Talent is everywhere. Opportunity isn't.
From the first word on the page to the last frame on screen, every role at Reel Collective belongs to Dreammakers™.
Our mission
Real productions. Real credits. Real careers.
Reel Collective Inc. is a Kentucky nonprofit dedicated to producing short films entirely staffed by Dreammakers. We believe the best way to learn filmmaking is to make films — and we provide the structure, mentorship, and resources to make that possible.
Every production is guided by experienced mentors who work alongside Dreammakers. Every actor receives real feedback. Every crew member earns a real credit. Every writer sees their story brought to life.
Founding story
Built to fill the gap.
Reel Collective was founded by Austin Nelson, a licensed real estate broker and small business owner whose passion for film and theatre has followed him since childhood.
After seeing how often emerging artists are ready to work but have nowhere to start, Austin built Reel Collective to give Dreammakers the structure, mentorship, and resources to showcase their skills on a real set. His background in real estate and business brings the financial discipline and organizational clarity the creative community deserves.
Reel Collective exists to give others one thing: The Reel Opportunity.
What we do
Four pillars of Dreammaker support.
Short film production
We produce short films from submitted scripts, giving every department to Dreammakers with professional mentorship at every stage.
Mentorship
Experienced directors, cinematographers, sound designers, and editors work directly with Dreammakers on every production.
Scholarship program
Kentucky college and university students can submit scripts for the Reel Collective Script Development Scholarship — a contingent award tied to production selection.
Premiere events
Every finished film screens at a premiere event. Cast, crew, family, and community gather to celebrate the work and the Dreammakers who made it.
How it works
From page to premiere.
Every Reel Collective film follows the same path — from a submitted script to a screened short film, entirely produced by and for Dreammakers.
01
Script submission
Writers submit short film scripts through our portal. Kentucky college students may also apply for the scholarship program.
02
Script review
Our team reviews each submission for story quality, character depth, and production feasibility. Selected scripts are greenlit for production.
03
Casting
Dreammakers audition for roles in the selected script. Every audition receives structured feedback from our mentors.
04
Production
Cast and crew come together on set under the guidance of experienced mentors. Every role — acting, directing, camera, audio, editing — belongs to Dreammakers.
05
Post-production
The film is edited, color-graded, and mixed by emerging crew members with professional oversight.
06
Premiere
The finished film screens at a premiere event where cast, crew, and community come together to celebrate the work.
Ready to get involved?
Join the Dreammaker Portal, submit a script, or learn about our scholarship program.