Since we began in 2001, Reel Works has built a reputation for outstanding storytelling and artistic excellence. Our student's films have reached millions of viewers from small classrooms to film festivals to national broadcasts and have won countless awards including five student Emmys. But most importantly, The Lab is a safe place for teens to learn, grow and express themselves.

The Lab is the only youth media workshop anywhere that allows each teen to make a short documentary film on a subject her or she chooses and matches each participant with a professional filmmaker/mentor. The results are works of startling creativity that are consistently personal, powerful and real. Over 60% of all films produce in the Lab find some form of distribution through our follow-up workshop for graduates, Reel Impact.

At Reel Works, we believe that the practice of filmmaking holds within it essential disciplines of literacy, communication, creative and critical thinking, storytelling and leadership that high school students need to effectively express their visions. We believe that in the 21st century, true literacy must include mastery of digital authoring technology and filmmaking is one platform that can help bridge the digital divide in our society.

In the course of their work in The Lab, teens are transformed from passive consumers to active creators of media. Our efforts especially resonate with at-risk youth, who receive an opportunity to re-create themselves and transcend the labels others have put on them. In telling their stories, they are able to bring order and meaning to the central questions of their lives and experience that their creative energy can be a greater force than their problems.

Through our Mentorship program, students get individualized attention and learn about career options available in the film and television industry. All mentors are recruited, trained and overseen by a licensed social worker and each volunteer must pass an FBI background check in order to be matched with a “mentee.” All in all, each student receives the attention and support of six adults throughout their Lab experience.

The experience of The Lab for our teens is often life-changing. And we are serious about measuring the impact on the youth development of each participant. A recent survey of The Lab's Fall 2005 class by Owen Consulting measured significant improvements in participant's self-esteem, ability to follow through on projects, and orientation towards the future. Upon completing the Lab, teens felt more in control of their lives, better about their personal decisions and more valued by their communities. Read the report now!

We know that a majority of our graduates complete high school or GED and go on to college or employment. We have graduates studying filmmaking in NYU, SUNY Purchase, SVA, Brooklyn College and elsewhere. A new tracking survey is underway to measure the impact of The Lab on our over 100 graduates since 2001.