Embodiments of the present invention allow a collection of users (referred to herein as a “forum”) to communicate and exchange content items as part of an interactive communication system (referred to herein as the “Reel service”). Each user has a mobile device (e.g., a mobile phone) running an application (referred to herein as the “Reel application”). The Reel application running in each mobile device is in communication with a server infrastructure. The Reel application implements client-side functions of the Reel service while the server infrastructure implements server-side functions of the Reel service. Users of a reel can create and share content items while simultaneously being able to monitor content being captured by other users through a single user interface, even on a mobile device where screen real estate is limited.