Getting an opportunity to be in the room with greatness is always a beautiful way to spend your night. With the help of Reel Works, we got an opportunity to speak to a few change makers.
May 24th, 2023, Manhattan, New York. Ziegfeld Ballroom. — Reel Works, a non-profit organization founded in 2001 by Prod
ucers John Williams and Stephanie Walter, hosted their Annual ChangeMakers Gala, honoring Val Boreland, EVP of Content Acquisitions for NBC Universal Television and Streaming; and Producer, Director and world-renown Actress, Nia Long. Reel Works serves over 1,600 NYC youth annually from middle school through high school and beyond. The services offered through Reel Works aims to develop the hope filled youths as industry professionals, artists and citizens, all while helping them to excel in academics, preparing them for graduation, encouraging them to pursue higher educational goals, while aligning their professional development to launch careers in media, film and related industry sectors. To date, Reel Works is the only filmmaking program that matches teens 1:1 with professional filmmaker-mentors that show them how to tell their stories and have their voices heard.
Acclaimed honorees, including Academy Award winner Ruth E. Carter, President of Will Packer Productions James F. Lopez, and Comedian Hasan Minhaj, appeared to float across the red carpet adjacent to the proud and breathtakingly humble student filmmaker nominees at the Reel Works Benefit Gala this past Tuesday evening.
On Nov. 11 the Reel Works Gala Benefit 2015 honored Alex Gibney and Gabourey Sidibe.