ViacomCBS teamed up with Reel Works and its MediaMKRS workforce development program—which aims to build a talent pool that reflects the diversity of New York City by matching young professionals with job training opportunities across media organizations, including ViacomCBS—for its Content for Change Academy. The program provides entry-level creative and production roles to young professionals, without requiring enrollment or graduation from a traditional college or university, with the ultimate goal of full-time employment following the three month program.

Script's Editor Sadie Dean speaks with Reel Works co-founder and Executive Director John C. Williams about the initiatives and programs at the Brooklyn based organization, his passion to foster young and diverse voices, and the importance of preparing these young creatives for the creative industry workforce.

Reel Works has announced a first-time partnership with their MediaMKRS workforce development program and documentary film/TV production company Jigsaw Productions, helmed by Academy Award®-winning documentarian Alex Gibney.

ViacomCBS Announces Participants of Its Content For Change Academy! Seven First Time Participants in Partnership with Reel Works Have Been Selected For The Inaugural Class.

Seven First Time Participants in Partnership with Reel Works Have Been Selected For The Inaugural Class.

New York, NY – November 9th 2021 – ViacomCBS today announced the inaugural class of its newly launched Content for Change Academy, a talent program that aims to remove barriers to entry for new storytellers, build equity, and invest in the industry’s next generation of leaders from nontraditional pathways, including individuals from community colleges and certification programs, who are historically marginalized from entry into the entertainment industry.

We're excited to partner with ViacomCBS on their Content for Change Academy and join efforts toward seeing a more inclusive media and entertainment industry.

We're excited to partner with ViacomCBS on their Content for Change Academy and join efforts toward seeing a more inclusive media and entertainment industry.

Reel Works had the opportunity to speak on “No Such Thing”, a podcast about Education in the Digital Age hosted by Marc Lesser.

Last night, Reel Works honored Issa Rae (Insecure), The Inclusion Rider Trio of Fanshen Cox, Tasmin Plater and Kalpana Kotogal with a “Changemaker” Award and Eddie Huang (Fresh Off The Boat) was honored with the Inaugural Variety “Voice of an Inspiration” Award. Broadway’s Bryan Terrell Clark (Hamilton) hosted the event and LL Cool J made a surprise appearance.

Two decades before diversity in film and TV went from a minor industry concern to a mandate, Reel Works became a pioneering force in teaching underserved youth about filmmaking and bringing them into the business.

Reel Works is a youth media and workforce readiness program that matches teens with professional filmmaker-mentors.

Reel Works is a Brooklyn based youth media and workforce readiness program that matches underprivileged BIPOC young adults with professional filmmaker-mentors as a pathway to success and into an industry that is notoriously difficult to break into…

On March 31st from 6:30 - 8:00 PM EST, Reel Works hosted a virtual Town Hall about "Inclusion in Media" on with not only some of the Ambassadors from the program but also Vella Lovell, who is currently starring in NBC's "Mr. Mayor".

On Wednesday, March 4, 2020, Reel Works, TheNYC Mayor's Office of Media and Entertainment and CUNY convened the second MediaMKRS Advisory Council Meeting to celebrate the successful launch of our partnership to train, credential and prepare talented young New Yorkers for careers in media.

WarnerMedia has teamed with New York-based youth program Reel Works for a program that teaches BIPOC young adults how to become post-production coordinators.

On Wednesday, March 4, 2020, Reel Works, TheNYC Mayor's Office of Media and Entertainment and CUNY convened the second MediaMKRS Advisory Council Meeting to celebrate the successful launch of our partnership to train, credential and prepare talented young New Yorkers for careers in media.

The Mayor's Office of Media and Entertainment, CUNY and youth media program Reel Works are teaming up to train young New Yorkers looking to join the New York City’s film industry. MediaMKRS will be a three-year pilot work program that will train public high school and CUNY college students in film production, post production, sound mixing and more.