August 11, 2025

by Liz Mendicino ’26 and Lauren Ferguson

For the first time, Ramapo College of New Jersey students have the opportunity to major in Filmmaking.

Previously a concentration for students majoring in Communications Arts, Filmmaking has been elevated to a major, at a time when the film and content industries are beginning to boom in new areas within commuting distance of Ramapo’s Mahwah campus.

“It’s an especially exciting time to launch a filmmaking major in New Jersey,” said Associate Professor of Digital Filmmaking Kelly Dolak. “The biggest streaming service, Netflix, is about to open their production studio at Fort Monmouth. The Hudson Valley, only 45 minutes away, is seeing a boom in production companies and opportunities for film and TV because of the numerous projects being filmed there. It’s very exciting to launch a film major at a time when so much content is being made and so much of it is being produced within an hour of Ramapo College.”

Roadrunners interested in filmmaking have long been fortunate to be close to New York City, where they can secure internships and jobs at networks, production companies and sound stages, Dolak said, but now, “we’re seeing so much growth in the film and TV industry outside NYC.”

Dolak – whose own films have been screened at festivals both nationally and internationally –  helped shepherd the new major to fruition. Through the major, students interested in writing, acting, directing, editing or shooting videos will learn to bring stories to life in a way that moves people and makes an impact. Dolak sat down for a Q&A to talk about her experiences, what she loves about teaching at Ramapo, and the college’s past and future with filmmaking.

Kelly Dolak is an associate professor of digital filmmaking at Ramapo College.

What drew you into a career in film and media?

I always knew I wanted to work in a creative field but when I was in grad school at Rutgers I found my love for film. Then, after I graduated and moved to NYC, I got a job at AMC working on a show and doing everything from preproduction, production and post production work. That opportunity gave me a full picture of the process of getting something made. I loved it. I went on to work on pilots and promos for various networks like Nickelodeon, Discovery, and MTV. I also knew I wanted to be working on my own projects so I was developing them alongside that work.

Why did you choose to become a professor at Ramapo?

I was drawn to the mission of the college and their commitment to the liberal arts, their commitment to diversity and global perspectives and also to interdisciplinary education. My undergrad and grad education were at liberal arts institutions and my work was very interdisciplinary. I’m truly grateful for the well-rounded education I received. It prepared me for the professional work I’ve done, and continue to do in film, and I wanted to offer that to students. I knew Ramapo was the right fit for me.

What drove the decision to transform Filmmaking into a major?

My colleague Neel Scott and I have been discussing a film major and what it could look like for some years now. My colleagues and I want students to be prepared for the myriad of film careers available out there. A filmmaking major is a way for students to get experience in all aspects of film while also having time to specialize in an area they are drawn to, whether it’s cinematography, screenwriting, directing, audio and so much more.

What opportunities will the new major open to students?

A major will help them to be more competitive and appealing to employers and offer them more writing and production classes. Taking more film classes should help students build a strong portfolio of work to show future employers. We’re also emphasizing collaborative filmmaking in the new major. Most students will go on to work on a film crew after graduating. My film colleagues and I believe it’s important for students to leave having worked as a crew member on productions and to experience creative collaboration.

What do you love about students at Ramapo?

What I love about Ramapo students is their engagement in not only their work but also their investment in helping their classmates on their projects. They currently collaborate on everything from fine tuning ideas for a screenplay to DP’ing, recording audio on set, and editing projects together. It’s a close-knit community, so seeing students develop their friendships and working relationships is very special. Alumni come back and help on productions and the kind of giving back I see with our alumni is wonderful.

Ramapo students on location to shoot a documentary.

Do any Ramapo alumni currently work in the film industry?

The film concentration has produced graduates who are now Creative Production Directors at AMC, AD’s working on big films like Maestro and TV series like Succession, we have a Vice President at Paramount Brand Studio, just really impressive former students working in film, TV and other media fields. 

For more information, visit the Filmmaking major webpage.