If you are feeling unheard on campus, the members of The Reel Society are here to listen.

The Reel Society is a student-run organization designed to amplify the voices of female, LGBTQ+, and BIPOC creatives. With a focus on community, mentorship, and networking, The Reel Society hosts writer workshops, guest speakers, and more.

For President of The Reel Society Kavya Maran, a senior Television Writing and Production major, the ultimate goal of the organization is to create a sense of community, and a space where everyone feels welcome. 

            Kavya Maran ’22

“We want to be a little bit different from some of the other more exclusive groups on campus, and make sure that anybody who wants to be a part of it can come be a part of it,” said Maran.

Membership is as easy as filling out a few questions via The Reel Society’s application on their Instagram, and as long as you support the mission of the organization; you’re in.

Members of The Reel Society will be able to attend several exciting meetings with guest speakers throughout the year. The guest lineup features female, LGBTQ+, and BIPOC filmmakers from popular films and television shows such as Gone Girl, Big Little Lies, The Walking Dead, and more.

Through hearing from the guest speakers and their experiences, members can develop a better understanding of what it is like to navigate the entertainment industry as female, LGBTQ+, and BIPOC creatives.

“It’s nice to hear from some people behind the scenes who maybe we don’t get to hear from as much, and I feel like the representation behind the screen is just as important as on-screen,” said Maran.

“We talk a lot about visibility on screen, but it’s been really nice to hear from some female production designers, art decorators, agents, and managers to hear their perspectives too.”

                  Vi Nguyen ’22

The Reel Society’s Director of Diversity and Inclusion Vi Nguyen, also a senior Television Writing and Production major, became involved in the founding process of the organization after recognizing the need for a space on campus where all voices are welcome. 

“As an Asian-American, I struggle finding a place here at Chapman with it being such a predominantly white school. It was really important for me to create my own community,” said Nguyen.

For Nguyen, communication with members is key to creating that inclusive community. The Reel Society is a safe place for all members to have their voices heard, communicate their ideas, and share their own experiences of discriminatory behavior on campus.

The Reel Society is also taking direct action to make sure that this type of behavior on campus gets reported, by creating a database of accounts of microaggressions on campus, which will then be communicated to higher faculty.

“I want to let people know if they’re feeling ostracized or unsafe, if they need someone to come vent to, a social group, or people who understand and go through similar experiences, that we’re going to embrace them with open arms,” said Nguyen.

To keep up with The Reel Society and their upcoming events, follow @the.reel.society on Instagram.