Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to John Ramaine. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Hi John, appreciate you sitting with us today to share your wisdom with our readers. So, let’s start with resilience – where do you get your resilience from?
The actual definition of resilience is “the capacity to withstand or to recover quickly from difficulties.” Make no bones about the field in which I was selected to participate – there are many opportunities to recover from difficulties but an even more likelihood of defeat. Hopefully most people going into show business know that this isn’t an overnight situation. It takes time, hard knocks, frustrations occur and many, many failures happen in your pursuit. I have said this many times, if you don’t know you’re called to this business, then find out quick or get out! The business doesn’t stop for the indecisive or the weak; it makes no room for the timid; it creates no opportunity for the visionless. You have to KNOW you’re called to it otherwise you’re just wasting your time. I have been in this for many years. I started young, as did many of my contemporaies. They are not around anymore. They have gone on to the secure life of less risks, less pain and more control over their lives than to be in a place of waiting for the right creative situation to present themselves. That just doesn’t happen. Being resilient is also generating your own opportunity and working out the details that lead to that success; it is surrounding yourself with a team of true believers that are just as determined and resilient to see it through. When I made the choice to be an actor, it was to go the whole way without turning back. Time and patience has made me better for it. I am a better man, son, husband and actor because I chose to stay true to the dream and vision that is very clear to me. This has allowed me to be around very qualified and gifted individuals who have sought out my gifts and have seen them for what they are – unique. In the pre-production of the feature film, THUS ALWAYS TO TYRANTS, this has become completely true. Gifted director, Bob Johnston, has been a tremendous help in seeing the script and film for what it could be – a complete work of art tailed by provocative discourse that has a chance to change things. Johnston, as well as Chelsea LeSage, have been strong allies in the pursuit of artistic excellence, allies and friends.
Thanks for sharing that. So, before we get any further into our conversation, can you tell our readers a bit about yourself and what you’re working on?
It is amazing how being tenacious in a field actually creates the path by which you are to travel. As an actor, it is simply to work on projects that create growth and visibility. I found out that on this path certain subjects and particular characters that fit my profile and niche have come to attach themselves to me. Whether it be a slave master during the civil war, a gunslinger in the old west, a political assassin, a political prisoner during the Watergate scandal, a Shakespearean monarch or prince, those singular characters find their way to me. And as period pieces go, I find myself easily engrossed and at home. Not particularly sure how that happened but I welcome the challenge of handling these difficult parts. I think that’s what gives weight to my performances and makes me stand out. Currently, I am in active development on a period feature film I wrote titled, THUS ALWAYS TO TYRANTS. Directed by Bob Johnston, and produced by Johnston, Blue Valor Films, Chelsea LeSage, Golden Grand Piano and myself. I play John Wilkes Booth. To play a part like that entails every bit of my concentration and dedication to the character and his motives. My process is my own but there are numerous motivational consistencies that are totally relatable in the character of Booth, of which I fully take advantage, but I never judge a character, I just follow through; it’s easier to get in the character’s skin than judge it and have your performance come about by that. I have also just completed a strong role in a documentary drama written and directed by George Bugatti on the Watergate scandal, I play James Neal, lead prosecuting attorney. I worked with the likes of Lou Martini Jr and Victor Colicchio. Great New York actors who are known and respected in the business. Being around such great talent like that just makes me better and their response to me has been tremendous.
There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?
One of the first things I realized quickly in starting out was that I didn’t know everything. Though everyone’s process is different, the idea that ones own procedure in being the singular action to achieving a result is ludicrous. It’s very difficult to humble one’s self at first and allow it to be teachable. It took a little time for me and perhaps this is what caused the struggle but I learned that in order to be successful, you go into each job knowing nothing but gaining the expectation of enlightenment. Another area that requires time is the ability to be patient with yourself. I knew that despite the years of struggle and apparent difficulty, I was not standing still. I was growing, using everything that life had to offer to fill my perspective. The gift was always there but the direction it needed was always using the present circumstances to help feed my vessel in order to be a more giving, generous and sensitive actor. This is an exercise in maturity, so this was something I finally understood. Most importantly, allow yourself to be mentored. Through the many stages of my life, I was fortunate to allow myself to be counseled by people, who were influential in my growth and direction. They wanted to do this. They saw something in me that invested their valuable time and resources. Robert Pond, Nancy Sellin, Stewart Zully and Hal Lehrman benefitted me enormously with their correction, encouragement, teaching and support. I wouldn’t be where I am without them. I also have spiritual advisors, Joann Taylor, Andrea Landrum and Maria Baan, along with other close friends who are valuable to me in this journey. My wife, Julie, is the biggest cheerleader of all and the best person I know in life. And my publicist, Rebecca Mahan, who is constantly seeking outlets for me. Her high opinion of me is humbling. Lastly, showing kindness never goes out of style.
What is the number one obstacle or challenge you are currently facing and what are you doing to try to resolve or overcome this challenge?
As in every film project I have ever done, the biggest obstacle has always been the area of funding. This sound simple and somewhat unembellished but without the funding of anything, nothing gets done. The feature film I mentioned earlier, THUS ALWAYS TO TYRANTS, is the furthest I have come along in this journey. I have done some very low budget films and they were completed through long periods of time but this film is the real deal. A multi-million dollar venture that will put everyone involved in it on top. This has all the qualities of storytelling a film could have. The people at Blue Valor Films and Golden Grand Piano know this and their support, capital and sweat equity has been proof of that. The pitch-deck, prospectus, budget, scheduling, and financial waterfall to the film is all top of the line and professional. Bob Johnston, Director/Producer of the film, has been the overseer of this task. He and Chelsea have been tremendous assets to the dream’s completion. This work has allowed Blue Valor and Golden Grand Piano to get these items to individuals that could have an impact on the future. People I never could reach on my own. It is to my gratitude that these people, who saw the value of my written script, its potential and impact, came along and opened their rolodex to my dream.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.johnramaine.com
www.johnramaine.com/john-wilkes-booth-the-movie - Instagram: www.instagram/johnwboothconfessions.com
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/john-ramaine-5361083b
- Other: https://m.imdb.com/name/nm0707940/
