Owen Ratliff is the founder of Ratti Entertainment and the writer and producer of the live action film project ‘Black Salt’, based on the critically acclaimed comic book franchise. The story is an epic thriller, merging the world of modern-day espionage and political intrigue, with the ancient world of martial arts. Join us for our exclusive interview.
How did you get started in the entertainment business?
Owen Ratliff : I began as a concert promoter out of Columbus, Ohio, focusing on Midwest Rap, R&B and hip-hop artists. My company, Ratti Entertainment produced the popular ‘Midwest Funk Soundtrack’.
How are you breaking into the movie business?
Owen Ratliff: Ratti Entertainment LLC has created a new genre of motion picture entertainment dubbed “The Minifeature”. It is a proof of concept 30 minute film. It has all the trappings of a feature studio film in terms of subject, storyline, look, feel and marketing, but at a fraction of the time and reflects the constant changing landscape of entertainment distribution. In the crowded, ultra-busy age of internet provided entertainment, attention spans are shorter. It’s becoming more and more evident that people want entertainment they can enjoy on the go, to watch on their smart devices. Quite often people can’t watch a whole movie while sitting in a coffee shop or riding the train to work.
How did you get the inspiration for your first ‘Minifeature’, Black Salt ?
Owen Ratliff: Black Salt is based on the successful comic book franchise. With time winding down towards world-ending devastation, the fate of mankind rests in the hands of Interpol agent Samuel Tharpe.
Can you tell us a little more about the story?
Owen Ratliff: Black Salt was directed by Ben Ramsey (Love and Bullet, Blood and Bone). It stars Kinyumba Mutakabbir, and Michelle Lee.
With only four days left the clock ticks down towards a new world holocaust. The only thing standing in its path is Interpol’s deadliest black-ops agent, Samuel Tharpe. Sam hunts down the path of a game-changing weapon of mass destruction called the Exterminatus. He follows hot on its trail deep into the ancient land of China where he must seek aid from the Abbot at the Shaolin Temple. An evil Yakuza master stole the Exterminatus and seeks to use it in the Far East. Sam must prove his worthiness by fighting one of the Temple’s most skilled monks. Prepared to lay down his own life in exchange for the lives of his family and the world, Sam steps forward and engages in combat. Only his long- past training by the Shaolin master, Yu Bai Shek will make him a worthy hero.
What is the rating?
Owen Ratliff: To capture a wide target audience, we strove for a PG-13 rating.
How did you raise the capital for the 30-minute feature of Black Salt ?
Owen Ratliff: The production budget for the film was raised through a successful crowd funding campaign. A new crowd funding campaign was launched for marketing and promotional capital. (www.indiegogo.blacksaltfilm.com) Ratti Entertainment, LLC is focused on target marketing to create a large customer base as well as creating multiple revenue streams. The franchise includes integrated branding opportunities for Black Salt collectible items, Apparel Line, Comic Books, Trading Cards, Toys, Animated Series, Video Game, Soundtrack/Music Tour, TV series and Feature Film Trilogy. The minifeature is a precursor to the Black Salt feature film and TV series that is currently in the pre- production phase.
What is Ratti Entertainment’s goal?
Owen Ratliff: The Company’s goal is to distribute the film by pursuing licensing deals through TV, cable and internet networks (i.e. HBO, Netflix’s etc.) and implementing the Distrify VOD (video on demand) distribution platform that monetizes the film by turning the entire internet into a movie theater. (www.blacksaltfilm.com)
How do you plan on accomplishing your goal?
Owen Ratliff: We plan to place our movie trailer in theaters through their trailer preview program. We will do internet and social media marketing. We plan to submit Black Salt to 60 major film festivals and comic book conventions. We will be promoting the digital comic book series/graphic novel and apparel line to establish the project as a bankable intellectual property.
Since you sprang from a musical production background, is there a soundtrack for Black Salt?
Owen Ratliff: Yes. Music and movies go hand and hand if done in the right way. The soundtrack can increase the profitability of a film project. The Black Salt soundtrack will feature 16 songs with both big names and up and coming artists and will be available via digital download on iTunes.
Hear the single ‘When The World is Blind’ from the Black Salt soundtrack.
https://soundcloud.com/black-salt-1/when-the-world-is-blind
Thanks Owen!
Leave Us Your Comments.