ignore and that you have to sit and deal with - the
feelings it’s creating and the questions it’s asking:
what, or who, gives life real meaning? Is what we
think will make us happy really going to make us
happy? What makes for lasting love?
Faith Filled Family: Is this your first major motion
picture?
Richard Ramsey: Yes. And, I have been very
fortunate to be surrounded by an incredibly
talented and professional team all along the way.
Faith Filled Family: What is it about “The Song”
that you think grabbed the attention of “Hollywood”?
Richard Ramsey: Well, I’m very grateful for
the films and filmmakers who have proved to
Hollywood that films dealing with faith and Bible
stories in a positive and affirming way can succeed
at the box office.
But, there’s just a lot of appealing things about
this movie: it’s a theater-worthy film with high
production values. A lot of people who’ve seen it
compare it to “Walk the Line” and “The Notebook.”
It has strong acting performances. An authentic
and redemptive love story that shows very real
and messy consequences for big and small
decisions we make in our relationships. The
music is fantastic. I think they were drawn to all
those things…and even to Solomon. One of the
executives who signed us told us that the film
inspired him to reread Ecclesiastes.
Faith Filled Family: A line in the film that really
jumps out when watching the trailer is, “Think of
the music you could write if you just let go, and
live.” Can you elaborate on this line in the film at
all? Is there any special meaning behind it?
Richard Ramsey: It’s a great trailer line because,
out of context and at face value, it’s inspirational
and absolutely great advice. If you’re really living
life to the fullest, you’ll likely be much happier and
be better at your various roles in life. But, what
does it mean to let go and really live? Ultimately,
the three main characters, Jed, Rose, and Shelby,
have very different answers to that question.
When asked if there was anything else he would
like to add Ramsey quickly jumped at the chance
to praise the actors, “ the three lead actors are
absolutely incredible,” states Ramsey, “…and I
think they’ll give the audience a real sense that
they’re discovering really gifted performers on the
cusp of great careers,” he says.
There has been lots of buzz surrounding the
quality of the music in the film as well. According
to Ramsey, “The response to the music has
been immensely positive. People walk out
of preview screenings asking when they can
buy the soundtrack. Early on, we decided on
a Roots/Americana-inspired sound. Think
Avett Brothers, Mumford and Sons, Civil Wars,
Emmylou Harris. For one, I just really love
that kind of music. Also, people just intuitively
understand that an artist isn’t going to succeed
in that genre unless he/she has genuine talent,
authenticity, and depth. And finally, it’s a genre
that’s able to explore spiritual truth in a way that
doesn’t alienate a broader audience. So, I think
if the wisest man who ever lived were to appear
in the modern world as a singer-songwriter, this
would be his genre of choice.”
He goes on to say, “The film is packed with
“Easter Eggs.” That is, there are many clever and
covert references to the original Solomon story
packed into the film - in the visuals, the dialogue,
and in the music. So, we’re confident that anyone
familiar with the Biblical story will really enjoy that
aspect of the film. But, even people unfamiliar
with that story will resonate with the movie’s
authentic characters and real lif