Tai Freligh chats with An Old Friend’s Jason Faunt…
You may know Jason Faunt best as the iconic Red Ranger from Power Rangers Time Force, but his latest project reveals a powerful new dimension to his craft. In the award-winning short film An Old Friend, Faunt steps into an emotional leading role opposite the legendary Tom Skerritt. The film has already made significant waves on the festival circuit, screening from Portland to Newport Beach and earning Faunt a Best Actor award along the way. I sat down with Jason on behalf of Flickering Myth to discuss the transition from childhood hero to dramatic lead, and the deeply personal motivation that drove his performance.
(This interview has been lightly edited for length and clarity)
Tai Freligh: It is such a pleasure to take this time to chat with you about your new short film, An Old Friend. This film feels like such a departure from the “superhero” world. When you first read the script for An Old Friend, what was the moment that made you pause and think, “I need to do this”? Was it the concept, the emotional turn, or something more personal?
Jason Faunt: My relationship with producer Ben Andrews pretty much secured it for me. I trust him implicitly, and when he said the script is a must read, I knew it had to be good. However, the twist at the ending, and the emotion that followed, made me really, really want to do this!
Tai: I noticed a little detail in the waiting room—one of the imaginary friends is dressed in a red jumpsuit. I have to ask: was that a deliberate nod to your Power Rangers character?
Jason: Haha, I’m pretty sure it was! The director and a lot of the crew grew up watching the television show, so yes, I think that was a nod to the Power Rangers franchise! Good catch!
Tai: Your character’s only purpose is to bring happiness, but that takes on a very different meaning at the end of a life. How did that realization shape the way you played the role?
Jason: Well, honestly, my character at the beginning didn’t know who he was, where he was or what his purpose was. But he soon embraced the role only to be disappointed that his “child” was an elderly man who had been immobilized in bed. We all felt strongly that my character needed to stay upbeat and continue to fight to figure out what his final purpose would be. My favorite part of the film is the very end when my character realizes there might be a deeper meaning behind this imaginary friend. But the emotional turn is so quick. We don’t get a chance to really see how it affects Calvin. I think that the best part of this film is that the audience longs for the character to find out that William was his son but unfortunately, he never does. Or does he?
Tai: There is a line that really stayed with me about the “unexpected catch.” Tell us what that idea means to you in relation to this film?
Jason: I think that line, the “unexpected catch,” is really just a way to show the connection that the two had as a young man. Having experienced loss unfortunately around the same time as this film, we in life long to have some of those moments back with our deceased parent from when we were kids. For these two, it was fishing and looking for that next big catch! I think it’s just a line that resonates in this little boys head as he thinks of his father.
Tai: There’s a beautiful dedication to your late father, Patrick Faunt, at the end of the film. Can you tell us a little about him?
Jason: My father was a great man. He, like everybody else, has his faults and it took him some time to grow up, but despite an early divorce, he was always there for me and would’ve had me live with him full-time if he could. As I got older, he became my biggest supporter and fan. Much of the bravery I had to pack my bags and move out to California to become an actor is due to his encouragement of me to follow my dreams. I think he always thought he could’ve been an actor, as people always told him he looked like Robert Redford, so I think he took some pride in his son taking big swings. I think of him daily.
Tai: Nostalgia is such a heavy theme here. Did working on this project stir up any childhood memories or reflections of your own?
Jason: It absolutely did! My father had just passed away from cancer and the scenes in the hospital and that last scene was all too real for me. He and I were huge football fans and would play catch endlessly in the backyard of my home growing up. Fishing for these two was synonymous with playing catch with my father and our love of the sport of football. And just like the film, I would do anything to have one more catch with him.
Tai: Fans know you from heroic, larger-than-life roles like the Red Ranger. What do you hope those longtime fans see differently about you after watching An Old Friend?
Jason: I think as an actor you always wanna take on risky roles to give yourself a chance to show your range. Obviously, with Power Rangers, people think of you as a kid superhero, and maybe a bit of that holds you into certain roles. But I hope this shows that, if given the opportunity, their favorite Red Ranger has range, and can play other roles, especially ones that deal in heavy emotional scenarios.
Tai: The film has had an incredible festival run and earned you Best Actor honors. What does that kind of recognition mean to you at this point in your career?
Jason: I took great pride in this film winning so many awards and obviously great gratitude for the Best Actor ones I was given. I think, to me, it just showed that what we felt was an amazing script, actually was! We were all, as a team, able to turn that into an amazing project that was celebrated by many. I’m excited for the public to see it!
Tai: You’ve gone from high-tech motion capture in Resident Evil to something this emotionally raw. Which type of performance challenges you more as an actor?
Jason: I grew up in the Midwest, where there was this unfortunate belief that you shouldn’t cry, and you shouldn’t show any vulnerability. So, for me, action, anger, and drama are easy to access emotionally. However, showing true vulnerability, especially in the form of tears, is something that’s much more challenging, and something that I have to tap into to achieve. So, for sure a role like this was much harder for me personally.
Tai: You have some massive projects ahead like Legend of the White Dragon and Batman in Bat in the Sun. How do you decide when to say “yes” to a smaller, more personal story like this?
Jason: Truthfully, at this point in my career, I love to be on set, and I love the process of filmmaking. If it’s a fun script and I’m working with good people, and of course my schedule is available, I’m totally in! Working with good people is key because you spend days with them on set and you trust they are going to make you look good. I’d rather be on set than sitting on my couch!
Tai: If a fan who grew up watching you as Wes sits down to watch An Old Friend, what do you hope they take away when the credits roll?
Jason: When they sit down and watch An Old Friend, I hope they see a completely different actor — someone who can show a totally different side from what they are used to seeing. As an actor that’s what you take most pride in.
Tai: Last question—what’s something you’ve never been asked in an interview, but wish you had been? And, what’s the answer?
Jason: YOU did it today! You asked about my father, who this entire film was dedicated to, and I really love that you did, so thank you.
An Old Friend is a short film starring Tom Skerrit and Jason Faunt, directed by Nuk Suwanchote (an Emmy award winning filmmaker and key figure in Seattle’s independent film scene) and produced by Kris Flink and Rishi Raj.
The story follows an imaginary friend (Jason Faunt) finding out his sole purpose is to bring happiness to his child, only to discover his child is a 90 year old man (Tom Skerritt) on his death bed. The film takes an emotional approach to nostalgia, companionship, and the passage of time, blending fantasy and heartfelt storytelling,
As an exciting feat, An Old Friend has been selected to be shown at a variety of film festivals including Hollyshorts Film Festival 2024, Shortway Film Festival 2025, Oxford Film Festival 2025, West Sound Film Festival 2025 and Newport Beach Film Festival 2025! Not stopping there, the film has gained massive appraise as an official award winner for Mansfield Town Film Festival 2025, winning Best Drama at SISFA 2025 and best actor (Jason Faunt) at Puerto Aventuras International Film Festival 2025!
Many thanks to Jason Faunt for taking the time for this interview. He can be found on the IMDb and Instagram. The movie can be found on Instagram, IMDb, and their website.
PHOTOS: Empower Video Productions
Tai Freligh writes about entertainment and pop culture for Flickering Myth from sunny Huntington Beach, California…just a hop and a skip from Los Angeles. He can be found on Threads, TikTok and his website.
