REEL FOLKLORE:
A Media Heritage Lab
*currently listening to: Ego Death at a Bachelorette Party
Does art imitate life, or does life imitate art? It doesn't matter. The bottom line is that art depicts our lives and beliefs. Our realities are then made richer through shiny, color-corrected pixels, the pixels influence life, and the Möbius strip never ends. That’s particularly dangerous right now, as we’re living in a time when American history (especially Black and Queer history) is quietly getting scrubbed from official sites. If we don’t stay alert, we will see our histories torn to pieces.
Reel Folklore is a Media Lab presented by Camille Ora-Nicole, producing films + artwork that speak to the inevitable intersections of storytelling, culture, and urbanism. The Lab intentionally uses fictional media to proactively conserve our heritage and help us dream + build up new, more inclusive realities.
Art and media have been used to sway the masses for thousands of years. In a world where a Cheeto and his puffs are…ruining everything for everyone, it is crucial that we also engage in media as a way to save the landscapes and histories that teach us what not to repeat and fill us with the pride and bravery to see this ish out. Today may not last forever, but today will live forever in our hearts - and our screens.
Welcome to Reel Folklore.
CONTEXT
Coming November 2025:
Written by Camille Ora-Nicole + Produced by Reel Folklore and Chelsey Crabbe
Synopsis:
At the peak of tension between the military and civilians, two young activists reflect on the importance of the different roles they play in defending their community from the current administration’s dangerous policies.
“CONTEXT” features:
Short film with a social media + YouTube release
A downloadable zine with entries from the cast and crew. Entries include art, poetry, public art proposals…you name it ;)
Articles + Posts
Camille Ora-Nicole (she/they) is a weirdo conservationist, urban planner, filmmaker, and artist based in Los Angeles County.
She turns art into reality by supporting (and creating!) film and design projects by those who’s lived experiences and imaginations are often thrown to the wayside - especially Black and/or Queer women + trans folks. Art is philosophy; what we see on the screen is reflected in real life, and vice versa. By encouraging folks to share their lives and imaginations, she helps build a more inclusive environment that stands up against those who try to ignore history or call diverse philosophies irrelevant.
Camille received her BFA in Graphic Design and a minor in Art History from Cal Poly Pomona. She also received a Master’s degree in Heritage Conservation from USC. They currently work at the City of Los Angeles as a Planning Assistant, and have also worked at the LA Conservancy, A+D Museum, and in affordable housing.
In 2018, Camille created Q26, a nonprofit supporting QTBIPOC creatives through workshops, events, and media projects.
FOLLOW:
EMAIL: narrativeheritage@gmail.com