Peter Ramsey - Movies

Peter Ramsey - Moives

By Rych McCain International/Nationally Syndicated Entertainment columnist

Photos Courtesy DreamWorks® Animation

 

Peter Ramsey

Breaking Ground In Animation!

     There are many success stories that come from the hood but those are usually the one’s that don’t make it to the news or other outlets for mass exposure. True talent knows no restriction to geographical boundaries, ethnicities, gender or any other categories that are traditionally used to block and hinder people from achieving their dreams and goals by a controlling few. 

Film Director Peter Ramsey

   Animated film director Peter Ramsey is a shinning example of what can be accomplished when proper preparation and determination meet opportunity. Ramsey became a new figure in Hollywood history by being the first African-American to helm and direct a major, mega budget animated film, “Rise Of The Guardians” from DreamWorks® studio.

L-R: Sandman, Easter Bunny, Santa Clause, Tooth Fairy & Jack Frost

     The movie is about the childhood characters known as “The Easter Bunny,” “Santa Clause,” “Sandman,” “The Tooth Fairy” and “Jack Frost.” Collectively they are referred to in the movie as the guardians of childhood.

The Boogie Man

    In this film their arch enemy is “The Boogie Man,” and they team up to do battle with him to protect the children of the world.


     Ramsey is a home grown, native of South Central, LA.  (Now referred to as South Los Angeles). He began as a child to draw pictures and cartoons. His fascination with the art world and animation continued as he grew and when he was old enough, there was no doubt in his mind that this was his calling. 

Easter Bunny

    In referring to the inspiration that got him to drawing in the first place in those early childhood days, Ramsey fondly remembers; “It was a way of entertainment. As early in age as I can remember, I would get my mom’s magazines and was just laying in the floor and drawing in the white spaces and drawing little stories that would fill up the magazine and I just didn’t stop.Whenever people ask me how did you learn to draw so well? 

Tooth Fairy

 What do you have to do? I just tell them draw and don’t stop. I learned by doing it, doing it, doing it. It really is that simple.”  On his path to becoming a director; like anybody else, Ramsey paid his dues while honing the skills needed to fulfill his goals and aspirations. 

Sand Man

  Ramsay explains how he finagled his way

Up the latter after joining the DreamWorks Animation studios eight years ago. “I worked on the third “Shrek” as a story artists. Based on that, I became the head of the story artist department on the next project which was “Monsters vs. Aliens.” 

Jack Frost

My friend, who produced those movies, told the studio that he had also worked with me in live action where I did a lot of second unit directing. The studio saw that I had a little bit of experience as a director which really helped me to get to direct “Rise Of The Guardians.”   

Santa Clause

   Ramsey had just completed directing a successful TV promotional spin-off for “Monsters vs. Aliens” when the studio approached him to helm their new re-organized project “Rise Of The Guardians.”
 

Santa's Elves

     The excitement rises in Ramsey’s voice when he ran down the order of events that led to his direction the project; “Guardians had been in development for probably a year and a half. They had character designs and tried a couple of scripts but it wasn’t working out so they had put together a new team and turned to me and asked are you interested?  Can we get your thoughts on what you might want to do with this and what your take would be? 

Guardians in action

I was kind of shocked that they asked me because I knew eventually this was going to be a big complicated film but they liked what I had to say. I teamed up with my producers and writer and we got to work.” As they say, the rest is history but in Ramsey’s case, that phrase has a deeper and multi-significant meaning.

 © 2012 Rych McCain Media/Syndication tm 

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