A new movie called The Song comes out in theaters Friday. The film is the first full-length feature directed by Bowling Green native Richie Ramsey.
The Song is said to be inspired by the Song of Solomon, so it's no surprise the film about a singer-songwriter is heavy with religious imagery. One of the first conversations between main characters Jed King and Rose Jordan involves a debate over a popular song from the 1960s that's based on biblical text.
Jed: I love that song too, it’s just not the Beatles.
Rose: Yeah it is.
Jed: No it’s the Byrds, you’re thinking of the Byrds.
Rose: No. Agree to disagree.
Jed: No, you’d still be wrong.
Rose: The lyrics are in the Bible. Can we agree that God wrote them?
The song in question is “Turn Turn Turn”. It was originally written by Pete Seeger, based on Ecclesiastes and made popular by The Byrds.
Shortly after they get married, Rose inspires Jed to write a song that instantly shoots him to stardom but also leads him to cross paths with fellow singer Shelby Bale. The pairing paves the way for a darker side of the movie as the characters grapple with issues of adultery and drug abuse all set against the backdrop of a booming music career.
Ramsey says the choice to make the Jed King character a mainstream music artist was not an accident.
“The selection of this kind of Americana, alt-country, folk, roots music – which is pretty popular right now because of bands like the Avett Brothers and Mumford and Sons – that music itself I think lends itself to exploring these themes in a way that doesn’t alienate a broader audience,” said Ramsey.
Kentucky Roots
Ramsey, who was born in Bowling Green, grew up in Texas and now calls Louisville home, says Friday's theatrical release is the culmination of project four-years in the making.
“It sort of becomes part of you, and like I said, the longevity of everything can be challenging and to try to stay committed to it and stay as passionate about it as you were when you first had the idea,” said Ramsey.
The film is set mainly in and around Louisville. Some scenes are also shot in New Albany, Indiana.
Musicians Alan Powell of the band Anthem Lights and Caitlin Nicol-Thomas of Nashville star in the movie. Powell’s wife in the movie is portrayed by Twilight's Ali Faulkner and the couple’s on-screen kid? That’s Jude Ramsey, the director’s son.
“That was kind of nerve-wracking,” said Ramsey, who thought of his son when casting the role of a five-year-old boy in the script. “A lot of the scenes were kind of inspired by interactions he and I had, well why don’t I put him in the movie? And you’re kind of biting your nails going, ‘is this totally going to look like nepotism or something?’
“I think he did a beautiful job and the actors did a beautiful job of just working with him and helping him forget he was in a movie,” said Ramsey.
Two scenes early in the The Song include a nod to Frank Capra’s classic It’s A Wonderful Life.
“That movie speaks to something this film speaks about, which is ‘what makes life meaningful?’ and I think it explores those themes and in a similar way,” said Ramsey.
The Song is rated PG-13 and opens in theaters Friday.