Well, you know when you do something horrible, and the fans hate it, and you simply have to say ‘sorry.’ Seven years ago, Ben Ramsey did something for which he is now apologizing- Dragonball Evolution.
Dragonball fan and writer, Derek Padula had contacted Ramsey to interview him for the book that he is writing. He then got back an apology addressed to his fans:
“I knew that it would eventually come down to this one day. Dragonball Evolution marked a very painful creative point in my life. 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 spent so many years trying to deflect the blame, but at the end of the day it all comes down to the written word on page and I take full responsibility for what was such a disappointment to so many fans. I did the best I could, but at the end of the day, I ‘dropped the dragon ball.
’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. As a fanboy of other series, I know what it’s like to have something you love and anticipate be so disappointing.
To all the Dragon Ball fans out there, I sincerely apologize.
I hope I can make it up to you by creating something really cool and entertaining that you will like and that is also something I am passionate about. That’s the only work I do now.
Best,
Ben”
It is rare for people in Hollywood to apologize and much more rarer for them to admit that they did something for a paycheck. The fact that the writer is not a fan can sometimes lead to an inability to recognize the changes required for a new project for it to succeed. And it better that they have familiarity and respect for the material that they are working on.
While Ramsey took the blame, one must not forget that he could not have made it a disaster just by himself. It had taken a lot of people to make a bad Dragonball Evolution.
