May 25 marked the 2022 Reel Works ChangeMaker(s) Gala. The event honored producer and MACRO founder and CEO, Charles D. King, who received the organizations Reel Works ChangeMaker award; and The Best Man and Little actor, Regina Hall, who received Variety’s Voice of Inspiration Award.
The gala, which doubled as an auctioned fundraiser, was held in Tribeca 360° in NYC and hosted by Broadways Thoughts of a Colored Man star, Bryan Terrell Clark. “I believe very much in ReelWorks slogan. That when you change the storytellers, you change the world,” Clark asserted. “I look at storytelling like technology,” he continued. “It is a device we use to share information, to communicate, to pass history; but also to speak to the hearts of humanity.”
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – MAY 25: Bryan Terrell Clark attends the 2022 Reel Works ChangeMaker(s) Gala at Tribeca 360° on May 25, 2022 in New York City. (Photo by Bennett Raglin/Getty Images for Reel Works )
With similar beliefs, Reel Works fosters over 1,600 students, ranging from middle to high school, and cultivates their artistic instincts while preparing them for graduation, college and future careers in the filmmaking and media industries. While helping youths create films that generate millions of views worldwide, Reel Works also prides themselves on being the only program of its kind that pairs students with professional filmmaker mentors; allowing the students to see their fields up close.“I’m very impressed by the work that their doing to create opportunities for this future generation of future leaders in our industry and storytellers,” said award recipient, Charles D. King.
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – MAY 25:Honoree Charles D. King attends the 2022 Reel Works ChangeMaker(s) Gala at Tribeca 360° on May 25, 2022 in New York City. (Photo by Bennett Raglin/Getty Images for Reel Works )
King uses his media company MACRO to produce films that represent and give voice to people of color such as Judas and the Black Messiah and Sorry to Bother You. “Within this company that we’re building with my partners and colleagues, we’re able to have the best of both worlds,” King shared in an interview on the red carpet. “Advocate, support, finance, produce projects with the most amazing, innovative filmmakers, writers and artists. But also, creating purposeful content.”
Newly taking on her role as producer, Regina Hall also spoke on her experience behind the camera. “It feels really exciting to be able to offer opportunities to people,” Hall said with a smile. “Taking a project from a thought, to paper, to an actual, realized project and then being able to share that with an audience; it’s daunting but it’s also very exciting.”
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – MAY 25:Honoree Regina Hall attends the 2022 Reel Works ChangeMaker(s) Gala at Tribeca 360° on May 25, 2022 in New York City. (Photo by Bennett Raglin/Getty Images for Reel Works )
As for receiving her award at the Reel Works Gala, Hall shared, “I get so excited to see so many young people very committed and clear about what they want to do, who are visionaries, who are taking the next step in creativity.”
After Reel Works students enjoyed their time on the red carpet and even presented some awards, they became fired up once it was time to raise paddles in a pretty heated auction. A success in the end, the auctions proceeds will continue to fund Reel Works so tomorrows filmmakers will forever have a home.
