We recently connected with John Ramaine and have shared our conversation below.
John, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. We’d love to hear about a project that you’ve worked on that’s meant a lot to you.
Starting out as an actor, you’re hopeful that any job that comes your way is meaningful. You hope people see it and becomes relevant. Unfortunately, it doesn’t work that way. You realize that the people for whom you work are also struggling, wishing to make something out of a project you just happen to be involved in. It takes a while to meet the right people, to get interested in the right project and get energy behind it. I’ve come to the point of only doing projects that benefit me and my worldview. Through much trial and error, I was able to do this with a play I wrote titled, THE CONFESSION OF JOHN WILKES BOOTH. After showcasing it through a workshop at TISCH at NYU, I was able to get the play into the hands of two producers, Chelsea LeSage and Josh Koehn, who were excited about doing it. During Covid time, we produced the play at the Stag and Lion Theater in Midtown Manhattan New York City, not for a viewing audience but to produce it for television streaming purposes. We were able to fulfill this and got it streaming on a dozen or so services, the last one being accepted by Apple TV, which we were all excited about. But this was simply the first step, as we are now in active development for the feature film version, which I also wrote and now falls under the title, THUS ALWAYS TO TYRANTS. A multi-million dollar project to be directed by Bob Johnston and produced under the banner of Blue Valor Films and Golden Grand Piano. This project is meaningful in the fact that I not only wrote both versions but will be playing Booth in the feature film. It is meaningful because not a single agent or manager would ever submit me for this role and it was something I had to create for myself to do and to prove to everyone of my range and talent as an actor. Sometimes these are the methods you have to take to be seen, and though it has taken time, I am grateful for the road that has led me to the present. The most meaningful parts fall to my co-producer, Chelsea LeSage, who says things like she is thrilled to be my producing partner and excited to be working with me, as an actor, in her portrayal of Lucy Hale, one of Booth’s love interests. And for Bob Johnston, who’s positive connection to the script and his connection to me, as a creative partner, make the wait and time spent preparing worthwhile.
Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers
You don’t really pursue a career in acting unless you are willing to stand for as long as it takes to make a mark for yourself. The timing of the business doesn’t necessarily fall on your timetable. So, in between long bouts of unemployment, you continue to study, network and pursue relationships that prove fruitful, uplifting and beneficial. The desire to be an actor has to be so intense that you must be willing to be the very best at it. But being the very best means very little if no one notices you. It’s important that, as you involve yourself with the right people, that these are individuals who understand the depth of your talent, passion and commitment. These are people you are willing to go to bat with and see the best of them, as they do for you. What that means is that you must be willing to serve. This is an exchange. The relationships build on that go a long way to making things happen. There are things you must be willing to do for yourself; get a website, have work references, accessible footage to those interested in employing you and most importantly, always be prepared when called upon. Acting is like any other business, if you show up, good things can happen. Having relations with people like Chelsea, Bob, Josh and my publicist Rebecca Mahan have made it a much more tolerable journey.
What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?
I am not into being involved with frivolous productions or having an agent or manager fill a bottom line that simply sets me out as a number to fill in slots. I want to work with people who see the value of what I can bring and try to make that utility come to pass. I write to act in things I feel have value and significance. I have several written scripts that I plan on producing; that not only will leave audiences rejuvenated but also to let the world know that I was here. It is not important that I be known the world over, it is only important that the people who view my stuff are touched and that I left something in them that stayed long after I was gone.
Any resources you can share with us that might be helpful to other creatives?
I just wish I had taken a more serious approach during the time I left the business in my 30’s. I was just married and I wanted everything to work fine without having to struggle with my new wife. Before meeting my wife, Julie, I could live on $20 for three days. I could really stretch it out. But you cannot expect to have your life partner fit those demands. So I postponed my career, got a job until I knew it was time to take the acting back up. But time flew by and ten years came and went before I knew it. I went back into acting and struggled again but now I had a wife who understood my passions and was as committed to me as I was to my career. If I had to do it over again, I would have continued to pursue It along with my full time job. I might have gotten a little further along the road. Only God knows.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.johnramaine.com
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/johnramaineofficial/utm_medium=copy_link
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/john.ramaine
- Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/john-ramaine-536108b/original_referer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.com%2F
- Other: www.johnramaine.com/john-wilkes-booth-the-movie https://m.imdb.com/name/nm0707940/
Image Credits
no credits. All self taken