Meet Jordan Ramp of Fox TV Animation in Miracle Mile

Today we’d like to introduce you to Jordan Ramp.

Thanks for sharing your story with us Jordan. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
After majoring in Film Studies at a Willamette University in Oregon, I moved to Los Angeles in the Spring of 2016. I came to the entertainment capital of the world with aspirations of working in television and without a single job offer to do so. In turn, I took up various random occupations over an eight-month period — a tale all too familiar in Hollywood. Scratching together rent money. Eating granola bars for dinner.

All the while my belief in the system, and by proxy myself, was gradually trickling away. Then in the Fall of 2016 another Hollywood adage came to fruition, this one in the form of my “break.” More specifically, an interview at the FOX show “Family Guy.” When they had an opening for a production assistant position I interviewed and in anti-climatic fashion… didn’t get the job. How demoralizing! After months of sending out mass resumes and networking on LinkedIn, I was finally presented an opportunity and missed it. At least that’s what I thought. I’ve found Hollywood to be largely dependent on timing.

For me, that time came a month later when “Family Guy” was again hiring. This time I was hired. Since that time I’ve been promoted to my current position of showrunner’s assistant. I’ve gained knowledge as to how a show is produced and a writers’ room functions. More than that, I am fortunate to have made many friendships here and learned from some of the very best in the industry at the respective positions. It wasn’t always easy, and frankly there was moments when I felt like abandoning my dreams was imminent. But looking back, I’m thankful for that experience. It makes me appreciate all that I have today. I have tremendous gratitude for all the people throughout the City of Angels, working tireless hours, determined to accomplish their goals with unwavering abandon. Keep pushing. Work hard. Be genuinely nice to people. I firmly believe that in the end it will all work out.

Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
I’ve found in entertainment the biggest obstacle is the initial break-in. There are thousands of students every year graduating with degrees in film and television, all intent on moving out here to work. The issue is there are a limited number of shows and thus, not enough jobs to accommodate the exodus of twenty-two-year olds making their way to Los Angeles each year. The jobs that are available aren’t typically advertised through ordinary channels. It’s nearly exclusively word of mouth. Meaning, you need to know someone who works in the industry to break into the industry. I also played baseball in college, which was a tremendous experience but conversely negated any opportunities for internships I might have. Coupling a bare resume with few industry connections wasn’t exactly a recipe for insured success. However, I’ve also found that if you build genuine relationships and continue to work opportunities will eventually present themselves.

We’d love to hear more about your work and what you are currently focused on. What else should we know?
I work as an assistant to one of our showrunner’s for the FOX show “Family Guy,” and am incredibly honored to do so. We’re currently working on our eighteen season and have survived multiple cancellations. As one of the longest-running shows in the history of television, I’ll also be proud to say I was here for a part of it.

Furthermore, I have aspirations of being a TV writer and am constantly working on my own stuff. I enjoy writing hour-long thrillers and am currently working on a sports-based drama. Some of my favorite shows include “Fargo,” “Ozark,” and “True Detective.”

Is there a characteristic or quality that you feel is essential to success?
Determination: The road to success is littered with detours. Persevering through adversity and staying committed to improvement are essential to success, in my opinion.

Contact Info:

• Email: [email protected]

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