Remarkably Ryan

October
30
2018

Another interview with Ryan has been released, this time with TrunkSpace as part of their Wingman Wednesday series. In this interview, Ryan talks his role on Titans and a little more about his inspiration for the role of Beast Boy.

Landing a role in the live action adaptation of a major, long-standing comic book franchise is no easy feat, but when that role is also based on a character who helped you cope with adolescence, it’s downright full-circle remarkable.
Ryan Potter was born in Portland, Oregon and raised in Tokyo, Japan. When he returned to the United States at seven years old, he didn’t speak English and used pop culture to connect with the students at his new school, much like the teen hero Garfield “Beast Boy” Logan does in the various DC Comics he has starred in since first being introduced in 1965. Years after emulating the character he had such a personal connection to as a child, Potter, who also voiced Hiro in the immensely popular animated film “Big Hero 6,” is now portraying Gar in the new live action series “Titans,” which airs Fridays on the DC Universe streaming service.
We recently sat down with Potter to discuss his personal connection to the franchise, beasting out on camera, and why a movie like “Big Hero 6” and its ethnic diversity can positively impact society.
TrunkSpace: Gar has been a fan favorite character for comic readers for decades. Did that put any pressure on you to deliver in a way that not only makes a television audience excited, but the core comic fans proud as well?
Potter: Of course. There’s always the pressure, I think, with comic book characters, and unfortunately, in this day and age, there are just an insane amount of internet trolls, so regardless of how good of a job anybody does, there’s always gonna be haters. But bottom line, I know this character. I grew up with this character, and I’d say that my interpretation is an honest portrayal of every version of Gar, kind of an amalgamated mix, whether it’s the animated series or the comic books – “Teen Titans” 52, or the “New Teen Titans,” or “Titans.” It doesn’t matter what iteration. I pulled from every version of Garfield to create this new… not an iteration, but this new version of him. I don’t want the live action version to be too reminiscent of anything we’ve seen, ’cause it needs to be new to take liberties of its own, but it’s grounded in familiarity that people can recognize from their childhoods.
TrunkSpace: That’s what’s so interesting, because as a performer, you probably want to find a balance between the history that surrounds the character and bringing yourself into it at the same time?
Potter: Yeah. It’s interesting, ’cause the character was definitely one that helped to shape how I… not how I fit in, but I guess that’s the layman’s term for it. When I moved to America, this character was introduced to me at a time when I didn’t speak English, and I didn’t necessarily have friends, so him being green and using pop culture as his way of getting along and making friends, I used that as a model for when I didn’t speak English. I’d use pop culture, whether it was TV shows or music or toys, to try and make friends with kids at school. When I say I relate to this character, I relate to the character because this character actually helped shape a part of my childhood. I identify with him in many ways. There are other aspects that I had to kind of create as a performer in terms of him being a teenager and him being older, but the youthful aspect of the character – kind of the lighthearted curiosity of Gar – is unchanged. That’s something that I always related with and was almost introduced to because of him, so that remains.
TrunkSpace: That must really cool, too, to be able to create this character that you have a personal connection with, and then, as it airs, there might be kids out there who are feeling the same way you were when you came to America, and now they’re finding a connection to him through you. That’s full circle!
Potter: Yeah, at this point in the script, he’s still very much just kind of a regular teenager. There’s rumors online of, “Ryan Potter confirms Beast Boy will be green by the end of the season!” That’s actually not what I had said. These characters are in an intermittent stage. They’re in a place where they’re not the characters from the animated series. They’re not the characters from the comic books. They’re not the solo iterations of themselves, but they’re also not the “Teen Titans” iterations of themselves, so they’re in this gray area where every character is learning to harness their powers, accept who they are, and there will be changes along the way for each of the characters. But yeah, as it stands, Garfield is very much a new representation, so it’s nice to have that freedom. It’s nice to be able to pull away from source material as of now, but the source material is so interwoven with the script that when anybody watches the show, they’ll be able to recognize it, whether it’s costume details or plot details or character details. They remain, and it’s reassuring to see that the writers took that much care in portraying these characters on the silver screen.
TrunkSpace: And really, because this is a television series, the long play is so important. You want it to go multiple seasons, and if you give it all away in the first season, there’s no story left to tell.
Potter: Exactly. Thank you. I’m glad someone understands television. (Laughter)
TrunkSpace: We were always worried that, for logistic reasons – budget and scheduling – we wouldn’t get to see Beast Boy beast out, but that is not the case. In fact we get to see quite a bit, which is exciting.
Potter: Yeah, I think that was something that was really important to Geoff Johns, that Beast Boy didn’t become a secondary or tertiary character, that he was still a primary character, and one of the ways that you see that is if you put the budget into Robin’s costume and Robin’s bike, then you do it for Starfire visual effects and her storyline, etc. He wanted to make sure that everybody has equal representation in terms of the amount of care that the writers or the producers put behind each one. It’s definitely not cheap by any means, but the way they kind of show Beast Boy that love is to make sure that he’s not always doing some kind of changing behind something or an off-camera type of deal. You actually do get to see him mid-transformation, post-transformation, and beginning of transformation, or sometimes the entire transformation. It’s interesting to be able to see every stage of the transformation, in my opinion, because we’re used to seeing Beast Boy kind of Beast Boy, and then gelatinous blob – animated gelatinous blob – and then the animal. To be able to see the anatomical change from human to tiger, and then potentially human to something else… it’s not that we haven’t seen that on television before, but we definitely haven’t seen it shot in this way, and I think produced this well.
TrunkSpace: Has it sunk in yet that in 20 years, you’re going to be part of the source material when people look at Beast Boy in the future?
Potter: Well, man, I’m just thinking about what’s on the schedule for tomorrow. (Laughter) Now that you bring that up, that’s an interesting thought. I would hope that the character of Beast Boy, that the general public will begin to be able to see him as different, maybe as different races and different iterations each time. I mean, the kid’s green. I don’t think it really matters who is playing him in terms of their race. Ultimately, as long as the heart is preserved and the humor is preserved, and his outlook on life is preserved, I don’t think it really matters, whether it’s a guy or it’s girl. I think there’s a certain level of size that has to be maintained. Like, you can’t have a 6’10 Beast Boy, or like a 4’10 Beast Boy, but why not? I don’t know. It’d be interesting to see these characters potentially live on in different iterations and to see someone, whether they’re full Asian or a different ethnicity, take on the character. It’d be cool. Considering the character has roots in Africa, I think it’s not a far stretch to say that the character could have African origin, as well.

TrunkSpace: A lot of us here have kids so we’re used to watching movies over and over again, which is usually torture, but we have to say… we put down the phone and watch with full attention when “Big Hero 6” is on. Was that a once in a lifetime project?
Potter: No. It was to the 15-year-old version of myself, and like, the 17-year-old version of myself, but I wouldn’t say it was once in a lifetime because that is a project very similar to “Crazy Rich Asians” that made waves in the entertainment industry, and big production companies started looking at a different market, and they started to realize that the overseas markets in Asia are just as profitable as the markets at home, and also, the markets at home respond to content with Asian characters and Asian storylines and artwork inspired by Asia, so I don’t think it’s a once in a lifetime. I think it’s a launching point and I think it’s kind of the beginning of a new interest, and a push for more Asian American content like “Big Hero 6.”
But in defense of it being once in a lifetime… it is one of the most ethnically diverse casts and most colorblind projects that I’ve ever seen, so maybe as it stands, now, in terms of ethnic diversity, it’s not once in a lifetime, but it’s definitely a little further away from seeing a project that is that inclusive. It depicts and represents culture and society to a T, but in terms of the Asian American aspect, I think it’s just the beginning, so we’ll see.
TrunkSpace: As an actor, is it difficult to come across a project like that film where you have both an interesting character and an interesting storyline?
Potter: Yeah. It’s not often that good characters and good scripts come around for Asian American performers. Regardless of race, I think that was just a pretty exceptional project, and good characters and good scripts don’t come around that often, period. It definitely gave me new eyes in terms of reading scripts and reading auditions and thinking of the impact of the character that I play would potentially have. And the importance of the project in not necessarily popularity standing, but societal standing and how that project can help change and affect the society that I live in, but also the society that my kids will live in.
New episodes of “Titans” debut every Friday on the DC Universe streaming service.

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October
26
2018

“Titans” Episode Three – Origins Recap!

Welcome back to the Gar Chronicles! You may have noticed that last week there was no follow up and recap for episode two and the simple explanation for that: Gar was absent from the entire episode.

Stop right there! Have you not been keeping up with all the Gar action? Check out the last recap!

Episode Three – Origins Synopsis:

Rachel and Kory travel to the convent where Rachel was raised, while Dick compares his own orphan experience to Rachel’s. Meanwhile, Rachel befriends Gar Logan.

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October
22
2018

“Running for Grace” is coming to DVD!

The latest movie starring Ryan Potter is Running for Grace and you can currently pre-order the DVD on Amazon to receive it on November 6th, 2018. Of course, if you can’t wait to see it before your copy arrives, you can always find it on Amazon Digital, iTunes and On Demand!

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October
17
2018

“Pop Culturalist” Interview with Ryan Potter!

A couple days ago, Ryan did an exclusive interview with Pop Culturalist about his life and upcoming show, Titans. You can read the full interview below.

Landing the role of Garfield Logan a.k.a. Beast Boy in DC Titans is more than a dream come true for Ryan Potter. The talented actor shares a meaningful relationship with the character, dating back to when he first emigrated here from Japan as a little boy, and it shows in his performance! Pop-Culturalist spoke with Ryan about the series, what storyline he’d like to see introduced, and his experience as an Asian actor in Hollywood.
P-C: Tell us about your deep connection to DC Titans and your character.
Ryan: When I moved from Japan to America, Teen Titans was the first animated series that I fell in love with. The style was closer to something that I would see back home, so it helped bridge a few gaps for me. Beast Boy is a character who, while he may be an outsider, used pop culture and his attitude to assimilate into society, human culture, and to make friends. I used that as a model. I used pop culture as a way to make friends because I didn’t speak English at that time. Like you said, my connection with this character goes deeper than just reading the comic books; I grew up with this character.
P-C: Was there any extra pressure given how much this character means to you and that he is a fan favorite?
Ryan: There was some pressure with Beast Boy being an iconic character and a fan favorite, but in terms of how much I loved the character, no, because I knew this character inside and out. I’m not showing up on the first day of work not knowing the source material. I know it. It actually made the job a lot easier and a lot more fun knowing the liberties that I could take because of the source material. After having conversations with Geoff Johns and some of the directors and producers, there was a certain amount of freedom that I don’t think everyone else had. [laughs]
P-C: When you’re working on a project that’s being adapted from a comic book series, how challenging is it to make it your own while remaining faithful to the source material?
Ryan: For me, the hardest thing to keep in mind was the pre and post-transformation of the character. Think about the physicality of Garfield Logan as a human being and what that does to him when he turns into an animal. As you’ll see this season, it’s not as smooth of a transition as the animated version depicts. In this live-action iteration, there’s more of a realistic toil that’s taken on Garfield from his animal transformation. We’re not pulling from the source material; we’re pulling away from it. Here’s to hoping that the fans can see and appreciate everything that I pulled from it as well as the liberties I took.
P-C: Two episodes have already aired and we’ve seen a glimpse of his integration. When can we expect to see more of him?
Ryan: The show gets darker as the season progresses and Beast Boy/Garfield is this light. He brings a warmth to the show that wouldn’t otherwise exist, maybe outside of Starfire’s moments. There are some touching moments between Dick and Rachel and then also between Dove and Hawk, but they’re different. They’re heartwarming in the sense that they’re coming together in the face of adversity. That’s a nice kind of warmth. We need that, especially in today’s day and age, but we also need humor and lighthearted moments, which Garfield brings. I’m so grateful to play a character that brings color to the dark storylines of Titans.
P-C: The series has already been renewed for season two. If you could pitch a storyline, what would it be and why?
Ryan: Oh wow, that’s an interesting question! I think the storyline that I’d like to see, which won’t necessarily happen for a while with the pacing of the show, is the one where Beast Boy is framed for murder by a shapeshifter. The Titans would turn their backs on him and he essentially becomes a wanted killer who goes on the run. When that happens, he has to try and clear his name. That’s a phenomenal arc that I would love to potentially see and play. In that arc, we get so much more of who Beast Boy/Garfield is as a person and how human he is regardless of his superhuman abilities. That’s what makes him so interesting: he’s able to face adversity with a smile.
P-C: You were just at New York Comic-Con, where you were part of the Super Asian American panel. What has your experience been like as an Asian actor in this industry? When did you realize you wanted to use your platform for advocacy?
Ryan: I think it would be pretty easy to go straight towards it’s been complete b.s. But, it hasn’t. I’ve been very fortunate in terms of the roles that I’ve been getting. Hiro Hamada is the first Asian American superhero. He’s also the first Asian American animated character., I don’t think having had the opportunity to play him was based on my abilities: it was more just fate. It happened, though, and that’s where we are at in terms of media and society, where characters like that can be accepted and also make production companies money.
I’ve had numerous experiences in audition rooms, casting calls, and even sometimes on projects, where producers want a certain level of “Asian”, which is so broad. If they’re asking me to incorporate more of my Japanese roots, then they need to incorporate it more in their writing.
We’re in this transition phase because of projects like Big Hero 6 and Crazy Rich Asians. There’s more of an interest in Asian culture than ever before. People want to see these characters on screen, but there doesn’t seem to be the same amount of interest in depicting them properly. That said, because of projects like Crazy Rich Asians, the doors are opening for more Asian American writers to properly represent Asian American actors, which will then allow for more Asian American directors like Cary Fukunaga and James Hong that will continue to put out projects that will be undeniably good—undeniable in the sense that they can’t leave us out from the creative table. Hollywood has been doing so for quite a while now and that time has come to an end. I’m grateful that I get to be an ally for that cause.
Pop-Culturalist Speed Round
P-C: Favorite TV show?
Ryan: Currently, I’ve been re-watching Maniac.
P-C: Favorite movie?
Ryan: One of my favorite comedies is Tropic Thunder. One of my favorite classic Robert Redford/Paul Newman films is The Sting. One of my favorite psychedelic films is Into the Void. One of my favorite action films is Hitman. It’s hard to choose an individual film because there are so many good ones in so many different genres. You know what, my favorite is Music and Lyrics. I love that movie to death.
P-C: Favorite book?
Ryan: Where the Red Fern Grows. It’s about a boy and his dog, and the hard work he puts in to chase his dreams. House of Leaves is another profound and mind-altering book.
P-C: Favorite play or musical?
Ryan: I love The Lion King and The Book of Mormon, but my favorite play/musical is Peter and the Starcatcher.
P-C: A band or artist that fans would be surprised to learn is on your playlist?
Ryan: [laughs] I think I’ve put out there that I have a wide range and taste in music, so it goes anywhere from David Bowie to Lil Wayne to The Doors to T-Pain.
Make sure to follow Ryan on Twitter and Instagram, and catch DC Titans on the DC Universe.

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October
12
2018

“Titans” Episode One – Titans Recap!

Welcome to the Gar Chronicles, which is what I’m calling my recaps of Titans as this will be the first recap for the series run. Anyways.. onto the good stuff!

Episode One – Titans Synopsis:

In the series premiere, Rachel Roth, a teen haunted by dark visions and powers, falls under the wing of Detective Dick Grayson. We also meet Kory Anders and Gar Logan.

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October
06
2018

“Big Hero 6: The Series” Episode 22 — Obake Yashiki

Welcome back to another Big Hero 6: The Series recap which I always title: Hiro-ed Out! Earlier today, Disney aired the 22nd episode of the series Obake Yashiki, which when translated from Japanese, means “Haunted House” and next week’s three-part season finale, Countdown to Catastrophe, puts the season total at 25 episodes!

Episode Twenty-Two — Obake Yashiki Synopsis:

On Halloween Night, the gang goes to a haunted house, where they are sprayed with a gas that unknowingly places digital imaging lenses onto their eyes. Later the Big Hero 6 set out to stop Noodle Burger Boy’s latest crime, but Hiro gets distracted after seeing Tadashi alive and roaming the city at night. He eventually meets his “brother” in the haunted house where he is overjoyed to see him again at first, but soon realizes that this just an illusion created by Obake, caused by the lenses which turns their fears into reality. As the rest of the team face their worst fears, Noodle Burger Boy steals a high-powered magnet from SFIT. After the events, Hiro and his friends regroup and wonder how Obake knows them so well, while Noodle Burger Boy delivers the magnet to Obake, so he can use it for the machine he is building.

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October
04
2018

“Titans” is renewed for Season 2!

Titans has officially been renewed for a season two BEFORE season one has even aired which makes it the SECOND series that Ryan has been apart of to be renewed for a season two before season one aired, the first one being Big Hero 6: The Series.

Read the Press Release below:

Titans has been picked up for a second season on DC Universe, executive producer Geoff Johnsannounced during the show’s world premiere panel at New York Comic Con Wednesday evening. The news arrives about a week before the show’s official launch on DC’s subscription streaming service.
“We’re doing season 2 already,” Johns said during the panel. “That to me shows the faith that DC Universe has in the show and this amazing cast and the property. DC’s so supportive of it. To be able to get a season 2 greenlit now means we just get to keep talking about crazy ideas.”
Executive producer Akiva Goldsman added, “We’re blessed with this incredible cast that we have here on stage. We want to bring in more and more amazing actors and characters.”
Both Johns and Goldmsan teased that they’ll be drawing on the comics even more in season 2.
“We already know the story of season 2,” Johns said. “[New Teen Titans writer] Marv Wolfman will be very happy when we do season 2.”
“I don’t want to give anything away,” said Goldsman, “but there are some stories in the books that will appear in season 2.”
Although they didn’t confirm what stories they’ll be adapting, it sure sounds like they’re hinting at “The Judas Contract,” the definitive Teen Titans story from Wolfman and George Pérez’s run on New Teen Titans. In case you aren’t familiar with it, this four-part story brought the team’s ongoing conflict with Slade, a.k.a. Deathstroke, to a major climax and featured violence, betrayal, and interpersonal drama.
Promising a grittier take on the popular teen superhero group, Titans follows Robin (Brenton Thwaites) as he teams up with Raven (Teagan Croft), Beast Boy (Ryan Potter), and Starfire (Anna Diop) to stop a demonic evil threatening the world.
“The first season does take our Titans on a journey as they unlock the mystery of Rachel,” Johns told EW recently. “Harkening to the original comics, the first storyline was really about Raven and how she brought these characters together, and we have a similar connection. [Raven] is kind of the sun that everyone revolves around.”
It takes a while for the Titans to team up on the show, so both Thwaites and Croft came to cherish the scenes that featured all four Titans. “All the cast is so lovely that I was very excited whenever we all came together because it meant I could talk to my friends,” Croft told EW.
Thwaites added: “[The most exciting parts were] those large scenes where we were all together trying to figure out what to do because to me it’s an ensemble show, and the most enjoyment came from working with the actors and connecting with them. I feel like toward the end when Donna Troy [Conor Leslie] and other characters were introduced, and we had this real solid team of actors and people and characters, it felt like there was more of a force, and a little more positivity behind the show.”
Titans is one of several shows coming to DC Universe. The platform’s lineup also includes Doom Patrol; the Harley Quinn animated series, starring Kaley Cuoco; Swamp Thing; Young Justice: Outsiders; and Stargirl.
Titans premieres Friday, Oct. 12,. Episodes will air weekly.

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October
04
2018

“Titans” New York Comic Con Trailer!

Another new trailer for Titans has been released, this time coming from New York Comic Con from yesterday where they also aired a special screening of the first episodes of Titans. Although the trailer focuses more on Raven and the team coming together as a unit, there are new parts of Gar that haven’t been seen in prior trailers.

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October
01
2018

“Titans” Releases International Trailer!

Just days away from the special screening of Titans at New York Comic Con on October 3rd, Titans was announced to air on Netflix in international areas since DC Universe is exclusive to the United States right now. You can watch the trailer below!

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