Reel Life is a New York based not for profit organization seeking to educate and bring the art of visual storytelling and filmmaking to high school students, with a particular emphasis on serving underprivileged student populations.  From shooting to editing, filmmaking is an expensive and resource-dependent craft. 

The focus of the organization is to put these necessary tools and resources into the hands of students who would not normally have access to them, and to bring a love and hands-on appreciation of the arts to those who would not otherwise typically be able to engage in filmmaking or similar artistic endeavors. Reel Life began its operations in 2015, introducing a group of students in NYC to the art of creating a short film. It continues to expands its operations and serve New York based students and lovers of filmmaking.

joe

At age six, Joe saw Steven Spielberg's "Jaws" for the first time. Over the next few weeks, a strange thing happened. He wasn't able to step into a bathtub for fear of being eaten, but also couldn't stop re-watching the movie. From this early age, Joe recognized the powerful emotional impact film could have on a viewer, and he couldn't stay away. He spent the next twenty years building up an, by all accounts, unnecessary encyclopedic knowledge and collection of films. It was also during this time that he developed a passion for working with underserved communities, helping disabled children learn to horseback ride and tutoring inner city high school students. Joe co-founded Reel Life in 2015 with Eleni Yannelis and Ben Rader to combine these loves of film and service.

sheema

By age sixteen, Sheema saw one of her documentary films air on C-Span for the first time. Since then, more of her films exploring international politics, lost history and identity perplexity have screened in various venues. Sheema was a 2010 National YoungArts Winner in cinematic arts and a 2010 Presidential Scholar in the Arts nominee. Most recently, she has been credited on films such as Kirby Dick's The Hunting Ground (2016 Emmy Award Nominee) and The Invisible War (2013 Academy Award Nominee). Sheema graduated from Harvard University, with a joint B.A. in Sociology and Visual & Environmental Studies. She is very excited to serve on Reel Life's Board!

eleni

For as long as she can remember, Eleni has been fascinated with cultures other than her own. Perhaps it was growing up with a Greek father and American mother, but from a young age she experienced a wanderlust and thirst for adventure that she has spent the past two decades trying to quench. She is fluent in Greek, German, and French and has lived in places ranging from the farmlands of Illinois to the streets of Paris. One of Eleni's first portals for exploring other cultures was through the art of foreign film. She believes film is a special tool for giving a glimpse into worlds outside of our own. Eleni co-founded Reel Life in 2015 with Joe McGing and Ben Rader to bring these glimpses to students who may not otherwise have been exposed to them.