Meet Darrin Ramage of Sun Studios of Arizona in Tempe

Today we’d like to introduce you to Darrin Ramage.

So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
I got started in the industry of film distribution by accepting a job offer at a VHS video distribution company…telemarketing VHS tapes of independent feature films to Mom & Pop brick and mortar video stores back 1991.

My love and focus were on indie Horror films. I produced my first feature film, Writer’s Block, in 1994 and have made 16 films since.

I had a very expensive legal battle against my 2 partners in the company after 8½ years together. Without any partners this time, I continued following my 2 passions, Horror movies and sales as a profession.

I started multiple North America Home Video labels such as Dead Alive Productions, Brain Damage Films and Midnight Releasing, all the while launching my worldwide film rights sales agency, Maxim Media International and Acort International.

I had friends on the production side of the industry that worked at Al Collins Film & Video School that I would come into the classes and speak about the distribution side of the industry. These friends also expressed to me “things are slowing down over here” so, trying to make a very long story short, I started to dig into the situation.

After 2 years of chaos and negotiations, on May 1, 2016, I opened to the doors to Sun Studios of Arizona to the production industry and the public. Sun Studios has some of the best film studios, recording studios, 145 seat movie theater and an incredibly talented team of production experts in the southwest…all under one roof!

We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
The list of challenges and obstacles I’ve dealt with over my 27 years up to this point would take a book bigger that the bible to list! After an 8-year partnership there was a nasty split of my first distribution company, legal battles with lawsuits, tons of yelling and loads of money spent on lawyers.

I had a huge decision to make…take ALL the pressures and risks of starting and running a business or go get a job. I had challenging conversations with my then fiancé (now my kickass wife and mother of my 2 amazing children), mentors, family and friends about their thoughts and ideas of operating my own business.

After about a month, I started my own distribution company M3-Maxim Media Marketing, Inc., the parent company of my 6 marketing, distribution and production divisions.

It’s been a roller coaster ever since…the evolution from VHS to DVD, DVD to Blu-Ray, Blu-ray to internet with computers, Smart TV’s, tablets and smart phones.

Then 14 years later I began the lengthy process of obtaining the studios. After 2 years of full days running my distribution companies and squeezing every last second into all the deals with obtaining the studios…35 days before the doors were to open, the funding collapsed for the Studios. Let me tell you, it was probably one of the most stressful of times in my 25+ years of running businesses.

Through sheer will, a passionate desire for movies, unstoppable determination to be successful along with the belief and mental support of my amazing wife…I was able to obtain the money to get the Studios’ doors open.

We’d love to hear more about your business.
Sun Studios is Arizona’s Media Hub for Production and Events with a 23,000 square foot multi-use facility offering two sound proof Sound Stages and so much more:

Stage 1 is 2500 sq. ft. complete with wall-to-wall electrical grid perfect for TV and movie productions, events/parties/social gatherings/festivals/band rehearsals and fashion shows.

Stage 2 is 2200 sq. ft. with wall-to-wall electrical grid, a pre-lit Two-Wall Infinity Cyclorama and includes a professional level Motion Capture System for Virtual Reality/Video Games/TV and movie productions.

Audio Suite Recording Studio – Top notch full-service (Track, Mix and Master) professional grade with independently sound-proof piano, drum, choir, foley and vocal rooms.

Media production offices, over $6 million dollars in Audio/Visual/Production equipment in-house.

Auditorium/Theater – A 150-seat theater/lecture hall with professional digital projection & 5.1 digital surround sound for all your events/corporate training/presentation or screening needs.

All under one roof! Our expert staff is there to ensure a quality experience during your event or while shooting & recording.

Contact Info:

• Address: 1425 West 14th Street Suite 101 Tempe Arizona 85281
• Website: http://www.sunstudiosaz.com
• Phone: (480) 565-7040, ext 701 (Chris McLennan – Director Marketing)
• Email: info@sunstudiosaz.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sunstudiosaz/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SunStudiosAz/
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/StudiosOf

Image Credit:
All images credit to Sun Studios of Arizona

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