Meet Dan Ramm

We recently connected with Dan Ramm and have shared our conversation below.

Dan, we’re thrilled to have you on our platform and we think there is so much folks can learn from you and your story. Something that matters deeply to us is living a life and leading a career filled with purpose and so let’s start by chatting about how you found your purpose.

I found my purpose by accident. For most of my young adult life I worked in the trades, a carpenter at first and then a roofing contractor. I did that for over a decade. Then in the late 90’s I met Joe Mantegna. His wife Arlene had called my company for an estimate. Joe and I connected and from that became friends. Eventually he asked what I would think about coming to work for him. I jumped at the chance! After a couple of years with him he discovered that I had an interest in writing. He asked me, “Is that something you want to do?” The question caught me off guard because no one had ever asked me anything like that. I replied, “I think so.” and that’s when our relationship changed. Joe became a mentor, guiding me and advising me. Looking back I can only say that I was incredibly lucky to find someone who believed in me. Since then I have written dozens of tv show episodes, created a few shows, won an Emmy, and now I have my first novel out and people are loving it.

Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?

I have always enjoyed story telling, either receiving or giving. My father was a great storyteller, he knew how to draw you in, pause at the right moments and emphasize the right words for the best impact. As a young person I watched intently story tellers, comics, tv shows, movies. I noticed how they all had things in common. The number one thing was that the subject of the story, TV show, Movie whatever, had to have someone we cared about. A good character. Otherwise who cares? An example might be the show Seinfeld, one of the most successful sitcoms ever. A show about nothing, truly. Just 4 self absorbed people who get on each others nerves. But we could relate to them, so we liked them.
For me any form of storytelling is a thrill. I’ve written a lot of TV episodes and watching actors take the words I wrote and use them in their artful way to do a scene is always a thrill. But now I have a new passion, writing books. There is a creative freedom in writing a book that you get, and there is no one you have to answer to or satisfy, only yourself.

Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?

Number one is to believe in yourself. How can you expect someone else to believe in you if you don’t believe in yourself.
Number two is that you have to hussle. Nothing is easy in life and in the entertainment business it’s even harder. So you have to make connections, continue to work and learn the craft, and create opportunities for yourself.
Number three is to enjoy the ride. I had created a show called Hollywood Weapons Fact or Fiction some years back and it was pretty successful. We did six seasons and when it was over I remember thinking, well that was fast. I think this is a rule for life too. Sometimes we are so focused on the goal that we don’t take a moment to enjoy getting there.

Awesome, really appreciate you opening up with us today and before we close maybe you can share a book recommendation with us. Has there been a book that’s been impactful in your growth and development?

Years before I met Joe Mantegna I had an idea that I thought would make a good screenplay. Having zero traning or schooling in the subject I bought a book by Sid Fields called Screenplay. It laid out in pretty great terms how to write a screenplay. To this day I refer to it from time to time.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.DanRammBooks.com
• Instagram: @DanRammAuthor
• Twitter: @DanRammAuthor

Image Credits

Dan Ramm
Liz Ramm