Today we’d like to introduce you to Dan Ramm.
Dan, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
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.
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.
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 a television series, but he wanted to be home more now that his girls were getting older. He too was looking for a change. This was something that I never imagined, and I said yes instantly. I didn’t even ask about salary; I didn’t care. This was opportunity that I had hoped would someday present itself.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
It wasn’t as easy as I had hoped. Starting off in a completely new direction was a challenge for sure. I nearly quit the first day. I was certain that I had made a mistake, that I didn’t belong there. I think it’s called imposter syndrome. But I decided I would finish the week, then decide. Each day I got more comfortable and confident in what I was doing and needless to say I stayed on.
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 them 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.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
Joe always encouraged my writing and storytelling. Now, 25 years later I can look back at several shows I wrote, created and produced and two Emmy’s on my shelf among other accolades. My latest creative adventure was writing my first book, Long Branch – Never Let the Truth Stand in the Way of a Good Story. A Fiction/mystery novel that I am extremely proud of. Something that I attempted to see if I could, has turned into something that has done extremely well. So much so that I am nearly done with the follow up book!
I was lucky enough to have Joe read the Audible version which he does in his own masterful way. The book is available in every format pretty much anywhere you buy books online.
What were you like growing up?
I grew up in the midwest, Kansas City Missouri and was something of a class clown for sure. I spent a lot of time in the principal’s office or in detention. Mostly for trying to get the other kids, and sometimes the teacher, to laugh.
Looking back there is no doubt that I had a creative streak that was dying to get out. I was always interested in film and TV, but not in a typical sense. My father got me interested in old films, like To KIll A Mockingbird, or The Man who shot Liberty Valance to name a couple. In other words classic cinema. I ate it up. To this day I prefer an old black and white classic over most anything new.
Pricing:
- $17.99 Paperback
- $7.99 E-book
- $17.46 Audible
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.DanRammBooks.com
- Instagram: DanRammAuthor
- Twitter: DanRammAuthor
Image Credits
Photos by Dan Ramm
