Writing

Hello, ladies, gentlemen, and fellow devotees of anything and everything from the 1990s. Antoni, here. If you remembered the previous post of the “It’s a Wonderful Lie”-inspired scene’s second part, you would have noticed that this scene would have been significant to me if I had grown up as a child actor of the late 1990s to the early 2000s. This scene would not have been important for me in the role of Antony, but also for my supposed co-stars consisting of David Yost, Amy Jo Johnson, Walter Emanuel Jones, Thuy Trang, and Austin St. John who would have played my cousins/legal guardians. It would have worked in these ways. First, it would have sealed my fate as a young actor who could handle serious, tender, and dramatic moments at such a young age, even at 9 years old. Secondly, this would have demonstrated that David Yost, Amy Jo Johnson, Walter Emanuel Jones, Thuy Trang, and Austin St. John were more than just the original five Power Rangers, but had actual talent as actors. Thirdly, this would have also been important for Thuy Trang, considering her tragic and untimely passing back on September 3, 2001, as she would have been the light of the entire show. If I were to have performed this scene akin to Ashley being reprimanded by both Uncle Phil and Aunt Viv, I would have found myself in quite the interesting situation. Consider this. If I were to switch the clock back to 2001, I would have been a 9-year-old child actor gaining acclaim as the intellectual, verbose, and rather impetuous Antony Perez from the Lil J’-headed sitcom L.A. Dynasty which would have been the multiracial, multiethnic late 90s, early 2000s counterpart to The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air. While Lil’ J would have been the fresh-faced young teen star to receive his own sitcom, especially since it would have also aired on NBC and also helmed by Quincy Jones, Benny Medina, Andy and Susan Borowitz, Karyn Parsons, Will Smith, Alfonso Ribeiro, and Tatyana Ali taking on behind-the-camera roles, viewers, critics, and fans would have highlighted my performance as Antony as somebody who stole the show from the older cast members’ feet. Most of the acclaim would have been attributed that I would have started the show at only 6 years old and would have wrapped up when I was 10 years old. This would even get to the point where I would have been deemed as a child star following in Macaulay Culkin’s, Christina Ricci’s, Mickey Rooney’s, and Shirley Temple’s footsteps with the potential to have a successful career in the spotlight according to film and television critics thanks to my precocious charm and innocent wit. While my character would have started out as a sweet, caring, loving kid genius of 6 years old, he would metamorphosed into a mouthier and more impetuous boy of 9 years old while maintaining his intellect, although he would use it to try to get his way. Career-wise, I would have also been nominated for Emmys, Kids Choice Awards, and Teen Choice Awards for my performance as Antony, especially in the rising star category. Roles such as this would have sealed my fate as a child star who specialised in portraying wiz kids who are much smarter than their age. This would have eventually changed as I came of age. The chemistry between me and my five co-stars/screen cousins David Yost as Howard, Amy Jo Johnson as Kristen, Walter Emanuel Jones as Tyler, Thuy Trang as Rose, and Austin St. John ass Justin would have been just as integral in terms of making this particular scene worth remembering. Lest I forget about the contribution of what Mark Dacascos as Gregory “Uncle Greg” and Candace Kita as Josephine “Aunt Jo” would have offered as my screen parents. Imagine traveling back to 2001. I would have been a 9-year-old child actor surrounded by a towering martial arts star known for his fierceness playing my father, an actress/model who cut such an impressive physique playing my mother who was also well-known for playing another mother figure on Masked Rider, and the five original Power Rangers playing my cousins. My little 9-year-old mind would have thought that I need to be great for these people, for I have been fans of their works ever since I was a little toddler and would consider acting alongside a dream come true. Well, this is where the dream would have come to fruition. Considering that my character got in trouble for lying to his parents and his cousins/legal guardians, I would have been extremely trepidated by Mark, Candace, David, Amy Jo, Walter, Thuy, and Austin, thus having my knees shake both from fear and just trying to get it together but also wanting their approval. The remorse would have been legitimate considering how Mark and Candace as my screen parents would have vehemently scolded me and David, Amy Jo, Walter, Thuy, and Austin came down on me in a more logical and calm manner as a counterpoint to the former. Just as I was about to walk upstairs and the five of them call my character’s name, I come to them for the hug almost as rehearsed, with Amy Jo coming in first, Thuy coming in second, and then David, Walter, and, finally, Austin. However, the tears would have been just as legitimate both from my end and from their end. This final moment would have been the combination of Uncle Phil hugging Will at the end of “Papa’s Got a Brand New Excuse” and Aunt Viv hugging Ashley near the end of “It’s a Wonderful Lie”. Even as the director, Benny Medina, said cut, I would have still found myself hugging Amy Jo, Thuy, David, Walter, and Austin while weeping profusely, thus having the five of them comfort me and be just as tearful as I would have been. They would have also told me, “You did really well, little buddy. We’re all very proud of…