Today we’d like to introduce you to Dan Ramm
Hi Dan, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
This book, and frankly my career is a combination of hard work, luck, and failure. Let me explain.
A chance meeting with the actor Joe Mantegna in 1999 changed my life. At the time I was in the home improvement business, and I had received a call from his wife, Arlene, to look at an issue at their home and give them an estimate for repairs. Once at the house, I saw a large photo of Joe on the wall and realized I was in “that actor’s” home. I had always been a fan of his work starting with Searching for Bobby Fischer and of course Godfather III, among many others, but Ratpack was far and away my favorite. Over the next year, Joe and I formed a bit of a friendship, somewhat based on our mutual love for Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, and of course Sammy Davis Jr. Joe had completed the film The Ratpack not long before our chance meeting. Secretly I wondered what he would think of a screenplay I’d written years before we met on the life of Sammy Davis Jr. Something I wrote to see if I could.
Over the next two years Joe would call me for repairs on one of his properties, or even just hang out with him at a celebrity golf event, sometimes even finagling a spot for me on his team. On a drive back from the golf course in early 2000, I mentioned to Joe that I was selling my company. I had spent most of my life working very hard at something I didn’t love and I had decided that the time had come for me to reinvent myself. He was curious about my ambitions and, although at the time I didn’t know what I wanted to do, I knew I wanted something different. I explained that the sale of my company included a proviso that I stay on with the new owners for one year as an advisor and to help the transition.
In early 2001 Joe and I were talking, and he asked me about the sale of company. He knew that year was nearly up and wondered what I would do next. I still didn’t know. That’s when he said to me, “Well, look, I have a pilot for a series I’m doing and if it goes, why don’t you come work for me?” I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. He went on to explain that he’d never really done television, but he wanted to be home more. He too was looking for a change. This was an opportunity that I never could have imagined, and I said yes instantly. I didn’t even ask about salary; I didn’t care. This was the opportunity that I had hoped would someday present itself.
During the next couple years, I learned a lot by just watching how television filming was done and read as many scripts as I could get my hands on. There was a steady stream of scripts being submitting to him, so there was no shortage of material for me to read. Some were good, but most weren’t that great. But I learned what made a story work and what didn’t. That original series of his was short lived, but Joe wanted me to stay on, figuring it was only a matter of time before he’d be on another series of some kind.
After about three years of working with him, I got the courage to show Joe my Sammy Davis Jr. script. I could see the look in his eyes when I handed him the script. It was sort of an “Oh boy, here we go” kind of look. But after a few weeks he said to me, “Hey, that script is pretty good. Is writing something you want to do?” The question surprised me. Not only was it a question no one had ever asked me, it was one I’d never even asked myself. I timidly said, “Yes, I think so.” Another few weeks went by, and he gave me the script back with all of his notes in red about what was good and bad about the story and writing. And that was our relationship from then on. He always encouraged me and was never light in his criticism of my work. That was probably the best help of all.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
The road has been bumpy to say the least, but smoother for me than some. I never went to collage and figuring out what I really enjoyed doing came late in life for me, but at least it came. It’s a harsh business to say the least, you learn to grow an extra layer of skin to defend you from the criticism of which there is a lot. It seems everyone has an opinion of your work even if they’ve never written a single thing themselves. Probably the best advice Joe ever gave me was in the early years of my writing. He said, “Anything creative is loaded with criticism and opinions. You have to really believe in what you write and yourself. If you don’t, how do you expect others to?”
My wife also gave me a small plaque that say’s, “Write without fear, edit without mercy.” I sort of live by that.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
Dan Ramm is an Emmy-nominated producer, writer, and novelist with an extensive career in television and storytelling. Known for his work on popular shows like Criminal Minds, Hollywood Weapons: Fact or Fiction, Gun Stories, and Booger Bottom USA, Ramm has earned multiple accolades, including five Telly Awards and awards from the LA Film Festival and Impact DOC Awards in 2023. He also a co-producer of the Emmy-winning documentary Palm Springs Air Museum’s 25th Silver Anniversary Celebration.
In addition to his television work, Ramm is a business partner with actor Joe Mantegna at Acquaviva Productions, a collaboration that began in 2001.
Recently, he’s ventured into fiction writing with his debut novel, Long Branch, a drama about a struggling actor entangled in a conspiracy in his small hometown. His journey as a novelist grew out of his passion for storytelling during periods of industry downtime. The book has quickly become a fan favorite and received numerous awards including Winner of the Literary Global Award, the BookFest Winner, International Impact Book Award Winner, A Reader View 5 Star Review, a finalist in the American Writing Awards, and nominated for the Eric Hoffner Award.
As the icing to the cake, Joe Mantegna recently recorded the Audible version of the book and it’s amazing to hear such a gifted actor bring these characters alive.
Who else deserves credit in your story?
Joe Mantegna has been a huge mentor for me from the beginning. But others along the way have been a big part of my growth as a writer. Erica Messer who is the show runner on Criminal Minds read some of my early work 15 years ago when she was a staff writer and took the time to give me notes and tell me what I was doing wrong and right. Dan Lauria for the Wonder Years was also very encouraging to me. If I write something and wanted to hear it out loud, Dan would always say yes.
Pricing:
- Paperback $17.99
- Kindle $7.99
- Audible $19.95
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.DanRammBooks.com
- Instagram: DanRammAuthor
- Twitter: DanRammAuthor
Image Credits
Photos by Dan Ramm
