Never Surrender: The Ed Ramsey Story

Ed in the Media - Never Surrender: The Ed Ramsey Story

Reprinted with permission:

OCTOBER 5 - 11, 2016 PHILIPPINE MEDIA - LOS ANGELES

Oscar nominated actor Josh Brolin attaches as narrator for Vanilla Fire’s full feature documentary ‘Never Surrender: The Ed Ramsey Story’

Vanilla Fire Productions, a full documentary feature and commercial production company, is pleased to announce the completion of their sixth feature documentary Never Surrender: The Ed Ramsey Story.

A-list actor Josh Brolin’s melodic voice serves as the noble narration to this epic tale of courage, bravery and intestinal fortitude. Col. Edwin Price Ramsey, who lead the last cavalry charge in United States Army history, is the subject of this larger-than-life story.

The documentary is based on the wildly successful book written by Edwin Price Ramsey & Oscar nominated screen writer Stephen J. Rivele called “Lieutenant Ramsey’s War.”

Rivele was nominated for Oscar for his colorful depiction of Oliver Stone’s Nixon portrayed by Anthony Hopkins.

The feature film rights were also optioned by a movie studio in the mid 90’s but the film was never produced and all of the rights have been returned to Dr. Raquel Ramsey, the widow of Col Ramsey.

Dr. Ramsey serves as co executive producer of this Oscar qualified documentary along with CEO and co-founder of Vanilla Fire Productions, filmmaker Steven C. Barber. Cofounder of Vanilla Fire Productions Tamara Henry serves as producer, and sitting in the director’s chair is filmmaker Matthew Hausle in his second directorial spot coming off the very successful Netflix acquired documentary Until They Are Home (2012 Oscar Shortlist) narrated by Kelsey Grammer.

Oscar winning director and editor John Travers is writing this epic tale of heroism. This is Mr. Traver’s second collaboration with Vanilla Fire Productions. Travers also wrote and edited The Carrier, the story about the first NCAA basketball game held aboard a nuclear aircraft carrier, The Carl Vinson.

Song writer Edwin McCain has written an original song for Never Surrender called “I’m Back,” which will be considered for Academy qualification for Best Original Song in a full feature documentary. Mr. McCain’s songs “I’ll Be” (1998) and “I Could Not Ask For More” (1999) were both Top 40 hits and five of his albums have reached The Billboard 200.

The musical genius of Jamie Dunlap will be the original score, which will be for Best Original Score. Mr. Dunlap was Oscar shortlisted in 2012 for his original score for Until They Are Home and is reprising his role for Vanilla Fire Productions. Dunlap is also known for his 16-year-run on the hit television show South Park, winning a BMI Award in 2012. Dunlap has produced over 1,000 compositions for television and film including Little Miss Sunshine, Walk The Line, Wedding Crashers and The Sixth Sense.

Country music singer Kenny C. has also written an original song for the film called Colors Of Freedom with Tammy Cash singing backup on the song. Tamara Henry (aka Tammy Cash) will also be singing The National Anthem on stage at the opening of the premiere of Never Surrender on Veterans Day Weekend Sunday November 13th at the Simon Wiesenthal Center in Los Angeles.

This is the third run at the Oscar race for the fiercely independent film company Vanilla Fire Productions as they continue to tell the amazing stories of great and patriotic Americans at the highest level. Vanilla Fire has been producing films for over ten years and continues to attract the talents of Josh Brolin, Ed Harris, Kelsey Grammer, Dan Aykroyd, John Savage and Joe Mantegna.

Vanilla Fire’s debut film Unbeaten (www.unbeatenthemovie.com) was listed on TIME magazine’s Top 10 Summer Olympic films of all time. (http://olympics.time. com/2012/07/09/top-10-summer-olympicsfilms/slide/unbeaten-2009/)

Vanilla Fire has had two films previously shortlisted in 2010 and 2012. Vanilla Fire will also be debuting the film world’s first “Military 6 Pack” with all six films bundled in one package of six DVDs. Available soon in Walmart, Target, Costco and Best Buy.

Vanilla Fire will be premiering Never Surrender to a sold out audience at the Simon Wiesenthal Center Museum on Sunday November 13th at 6pm during Veterans Day Weekend. Vanilla Fire would like to extend a huge thank you to Rabbi Abraham Cooper, Associate Dean of the Simon Wiesenthal Center Museum of Tolerance, who so graciously arranged what will be the third major première for Vanilla Fire Productions.

This star studded red carpet event will be the Premiere of Never Surrender: The Ed Ramsey Story and RSVPs by Josh Brolin, Joe Mantegna, Frank Stallone, Kenny C, Tammy Cash and others will light up this historic evening.

For more information on Vanilla Fire Productions go to www.vanillafire.com and vanillafire.weebly.com Never Surrender: The Ed Ramsey Story movie trailer: https://youtu.be/nNk2fZAmkFs

Josh Brolin, providing narration to the film.

The Premiere of Never Surrender was held on Sunday, Nov. 13, 2016 by invitation only. The public was invited to view the film from Sept. 23-29 on a full schedule (4 screenings per day between Noon and 10:00 PM) at the Laemmle's Music Hall in Beverly Hills. CA. It was entered into the documentary category in the Academy of Motion Pictures and Sciences for 2016. In January 2017, the Edwin McCain song entitled "I'm Back" that was featured in the film was on the Oscar short list for Best Original Song.

May 2017

PRESS RELEASE: SNAGFILMS Premiers Never Surrender: The Ed Ramsey Story narrated by Josh Brolin in time for Memorial Day Weekend

[ SnagFilms content can be streamed online, via Apple TV, Google Play, Windows 8, XBOX 360, ROKU, iOs, Android devices, Amazon Kindle, SONY & Panasonic Televisions. ]

WASHINGTON, DC and New York, NY -- EMBARGOED FOR 12pm EST Friday May 26, 2017 - SnagFilms, the leading platform for philanthropic documentary and independent films announces today the premier of the Steven C Barber produced and Matthew Hausle directed documentary, Never Surrender: The Ed Ramsey Story (2016 Oscar Shortlist) on Snagfilms.com on Monday, May 29th 2017 at 9am EST on:

http://www.snagfilms.com/films/title/never-surrender-the-ed-ramsey-story

Released just in time for Memorial Day, Never Surrender: The Ed Ramsey Story documents an unsung World War II hero's tale of sacrifice and survival and celebrates the spirits of remembrance of the individuals who fought and died for the United States in military pursuits. The documentary centers on the never before told story of Lt. Col. Edwin P. Ramsey, who in 1942 coordinated the final horse-mounted cavalry charge in US army history. More significantly, after the fall of Bataan, Ramsey refused to surrender and became a member of the Filipino resistance and ultimately commanded over 40,000 Filipino guerilla troops against Japan. As a result, Ramsey provided essential information to General Douglas MacArthur, for which he won the Distinguished Service Cross.

Director Hausle (Until They Are Home) and Producer Barber (Return to Tarawa, Unbeaten, The Carrier) cast Holloywood actor Josh Brolin (Wall Street, Milk, No Country for Old Men) as narrator who strings together the life of Ramsey alongside real life players including Alice Benitez, Mike Bills, Abraham Cooper and Dan Figuracion among others. The film was originally released in November 2016 by Moving Pictures Production Co. The soundtrack features the score titled, "I'm Back", which was written and performed by Edwin McCain as well as the Kenny G original song "Colors of Freedom". Daniel M. Gold of the New York Times deemed the film "an overdue Paean to a War Hero".

November 2016

From the Premiere of Never Surrender: The Ed Ramsey Story

Photos taken at the Premier event are below. Please click on the thumbnails below for a closer look!


Rabbi Abraham Cooper Offering Some Opening Remarks	Q&A Session with Raqui and Director Matthew Hausle

Philippine Scouts Cavalry Mounted Unit	Producers Steven Barbara and Tamara Henry with Raqui's Family and Doug Ramsey at the Red Carpet

August 2017

A screening of Never Surrender: The Ed Ramsey Story was held on August 5th, 2017 at the Montecito estate of Patrick Nesbitt by Steve Barber and members of the Vanilla Fire Productions team.

Related Links:

Arrivals Video by Jesse Torrero (Facebook)
The Pat Nesbitt Santa Barbara Mansion, which is for sale... (LA Times)

September 2017 - PR Appearances

Announcement and PR in the US Cavalry Journal

PR for Never Surrender in The Quan

Ads for the Documentary and Book Appearing in American Library Association Media

May 8, 2017 - The Reagan Library

A special event was held at the Reagan Libary and Museum in Simi Valley, California in part to commemorate Ed's 100th birthday. The event included a screening of the documentary "Never Surrender: The Ed Ramsey Story". The Reagan Foundation website announced the event this way:

Please join Filmmaker Steven Barber, Director Matthew Hausle, and Executive Producer Dr. Raquel Ramsey for the screening of the Oscar Shortlisted film, Never Surrender, the true story of Lt. Col. Edwin P. Ramsey, who in 1942 led the last cavalry charge in U.S. army history, and commanded more than 40,000 guerrilla troops against the Japanese.

Doors for the event will open at 5:00 p.m., and the movie will begin at 5:30 p.m., followed by Q&A with the film’s filmmaker, director and executive producer. Prior to the event, the National Anthem will be sung by Tammy Cash. Special appearances at the event include the Filipino scouts, as well as Robert Tidwell who portrays General MacArthur in the documentary.

This event is free to attend and will be located in the Reagan Library’s Presidential Learning Center auditorium. All are welcome. No reservations are required.

An invitation link was also sent to those specifically attending the commemoration:

Here are a few photos from the event:

Dr. Bruce & Debbie Powell join me at the reception and screening

Raqui with Judy Arevalo, sister of Adriana Ramirez

Reagan Library Staff pose with Raqui & Ramirez Family

Camp Pendleton Marines, Never Surrender producers & Raqui (photo: William Kidstone)

September 2017 - Screenings

On Saturday, September 9, 2017, the National Federation of Filipino-American Associations, Region 10 (NaFFAA) held a gathering at the Veterans Museum and Memorial Center, Balboa Park in San Diego, California. The event included a screening of Never Surrender: The Ed Ramsey Story. The event's program booklet may be downloaded here.

November 2017 - Screenings

On Friday, November 10, 2017, the Philippine premier screening of Never Surrender will be held at the Oasis Hotel in Angeles City, Pampanga. The flyer for the event is shown below, click for a full view:

Special DVDs of Never Surrender:The Ed Ramsey Story signed by Dr. Raquel Ramsey are now available!

Please
Note:

December 2017 - Screenings

On Friday, December 29, 2017, a screening of Never Surrender was held in the Kalia Room at the Hale Koa Hotel in Honolulu, Hawaii. It was well-attended with an excellent reception from the hotel and it received great responses from the guests which included Consul General of the Philippines in Hawaii, Gina Jamoralin and Col.Joseph and Judy Archog, Armed Forces of the Philippines Liason Officer to USAPCOM. Also the curator of the Hawaii Army Museum, Allison and Micahael Ramsey who praised the film for its excellent production

The flyer for the event is shown below, click for a full view:

October 2017 - Screenings

On Wednesday, October 18, 2017, a screening of Never Surrender was held at the MacArthur Memorial in Norfolk, Virginia. The flyer for the event is shown below.

Photos of the event and some of the attendees are shown below.


Doug Ramsey with Raqui Ramsey	Anita Loande Acohido, in charge of the Congressional Gold Medal presentations for Hawaii

Col. Joseph and Judy Archog, Liason Officer to USPACOM	Consul General Gina Jamoralin and Raqui pose beside THE LAST CAVALRY CHARGE from the Hawaii Army Museum

The Ramirez family with Raqui	Dr. Ramsey at the reception table with a copy of the invitation/flyer

Col. Jim and Deon Gebhard	Oscar Bangui, Congressional Gold Medal Awardee and other veterans and family members

Dr. Ramsey welcomes the audience, introduces the guests and the documentary	Cristian Ricardo Ramirez, 4 month old held by Amy Ramirez and Adriana beside her. Daniel and Raqui on other side.

March 2018 - Screenings

On Saturday, March 3, 2018, the Filipinas Heritage Library will host a WWII Film Festival and Exhibition at the Greenbelt 3 MyCinema in Makati City, Philippines. Several films are scheduled to be shown, including Never Surrender: The Ed Ramsey Story.

The flyer for the event is shown below, click for a full view:

Awee also published this announcement of the screening:

March 2018 - Film Review

The March issue of the Cowboy Mounted Shooting Association's magazine included a review of Never Surrender by Phil Spangenberger.

The page containing the review is shown below, click for a full view:

May 2018 - New ad in MOAA magazine

A new print ad for DVD copies of Never Surrender appears in the May issue of Military Officers Association of America magazine.

September 2018 - Semi-Finalist in the Courage Film Festival

Never Surrender was selected as a semi-finalist at the 2018 Courage Film Festival in Berlin.

October 5-6 2018 - Wichita High School North Reunion Weekend

During the 3rd Annual All School Reunion Weekend at Wichita High School North (which Ed attended) a screening of Never Surrender was held in the school auditorium.

Click here for a copy of the Reunion invitation


Barbara Stunz (Ed's and Nadine's cousin, 97), Dr. Janine Ramsey, Raqui, Laura Araiza - Principal's Secretary of Wichita High and the Powell family	Barbara Stunz and Raqui in the auditorium after the screening

Barbara Stunz, Raqui and Janine Ramsey in the auditorium	Ed's book "Lieutenant Ramsey's War" and The NEVER SURRENDER flyer in display at the library

Janine hugs Barbara while Raqui watches in awe at Barbara who looks no more than 80 years young	In front of the building are L to R: Faith Powell, Raqui, Janine Ramsey & Jeanette Powell

Lunch photo with Powell family and Janine and Raqui Ramsey at Red Rock Canyon Grill in Wichita	Raqui with Principal Lori Doyle and Laura Araiza

January 2019 - Selection by the Idyllwild International Festival of Cinema

Never Surrender was selected for screening during the Idyllwild 2020 International Festival of Cinema in Idyllwild, California.