Ronald Estevez’s journey is a testament to following one’s passion and overcoming challenges.
Raised in the Dominican Republic, Estevez spent some time in New York City before settling in Camden at the age of 10.
Even as a child, he displayed an affinity for film, often creating vlogs to share his experiences with family back in the Dominican Republic.
Inspired by Dominican-American filmmaker Jessy Terrero, Estevez further honed his skills by crafting homemade music videos for popular Dominican artists.
His supportive friends and family encouraged him to pursue a video production program at Camden County Technical School, where he was first exposed to professional equipment.
Estevez recalls this experience as pivotal.
“It was the first time I was able to use professional equipment and to be in a more professional setting,” he stated.
His love for video production only deepened during this time, leading him to recognize that this was the career path he wanted to follow.
After graduating high school in 2012, Estevez faced barriers to attending college due to his undocumented status.
However, with the help of a federal policy aiding those brought to the U.S. as children, he managed to work part-time jobs in factories and fast food establishments.
In 2015, Estevez took a significant step forward when he enrolled at Camden County College before transferring to Rowan University, where he graduated with a degree in radio, TV, and film in 2021.
During his college years, he took the initiative to produce videos for local artists and small businesses in Camden, recognizing a unique opportunity in a market often overlooked by videographers.
“Camden is not a market in which people stay. So I just saw this as an opportunity in an area to stay and offer video services to people that don’t do that,” he explained.
After securing his degree, Estevez began his career at NFL Films in 2021, quickly proving himself to be a valuable asset.
He was later selected to work on ‘NFL DRAFT: The Pick Is In,’ a documentary that covers the draft processes for several NFL teams.
Estevez has built a reputation in both his workplace and the Camden community as a dedicated worker.
“He’s someone I can always count on,” said Courtland Bragg, a producer, director, and Estevez’s manager.
Bragg elaborated, stating, “I know he can get the job done no matter how challenging the task is.”
Estevez’s achievements serve not just as a personal success story, but also as an inspiration to the youth of Camden.
Bragg emphasized the relevance of Estevez’s journey, remarking, “Ronald’s story is so important because it’s relatable.
He relates to the young generation coming up, and hopefully, it can expose them to different career paths.”
The significance of Estevez’s success was recognized by Councilman Falio Leyba-Martinez, who believed it necessary to honor him publicly.
“What he does for Camden is that it can inspire another young person to want to be like him or want to be better than him,” Leyba-Martinez commented.
Estevez received this recognition with humility, stating, “It’s an honor to be able to feel recognized by the city you have grown in.
Even though I wasn’t born here, everywhere I go, no matter what room I’m in or who I have around, … anywhere I’m asked, ‘Where are you from?’ I say I’m from Camden.”
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