 | This article includes a list of general references, but it lacks sufficient corresponding inline citations .(November 2014) |
Ben Ramsey is an American retired screenwriter and film director, most commonly known as the screenwriter of The Big Hit (starring Mark Wahlberg) and Dragonball Evolution .
Ramsey began his career in Hollywood in 1996 when he wrote the Mark Wahlberg feature, The Big Hit for Sony Pictures. He would later go on to write Dragonball Evolution for 20th Century Fox. He directed the hit DTV action films Blood and Bone and Love and a Bullet which Sony also distributed. Most recently he directed the short film Black Salt for Ratti Entertainment and his own company Ramcity Productions.
In 2016, Ramsey issued a public apology for the film, claiming the film "marked a very painful creative point in my life". He wrote: "To have something with my name on it as the writer be so globally reviled is gut wrenching. To receive hate mail from all over the world is heartbreaking. (...) I went into the project chasing after a big payday, not as a fan of the franchise but as a businessman taking on an assignment. I have learned that when you go into a creative endeavor without passion you come out with sub-optimal results, and sometimes flat out garbage. So I’m not blaming anyone for Dragonball but myself." [1]
In 2021, Ramsey retracted his apology on his Facebook page: “For the public record, I am in no way, shape or form responsible for the train wreck that was Dragonball Evolution! My script was infinitely better than the dumpster fire they actually shot! In fact my draft was the thing that brought Stephen Chow onboard who, up to that point, had no desire to make an American movie! The only reason I apologized back in 2016 was because I felt the fans deserved one and I knew they weren't gonna get one from anyone else involved! So I jumped on the sword alone for the fans! To give them a sense of closure. This one is for me! Now that I'm an old fart and basically DGAF for the most part, because, in this day and age anyone of us could be dead tomorrow! I'm tired of my name being associated with a script that was re-written and turned into that embarrassment of a movie! I got in this business because of my love for film and a desire to make great movies like Blood and Bone and my current project, iNTERFACE! I'm really proud of them because they were made from the heart! Hey Disney! You own it now! Here's a thought! Remake it! Shoot my original draft that Stephen Chow wanted to direct and get him to direct it! You will have a SMASH HIT! And the heat alone would be off the charts! Of course, I know that's never gonna happen but hey just putting it out there! Phew! it felt good getting that off my chest!” [2]
In 2023, Ramsey was interviewed and spoke further about the failure of Dragonball Evolution. [3]
| Year | Title | Director | Writer | Producer | Other | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1991 | The Silence of the Lambs | No | No | No | Yes | Production assistant |
| 1995 | Stripteaser | No | No | No | Yes | Art department: Leadman |
| Caged Heat 3000 | No | No | No | Yes | Actor: "Killa" | |
| 1996 | Don't Be a Menace to South Central While Drinking Your Juice in the Hood | No | No | No | Yes | Art department: swing gang |
| Crossworlds | No | No | No | Yes | Art department: swing | |
| Zarkorr! The Invader | No | No | No | Yes | Actor: "Quincy" | |
| 1998 | The Big Hit | No | Yes | No | No | |
| 2002 | Love and a Bullet | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Executive producer |
| Random Acts of Violence | No | No | No | Yes | Actor: "Teddy P" | |
| 2005 | Inspired by... | No | No | Yes | No | Short film |
| 2008 | A Good Day to Be Black and Sexy | No | No | Yes | No | Executive producer |
| 2009 | Dragonball Evolution | No | Yes | No | No | |
| Blood and Bone | Yes | No | No | Yes | Soundtrack writer and producer | |
| 2011 | The Art Patron | No | No | No | Yes | Actor: "Bodyguard"; Short film |
| 2015 | Black Salt | Yes | No | No | No | Short film |
| 2019 | Interface | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Actor: "Operator 247"; Short film |
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