• We tell stories.

    Studio 8278 is a Detroit-based creative home for storytelling founded by Cornetta Lane- Smith. We create original films and immersive experiences. Our work includes flagship projects such as PEDAL TO PORCH, DINNER FOR 30, and RECIPES OF RESISTANCE—storytelling experiences that bring people together through place, food, conversation, and shared history.

    The name Studio 8278 is inspired by 8278 Greenlawn, the home of Cornetta's grandmother and the porch where her love for storytelling first took root. That address remains the foundation of our values, creative practice, and belief that stories can connect generations, deepen understanding, and inspire collective action.

  • Our Work

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    Pedal to Porch

    Pedal to Porch is a neighborhood bike ride where residents turn their front porches into stages for storytelling. It’s a simple, powerful way to connect neighbors, preserve local history, and celebrate community identity. What began as a ride has grown into a movement for belonging.

    FEATURED IN: The New York Times, BLAC Magazine, Bloomberg, HuffPost, Detroit Free Press.

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    Dinner for 30

    Dinner for 30 is a live cooking and storytelling experience where a home cook prepares a meaningful dish tied to their fondest memory. It’s a celebration of heritage, flavor, and the stories that feed us.

    FEATURED IN: Tostada Magazine.

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    Recipes of Resistance

    Recipes of Resistance is a docuseries that challenges conventional thinking through culturally significant food and honest conversations about complex socio-political issues. Each episode invites guests and viewers to embrace love and resist hate.

    FEATURED IN: Detroit is Different Podcast, WDET The Metro, Creative Mornings Detroit.

  • Meet the Founder

    Cornetta Lane-Smith is a Detroit-born filmmaker, community developer, and artful gatherer whose work explores memory, belonging, and the stories that shape how we understand one another.

    She is the founder of Studio 8278 and the creator of Pedal to Porch, Dinner for 30, and Recipes of Resistance. Across film, food, public gatherings, and community storytelling, Cornetta creates experiences that honor the complexity of Black life and help people see themselves as part of a larger story.

  • Do you have a creative partnership idea?

    We collaborate with value-aligned organizations to co-create experiences that inspire connection. Specifically, we design storytelling workshops, film screenings & talkbacks, and other creative projects.

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