret" for success? 

Love what you do. Do as much as possible!

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Walter E. Jones can be reached via Facebook , Twitter, or Instagram. 

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The Flex Founded Project: Where Fitness Meets Fashion

Corey Menzinger attracts attention wherever he goes for two reasons: his physique and his fashion sense. As an avid bodybuilder, Mr. Menzinger has to upgrade his attire regularly-- depending upon his weight at the time. Due to his need for "flexibility," he created a business founded upon that concept: The Flex Founded Project.  

In a recent interview, Mr. Menzinger answered a few questions about the history of The Flex Founded Project and why he and his team will never compromise their morals to make money.   

When was Flex Founded Project founded? Why?

Flex Founded Project was officially established as a business in November 2013, though the idea had been in works for months before. I had always had a dream of turning pro and creating a clothing brand to represent myself and what I stood for, a hard-working and destroy everything kind of attitude. I did not care what others had to say and who I needed to step on to get to where I needed to be. 

(left to right: Luc Noens & Corey Menzinger)

Eventually, my mind-set had changed after opening my eyes to see what the current fitness-industry was truly about; the same ideas that I had was what I eventually realized I hated about the current industry. My ideas changed. My goals changed. My job became to inspire and help others realize their true strength and potential. Once I partnered with my best-friend and current business partner, Luc Noens, our plans went into action. "Flex Founded" is a term we created to share with the world how fitness (bodybuilding) had changed our lives and made us who we are today. Without the everlasting teachings of long hours in the gym accompanied by the blood, sweat and tears, we would not have the same work-ethic, confidence or passion that we do today. Flex Founded Project is here to make an impact on the fitness industry in a good way. 

The apparel industry is so competitive. What makes your brand stand out?

 

Yes, the apparel industry is extremely competitive and we realized this as we made our first few prints. The industry is currently over-run with big brand names with great sponsored athletes and quirky, catchy, meme-type designs which are mass produced by various companies. We took into consideration that we needed to make clothing that people would be interested in buying at first without knowing who we were, as we had no following. However, we did not resort to using the typical and over-used meme type designs. 

 

Making a quick buck would be great, but that is not what we stand for. Any article of clothing with our brand name on it is hand-designed and printed by us, and we want it to represent our ideas 100%. What I believe sets us apart, is the motivational factor behind our clothing. As I stated earlier, a big portion of the current fitness-apparel industry is the funny meme shirts. Our goal is to have people wear our clothing and represent the type of lifestyle that they live, while at the same time inspiring and motivating others to do the same. We do not put our name on anything that we do not believe in, period. 

 

Does the Flex Founded Project offer customized messages for special orders?

We do! Apart from our own clothing line, we do prints on the side for other vendors to help us raise money to fund our brand. As I stated earlier, all articles of clothing are designed and hand-printed by us so customization is 100% do-able. However, as I stated earlier, if we do not believe in the idea then we will not print our name on it. 

 

Do you prefer the online market or would you like to branch out to stores?

Online market for sure. Stores are great to pick up some brand-name clothing, but for us to do this it would be much too expensive for our customers. It would be a great way to gain more exposure for sure, however I do not want people browsing through different t-shirts and picking ours because it has the coolest design. We take pride in our work and we want our customers to take pride in our brand when they wear it, not just because they stumbled across it on a clearance rack. While we can manage to handle operations online on our own, at the chance of rapid growth and expansion we are not completely close-minded to any ideas.

What is your greatest goal for 2014?

Our greatest goal for 2014 would be to become more recognized. I admit we jumped the gun a bit when we first started; pumping out designs and t-shirts while not having an audience of potential buyers. We would really love to team with an anti-bullying campaign and donate proceeds to a great cause. We would also love to sponsor our first athlete and really start spreading our name and ideas throughout the fitness industry. Realistically speaking, if we can continue to inspire others and be lucky enough that they are willing purchase a t-shirt or two and represent our brand, then that's a win in my book. 

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For more information, visit Flex Founded Project's website.

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Nuno Bernardo: A Transmedia Expert

If you are a media producer looking for growth, there's one man you need to follow on social media:  Nuno Bernardo. 

Other than having a cool name, Mr. Bernardo has a unique perspective about the current direction of digital media. In his new book, "Transmedia 2.0," the media guru encourages fellow producers to keep their audiences connected to content through engagement. 

Recently, Mr. Bernardo defined "Transmedia" for Zack's TV  and shared what producers can do better to generate the great results.

What is your background? (Birthplace, Family, Education)

I was born in Porto, in the north of Portugal. I studied journalism but never worked in a newsroom. Although, I wrote more than one thousand articles about new technologies that were published in national and international publications and have had more than 25 books published in both fiction and non-fiction. I worked in Marketing and Advertising between 2005 and 2011, then in an Interactive TV project for two years. Before that, I set up my company, beActive Entertainment in 2003.

How many years have you been involved in media?
 
I set up the original beActive in 2003 to explore the opportunities brought by the new digital medias that were emerging in the early 2000's, like mobile phones, social media and Internet video. beActive was always a storytelling company and we try to use technology as a way to improve the stories we tell and to engage audiences.

How has media changed over the past 10 years?

The social media networks and the new communication habits, based on the access and share of content using these new daily tools, have changed the way we consume information and Entertainment. YouTube, Facebook and Twitter are responsible for this revolution. 

Audiences expectations changed, behaviors changed and the speed of how the information is spread is faster than ever. The window system and the territories barriers are in decline, challenging the established business models. 

Audiences want content available now, for a reduced price or in “all-you-can-eat” packages (see the popularity of Netflix and Spotify) and available on all devices.

What makes "Transmedia" different from other projects in the market?

At beActive we see Transmedia as a journey where we (the creators) bring audiences in a more engaging adventure, offering them a deeper interactive experience. Not only can they get more story and content, they can know more about the characters, can interact with them, help them (whether it's a documentary or a scripted project) and be part of a fan-based community. Transmedia also offers that feeling of belonging, the ability to be part of a creative process (whether giving feedback to creators or generating Fan Fiction or user generated content). For us, Transmedia is the way to tell stories and to engage audiences in this day and age.

What is the greatest mistake that media producers make?

There are two big mistakes that producers are still making. One is to think storytelling is for one platform only. Whether you plan it or not, stories and content will spread and get a life of their own in this new social media era. Stories, whether planned solely as a Book or a Film, will then be commented on, shared, generate fan fiction and will be mashed with other pieces of content. If that doesn’t happen it's because audiences really don’t care about that new book or TV show or Film. The second is thinking that a multi-platform or Transmedia approach only serves as a marketing purpose and only planning a multi-device strategy a few weeks before the release. An effective Transmedia strategy needs to start, from a storytelling point of view, from day one. 

Why should people purchase "Transmedia 2.0" book?

The "Transmedia 2.0" book analyzes how multi-platform storytelling and distribution can help producers to establish true entertainment brands and intellectual property. 

It also features a series of real and successful case studies discussing ideas and concepts of how Transmedia can be key to promoting and engaging with audiences around a traditional TV show, feature film, game or consumer brand. 

Based on my own experience, I present a step-by-step approach to building long-running multi-platform entertainment brands and loyal viewing communities. Now I’m sharing this knowledge with filmmakers, content producers for television, gaming and web, marketeers, brand managers, and audiovisual and media students.

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Check out Mr. Bernardo's Twitter and Facebook pages for more info. 

If you still don't understand "transmedia" after reading this article, here are a few links that can help you: 

Transmedia Storyteller Info Page 

http://www.tstoryteller.com/transmedia-storytelling

"Seven Myths About Transmedia Stortyelling Debunked" by Henry Jenkins

http://www.fastcompany.com/1745746/seven-myths-about-transmedia-storytelling-debunked

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Introducing The "Floating Doctors" [CHARITY OF THE WEEK]

While debates rage on about #Obamacare across the country, there are people in third-world nations barely receiving any care at all. But there is one charity providing substantial relief in some of the world's poorest areas: Floating Doctors.

Dr. Ben Labrot

Floating Doctors was founded by Dr. Benjamin Labrot  to "reduce disease" and "promote improvements in health care delivery worldwide." Additionally, the organization claims to have served over 10,000 patients in the Caribbean. That is due to the extremely low cost of living in disadvantaged regions. 

According to Sky Labrot, the operations manager of Floating Doctors, a donation of $25 will allow for 10 patients to be seen and given appropriate medications. 




For those seeking more involvement, there are volunteer opportunities as well. It helps to fluent in the official languages of the respective nations they serve. But the desire to make a difference is what matters the most. 

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Sunday Inspiration | "Housing The Homeless"

Most would agree that no group suffers more in this country than the homeless. According to recent figures, more than 600,000 Americans lack shelter each night; on a smaller scale, about 2 in 1,000 are affected by this plight.

But there is hope for those who need housing the most. The 100,000 Homes campaign--powered by the non profit Community Solutions-- has exceeded its numeric expectation and provided almost 102,000 people with a place to stay.

For more information, check out the story at 60 Minutes.

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Heroes 101: Don't Move That Body!

If you are a decent person, it is a natural "reflex" to help others in need. However, you must be careful in order to prevent injuring victims in need. After a recent controversy involving footage of a celebrity pulled from wreckage, emergency response experts are reminding the public to "look" before they leap into action.

According to Alarm.org, it is recommended that people seeking to help victims (with broken bones) should wait until emergency professionals arrive. If the victim is in immediate danger, experts advise that dragging a person to safety is better than lifting.

Be sure to bookmark this link, if you can. You might need it one day. 

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Why You SHOULDN'T Use A Real Pic On LinkedIn

I have nothing to hide; yet, a few prospective employers may feel otherwise when they see my LinkedIn page. For privacy reasons, I don't use my real picture-- but there is a push for people to "show it all" on the popular professional network. 
Given my (internal) knowledge of human resources, I feel that putting your picture on a LinkedIn page could do more harm than good. If you can't see what your recruiter looks like, they shouldn't need to know what you look like until the initial interview.

What should you do instead? Put up a (respectful) logo or avatar which represents what you do or who you are. If you are a science whiz, put up a lab kit; If you enjoy the arts, put up a picture of a stage or props. 

In a world where a Google diversity report shows anything but diversity, it is important to shift attention towards WHO YOU ARE and not WHAT YOU LOOK LIKE.

Good luck.  

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Right Story, Wrong Picture: A Tracy Morgan Mixup

Dear media producers,

Always check the source of a photo before posting.

Regretfully submitted,

- Zack

A few media outlets have been posting a picture of Tracy Morgan with his "TV mom" from "30 Rock," Novella Nelson  .

But his real mother is Ms. Alicia Warden.

According to recent reports, Ms. Warden and Mr. Morgan are estranged and have not spoken in over 10 years. As a result, she has been denied access to see him in the hospital.  

Best wishes to everyone involved--including Ms. Nelson who has nothing to do with this. (face palm) 

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North Dakota: A Promised Land For Jobs?

Job seekers who want to stand out in the applicant pool might need to consider their geographic position. According to the government data, North Dakota has the lowest unemployment rate in the nation. In fact, the state has been looking to fill 20,000 jobs in multiple industries. 

But there's fine print with every "good deal." Just like other fast-growing cities, there has been a housing shortage and heavy traffic. In addition to that, North Dakota is not known for having the warmest winters either.

Employment projections from the North Dakota Work Force Intelligence Network (seen left) shows that agriculture, architecture, science, and transportation will have the greatest growth from 2010-2020.

For more information about North Dakota's job market, click here. 

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Goodbye Barry Frost: How Will Rizzoli & Isles Address It?

UPDATE (June 17, 2014): TV Guide has spoiled it already. If you want to see how Frost's character is written off, click here.

If you came here looking for a spoiler alert, I owe you an apology; the purpose of this post is to speculate how TNT's "Rizzoli & Isles" will pay tribute to the late Lee Thompson Young next Tuesday (June 17) on the season premiere. 

According to reports, the absence of Mr. Young's character--Barry Frost-- will be addressed in the first 2 episodes of Season 5. And information found on the show's IMDB page gives a few clues to what COULD happen. 

The tentative titles of Episode 1 and Episode 2 are "A New Day" and "Goodbye." From those titles, it is my assumption that something will happen to Detective Frost (during his vacation mentioned in the Season 4 finale) and there will be flashbacks. Then, at the end of Episode 1, the cast will be given sad news about him. In Episode 2, Frost's character might be saluted during a memorial service.

In fact, the episode description for Episode 2 alludes to that.  

From the Rizzoli & Isles page:
 

A woman walks into the station covered in blood, carrying a gun, and saying she killed someone. Unfortunately, the trauma of what she did caused her to forget who she is or who the victim is. The team tries to unravel this bizarre case as they deal with the loss of close friend and colleague, Det. Barry Frost.

However, "loss" does not have to mean "death." Just like with the Simpsons, they might retire the character of Barry Frost. While sitcoms like "Gimme A Break" and "8 Simple Rules" responded to the real life deaths of cast members by having characters pass away, it might not be the most sensitive option for Mr. Young's family. 

At the end of the day, the entire team at Zack's TV sends thoughts and prayers to Mr. Young's parents, Mr. Tommy Scott Young and Dr. Velma Love, as well as his other relatives, colleagues and friends. His work is not forgotten.  

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Over 25 & Still Living At Home? You're Not Alone

In the upcoming Zack's TV original animated series, "Get Out, Kyle," the 26-year-old title character (seen on the right) does everything in his power to stay home with Mom and Dad--while the recent retirees exhaust their efforts to creatively "evict" him. 

Kyle might be a cartoon but his scenario is very real for many Americans. A recent Gallup poll shows that adults between 24 and 34 still living at home consider themselves "less thriving" and a decreased sense of well-being. While the sample only represents about 1,100 adults, it is still indicative of what many young people go through today.

But not every one has sympathy about adult "homebodies." Dr. Phil has tips for parents who want their grown children to get the ***k out. (Okay, he didn't write all that but you get the point.) 

For those living at home, Brad Tuttle from Time has a different perspective. In his 2012 editorial, "Being 30 And Living With Your Parents Isn't Lame--It's Awesome," he shares a report from Pew Research Center indicating that adults at home were happier. (Of course, this report was written a year before the Gallup Poll and most likely used different subjects.) 

At the end of the day, adults living at home must be the judges of their own lives. If they choose to stay, they should find a way to contribute financially to the house--if not already doing so. If they choose to leave, they must have a plan to avoid returning.

If all else fails, Kyle will help them laugh at their problems when "Get Out, Kyle" premieres later this month. 

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TV Star Leith Burke: 'Actors Aren't Paid For Acting'

Before he became an actor, Leith Burke was a people watcher; Now, millions of people watch him on Tyler Perry's "The Haves & Have Nots" (airing Tuesdays at 9/8 Central on OWN-TV)  as Detective Byron Marshall.

But Mr. Burke is anything but a newcomer to Hollywood or the entertainment industry. As one of the industry's most versatile actors, he has played everything from Banquo in a recent production of "MacBeth" to Dr. McQueen on "Grey's Anatomy" to a homeless man. In addition to live action roles, video gamers might recognize his voice from "Killzone: Shadow Fall," "Dead Rising 3," and "Wolfenstein: The New Order."

As a true sign of humility, Mr. Burke took time to answer a few questions from Zack's TV  about his career and what keeps him going when he gets rejected for roles.

Where did you grow up? What was your childhood like?

Leith in 7th Grade (Courtesy: Leith Burke)

I was born in Queens, New York to Jamaican immigrant parents. Leith is my father's name--which I carry with pride along with my Jamaican heritage (I hold dual citizenship here and there). 

I grew up mostly in Jersey--though I was well traveled. My mother, Marcia, worked for the airlines, so we were often in flight. I'd seen much of the world by high school, though I still have a lot left to see. There is little that I love more than travel; it shapes character and understanding and is essential if you ever really want to be a part of this world. For an actor, travel offers the opportunity to observe from an outside, anonymous perspective--which is crucial to our craft.

Dad was an accountant for United Artists back when they were the only major studio in Manhattan, and the only studio created by artists. They were at the peak of their game when I was a kid. Major projects of United Artists included "Bond," "Rocky," "The Who's Tommy." United Artists was considered the home of American independent films before there was such a thing. 

Broadway tickets were one of my dad's industry perks, so I saw a lot of musicals when I was young; they were my mother's passion. She had a great voice. She also pushed me into dance and piano lessons as a kid, neither stuck, but she shouldn't have been surprised when I chose this as a career. 

How did you get started in acting?  

I attended an all-male Catholic school named St. Joseph's in Metuchen, New Jersey.  At the time, I hated it. But I am thankful now. In fact, that's how I got into acting; the only way to see girls was to do theater.   So I did a play. That simple. 

During the tough times in your career, what keeps you going?

I've got mouths to feed!  But honestly, I can't do anything else with a smile. I've often needed to quit. Thankfully, I have never been homeless--thanks to dear friends and family-- but have damn sure been flat broke...for long stretches. 

I'm proud of those times and welcome the challenge. You learn what you're made of and also to "soldier" on, though I've never done anything as tough as what a real soldier must endure. I never really struggled at the beginning; my tough stretch has been the middle. But I plan to come on strong at the end. 

What I lean on most is faith, and I don't just mean God. I mean faith in myself and my place in the universe. [It is] the faith that I'm on my path and that the world I live in is the one I want to live in. 

It's cliche but the old adage stands: "If you can do something else and be happy, you should." Just keep walking. One foot in front of the other. 

And lastly, I've still got stories to tell. 

(Check out his voice acting below.) 

What do you say those who feel that actors are "overpaid" to play "make believe?" 

Actors aren't paid for acting. We would do the work for free. Playing "make believe" is an honor and a privilege! Any opportunity to practice my craft is a gift.

A good set can be a wonderful place full of friends, laughter and free food! A bad set can be like sleeping on a dirty bathroom floor that's a little damp. And we get paid for that. 

We get paid for all the bullshit we endure on our way to that great set. The auditions, the rejection, the student loans, the tabloids, the gym, the disrespect. And don't get me wrong: we chose this and it comes with the territory. But the salaries of those actors we know on a first name basis are not the same as those for a "working actor" such as myself. 

I have never been overpaid; Yes, sometimes when you see the weight of a single check that notion seems silly. But when you divide that check by the weeks and months you spent looking hard for a job, it ain't that much "Jack."

 

What is the greatest compliment you have received from a fan? 

I'm a big fan of the silent hug. There have been a few times in my life when a stranger approaches me after a play and they can't even speak. We just silently agree to hug it out. There are no words. 

That's the good shit. 

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For more information about Leith Burke, visit his website or follow him on Facebook and Twitter. 

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