LYNN – Choreographer José “Hollywood” Ramos is stepping into a new creative role.
Ramos graduated from Lynn English Highschool in 2003, where he was a part of dance teams at the school and the Boys and Girls Club. He majored in Liberal Arts at North Shore Community College, and worked at the Lynn YMCA as counselor and a teacher at JOI Childcare before moving to Los Angeles in 2009 to pursue choreography full time.
Since then, Ramos has made a name for himself by creating routines for Beyoncé, Rihanna, Nicki Minaj, Jennifer Lopez, and more. In the past five years, he has been posting viral dance routine videos on TikTok, with many clips receiving millions of views.
Ramos said he was “heavily influenced by the arts culture in Lynn,” as a teenager, which contributed to his adaptability and success as an adult.
“Being in Lynn and being around so many amazing people, there was so much creativity around me growing up. It allowed me to tap into things that I ended up needing for my future self,” Ramos said.
In 2021, Ramos got the opportunity to explore the world of filmmaking. When the director of the short film “Stage Mom” dropped out of the production, Ramos, who was originally a producer, decided to fill his shoes.
While Ramos said his first time as a director was originally a daunting undertaking, it ended up being a blessing in disguise.
“Otherwise, I wouldn’t have developed my sense to become a director. I’m grateful that it opened new doors for me,” Ramos said.
His experience as a choreographer gave him a perspective as a director when it comes to analyzing people’s movement and energies, and understanding how talent operates onset.
“Directing was something that made me feel the same way dancing and choreography made me feel. So I thought it was something I should pay attention to,” Ramos said.
“Its something that scares me, but I’m stepping into with full confidence because I know all these things that were instilled in me were preparation to be able to tell amazing stories,” he added.
To understand the ins-and-outs of directing, producing, and scriptwriting, Ramos completed a business of entertainment certification program at NYU this April.
“If I was going to explore a new area in my life, I felt like I had to go back to the drawing board,” Ramos said.
Ramos then honed his skills to produce, executive produce, compose the music, and co-direct the film “Battle Lines,” which premiered at the TCL Chinese Theatre in Hollywood on November 15.
“Battle Lines” tells the story of a majorette team at a university and their rivalry with the school’s Pom squad. Ramos said the film was inspired by dance classics such as “Bring it On” and “Drumline,” along with Broadway musicals such as “Wicked” and “Hairspray.”
After inspiration struck, Ramos gathered the director, scriptwriter, and cast members for a filming process that took three months. This time, he hired an outside choreographer so he could focus his energy on directing.
“I wanted to do it myself. I didn’t want to wait for anybody else to do it. If I had a vision, it was given to me for a reason,” Ramos said.
“Clearly I am not to be messed with, because I make things happen. I am so grateful to have an amazing support group around me, I could not do this without them,” he added.
For his future filmmaking endeavors, Ramos has ideas to revisit Lynn and create a documentary about the lives and stories of the city’s residents.
“Lynn will always have a special place in my heart, because it taught me so much,” Ramos said.
