Narrative Lab

MASTER THE CRAFT OF FILMMAKING

Write, produce, direct, edit and screen your original short film

Narrative Lab students filming in the park

Free after-school filmmaking program for NYC teens!

ABOUT

Over four months, students learn the craft of screenwriting, producing, cinematography, editing, and sound, then write, shoot, and edit their own original short film from start to finish.

Each student is matched 1:1 with a professional filmmaker mentor who guides them through every stage of production. The program culminates in a public premiere at the Reel Works Film Festival, where family, friends, and the film community celebrate the next generation of storytellers.

WHY JOIN THE NARRATIVE LAB?

Hands-on training in every stage of narrative filmmaking, from script to screen
Mentorship from working film and TV professionals
Opportunities to showcase your work at screenings and festivals
A diverse, supportive community of peers who take storytelling seriously

WHO CAN APPLY

NYC residents, ages 16 to 20
Able to commit to the full program schedule, including availability during Spring Break for production
Ready to prepare a one-page treatment and pitch it in your interview

Internships & Jobs

STUDENT SPOTLIGHTS

“Reel Works helped me find my voice in filmmaking and
helped me discover what I want to do… I’ve grown so much since I joined Reel Works and feel more confident as a
filmmaker.”

- Violet Gallo, Narrative Lab Alumni

"One thing that stuck out when I joined Reel Works was the diversity. Filmmaking was really new to me and I felt comfortable being in a community of young filmmakers.”

- Julissa Bedford, Narrative Lab Alumni

NARRATIVE LAB STUDENT JOURNEY

Apply ⟶ Interview ⟶ Acceptance ⟶ Training ⟶ Production ⟶ Credentials earned ⟶ Film Festival Screening

Glimpse of the 2025 Reel Works Film Festival

JOIN A DIVERSE LEARNING ENVIRONMENT

Narrative Lab Films Over the Years

Preview of Sky and Lucia, Directed by Violet Gallo

Digital Credentials You Can Earn

Since our founding program, Reel Works has built a set of digital credentials aligned with the New York State Learning Standards for the Media Arts, giving every Doc Lab student a way to show employers exactly what they've mastered.

Can write and deliver a film pitch that demonstrates understanding of story structure, plot or conflict, and audio/visual concepts and techniques.
Is familiar with the Adobe Premiere Pro interface and can use its basic functions, along with common editing terms like input, output, aspect ratio, frame rate, and timecode.
Can write a script with a clear story using standard narrative formatting.
Can develop a story pitch into a detailed treatment.
Can organize media on a hard drive and within an editing project to build a foundation for narrative editing.
Can create a production plan to guide a shoot.
Can maintain, operate, and shoot footage with a prosumer digital camcorder, such as the Sony Alpha Mirrorless or Canon EOS DSLR series (5D, 7D, etc.).
Understands shot types, camera angles, and framing techniques, can interpret framing instructions on a shot list, and knows the basic pros and cons of single-camera vs. multi-camera shoots.
Can identify the main types of mics used in film and knows when to use each, is familiar with basic sound accessories, and can identify the ideal environment for capturing high-quality sound.
Can capture clear audio at intended levels using an external audio recorder (such as a Zoom H4n), and knows how to store and maintain it properly.
Understands basic shot types and camera angles.
Can analyze a script, creating a casting breakdown, source and cast actors.
Has basic knowledge of multiple camera types and lighting techniques.
Can capture clear audio at intended levels using an external audio recorder (such as a Zoom H4n), and knows how to store and maintain it properly.
Can maintain, operate, and shoot footage with a professional-level digital camcorder, such as the Sony Alpha (FS, FS7, FS7 II) or Canon EOS Cinema series.