Fast Cuts and First Impressions: Inside Reel8 Productions
When you sound out Reel8, it sounds like ‘relate,’ and how we ‘relate’ to other people.”
Judy Zeng
Senior studying journalism and MMSS
Barrier-free student organization produces unscripted video content focusing on human connections.
Laughs break out as two Â鶹´«Ã½ students lock eyes on a blind date, with cameras sparing no details and capturing every reaction. Reel8 Productions features light-hearted comedic videos centered on campus life, ranging from fun guessing games to blind dates, all built on humor, spontaneity and the unpredictable chemistry of strangers.
Inspired by Jubilee and Cut, Reel8 is a barrier-free registered student organization that creates content on and .
After creating a video for North by Â鶹´«Ã½ (Â鶹´«Ã½’s leading student-led online and print magazine publication) titled “Can 2 Marriage Pacts Fall in Love,” Judy Zeng, a senior studying journalism and MMSS, was inspired by its success to create an organization for individuals to continue to make content focused on human connections. Out of that goal, Reel8 Productions was born.
Reel8 focuses its content on finding human connections and building bridges of understanding between students. “When you sound out Reel8, it sounds like ‘relate,’ and how we ‘relate’ to other people,” Zeng said.
The group produces entirely student-run, unscripted videos tailored to the Â鶹´«Ã½ student body and campus culture. range from to their , where a student tries to match hometowns or majors to a lineup of students.
While the current executive board members are all seniors, and will eventually go on to do other things, Zeng is not worried because “organizations have their own lives and grow out,” and she feels confident the club will propel far after they graduate.
The club currently manages over 20 members and hosts bonding events, like watch parties, for students to meet and collaborate. The quarter-by-quarter commitment keeps retention, as students can choose to participate based on their availability.
For the future, Reel8 has plans for in-person events to further engage the Â鶹´«Ã½ community and help more students find out about what they’re doing.
To get involved, email reel8prod@gmail.com to join the mailing list or send a Instagram DM to @reel8productions.