Thaad Alcoseba Sabolboro

We are grateful to continue our longstanding collaboration with @kresgeartsdetroit (in what is our sixth year of creating these wonderful artist profile films!), and grateful to be a part of such a wonderful cohort of filmmakers and artists this year. It was an honor working with our featured artist, the lovely Malak Cherri, and bringing her story to life on screen. The new series of films featuring the 2025 Kresge Arts in Detroit Fellows premieres April 6th only on Detroit PBS. Hope you get to check it out! For Malak Cherri’s film: Directed by @edeninthemitten Produced by @amandatingley Cinematography by @thaaaaaaad Edited by @linaksar A film by ReelClever

3 Things You Can Do Differently This Year If You Feel Stuck. . . 1. Post Progress Not Perfection. 2. Don’t Over Think You Projects, Finish Them. 3. Don’t Wait To Be Inspired, Just Work. #davinciresolve #detroitfilmmakers #videoeditor #viralreelsvideo❤️

This was a fun one to close out last year! It was a time filming @amonra_stbrown @penei_sewell chop it up and go through a platter of wings. Thank you @pxpstudios @publicisgroupe for having us! “Bounty is Your Wingman Agency: @pxpstudios Agency Producer: Erin Zeller Producer: @edeninthemitten Director of Photography: @thaaaaaaad Production Manager: @amandatingley Camera Operators: @macairanmedia @raragriff Production Sound: Steve Sholtes Production Assistant: @karlie.jpeg #bountyisyourwingman #detroitlions #teamrcf #detroit

Food is storytelling. It’s identity. It’s home. This Filipino American History Month, I know I wanted to sit down with my friend JP of @jpsmakesandbakes , who owns the first Filipino-American bakery in Detroit. JP is someone who’s building community one delicious bite at a time, honoring family recipes and the stories baked into them. 🇵🇭 From treats that bring people together to dishes passed down through generations, JP’s creations are a celebration of Filipino culture and the flavors we grew up with, in familiar, comfortable formats. Here’s a short snippet of a much longer conversation — I had so much fun putting this together! and surprise, I’m in the middle of building a new thing where I can share these stories in the depth they deserve (Youtube? Substack?), so please stay tuned for more long-form personal storytelling coming soon.🥹 Thank you @jdperegr @jpmakesandbakes for having us! 🎥 @thaaaaaaad Special thanks to @wearereelclever Shot on Alexa Mini and Osmo Pocket 3 #FilipinoAmericanHistoryMonth #FilipinoCulture #detroitcreator #immigrantstories #FilAmPride

Have you ever risked your equipment for your dream shot? For my last Field Note on @pbsamericanmasters “Make Way For Tomorrow”, I talk about my favorite shots on the film, which is for Senghor to finally get into water and have the camera be IN the water with him. But here’s the thing: we’d never done underwater filming before, and we were working with thousands of dollars of equipment. We looked at expensive underwater rigs, protective housings that cost almost as much as our camera package. Time was running out, deadline approaching, and we still hadn’t figured it out. Thankfully the solution was right under our noses! The risk was real - one wrong move and we could destroy our gear. But with good production insurance (never skip this, ever) and careful planning, we went for it. Here’s what I want you to remember: filmmaking takes guts. Its always about creative problem-solving. It’s not about having tens of thousands of dollars at your disposal, but what you do with what you have. As long as your risks don’t involve anyone’s physical safety or well-being on set, push those creative boundaries. Jerry-rig things. Figure it out on the spot. Sometimes that yields the best results. What’s the craziest risk you’ve taken on a project that everyone thought was too much, but ended up working? Drop it below - I want to hear your stories. Also, “Make Way for Tomorrow” will have an encore screening this Thursday at @thecarrcenter_detroit ! Will have more details tomorrow! #documentaryfilm #behindthescenes #filmmakerlife #michiganfilm #detroitcreatives

Want to know one of the core secrets to award-winning storytelling? It’s all about the smallest of nuances. The very fine attention to detail that most people may not care about, but for those that do, its the detail that sings. Welcome to Field Notes, my ongoing brain dump for some of the decisions I’ve made with my collaborators in my creative projects! They may not always work, but for me, it’s all about taking the big swings and pushing the storytelling and creativity forward. To kick things off, I’m breaking down my Emmy award-winning and Webby-nominated project, “Make Way for Tomorrow” with artist @senghorreid , and how a simple practical lighting decision completely elevated the creative vision (shoutout to @aputure.lighting for their incredible tech!) After producing and directing countless of interview setups throughout my career, I’m always looking for ways to push the form and keep things interesting. This project was all about taking that chance and not being too afraid to get literal. Film is one of the most collaborative mediums and of course this decision was not made alone! shoutout to my co-director @extradecent , our cinematographer @thaaaaaaad , and our gaffer @darrienthepope for his very high level execution. What small creative details in your own work have made the biggest difference? Drop them in the comments - I love hearing about those moments when a tiny decision unlocks something special. 🎥 : @thaaaaaaad #FieldNotes #FilmmakingProcess #CreativeDecisions #DocumentaryFilmmaking #LightingDesign #behindthescenes

✨✨ MAJOR BRAND ANNOUNCEMENT✨ Today, on our 8th anniversary, we’re so thrilled to announce that Reel Clever Films is now simply ReelClever, our reintroduction and a bold new vision for our brand.✨ Reel Clever is an award-winning multicultural film and video production company with some of the most transformative and impact-driven storytellers of today. From commercial projects to narrative films and everything in between, we harness the power of authentic, human-centered storytelling in everything we do. Established in 2017 by EMMY-award winning Filipino-American filmmakers @thaaaaaaad and @edeninthemitten , we are a small but mighty team that centers impact and intentionality at the forefront of our work. For us, diversity, equity and inclusion are not just buzzwords, but the heart of who we are and what we represent in the world. ‍ Our portfolio showcases collaborations with globally recognized brands, educational institutions, and community organizations across diverse industries. We are proud of our distinctive cinematic voice, spirit of collaboration, and peerless attention to detail that our team brings to the table for every project, regardless of the scale and scope. Our global and multicultural approach enables us to connect with diverse audiences and deliver work that rises above and beyond. We are rooted in Metro Detroit, but always ready to take on the challenge worldwide. Reel Clever. It’s what we do. Please check out our brand new website, ReelClever.co to see the full breadth of our work thus far. We look forward to sharing more updates with you in the next few days. ✨ #wearereelclever #itswhatwedo

Hi everyone! 👋🏽 We have a few new followers here, so we thought it was the perfect time to do a proper introduction. ✨ Keep swiping to find out more about us, your next favorite content studio! Many thanks to our dope studio manager @titolinguini for the amazing photos! Can’t wait to see you all and help you create your best work! #TheReelStudios #createyourbestworkhere #metrodetroitcontentstudio #peerspacestudio #creatorstudio

As we wrap up another year of storytelling and creativity, our hearts are filled with gratitude for the incredible collaborators and clients who’ve joined us on the journey this year. From LA to Arizona to DC to New York to back home in Metro Detroit, the team experienced a landmark year of growth working on groundbreaking new stories. In a weird and difficult time in our industry, our team kept pushing through and continued to navigate everything with heart and dedication to pushing these stories forward. As we take the holiday off to rest, recharge, and spend time with loved ones, we’re reflecting on the meaningful connections we’ve made and the stories we’ve shared. We look toward 2025 with renewed hope and unwavering optimism. Our industry continues to evolve, but our commitment to authentic storytelling and meaningful collaboration remains stronger than ever. Here’s to the magic we’ll create together in the coming year. Wishing you and yours a peaceful holiday season filled with joy, rest, and inspiration. 🫶🏽 With gratitude and excitement for what’s ahead, The @reelcleverfilms and @thereelstudios_mi Team #happyholidays #2024recap #withgratitude

So grateful to announce that this month, @wellshortfilm makes its way to the phenomenal @reelsistersfilmfest , our second Oscar-qualifying festival, and the first festival of its kind fully devoted to advancing the work of women of color everywhere. Thank you to the #reelsisters team for selecting us in your program this year. 🥹 and many thanks again to our phenomenal team for making this happen! WELL by @reelcleverfilms , @blackpublicmedia and Splash of Tonic Main Cast: @diriest , @ciarah_amaani , @grovermccants1 , @__missytay , @iammarcuswoods , @daprincedmoney , @che_monet Co-Directors: @edeninthemitten , @turtle7313 Script by: @turtle7313 Director of Photography: @thaaaaaaad Creative Producer: @pizza_rain Co-Producer: @amandatingley Edited by: @ttimelutz Music by: @krisjohnsonmusic

Learn. Practice. Connect. The Beyond the Line Workshop was a great day of learning and doing. Our participants were able to learn and implement from our amazing workshop instructors who are experts in art direction, makeup, and lighting. Watching all of the learnings come together was a highlight amongst our participants as they got to see their work in action. We can’t wait to see how they implement their learnings in their upcoming projects. Special thank you to our instructors Katy Dresner, Jay Orellana, Thad Alcoseba Sabolboro, and orchestrator Paige Wood! We also thank our host for the beautiful space, Cadieux Stage! #DNA #IntrotoFilmmaking #filmmakingworkshop #DNAWorkshop #DetroitFilmmakers #BIPOCFilmmakers #DetroitBIPOC #filmmaking #indiefilmmaking #filmmakers #filmmakersindetroit #workshops #filmmakingworkshop #bipocfilmmakers #michiganfilm #film #media #detroit #storytellers #blackfilmmakers #filmmakersofcolor

The Sabolboros 🧡 First order of business when they vacationed to the Philippines? Reaffirm their marriage vows. Not only did they brought together their dearest families and friends for a reunion but they also did it in style. ✨ Congratulations on your 11th and cheers to more happy years together, Eden and Thaad! ✨ Photo// @heliumheartsphotos HMU// @stylelaii Flowers & Styling// @firstof_april #truecandids #authenticemotions #timelessphotographs #staynatural #stayclassy #vowrenewal