Filmmaker Mentor

Reel Works

Reel Works is an award-winning youth filmmaking program where teens create short documentary and narrative films about their lives and communities. Students are guided by instructors through every step of the filmmaking process, from writing and planning to filming and editing. Each student is paired with a professional filmmaker mentor, who provides personalized guidance through weekly check-ins, offering encouragement, career exploration, technical support, resume building, and job readiness support.

*An optional stipend of $500 is available.

Courses include:

Documentary Lab (Oct 27th - May 5th) Mentors meet with their assigned mentee once a week (in-person or virtually) to provide encouragement and help throughout the documentary process, from story development to post-production.

Narrative Lab (Dec 4th - May 28th) Mentors meet with their assigned mentee once a week (in-person or virtually). Over the course of the lab, mentors encourage their mentee, helping with the process of writing and directing a short narrative film, techniques in screenwriting, the art of casting and directing actors, and post-production. Mentors are also encouraged to attend location scouting and casting days, and they must be present for at least one production day.

Narrative Fellows (Jan 7th 2026 - June 26th 2026) Fellows choose one craft: Producing, Cinematography, Sound, or Editing. They are then paired with a professional mentor to deepen their practice while collaborating to create original short films. Fellows experience paid media work, experiences in their craft of choice, job shadowing, and master classes with leading craftspeople. Graduates leave with a reel, a resume, and a professional network to launch their careers.

MENTORS SHOULD BE:

Armed with professional documentary or narrative filmmaking experience

Dedicated to guiding the artistic, academic, and professional aspirations of young people.

Able to commit to weekly 1:1 mentoring sessions

If interested, apply here: https://form.typeform.com/to/oWIDDj1f