Film Alumna Michelle Ruiz Turns Curiosity Into a Career

From producing social media videos for a food brand to working on documentaries about New York street vendors, Michelle Ruiz has built a career in storytelling and production. As a senior video editor at immi, an instant ramen food company, Ruiz dedicates her time to filmmaking, editing and producing content. 

Ruiz’s work goes beyond editing. She also works on collaborative projects with the company's social media strategist and graphic designer to develop campaign ideas, plan productions,  create digital advertisements and produce social media content. Ruiz also oversees an external editing team. She pointed to one of her early projects, a Webby-nominated interview series called “Ramen on the Street,” which Ruiz co-produced with fellow Montclair alumna Emily Alba. The series gained millions of views, helping to extend her three-month internship contract.

Ruiz initially joined immi as a freelance intern during her senior year at Montclair. After the interview series success extended her internship, she earned a full-time position by editing an advertisement that performed a a high level, which opened the door to advertising work. 

Ruiz’s interest in filmmaking began at age 11, when she asked her mother for a camera after discovering YouTube Creators, YouTube’s official channel for creators. She was hesitant to pursue film as a career because of concerns with job stability and opportunities. After two years of community college and a gap year, she decided to apply to Montclair’s film program. 

“I realized I was hurting myself by not exploring film as a career.”

During her time at Montclair’s College of Communication and Media (CCOM), Ruiz discovered a strong passion for documentary production through Professor McCarthy’s Developing the Documentary (FMTV 283) course. After creating her first documentary about a community farm, she went on to take McCarthy’s On the Road: Reporting From the Field (FMTV 383), a course that has won several student Emmys. She also gained hands-on experience by assisting other students with their thesis films on weekends, working as a second camera assistant. 

Outside her work at immi, Ruiz continues to pursue her passion for documentary filmmaking. She is co-producing “Vendor Power,” a documentary exploring the lives of New York street vendors, alongside Montclair alumna Aylin Alvarez-Santiago. Ruiz contributes to production, concept development and interviews, and also edits. 

Reflecting on her decision to pursue filmmaking, Ruiz realized her self-doubt held her back from a career she was passionate about. Her time at Montclair helped her develop her skills and confidence to take on new opportunities as they came. 

“Those two years at Montclair changed my life’s trajectory for the better.” 

Ruiz emphasizes the importance of maintaining a strong work ethic, taking initiative, and producing high-quality work. She also encourages students to build professional relationships and to be themselves.

“Show up early, never assume you don’t need to initiate, and hone your skills so they shine naturally.”

Through her work at immi and her ongoing documentary projects, Michelle Ruiz shows that a willingness to take risks and work hard can help students turn interests into their dream careers.