Latest News from MediaStorm

Upcoming Presentations & Workshops

MediaStorm — Tue, 21 Apr 2026 17:34:22 +0000

UPPA

MediaStorm founder Brian Storm will be one of the featured presenters for the 2026 University Photographers’ Association of America Symposium at the University of Michigan from June 22 – 25, 2026. Learn more at: https://upaa.org/node/22288

The Kalish

For the past 30 years Brian has been on the faculty for The Kalish. He will be presenting again this year on June 10th. Learn more at: https://www.kalishworkshop.org

MediaStorm Master Class

Brian will be teaching a master class (in person and via zoom) on Saturday, June 27th and a methodology workshop in December. Learn more at: https://www.mediastorm.com/training/workshops

AI Archive Enrichment for MediaStorm

Brian Storm — Sat, 18 Apr 2026 21:23:04 +0000

The uber talented Tom Vaillant recently attended a MediaStorm workshop and that kicked off a series of follow up conversations. Tom is a terrific storyteller and also an innovative technologist focused on investigative journalism using data and AI. He suggested that there could be a way to improve access to our archive of over 350 films by using semantic search which allows natural language queries by theme, connection or meaning.

As Tom Says: “We ingested every published story, enriched it with AI-extracted metadata — topics, entities, themes, key quotes — and wired up hybrid retrieval with a visual gallery. Runs locally at query time, no API calls. Every media organization sits on an archive. Decades of footage, transcripts, reporting — catalogued well enough to store, but not well enough to search by meaning. AI changes that equation. It turns archives into knowledge bases — searchable, structured, and accessible in ways that weren’t possible before. The librarian that never forgets. MediaStorm’s archive is well-catalogued — titles, descriptions, full transcripts with speaker attribution. But 350 stories spanning two decades hold more than keyword search can reach. The goal was to give the archive a deeper layer of access — searchable by theme, tone, narrative structure, not just words that happen to appear in a title.”

Here is the prototype that Tom created:
https://archive.mediastorm.com

And the case study he wrote:
https://buriedsignals.com/cases/mediastorm

MediaStorm Storytelling Workshop Film Lights in the Shadows a Webby Honoree

Brian Storm — Fri, 17 Apr 2026 16:24:41 +0000

Lights in the Shadows was recognized in the 30th Annual Webby Awards as an honoree in the Video & Film – Documentary: Longform Category.

The Webbys are known in the industry as the Oscar Awards of the internet.

Congratulations to all the recognized films!

Back from the Brink an Official Selection for the Wild & Scenic Film Festival

MediaStorm — Thu, 18 Dec 2025 19:18:46 +0000

Back from the Brink: Resurgence of the Catalina Island Fox, is an Official Selection for the 24th annual Wild & Scenic Film Festival which will take place in-person February 19-23, 2026.

We are grateful to the team at the Catalina Island Conservancy for giving us the opportunity to create this film. You can learn more about the festival at https://wildandscenicfilmfestival.org.

Once teetering on the brink of extinction, the Santa Catalina Island Fox made a dramatic recovery. Its resurgence marks one of the greatest conservation success stories in United States history.

Job Alert: Executive Director for The Kalish

Brian Storm — Tue, 02 Dec 2025 16:24:08 +0000

For the past 30 years I have been working with the The Kalish Visual Editing Workshop as faculty and a board member. I’m excited that we are now hiring an Executive Director to lead The Kalish in the future.

For 35 years, The Kalish has served the journalism community through career-changing workshops attended by visual leaders throughout the profession.

We are ready to be more.

The Kalish Board of Directors is seeking our next leader to help us transform into an organization that supports visual editors throughout their careers. This is a newly defined role for the workshop, aimed at long-term growth in programming and financial stability.

The deadline to apply is December 5th.

Learn more and apply at the Kalish site.

MediaStorm Celebrates 20th Anniversary

Brian Storm — Sun, 16 Nov 2025 23:52:42 +0000

This year marks the 20th anniversary of MediaStorm, a milestone that honors two decades of storytelling, collaboration, training, technical innovation and social impact.

Since our founding in 2005, MediaStorm has been guided by a simple but powerful belief: that authentic stories have the power to foster empathy and understanding. Over the past twenty years, we’ve helped redefine documentary and interactive storytelling — creating work that moves audiences, advances important causes, and trains the next generation of visual journalists.

Our stories have reached millions, earned recognition and, most importantly, helped connect people across boundaries of experience and perspective. Yet our greatest achievement is not measured in awards or page views — it’s in the enduring partnerships and human connections that make storytelling matter.

It is valuable to pause and reflect on your past. Reflecting on our journey has always helped inform our potential future. I could not be more excited about the work we will do over the next 20 years.

Milestones

Here are some of the key milestones in the history of MediaStorm.

Reflections

I had an opportunity to talk with a few collaborators from the past 20 years.

Upcoming MediaStorm Master Classes

MediaStorm — Mon, 06 Oct 2025 18:33:10 +0000

A few spots are still available for MediaStorm’s upcoming Master Classes.

Our One Day Master Class via Zoom is on Saturday, October 25, 2025. Details at: https://www.mediastorm.com/training/workshops/mediastorm-one-day-master-class

Our three-day online/in person hybrid Methodology Master Class will take place on December 12-14, 2025. Details at: https://www.mediastorm.com/training/workshops/mediastorm-methodology-master-class

One Day

The MediaStorm One Day Master Class reinvigorates your storytelling, leaving participants “more confident, inspired and committed … with a deep sense of purpose.” Brian Storm generously shares decades of experience, revealing “all his trade tips and secrets” while providing actionable tools like frame-by-frame story breakdowns. Even in a single day, attendees gain clarity, creativity, and community—“motivated and eager to apply what I learned … with a sense of belonging.” This immersive, values-driven workshop balances craft, ethics, and practical insight, giving storytellers the inspiration and tools to elevate every project.

What people most often praise

These are recurring strengths that show up across testimonials for the One Day Master Class:

Renewed Inspiration & Purpose
Many report coming out of the day feeling more confident, inspired, recommitted to storytelling. They speak of rediscovering the reason they do this work.
Depth, Even in a Short Time
Though it’s just one day, participants say it delivers a lot — a “crash course,” packed with insight into narrative, technique, editing, interviewing, and storytelling mechanics.
Transparency & Generosity
Brian Storm is frequently praised not just for what he teaches, but how: generous with experience, transparent about process, business, ethics. He shares “trade tips and secrets,” not just high-level theory.
Frameworks & Practical Tools
Attendees leave with concrete tools — frameworks for storytelling, ethical considerations, insights into business/distribution, editing techniques. Something applicable immediately.
Feeling of Belonging & Community
Even though it’s short, people mention feeling supported, that their voice matters. They appreciate interaction, discussion, connecting with peers who care about storytelling.
Creative & business balance
The workshop touches both craft and business: storytelling techniques and lessons in marketing, distribution, sustaining a storytelling practice.

Testimonial Highlights

Inspiration & Purpose

“This workshop left me feeling more confident, inspired and committed to storytelling with a deep sense of purpose. Brian is a phenomenal teacher … he works to make each workshop participant feel that they belong and that their voice matters.” — Indaia Whitcombe

Expert Insights & Transparency

“Despite having twenty five years of storytelling experience, the information and insight I received from Brian … was invaluable. He was willing to share all his trade tips and secrets …” — Doug Legore

Immediate, Practical Value

“My favorite part … was the frame-by-frame breakdown … Getting an inside look at the storytelling gave me pages full of notes to guide me in my next projects.” — Maya Bell

Creative Recharge & Community

“Attending the One Day Master Class was an experience well worth traveling … I came back motivated and eager to apply what I learned. More importantly, I left with a sense of community.” — Selket Kaufman

Methodology

Past participants call the MediaStorm Methodology Master Class “life changing,” describing it as the rare experience that reignites passion for their work—“I haven’t been as excited about my work for years and years.” What sets it apart is MediaStorm’s unparalleled openness: “They showed us every line of their business… I’ve never witnessed such transparency in a setting like this.” From ideation to production to post, the workshop provides a comprehensive, behind-the-scenes look at the craft and business of visual storytelling. And the impact lasts far beyond the classroom—“This workshop changed my life. It gave me the courage to start my own storytelling company.”

These are the main themes that come through in many testimonials:

Inspiration & Reconnecting with Purpose
Attendees often describe the workshop as rejuvenating — it reignites passion for storytelling, helps them remember why they got into this work. Many say it makes them feel excited again about their craft.

Transparency, Honesty, and Access
The MediaStorm team is repeatedly commended for being open about both their successes and failures; for showing their internal workflows, strategies for business, storytelling, and distribution. This behind-the-scenes access is something many found rare and especially useful.

Practical, Actionable Tools
It’s not just theory: people leave with concrete tools, frameworks, techniques, checklists, and even business models. The workshop covers beginning‐to‐end production processes (ideation, filming, editing, post, distribution).

Ethics & Quality Storytelling
Many emphasize that MediaStorm balances craft with strong values—telling real, human‐driven, ethical stories. Respect for subjects, giving voice, avoiding superficiality are often mentioned.

Community & Networking
The small group size, diversity of backgrounds, chance to work with peers, share ideas, be challenged, are all viewed as major benefits.

Business & Sustainability
It’s clear people want not just how to tell stories but how to sustain the storytelling: distribution, revenue, lines of business, funding. MediaStorm shares how they’ve built a business model, which matters a lot to people trying to do this full‐time or independently.

Testimonial Highlights

“Without hyperbole, the MediaStorm Methodology workshop was life changing.”
“I haven’t been as excited about my work for years and years.”
“They showed us every line of their business… I’ve never witnessed such transparency in a setting like this.”
“This workshop offers a deep dive into all aspects of MediaStorm … from ideation to production to post.”
“The Methodology Workshop is wildly informative, encouraging, down‐to‐earth conversation with some of the best minds in documentary storytelling.”
“This workshop changed my life. It gave me the courage to start my own storytelling company.”

Learn more at: https://www.mediastorm.com/training/workshops

Love+War | National Geographic Documentary Films

MediaStorm — Fri, 03 Oct 2025 21:28:49 +0000

She risks her life so we can see the truth.

Pulitzer Prize-winning conflict photographer Lynsey Addario has changed the way we look at war in the 21st century. Now, for the first time, she steps in front of the lens in an intimate portrait of ambition, responsibility, motherhood, and identity. From Academy Award® winners Chai Vasarhelyi and Jimmy Chin, “Love+War” opens in select US theaters starting October 29. Streaming November 7 on Disney+ and Hulu. #LoveAndWarFilm

See the trailer at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hSqRXVlITBc

Faculty Position in Photojournalism, The School of Visual Communication

Brian Storm — Mon, 08 Sep 2025 14:58:30 +0000

The School of Visual Communication (VisCom) at Ohio University invites applications for a full-time, tenure-track position in Photojournalism with a focus in conservation, editorial, or documentary storytelling. This position is part of a strategic interdisciplinary cluster hire that advances Ohio University’s Dynamic Strategy, particularly its commitment to experiential learning, applied research, and alumni engagement.

This position is being posted as an Open Rank tenure-track faculty role. Rank will be negotiated at the time of hire and will be based on the candidate’s unique skills set, education and experience levels, and professional credentials

We seek an accomplished visual journalist and educator who brings a passion for storytelling, a strong commitment to hands-on teaching, and the ability to connect students with real-world experiences that drive meaningful impact.

Ohio University, the Scripps College of Communication, and the School of Visual Communication are deeply committed to providing students with meaningful, broadly defined experiential learning opportunities. The successful candidate will demonstrate a shared commitment to this educational approach and will receive institutional support in developing and leading high-impact, real-world learning experiences as part of their faculty role.

Deadline to apply is September 22, 2025.

Learn more at: https://www.ohiouniversityjobs.com/postings/54789

Documentary series The Darkroom MCs to premiere on June 18th

MediaStorm — Sat, 07 Jun 2025 19:31:42 +0000

A new documentary series, The Darkroom MC’s, which showcases the most important underrepresented photographers of our time, will premiere June 18, 2025, on PBS, ALL*ARTS TV and YouTube.

The series is created, directed, produced and co-hosted by Russell Frederick and his business partner Anderson Zaca.

The first season features Beuford Smith, Joseph Rodriguez, Adama D. Fawundu, Ozier Muhammad and Russell Frederick.

Watch the trailer:

Frederick, who is a visual activist, director, producer and photographer, wrote in an email announcement about the premiere.

Come join us on this journey in the darkroom to learn Black history, culture and everyone’s process to creating their art.

Each episode is filled with joy, engaging conversations, and incredible photography!!! Please share our new trailer amongst friends and in your networks. We need to get as many eyes on the show as possible when it debuts for it to be a success. Your support is appreciated and valued!

Back from the Brink for Catalina Island Conservancy

Robert Browman — Fri, 30 May 2025 19:17:03 +0000

Back from the Brink: Resurgence of the Catalina Island Fox tells the story of one of the greatest conservation successes in United States history.

Once teetering on the brink of extinction, the fox has made a dramatic recovery.

A unique subspecies that can only be found on Catalina Island, it typically weighs only 4 to 6 pounds.

In the late 1990s, a unique strain of canine distemper introduced from the mainland by a stowaway raccoon rapidly swept over the island, leaving less than 100 remaining.

A few years later, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service officially designated the Catalina Island fox as an endangered species.

The Catalina Island Conservancy assembled a team of scientists and conservationists who scrambled to save the animal.

By 2016, there were more foxes living on the island than there had been before the outbreak, and the fox was removed from the endangered list.

Case Study: CatchLight’s Impact Report

MediaStorm — Fri, 30 May 2025 19:12:17 +0000

CatchLight’s Impact Report details the results of the organization’s mission to cover local communities and create social change.

The site offers a way for readers to explore some of the best stories produced by CatchLight photographers, and it provides a look ahead to the coming year.

We’ve created a case study that details how we used the MediaStorm Platform and our Creative Services offering to build the site using multiple interactive experiences such as slideshows, playlists, covers and an interactive map.

Request a demo to learn more about the MediaStorm Platform and how it can elevate your projects.

Sebastião Salgado passes away

Robert Browman — Fri, 23 May 2025 18:25:51 +0000

MediaStorm is saddened by the passing of the legendary photojournalist Sebastião Salgado.

We had the honor of spending many hours with Salgado while producing a film on his personal journey and remarkable body of work for the ICP Infinity Awards in 2022.

During our time together, Salgado told MediaStorm “a good picture, a fantastic picture, you do in a fraction of a second. But to arrive to do this picture, you must put your life in there.”

Salgado was born in Brazil on February 8, 1944. He grew up on a farm with his seven sisters.

Salgado originally pursued a career in economics graduating with a masters degree from the University of São Paulo. After beginning his doctorate, he moved to London and worked as an economist for the International Coffee Organization.

When he was 26, he began to develop an interest in photography.

It didn’t take long to develop his skill, and within several years he decided to pursue a second career as a photojournalist.

In 1979, he joined Magnum Photos continuing on as a member until starting his own agency in 1994.

“My career is about patience. It’s about observation,” he said. “It is about the pleasure to be there.”

His long-term social documentary projects, Other Americas, Workers, Gold, Kuwait, Migrations, Rwanda, Genesis and Amazonia, defined his career.

Salgado, who died at 81 on May 23, 2025, has served as a source of inspiration to generations of photojournalists, and his work has resulted in significant social impact.

It will continue to do so forever.

Lights in the Shadows

Robert Browman — Wed, 30 Apr 2025 17:06:55 +0000

In the shadow of Silicon Valley’s booming technology industry, a growing number of people remain out in the cold.

Skyrocketing housing prices and an astronomical cost-of-living in America’s hub of innovation have pushed many onto the streets, straining policymakers to find solutions to a homelessness problem that directly, or indirectly, impacts everyone in the community.

Batman of San Jose and Crimson Fist work anonymously to provide a lifeline to those who sleep without shelter on San Jose’s sidewalks, camp in tents along the Guadalupe River or retreat to the subterranean darkness of the city’s storm drain tunnel system.

Lights in the Shadows follows the two superheroes as they hand out water and food to those in need, provide outreach for those who live on the margins and help Gretchen, a woman in the midst of a domestic violence crisis.

During their missions they discuss their views about what is leading to the rapidly growing homelessness crisis in their area, the common misconceptions other citizens have about the unhoused and what policymakers can, and should, be doing to help the most vulnerable in their districts.

The project was produced by nine participants and two staff members during the 2024 MediaStorm Storytelling Workshop.

The complete project, which was produced using the MediaStorm Platform, includes a written story, extended interviews with 18 subjects, a still image slideshow, behind-the-scenes coverage, various ways to get involved and a making-of education module.

Lights in the Shadows is brought to you by MPB.com.

MPB is the leading reseller of used digital cameras and lenses in the U.S. They offer the best value when you buy, sell, or trade used camera gear.

Case Study: Seattle AI Film Festival Website

Robert Browman — Wed, 30 Apr 2025 17:06:00 +0000

We’ve created a case study that details how we built the Seattle AI Film Festival website.

The website serves not just as a document of the festival itself, but as a record of the early stages of generative AI filmmaking at this historic moment in time.

The inaugural Seattle AI Film Festival held in March of 2025 was a groundbreaking event allowing creatives from around the world to showcase cutting-edge films made using artificial intelligence.

Films from eighty five filmmakers from 22 countries were screened during the two-day, in-person event.

The festival was produced by Culture & Code, a podcast and AI automation company dedicated to helping storytellers collaborate better with AI and each other.

Our companies have collaborated on multiple projects in the past, including the visual implementation of the podcast Burner Face, which we produced using the MediaStorm Platform.

In January 2025, Culture & Code’s John Gauntt and Keith Ancker reached out to commission MediaStorm to build the festival site.

We built the site using the MediaStorm Platform and incorporated many of its sophisticated features in order to showcase its catalog of groundbreaking films.

Read about how we used the MediaStorm Platform to build the site: Case Study: Seattle AI Film Festival.

Learn more about the MediaStorm Platform and how it can elevate your projects:

World Press publishes video of jury comments for 2025 contest

MediaStorm — Thu, 27 Mar 2025 17:56:12 +0000

World Press has published a video of their global group of judges sharing comments about the work submitted to the 2025 World Press Photo contest.

The members of the jury discuss the power of photography and the impact individual images had on them.

From World Press:

Chosen from nearly 60,000 entries by 3,778 photographers from 141 countries, the 2025 World Press Photo Contest awarded photographs document struggle and defiance, but also human connection and courage.

The awarded photographs show the power of authentic photojournalism and documentary photography. Watch the global jury share the main themes across the 42 winning works and the photographs that left a lasting impression on them.

Since 1955, the annual World Press Photo Contest has recognized the best photojournalism and documentary photography, bearing witness to the events that have shaped the past year. The Contest works with six worldwide regions.

Entries are judged and awarded in the region in which the photographs are shot, rather than the nationality of the photographer. Each region has three format-based categories: Singles, Stories and Long-Term Projects.

Featured here, are the 2025 World Press Photo Contest global jury members:

Africa jury chair: Ala Kheir, Sudan, photographer, educator and curator

Asia-Pacific and Oceania jury chair: Candida Ng, Singapore, deputy photo director, AFP Asia-Pacific

Europe jury chair: Finbarr O’Reilly, Ireland, photographer and author

North and Central America jury chair: Nina Berman, United States, documentary photographer and professor, Columbia University

South America jury chair: Lalo de Almeida, Brazil, documentary photographer

West, Central and South Asia jury chair: Laura Boushnak, Palestine, photographer

New Features Added to the MediaStorm Platform

MediaStorm — Thu, 27 Mar 2025 17:40:34 +0000

We are excited to share some new features we’ve added to the MediaStorm Platform.

Filmstrip Cover titles

Filmstrip is a new cover template that is inspired by the interface of the top streaming services. Arrow keys on each side of the strip allow users to scroll through the items from both the left and the right.

Splash Cover Video Animations

Add a video animation before an interactive cover title to create a cinematic look.

Embedded PDF Documents

Add PDF documents into page title where they can be read in full in their original form.

Organize Content Blocks into Groups

Combine related blocks into groups so they can moved together easily.

Additional Updates

We’ve also added these features and updates since our last newsletter:

You can follow along and track all of our latest updates on our New Features documentation page.

Your Ideas

Do you have a feature idea that you like us to explore? Please let us know via email.

Not yet a MediaStorm Platform member?

A few spots still available for MediaStorm’s upcoming Master Classes

MediaStorm — Fri, 07 Feb 2025 21:12:57 +0000

A few spots are still available for our upcoming One-Day and Methodology Master Classes.

These workshops will improve your skills whatever your interest, timeframe or resources.

Learn storytelling, filmmaking, video, multimedia production, business skills and more.

Pick the master class that’s right for you and apply now!

One Day Master Class

The MediaStorm One Day Master Class provides a general, yet precise, overview of documentary video and multimedia storytelling approaches. MediaStorm founder Brian Storm will walk you through specific examples as well as proven tips to improve your interviewing, editing and distribution techniques.

Active discussion is both encouraged and expected from all participants. Theory is backed up by real world examples using MediaStorm’s award winning work.

The One Day Master Class is designed for anyone interested in learning about the ins and outs of producing and distributing documentary film and multimedia content.

Attendance is online via Zoom.

Upcoming date:

March 1, 2025

What participants are saying:

“This workshop left me feeling more confident, inspired and committed to storytelling with a deep sense of purpose. Brian is a phenomenal teacher and a generous one– in addition to sharing his decades of experience in business, his personal perspective and practice in the craft of storytelling, he works to make each workshop participant feel that they belong and that their voice matters. I deeply appreciated Brian’s unpacking of the journalistic ethos that informs all MediaStorm productions. Brian gets to the heart of why storytelling matters and why it is so important today– powerful storytelling can change hearts and minds. In his words, if we can tell stories that show what binds us together and not what is tearing us apart, we can have an impact on the world around us. Prepare to walk away from this workshop with a robust set of tools for making work that matters, great insight into the mechanics of storytelling, a framework of ethical considerations to live and work by and some all-around valuable lessons on how to be a good human.” — Indaia Whitcombe, Folklorist & Visual Storyteller

”Brian is a one-of-a-kind storyteller with incredibly useful knowledge to share. He fits many different important aspects of storytelling into the session, such as the various ways as a filmmaker you can make income. He shares the secrets of what truly makes MediaStorm so successful.” — Mackenzie Behm, Independent Documentary Filmmaker

Methodology Master Class

The MediaStorm Methodology Master Class gives participants a chance to look inside the workings of a successful film and interactive production company, while taking them step-by-step through both the creative and business aspects of digital storytelling.

Founder Brian Storm will share MediaStorm’s workflow and storytelling methods and discuss essential elements of project organization and storytelling concepts.

Our goal is to teach and inspire others to improve on MediaStorm’s model and approach, and to foster a growing family of storytellers that will continue collaborating with one another and moving the business forward for years to come.

You can attend the workshop in Los Gatos in person or online via Zoom.

Upcoming date:

June 25-27, 2025 – (Deadline to apply is May 1, 2025)

What participants are saying:

“MediaStorm is a company pushing the boundaries of storytelling and raising the bar higher with every project they produce. The Methodology Workshop is the ultimate gateway to the behind the scenes, providing an opportunity to understand how they accomplish such great work. Anyone whose job involves multimedia and storytelling should take this workshop. I am grateful for Brian and his team for sharing their knowledge and experience with such generosity.” – Kemal Akdogan, Freelance Photographer and Filmmaker

Early 2025 MediaStorm Master Classes Announced

MediaStorm — Thu, 09 Jan 2025 18:48:43 +0000

We’ve set dates for our early 2025 One-Day and Methodology Master Classes, and spots are still available.

Our one-day or multi-day workshops will sharpen your skills whatever your interest, timeframe or resources.

Learn storytelling, filmmaking, video, multimedia production and business skills.

Decide which training option is right for you and apply now!

One Day Master Class

Active discussion is both encouraged and expected from all participants. Theory is backed up by real world examples using MediaStorm’s award winning work.

The One Day Master Class is designed for anyone interested in learning about the ins and outs of producing and distributing documentary film and multimedia content.

Attendance is online via Zoom.

Upcoming dates:

January 25, 2025
March 1, 2025

What participants are saying:

Methodology Master Class

Founder Brian Storm will share MediaStorm’s workflow and storytelling methods and discuss essential elements of project organization and storytelling concepts.

You can attend the workshop in Los Gatos in person or online via Zoom.

Upcoming dates:

June 25-27, 2025 – (Deadline to apply is May 1, 2025)

What participants are saying:

NY Times features Catherine Russell, subject of MediaStorm film

MediaStorm — Mon, 09 Dec 2024 18:41:58 +0000

The New York Times has published a feature story about stage actress Catherine Russell, who was the subject of a film produced during a MediaStorm Storytelling Workshop.

The Times story, How Catherine Russell, of ‘Perfect Crime,’ Spends Her Sundays, recounts how Russell hasn’t missed a performance of her off-Broadway show in 37 years.

In 2012, Russell was the subject of the film A Hundred Different Ways, which was produced during a MediaStorm Storytelling Workshop.

In the film, Russell recounts how in her 25 years playing Margaret Thorne Brent in the play Perfect Crime, she had only missed four performances.

She hasn’t missed another since then, according to the Times story.

Russell is now celebrating 15,000 performances of Perfect Crime, which premiered in 1987 and is New York City’s longest-running play.

Patrick Robustelli, Russell’s husband, was also featured in MediaStorm’s film. We we’re deeply saddened to learn from Times story that he passed away in 2019.

A Hundred Different Ways was produced during the MediaStorm Storytelling Workshop, where participants work alongside MediaStorm staff to create an intimate, character-driven documentary in just one week.

Learn more about upcoming MediaStorm workshops and other training opportunities here.

Documenting Dual Eligibility recognized by the Anthem Awards

MediaStorm — Tue, 19 Nov 2024 17:48:10 +0000

Documenting Dual Eligibility, a project by Isadora Kosofsky, CatchLight and MediaStorm, and made possible by Arnold Ventures, has been recognized by the 4th Annual Anthem Awards.

The project, which tells the story of two women who are navigating America’s tangled healthcare safety net, has been selected as a Gold Anthem Winner in the Health Partnership or Collaboration / Community Engagement category.

View photojournalist Isadora Kosofsky’s Call to Action speech on the Anthem Awards site.

The Anthem Awards were created by The International Academy of Digital Arts and Sciences in 2021 to honor projects that inspire people to take action in their communities.

The awards aim to amplify voices that spark positive global change.

MediaStorm Platform Spotlight: The Photojournalism Archive

MediaStorm — Tue, 19 Nov 2024 17:38:15 +0000

The Photojournalism Archive recently launched a website to preserve the world’s best photojournalism using the MediaStorm Platform.

The project launched with the work of eight photojournalists, and will be adding more in the months and years to come.

About The Photojournalism Archive

The Photojournalism Archive Project’s goal is to preserve the best visual stories as a legacy to the power of photojournalism.

Too often the pictures are detached from the creators, used as mere illustrations of history, and their impact cut short. The stories in the Photojournalism Archive are curated by the photographers who made them and available in perpetuity to researchers, students and the public at large.

Thanks to the versatility of the MediaStorm Platform, the stories will be richer with contextual elements that help viewers understand how the images were captured, the challenges the photojournalists faced and the backstory of the people whose lives are forever immortalized.

Visit the Photojournalism Archive

Join our MediaStorm Methodology Master Class on Dec. 17-19

MediaStorm — Mon, 28 Oct 2024 17:49:50 +0000

Join us for the next MediaStorm Methodology Master Class on December 17-19.

The 3-day training gives participants a chance to look inside the workings of a successful film and interactive production company, while taking them step-by-step through both the creative and business aspects of digital storytelling. Founder Brian Storm will share MediaStorm’s workflow and storytelling methods and discuss essential elements of project organization and storytelling concepts.

You can attend in-person or online. The deadline to apply is Nov 1.

Learn more and apply: MediaStorm Methodology Master Class

Documenting Dual Eligibility is an Anthem Award Finalist

MediaStorm — Wed, 23 Oct 2024 18:39:22 +0000

Documenting Dual Eligibility, a project by Isadora Kosofsky, Catchlight and MediaStorm, and made possible by Arnold Ventures, has been named a finalist in the 4th Annual Anthem Awards.

The project, which tells the story of two women who are navigating America’s tangled healthcare safety net, has been selected in Anthem’s Health Community Voice category.

The winner of this category is selected by the public.

Please consider giving us your vote by visiting Anthem’s Community Voice page and clicking the Celebrate button underneath Documenting Dual Eligibility.

MediaStorm is honored this collaborative, social impact project has been recognized and named a finalist.

The Anthem Awards were created by The Webby Awards in 2021 to honor projects that inspire people to take action in their communities. The awards aim to amplify voices that spark positive global change.

Apply by June 11 for our Tuition-Free MediaStorm Storytelling Workshop

MediaStorm — Wed, 29 May 2024 16:32:53 +0000

Get your application in by June 11th for our tuition-free MediaStorm Storytelling Workshop in the Santa Cruz Mountains.

The workshop runs from July 26 – August 2 and is tuition free, thanks to a partnership with MPB!

MPB is the leading reseller of used digital cameras and lenses in the U.S. They offer the best value when you buy, sell, or trade used camera gear.

Participants of the workshop will be selected based on the quality of their work and their applications.

The MediaStorm Storytelling Workshop is a hands-on experience in documentary filmmaking and interactive storytelling.

The primary goal is to create an intimate, character-driven documentary with supporting interactive experiences powered by the MediaStorm Platform.

Participants will work directly with the MediaStorm team in the field, in the editing suite and via online sessions in a collaborative, educational environment.

Applicants can choose to apply for a specific role – visual storyteller, producer, editor, motion graphics, interactive designer, observer or documentarian.

Visit our Storytelling Workshop page to learn more about these roles, see examples of previous workshop stories and learn how to apply.

Note that while there is no tuition for the workshop, participants are required to cover the cost of travel and lodging.

We will be accepting applications until June 11th.

Apply for a MediaStorm Internship by Saturday, June 1

MediaStorm — Tue, 28 May 2024 19:01:01 +0000

Interested in a paid MediaStorm internship?

Our Fall internship deadline is this Saturday, June 1st.

Click here to apply.

If you’re motivated, highly-organized, and passionate about storytelling, we’d love to hear from you.

Start dates are flexible. Internships will be paid.

Available positions include:

Editor
Cinematographer
Motion Graphics
Interactive Design
Web Development

You will need to include:

Links to pieces you’ve produced/collaborated on (please indicate role in each)
Available start/end dates
Hours/week available
For Editors & Cinematographers: Familiarity with Premiere, Photoshop and Aperture
For Motion Graphics: Familiarity with After Effects, Photoshop, Illustrator, and typography skills; Premiere Pro and Cinema 4D a plus
For Web Developers: Familiarity with Javascript & its modern libraries/frameworks, HTML5, CSS, PHP, MySQL

Tuition-Free MediaStorm Storytelling Workshop Thanks to MPB

MediaStorm — Fri, 17 May 2024 15:22:13 +0000

It’s been our vision for many years to hold an in-person MediaStorm Storytelling Workshop that is tuition free.

We’re excited to announce the day has finally come, thanks to a partnership with MPB!

MPB is the leading reseller of used digital cameras and lenses in the U.S. They offer the best value when you buy, sell, or trade used camera gear.

Participants for our July 26 – August 2 workshop in the Santa Cruz Mountains will be selected based on the quality of their work and their applications.

Deadline to apply June 11th.

The MediaStorm Storytelling Workshop is a hands-on experience in documentary filmmaking and interactive storytelling.

The primary goal is to create an intimate, character-driven documentary with supporting interactive experiences powered by the MediaStorm Platform.

Participants will work directly with the MediaStorm team in the field, in the editing suite and via online sessions in a collaborative, educational environment.

Applicants can choose to apply for a specific role – visual storyteller, producer, editor, motion graphics, interactive designer, observer or documentarian.

Visit our Storytelling Workshop page to learn more about these roles, see examples of previous workshop stories and learn how to apply.

Note that while there is no tuition for the workshop, participants are required to cover the cost of travel and lodging.

We will be accepting applications until June 11th.

Deadline to Apply for the Fall MediaStorm Internship is June 1st

MediaStorm — Wed, 15 May 2024 16:58:11 +0000

MediaStorm is looking for interns. If you’re motivated, highly-organized, and passionate about storytelling, we’d love to hear from you.

Start dates are flexible. Internships will be paid.

Available positions include:

Editor
Cinematographer
Motion Graphics
Interactive Design
Web Development

The deadline to apply is June 1. Click here to apply.

You will need to include:

Links to pieces you’ve produced/collaborated on (please indicate role in each)
Available start/end dates
Hours/week available
For Editors & Cinematographers: Familiarity with Premiere, Photoshop and Aperture
For Motion Graphics: Familiarity with After Effects, Photoshop, Illustrator, and typography skills; Premiere Pro and Cinema 4D a plus
For Web Developers: Familiarity with Javascript & its modern libraries/frameworks, HTML5, CSS, PHP, MySQL

Vote for the MediaStorm Platform in The Next Challenge for Media & Journalism

MediaStorm — Fri, 03 May 2024 16:59:56 +0000

The MediaStorm Platform has been selected to be a finalist in the Power Platform division of The Next Challenge for Media & Journalism.

We’d be honored and grateful if you’d take a moment to give us your vote for the challenge’s Public Choice Award.

You can vote here.

The Next Challenge for Media & Journalism is the largest startup competition open to nonprofit and for-profit media companies in the United States.

Its mission is to promote ideas and startups that are working to reinvent journalism and media in the coming decade.

The Power Platform category will award up to $30,000 to a “technology startup developing powerful ways to share media content across the country and around the globe.”

The MediaStorm Platform is an advanced video platform that extends the user experience beyond linear video to include interactive capabilities and make use of the full canvas of the web.

Voting for the Public Choice Award will take place until May 19.

MediaStorm Platform a finalist for the 2024 Next Challenge for Media & Journalism

MediaStorm — Mon, 15 Apr 2024 19:54:17 +0000

The MediaStorm Platform has been selected as a finalist for the 2024 Next Challenge for Media & Journalism.

The Next Challenge for Media & Journalism is the largest startup competition open to nonprofit and for-profit media companies in the United States.

The 12-week challenge promotes groundbreaking ideas and trailblazing startups that will reinvent journalism and media over the coming decade.

This year’s Next Challenge will award seven prizes totaling $150,000 in grants to groundbreaking early-stage startups reinventing media & journalism.

The MediaStorm Platform has been selected to be in the top 10-12 startups in the Power Platform division and is now competing for an award of up to $30,000 — three awards of up to $10,000 (including one award selected by the public), and a Grand Prize of up to $30,000.

The Next Challenge Grand Prize winner will receive a grant of up to $60,000.

Winners in all the categories will be announced on May 22 during the 2024 Next Challenge National Awards Celebration at the 2024 Media Impact Forum.

MediaStorm Founder to speak in Stanford XR seminar series

MediaStorm — Wed, 13 Mar 2024 21:15:01 +0000

MediaStorm Founder Brian Storm is scheduled to speak as part of the Stanford University’s XR Consortium Spring 2024 Seminar Series.

The series includes lectures by a host of researchers and industry speakers, with talks about how virtual and augmented reality technologies are creating change in healthcare, education, storytelling and other industries.

Talks in the series will take place every Tuesday from April 2 to June 11 at 4:30 p.m. in Hewlett 102 on the Stanford Campus.

Storm’s presentation, which is entitled CD-ROM, Web, Film, Spatial: 30 Years of Storytelling @ MediaStorm will be held on June 11, 2024.

This is description of Storm’s talk:

Spatial video has the power to create an emotional resonance unlike any media technology that has come before.

That is because it has the ability to allow us to feel like we are in the scene. Not in our own imagination, like with radio. Not from a distance like with video, but right there, alongside the people in our stories.

XR has the power to foster compassion and understanding in a way we are just beginning to imagine.

What happens when people, maybe on the other side of the world, are experiencing an event alongside someone else?

We are unable to avoid the reality of what our actions and decisions mean for one another.

Immersive storytelling has the power to change the world.

Join, Brian Storm, founder of MediaStorm, as he presents a 30-year career in storytelling through one technological shift after another.

For up-to-date seminar information and to see a list of speakers, visit Stanford’s XR page or download this PDF: XR Consortium Seminar Series.

MediaStorm Founder to present at 2024 Xposure in United Arab Emirates

MediaStorm — Thu, 15 Feb 2024 22:18:02 +0000

MediaStorm Founder Brian Storm will be giving a keynote speech, holding a workshop and participating in panel discussion at the 2024 Xposure International Film Festival in Sharjah, United Arab Emirates.

The festival, which runs from February 28 to March 5, 2024, at the Expo Centre Sharjah, will feature more than 2,500 images on display by 400 globally-acclaimed photographers, and include more than 65 workshops and masterclasses and 45 talks by experts in visual storytelling.

The events Storm is participating in are scheduled as follows:

March 1: Workshop – From Stills to Video with MediaStorm
This workshop provides an overview of multimedia storytelling approaches while engaging participants in discussing the most appropriate ways to create a multimedia story. Through real-world examples, Brian Storm will share tips and techniques to improve reporting and editing and discuss the most effective tools for specific jobs.
15:00 – 18:00 local time
– Learn more and register

March 2: Talk – Storytelling @ MediaStorm
Storytelling opportunities continue to evolve as a result of technological innovations and an expanding media universe. How can the long-form, in-depth visual storyteller satisfy both their journalistic and financial needs in this environment? See how some of the top photojournalists have redefined their storytelling capabilities to include audio reporting and an eye towards publication in multiple media. Their work is capturing acclaim around the world in a time when reader’s attention spans are running short.
15:45 – 16:25 local time
– Learn more and register

March 3: Panel Discussion – Mystery of the Pitch
The Key to Unlocking Creative Commissions. In a dynamic panel featuring producers, agency creatives, commercial directors, and DOPs, we unravel the enigma of the pitch. This crucial element can determine the fate of film, commercial, or documentary projects. Learn the anatomy of a successful pitch, the role of a pitch researcher, and why clarity, creativity, and concise representation of vision are paramount in persuading brands and agencies.
14:10 – 15:00 local time
– Learn more and register

Xposure is geared towards still photographers who want to include audio and video in their storytelling.

– Learn more about Xposure and register here: Xposure International Photography Festival

2024 Alexia Grants Now Accepting Applications

MediaStorm — Fri, 26 Jan 2024 20:50:52 +0000

The Newhouse School of Public Communications at Syracuse University has opened their call for entries for the 2024 Alexia Grants.

The Alexia Grants are an outstanding opportunity for visual communicators to receive support in producing projects that address social issues.

The submission cycle closes February 15.

Here is more about the Alexia Grants from the Newhouse School:

SYRACUSE, NY — The Alexia 2024 grant competition for professionals and students is now open. FOUR NEW GRANTS have been added this year. Submissions will be accepted until 11:59 p.m. EST February 15.

THE ALEXIA grants exist to help professional and student visual storytellers produce projects that inspire change and foster understanding by addressing significant topics around the world, and it encourages a diversity of creators, issues and approaches. Please visit its GRANTS page for more information and to apply.

The recipient of the main professional grant will receive $20,000 to produce their proposed project as well as a Sony camera and lens. The recipient of the main student grant will receive a $1,000 stipend to advance their proposed project, a new Sony camera and lens, a fellowship for tuition and fees to audit three courses during a semester at the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications at Syracuse University in New York, and they will be considered for a paid position to serve as a research assistant to The Alexia chair. If the jury recognizes additional proposed projects as finalists, they will be featured on The Alexia website alongside the winners. The runner-up for this award will receive $500.

This year, we are offering four new grants in addition to the main grants. If a project aligns with one of the new initiatives, it will automatically be considered. APPLICANTS SHOULD SUBMIT ONLY ONE APPLICATION.

NEW PROFESSIONAL GRANT: The Alexia Mental Health Grant sponsored by The Albany Foundation — $17,000. We are looking for a strong project that provides meaningful insight into a mental health issue.

NEW PROFESSIONAL GRANT: The Alexia Environmental Change Grant sponsored by James Balog / Earth Vision Institute — $15,000. We are looking for a still photographer whose innovative image-making and ideas deepen human understanding of environmental change in the Anthropocene. Special consideration will be given to work with strong potential for public outreach.

NEW PROFESSIONAL GRANT: The Alexia Conservation Grant sponsored by The fStop Foundation — $5,000. We are looking for a strong project that focuses on positive aspects of conservation work in relation to human-wildlife conflict and how we can thrive alongside the wildlife that share our landscape. The fStop Foundation also is willing to provide guidance during production and publication.

NEW STUDENT GRANT: The Alexia Conservation Grant sponsored by The fStop Foundation — $1,000. For this grant, we will be looking for strong projects that focus on positive aspects of conservation work in relation to human-wildlife conflict — how we can thrive living alongside wildlife that share our landscape. The fStop Foundation also is willing to provide guidance during production and publication.

ANOTHER NEW OPPORTUNITY — EXHIBITIONS: All images will be considered for inclusion in exhibits and publications curated throughout the year. Photographers with selected images will be contacted for approval.
Submissions will be processed through Visura.co, and judging will take place March 29 and 30 at the Newhouse School. Winners will be announced around April 15. The Alexia 2024 judging is being sponsored by SONY.

Unlike competitions that recognize completed projects, The Alexia funds new work and work in progress.

“It’s important to realize that the written proposal carries a tremendous amount of weight in the selection process,” explains The Alexia Endowed Chair Bruce Strong, who encourages applicants to thoughtfully craft the written components of the submission. He further explains, “When it comes to the imagery, we’re open to a variety of visual approaches. The bottom line is, we’re looking for work that shows the applicant has the skills and vision to produce a compelling project.”

After reviewing proposals from 54 nations, last year’s jury selected a winner, a runner-up and award of excellence recipients in both the professional and student categories. James Year was the 2023 recipient of professional grant, in support of his Stealing Fire: The Collision of Trucking and Automation. The 2023 student grant recipient was Md. Zobayer Hossain Joatifor his project We Live to Fight. To review last year’s winners and finalists, visit The Alexia’s 2023 GRANT WINNERS page.

Through a partnership with African Women in Photography, The Authority Collective, Diversify Photo, The Everyday Projects, Femgrafía, Foto Feminas, Indigenous Photograph, Magnum Foundation, VII Foundation, Visura and Women Photograph, The Alexia is offering a limited number of submission fee waivers for the professional category; student entries are free. Photographers and filmmakers who cannot afford the $50 professional submission fee and who are members of one of the partner organizations listed above can apply for a waiver from their organization per the instructions in the submission rules section.

For general information, visit thealexia.org. For answers to any further questions, contact Bruce Strong at TheAlexia@syr.edu.

.

Learn more about the grants and how to apply here: The Alexia

The MediaStorm Storytelling Workshop: Finding Balance

MediaStorm — Wed, 17 Jan 2024 21:13:53 +0000

We are proud to present Finding Balance from the first storytelling workshop our new home, the Santa Cruz mountains in California.

From December 1-8, 2023, four workshop participants worked directly with the MediaStorm team to create an intimate, character-driven documentary.

About the film:

Tim Obert has been hooked on fishing since landing his first fish as a young boy with his father off the Santa Cruz Wharf on California’s Central Coast.

By the time he was 12, he was working and sleeping on charter boats in the town’s harbor.

It was an early start to the dream he’s been living for the nearly two decades since, as a captain and commercial fisherman.

The sea has provided Obert a stable life, allowing him to raise a family and invest in his business. But in fishing, there is always a risk.

Sometimes the fish are biting, sometimes they aren’t. There are good days and bad days. Sometimes those bad days turn into bad years.

It’s a salty old truth that long-time fishermen know how to plan for a rainy day.

Recent state regulations aimed at saving whales and increasing the salmon population have kept fishing boats like the Stacey Jo, which Obert captains, stuck at the dock.

Obert has stepped up to help his fishing buddies, running the Santa Cruz Commercial Fishermen’s Association and serving as a member of the Dungeness Crab Task Force to work with California’s environmental agencies on behalf of his fleet.

But it’s a role that comes at a cost, and not just financial. The most important trade off for Obert is time spent away from his family.

“I’m on like ten boards right now. Not a dollar am I making for it,” Obert said. “Being on a six-hour call is excruciating sometimes. The time away is horrible.”

In Finding Balance, Obert speaks candidly about the struggles of being a good husband and father while also working to succeed as a commercial fisherman, and how that’s been further complicated by the leadership roles he shoulders while stuck on land.

Obert and the other fishermen who have braved such regulatory storms before believe it will pass and they’ll again be pulling their catch from the ocean.

Obert believes both sides must work together to consider conservation interests alongside those of the fishing industry, just as he works to find the right centerpoint between his family’s needs and those of the industry he loves during his fleet’s long, rainy day.

It’s all just a matter of finding the right balance.

ABOUT THE WORKSHOP

The MediaStorm Storytelling Workshop in the Santa Cruz Mountains is an intensive, hands-on experience in documentary filmmaking and interactive storytelling.

The primary goal of the workshop is to create an intimate, character-driven documentary with supporting interactive experiences powered by the MediaStorm Platform.

Participants work directly with the MediaStorm team in the field, in the editing suite and via online sessions in a collaborative, educational environment.

The storytelling workshop is one of MediaStorm’s several training options.

Visit our MediaStorm Training page for current schedules, to learn more and apply.

Mick Wang joins MediaStorm to lead Business Development

Brian Storm — Wed, 10 Jan 2024 16:58:36 +0000

Mick Wang joins the MediaStorm team after a decade in storytelling and client success across outdoor education, public land conservation, and mobile advertising.

We first met Mick in our December 2015 Methodology Master Class.

He joins MediaStorm as our Business Development Lead helping to further our Creative and Production Services and driving sales of our online training and MediaStorm Platform toolset.

We’re excited to have Mick officially join us!

If you would like to connect with Mick to discuss your projects or storytelling needs you can reach him via mick@mediastorm.com.

Elements of a successful documentary story

Robert Browman — Mon, 16 Oct 2023 14:17:19 +0000

Great stories come in all shapes and sizes, and there’s no follow-the-numbers chart for how to make one.

That said, after producing hundreds of films at MediaStorm, we’ve identified some common approaches that help make documentary stories more meaningful and powerful.

We developed this post for our upcoming Storytelling Workshop participants as they work to find a story to document.

As you look for stories, keep an eye out to see if they include one or more of the elements below.

Compelling Character

Great stories are often about people, and the best MediaStorm documentaries tend to focus on an individual person.

Narrowing in on a single subject allows filmmakers to explore in-depth that person’s challenges and solutions as they navigate an unique experience in a way that can be explored in a relatable human way.

Finding and exploring the motivations of a memorable and relatable character are key to making an impactful film.

An example of a MediaStorm Storytelling Workshop film that has a compelling central character is: Remember These Days

Universal Themes

Although everyone is different, we all experience common emotions and experiences. These are often referred to as universal themes about the human condition.

Identifying potential universal themes in a story and exploring them with the subject allows for viewers to relate to the subject’s experience and feel emotionally invested in their challenges and achievements.

Building empathy for the subject by framing the story around universal themes is not only a time-tested way to make it compelling, but it’s also a way to make it more timeless.

Documenting how a subject faces challenges we all experience in a unique way allows us to understand each other and the world we live in better.

Universal themes are concepts that resonate across audiences and are fundamental to human experience.

Some universal themes to keep an eye out for:

- Love
- Friendship
- Good confronting evil
- Coming of age
- Facing death
- Redemption or forgiveness
- And many others

An example of a MediaStorm Storytelling Workshop film that includes universal themes is: Take Care

Conflict or Overcoming Conflict

We all face conflict in our lives, and the best and most relatable stories often include characters who are confronting one or more of them.

A character could be facing an internal conflict, such as overcoming an emotional obstacle such as a harmful behavior or attachment.

Or they could be facing something external that is imposed on them, such as racism, violence or a disease.

Whatever the conflict, the challenge will lead them to growth and change, and this development adds depth to the overall story.

An example of a MediaStorm Storytelling Workshop film that focuses on conflict is: A Thousand More

Epiphany or Character Change

Ideally the main character will have experienced some sort of new realization or change after confronting a challenge.

The subject’s change often becomes the emotional core and serves as the apex of the film.

For that reason, identifying a character’s potential change is one of the most important things to consider when evaluating a story.

An example of a MediaStorm Workshop film that includes a character changing is: Broken Lines

Element of Surprise

The element of surprise is a powerful tool in storytelling because it sets up an emotional impact that allows the audience to be engaged more deeply due to the unexpected twist and provides a way to more deeply understand the motives and nature of the main character.

Often the surprise is centered around the conflict the character is facing, and they’ve either found an unexpected way to deal with it, or it’s revealed that the issue is more significant than the audience expects.

Surprise elements can be found in any part of the story as long as it serves the overall narrative.

When looking for a film topic and a way to tell it, if you can identify a plot element that can be presented with a surprise or a reveal, it will help the story be a more memorable one.

An example of a MediaStorm Storytelling Workshop film that includes and element of surprise is: The Amazing Amy

Narrative Arc

Good stories are most often presented in a systematic manner called a narrative arc.

When evaluating whether a story topic may be a good one, it’s helpful to consider how it may be told with such a structure.

The key factor to consider is whether the main character will experience some degree of change during the course of the story.

This change and the reasons for it will allow you to present a story using the common elements of a story arch. Those are:

Exposition: Where the characters, setting, and initial situation are introduced.

Inciting Incident: The circumstance that sets the story in motion is presented and is usually the reason for change and conflict.

Rising Action: The circumstances the main character faces build to the central conflict. They may face obstacles and choices, and confront challenges.

Climax: The story’s turning point where the conflict reaches its peak, which is the moment of greatest tension in the story and often involves a pivotal decision or confrontation.

Falling Action: Shows the consequences of the characters’ actions and decisions and the story begins to wind down.

Resolution: Closure to the story showing how the character resolved the conflict and how they changed as a result and can reflect on the story’s main themes.

Not every story needs each element to be successful, and it’s not important to be able to identify all of them when deciding the value of a story, but it’s helpful to know the structure of how the story will likely be presented so you can evaluate what might be possible.

If you’re able to imagine how the story might be told within the context of a structure, it will likely be a strong one.

An example of a MediaStorm Workshop film that includes a classic narrative arc is: Hold Out

Access

At MediaStorm we believe everyone has a story and meaningful experiences to share.

The most important issue when evaluating whether a story will work for the Storytelling Workshop is whether we have the necessary access to tell it.

The subject will need to allow us to shadow them for multiple days while documenting their lives in a way that results in something authentic to their experience. We don’t ask them to do things for us, but we will be in their lives for many hours and days at a time.

Additionally, sometimes you’ll have access to a single character but not to supporting characters in their lives who are critical to the story. This is something to keep in mind when deciding to embark upon a story.

An example of a MediaStorm Workshop film that includes a complex issues of access is The American-Made Benny

In this film we had unfettered access to Benny, but not to his wife who held a key perspective we were unable to tap. For an account of the challenges faced by the workshop team, see the accompanying essay Unanswered Questions.

Submit a Story Idea

MediaStorm’s goal is to tell the story of today’s world in an in-depth manner: From documentary, to personal essays to purely artistic.

Heartwarming to heartbreaking, these are timeless and intimate tales.

If you have an idea for a story that you think would be a good fit for our Storytelling Workshop, we’d love to hear from you.

Submit a Story Idea

UnionDocs ‘Ritual and Magic’ workshop coming up in late October

MediaStorm — Fri, 13 Oct 2023 21:15:08 +0000

Our friends at UnionDocs are holding their latest workshop in NYC later this month.

About the workshop:

UnionDocs is seeking multimedia explorers of all stripes for our upcoming workshop Ritual and Magic: Portals for Audiovisual Creation & Healing, coming up on October 27 — 29 at UnionDocs!

The workshop will be led by visual artist, curator and researcher Ruth Somalo.

This is an extra special and expansive workshop that will take participants on a journey to investigate how rituals may nourish their artistic practices and how they may approach creating, portraying and documenting new ways of enacting and understanding rituals and magical practices through moving images.

We will have a stellar line-up of visiting artists such as Raisa Maudit (The Vampire Manifesto), Andrés Senra (Rituales Queer), Bradley Eros (Open Sesame), Theo Cuthand (Medicine Bundle), as well as medium Tiffany Hopkins who will guide sessions exploring healing through cinematic processes, queer and feminist approaches to enacting rituals, acts of ecstatic celebration via myriad media, as well as connections with the dead, planetary bodies and plant allies!

About UnionDocs:

UnionDocs is a Center for Documentary Art that presents, produces, publishes, and educates. We lead a diverse community on a search for urgent expressions of the human experience, practical perspectives on the world today, and compelling visions for the future.

Visit the UnionDocs workshop page to learn more and enroll.

Documenting Dual-Eligibility with Isadora Kosofsky and CatchLight for Arnold Ventures

MediaStorm — Fri, 29 Sep 2023 19:57:15 +0000

MediaStorm is pleased to announce Documenting Dual Eligibility, produced with photojournalist Isadora Kosofsky in partnership with CatchLight and Arnold Ventures.

In Documenting Dual Eligibility, Kosofsky dives into the lives of two women, Melissa and Ann, as they face the challenges of their medical conditions while being covered by two separate government healthcare programs.

In two intimate films, Kosofsky captures the positivity of the women’s personalities and the complexities of their daily lives while exploring the challenges and protections offered by the dual-eligibility healthcare model.

MediaStorm produced and edited each of the films and then used the MediaStorm Platform to package them with cinematic covers, accompanying slideshows and extended playlists to form a robust visual documentary project.

Melissa, a single mother from California, suddenly lost her vision. Her disability makes Melissa dual eligible, meaning she qualifies for both Medicare and Medicaid.

Ann lives in a home for women with developmental disabilities. Bound to a wheelchair and non-verbal, Ann’s disabilities make her dual eligible, meaning she qualifies for both Medicare and Medicaid.

Celebrating World Rhino Day

MediaStorm — Fri, 22 Sep 2023 22:15:10 +0000

Today is World Rhino Day, which is celebrated on September 22nd each year.

In early 2023, MediaStorm partnered with Ami Vitale to produce the film Remembering Sudan, about the passing of Sudan, the last male Northern White Rhino.

One hundred percent of the profits from the film benefitted the Ol Pejeta Conservancy in Kenya where the only two remaining female white rhinos are know to be alive.

Visit Ami Vitale’s site Vitale Impacts to watch the film, learn more about the project and to donate.

Visit the Ol Pejeta Conservancy to learn more about the critical work being done to save and protect these endangered species and how you can help.

October 6 deadline to apply for MediaStorm Storytelling Workshop

MediaStorm — Mon, 18 Sep 2023 16:17:49 +0000

The October 6 deadline for our premier, in-person Storytelling Workshop is just around the corner.

Join us at MediaStorm’s Headquarters on December 1 – 8, 2023 for a hands-on experience in documentary filmmaking and interactive storytelling.

The primary goal of the workshop is to create an intimate, character-driven documentary with supporting interactive experiences powered by the MediaStorm Platform.

Participants will work directly with the MediaStorm team in the field, in the editing suite and via online sessions in a collaborative, educational environment.

Participants can choose to apply for a specific role – visual storyteller, producer, editor, motion graphics, interactive designer, observer or documentarian.

Visit our Storytelling Workshop page to learn more about these roles, see examples of previous workshop stories and learn how to apply.

MediaStorm Storytelling Workshop in the Santa Cruz Mountains

MediaStorm — Mon, 14 Aug 2023 17:55:19 +0000

The MediaStorm Storytelling Workshop is back!

After a 6-year run in Brooklyn, NY, we are relaunching on the West Coast in California.

Join us at MediaStorm Headquarters in the Santa Cruz Mountains from Dec. 1 – 8, 2023, for an intensive, hands-on experience in documentary filmmaking and interactive storytelling.

The primary goal of the workshop is to create an intimate, character-driven documentary with supporting interactive experiences powered by the MediaStorm Platform.

Participants will work directly with the MediaStorm team in the field, in the editing suite and via online sessions in a collaborative, educational environment.

Participants can choose to apply for a specific role – visual storyteller, producer, editor, motion graphics, interactive designer, observer or documentarian.

Visit our Storytelling Workshop page to learn more about these roles, see examples of previous workshop stories and learn how to apply.

2023 ICP Infinity Award Films

MediaStorm — Wed, 29 Mar 2023 16:42:17 +0000

This year marks the 10th year that MediaStorm has partnered with the International Center of Photography and Harbers Studios to produce films that pay homage to each of the winners of ICP’s annual Infinity Awards for their contributions to the field of photography and visual arts.

Each March, the ICP recognizes these outstanding artists at an annual fundraiser at their headquarters in New York City. The gala event helps support a full range of programs, including exhibitions, collections, community outreach, scholarships, and the ICP School.

MediaStorm’s films are widely recognized as the signature moment of the event.

For MediaStorm, these films pay tribute to our roots in photography and our aspiration for it to continue to be a force for positive change in the world.

Zora J Muff sees himself as an artist who happens to be Black living in a society that believes in race. His work shines a light on white supremacy, and has been honored with ICP’s 2023 Infinity Award for Documentary Practice and Visual Journalism.

Watch the film, explore a playlist of extras and see the slideshow

Poulomi Basu’s work employs multiple visual mediums to confront misogyny, oppression, abuse and climate injustice. The ICP has recognized Basu’s work with the the 2023 Infinity Award for Contemporary Photography & New Media.

Watch the film, explore a playlist of extras and see the slideshow

Growing up in Israel shaped Ariella Azoula’s view of the world, politics and art. For her work in critiquing the role of photography, the ICP has awarded her the 2023 Infinity Award for Critical Writing, Research and Theory.

Watch the film and explore a playlist of extras

Before he died in 1992, Daniel Cowin donated a large collection of African American photography to the ICP. Joyce Cowin has continued her husband’s strong support, and the center has honored her with the 2023 Infinity Award for Trustee.

Watch the film, explore a playlist of extras and see the slideshow

Ming Smith moved to New York City to be a model, but her passion for photography and commitment to shining a light on Black culture has led to a distinguished photographic career. Smith is the winner of ICP’s 2023 Infinity Award for Lifetime Achievement.

Watch the film, explore a playlist of extras and see the slideshow

The Kalish Workshop 2023

MediaStorm — Tue, 28 Mar 2023 15:26:39 +0000

Apply by April 1 – this Saturday! – for The Kalish visual editing workshop that deeply explores what it means to be a visual editor, leader, manager (because there is a big difference), and good colleague. Want to talk AI? We’ll be doing that in June. Ethics? It’s one of our most critical sessions. Editing? We supply the assets.

https://www.kalishworkshop.org/

Join MediaStorm founder Brian Storm and the rest of The Kalish staff and be inspired.

Remembering Sudan

MediaStorm — Thu, 19 Jan 2023 00:43:11 +0000

Remembering Sudan, a film by Ami Vitale and MediaStorm, documents the potential extinction facing Northern White Rhinos and the heartbreaking story of caretaker Zacharia Mutai.

More about the film:

Zacharia Mutai was devastated the day he lost his best friend Sudan. Sudan was someone he spent years with, someone he knew better than his own children, someone he loved. This death was tragic, but not a surprise.

Zacharia, the head rhino caregiver at the Ol Pejeta Conservancy in northern Kenya, was caring for the last remaining northern white rhinos on the planet. His friend Sudan was the last male rhino of this species.

Sudan, 45 years-old, was gentle, hulking and otherworldly. His final moments were eerily quiet—just the sound of the rain falling, a single bird scolding, and the muffled sorrow of his caretakers.

But this is not just the story of Zacharia’s loss or of the death of a rhino. This is the story of the death of a species. A loss of such magnitude is a loss for all of humanity. Without these creatures, we suffer more than just the loss of ecosystem health. We suffer a loss of imagination, a loss of wonder, a loss of beautiful possibilities.

In Remembering Sudan, photographer and filmmaker Ami Vitale documents the heartbreaking crisis facing the northern white rhinos and keepers like Zacharia Mutai who sacrifice so much to protect them.

After Sudan’s death in 2018, only two northern white rhinos remain, both females. Through Zacharia’s story, Vitale explores efforts to protect these rhinos as well as the groundbreaking scientific developments aimed at bringing the species back.

How did we arrive at the point where such desperate measures were necessary? It’s astonishing that a demand for rhino horn based entirely on misinformation has caused the wholesale slaughter of a species. At the same time, it is encouraging that a disparate group of people have come together in an attempt to save something unique and precious, something that if not saved, will be gone forever.

Go to olpejetaconservancy.org and Biorescue.org to learn more about saving and protecting these endangered species.

Art of the Photo Book with David Campany

MediaStorm — Wed, 16 Nov 2022 15:16:31 +0000

Curator, writer, editor and educator David Campany explores the craft of photo books, detailing his early love of photography and providing a look at some of his favorite books in a short-film, as well as a deep dive into 18 pivotal books, in the latest project by MediaStorm and Harbers Studios.

Campany pulls from many years of experience in the field to shed light on the different ways photographers craft photo books to communicate their artistic message, including detailed looks at some of his favorites.

Campany takes us on a journey through the evolution of photo book publishing, from Walker Evans’ seminal 1938 work American Photographs, to Henri Cartier-Bresson’s pivotal book The Decisive Moment, to Mark Neville’s contemporary book about Ukraine Stop Tanks with Books.

Campany’s decades of experience in the field, including more than 20 books to his name, make him the ideal guide for this journey into the world of photo books.

Welcome Back Brow

Brian Storm — Wed, 16 Nov 2022 15:05:44 +0000

On the 17th anniversary of MediaStorm, I am excited to announce the return of Robert Browman, one of MediaStorm’s original family members.

Also known simply as Brow, he has rejoined MediaStorm as an editor and producer.

Brow was the first member of the MediaStorm team, joining me a full year before the company launched.

He coded the first version of our website by hand, helped select and produce our early publication projects and worked on client projects for MSNBC, The Council on Foreign Relations, The Open Society Foundations and the Rocky Mountain News.

Our friendship and collaboration has spanned multiple chapters. Brow joined the multimedia team at MSNBC.com in 1999, and we also collaborated at Corbis prior to MediaStorm.

He left MediaStorm in 2008 to pursue other adventures in the journalism and news industry, including a long period as an editor and producer at the Albuquerque Journal in New Mexico.

On top of working alongside each all those years, we’ve remained great friends, and I’ve always considered him one of the founding minds behind our approach.

I couldn’t be more excited to welcome him back as we move forward together with our next chapter at MediaStorm.

MediaStorm Master Classes Dates Announced

MediaStorm — Mon, 07 Nov 2022 16:26:16 +0000

MediaStorm is excited to announce the dates for our MasterClass training events for 2023. The schedule includes options for both video conference and in-person events. All courses are offered at 50% off.

Methodology Master Class

Video conference: December 12 – 15, 2022
Los Gatos, CA: August 7 – 9, 2023
Los Gatos, CA: December 11 – 14, 2023

One Day Master Class:

Online video conference: November 12, 2022
Online video conference: May 6, 2023
Online video conference: September 23, 2023
Online video conference: October 22, 2023

Here’s what people say about our master classes:

“MediaStorm’s class broke down storytelling theory in a way that challenged me to think about my past projects and better prepared me for those that I am currently working on. Brian is a charismatic instructor who loves sharing the knowledge he has gathered with anyone willing to learn. His anecdotes and projects serve as his syllabus and he teaches with an authenticity that cannot be faked.” McArdle Hankin, Co-Founder Back Pocket

“As a longtime reporter and editor looking to start a new media venture, I found Brian’s one-day master class both practical and inspirational. In an age of click-bait “journalism,” Brian’s unwavering commitment to quality storytelling resonated with me deeply, and has motivated me to keep pursuing my entrepreneurial journey.” Julie Makinen, JSK Stanford Fellow

“My week at the Methodology Workshop with Brian Storm and his team has been life changing. All of my questions about MediaStorm’s quality documentary filmmaking were answered as we went deeper than I expected into the storytelling secrets that make them who they are. Now the blanks are filled in, and I’m looking forward to increasing the quality of my own multimedia projects with renewed passion. Clearly compassion rules the way MediaStorm tells people’s stories, but they also make sure to get the stories in front of people who can benefit from them the most. Thank you Brian and all the team at MediaStorm for your inspiring generosity. I will make it count.” Carla Adelmann

The 2022 ICP Infinity Award Films By MediaStorm

MediaStorm — Tue, 26 Apr 2022 18:03:32 +0000

Since 2013, MediaStorm has partnered with the International Center of Photography and Harbers Studios to produce films that pay homage to the winners of the annual Infinity Awards for their contributions to the field of photography and visual arts.

Each year, the ICP recognizes these outstanding artists at a fundraiser that supports a full range of programs, including exhibitions, collections, community outreach, scholarships, and the ICP School. MediaStorm’s films have been highlighted as the signature moment of the event.

For MediaStorm, these films are a tribute to our roots in photography and our aspiration for the field, that it continue to be a force for change.

Sebastião Salgado says “a good picture, a fantastic picture, you do in a fraction of a second, but to arrive to do this picture, you must put your life in there.”

Watch the film and see the slideshow

Esther Horvath has sent questions to the universe and she has received answers. She found her calling to tell visual stories that show the full research story behind our climate data.

Watch the film and see the slideshow

See photographer Acacia Johnson’s growth from her earliest explorations of Alaskan landscapes to a National Geographic cover for a documentary project among indigenous people of the Arctic.

Watch the film and see the slideshow

Sky Hopinka says his work “is about wandering through ideas of language, identity, culture, history and the present without necessarily a clear idea of where to go or how to get there.”

Watch the film and see the slideshow

Internships, Sales, Development & Storytelling job openings at MediaStorm

MediaStorm — Thu, 02 Dec 2021 16:16:14 +0000

MediaStorm is looking for fierce, talented, and eager people to join our team in Los Gatos, CA. We are seeking Interns, a Sales Representative and a Full Stack Developer for the MediaStorm Platform. An Editor and a Cinematographer to work on client, workshop and publication projects. An Operations and Social Media Manager. We are also offering internships in early 2022.

Application deadline is December 17, 2021.

INTERNSHIPS

MediaStorm is hiring interns to work on site in Los Gatos, CA.

If you’re motivated, highly-organized, and passionate about storytelling, we’d love to hear from you by December 17, 2021.

Start dates are flexible. Internships will be paid.

Available positions include:

Editor
Cinematographer
Motion Graphics
Interactive Design
Web Development

To apply for a MediaStorm Internship, click here.
You will need to include:

Links to pieces you’ve produced/collaborated on (please indicate role in each)
Available start/end dates
Hours/week available
For Editors & Cinematographers: Familiarity with Premiere, Photoshop and Lightroom
For Motion Graphics: Familiarity with After Effects, Photoshop, Illustrator, and typography skills; Premiere Pro and Cinema 4D a plus
For Web Developers: Familiarity with Javascript & its modern libraries/frameworks, HTML5, CSS3. Django/Python experience is a plus

Internship Application Deadlines are:

June 15 – Fall Internship (September – December)
October 15 – Spring Internship (January – April) *Extended to Dec 17, 2021
December 1 – Summer Internship (May – August)

Click here to apply for an internship.

SALES REPRESENTATIVE

MediaStorm is seeking a Sales Representative who will manage prospects through the entire sales cycle, including developing new leads, educating prospects, and converting leads into active, long-term users of the MediaStorm Platform.

This position can be based anywhere and will work directly with MediaStorm founder & Executive producer Brian Storm.

Description
The Sales Representative will:

Source new sales opportunities through inbound lead follow-up and outbound cold calls and emails.
Execute outbound sales outreach through campaigns through phone, email, and social media.
Establish rapport, develop, and maintain strong customer relationships.
Prospect call preparation including company background research and other pertinent lead information.
Enter, update, and maintain CRM information on leads, prospects, and opportunities.

Qualifications
A successful applicant will have:

3+ years’ experience of B2B sales development experience selling SaaS solutions.
Self Starter! We need you to be excited to get to work.
Experience dealing with the photography, film and online storytelling world is a plus.
Previous experience in leveraging technology for outreach and research of potential clients.
Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
Ability to multitask, organize, and prioritize work reflecting MediaStorms current goals.

Familiarity with Final Cut Pro, Adobe Premiere, Compressor, DVD Studio Pro, HTML, and basic photo and multimedia editing skills are desired are a plus.

Click here to apply.

FULL STACK DEVELOPER

MediaStorm is currently seeking an experienced Full-Stack Developer responsible for building and maintaining the MediaStorm Platform.

The ideal candidate will have proven expertise creating scalable web applications using modern frameworks and technologies. They should be comfortable guiding projects through all phases of the development lifecycle, from requirement gathering and analysis to design, implementation and deployment.

Description
The Full Stack Developer will:

Develop innovative tools to aid the production and distribution of video and interactive storytelling.
Have a significant voice in the direction of MediaStorm’s products.
Work collaboratively with other team members to establish project goals and timelines.
Participate in client meetings and translate their needs into technical requirements.
Work with designers to implement designs and user interfaces.
Work with continuous integration / continuous delivery tools to automate application testing and deployment.
Manage application infrastructure using Docker and AWS cloud services.
Generate and maintain detailed documentation.
Remain up to date with new development trends and technologies, and contribute to company-wide technology decisions.

Qualifications
The successful applicant should have:

At least four years of professional development experience.
Proficiency with modern front-end web development tooling (HTML5, JavaScript, CSS3, preprocessors & frameworks).
Experience with React or similar component-based interface libraries.
Experience developing server-side web applications (Django/Python experience is a plus).
Willingness to learn new languages or technologies as necessary.
Experience integrating third-party APIs.
Ability to collaborate with a diverse team.
Ability to self-manage and meet aggressive deadlines.
Ability to work on multiple projects simultaneously.
Ability to work remotely and to travel as necessary.
Strong communication skills.

Location
Ideally this position will be located Los Gatos, CA but we are open to a remote position.

Click here to apply.

EDITOR

MediaStorm is looking for a passionate and motivated Editor to create compelling films for our publication, workshops and clients.

The ideal candidate will have experience in editing and producing visually sophisticated films. Strong narrative storytelling skills as well as technical proficiency with editing software is required.

This position is based in Los Gatos, CA and will work directly with MediaStorm founder & Executive producer Brian Storm.

Description
A MediaStorm Editor & Producer will:

Edit visually sophisticated films
Transcribe interviews and write scripts
Collaborate with other photographers, filmmakers, audio reporters and musicians
Participate in client meetings and fulfill our client’s production needs
Write blog posts about the craft of filmmaking
Give presentations and instruction at MediaStorm Workshops
Conceive innovative storytelling approaches to further MediaStorm’s storytelling mission

Qualifications
The successful applicant will have:

Ability to collaborate with a diverse team
Ability to self-manage and meet aggressive deadlines
Ability to work virtually and to travel as necessary
Knowledge of Premiere & Final Cut
Color correction skills a plus
Ability to run camera on interviews a plus
Ability to also act as lead cinematographer in limited scenarios a big plus

Click here to apply.

CINEMATOGRAPHER

MediaStorm is looking for a passionate and motivated Cinematographer to create compelling films for our publication, workshops and clients.

The ideal candidate will have experience in research, reporting, shooting and producing visually sophisticated films. Strong narrative storytelling skills as well as technical proficiency with cameras and lighting is required.

Description
MediaStorm Cinematographers will:

Report and produce visually sophisticated films
Collaborate with other photographers, filmmakers, audio reporters and musicians
Transcribe and write scripts
Participate in client meetings and fulfill our client’s production needs
Write blog posts about the craft of filmmaking
Give presentations and instruction at MediaStorm Workshops
Conceive innovative storytelling approaches to further MediaStorm’s storytelling mission

Qualifications
The successful applicant should have:

Ability to collaborate with a diverse team
Ability to self-manage and meet aggressive deadlines
Ability to work virtually and to travel as necessary
Knowledge of Premiere & Final Cut
Color correction skills a plus

Click here to apply.

OPERATIONS & SOCIAL MEDIA MANAGER

MediaStorm is looking for an organized and motivated Operations & Social Media Manager to oversee communications and keep productions running smoothly. The ideal candidate will be an adept communicator, have experience with documentary films, and be eager and interested in taking ownership of projects and supporting a growing production studio.

This position is based in Los Gatos, CA and will work directly with MediaStorm founder & Executive producer Brian Storm.

Description
The Operations & Social Media Manager will:

Maintain and update website and digital channel content and other written communications
Manage and advance the MediaStorm blog
Strategically expand social media presence, evaluate new platforms and optimize content for different audiences online
Coordinate rollout and digital outreach campaigns for film/product launches and distribution in collaboration with production and web development teams
Organize and maintain digital assets archive
Troubleshoot and respond to customer service inquiries
Oversee award and festival submissions as well as company’s operational and customer service needs
Participate and contribute to strategic planning meetings
Provide support to production and business staff on projects as needed

Qualifications
A successful applicant will have:

Strong writing and editing skills
Fast data entry skills
Familiarity with the social media landscape
Ability to manage and organize human and digital resources
Ability to multi-task and pay attention to detail

Familiarity with Final Cut Pro, Adobe Premiere, Compressor, DVD Studio Pro, HTML, and basic photo and multimedia editing skills are desired are a plus.

Click here to apply.

2022 MediaStorm Master Classes Announced

MediaStorm — Wed, 01 Dec 2021 19:42:33 +0000

In these challenging and uncertain times, MediaStorm is committed to continuing our educational efforts in a safe and responsible manner. For the foreseeable future, we will be holding all master classes via Zoom video conference.

We are excited to announce dates for the first half of 2022 and are offering 50% off the following upcoming courses via video conference:

Methodology Master Class:

• December 14-17, 2021 *Apply Now
• August 9-12, 2022 *Apply by June 30, 2022

One Day Master Class:

• Sunday, April 24, 2022
• Saturday, May 7, 2022
• Saturday, June 25, 2022

Here’s what people say about our master classes:

Latest News from MediaStorm

Upcoming Presentations & Workshops

AI Archive Enrichment for MediaStorm

MediaStorm Storytelling Workshop Film Lights in the Shadows a Webby Honoree

Back from the Brink an Official Selection for the Wild & Scenic Film Festival

Job Alert: Executive Director for The Kalish

MediaStorm Celebrates 20th Anniversary

Milestones

Reflections

Upcoming MediaStorm Master Classes

What people most often praise

Testimonial Highlights

Testimonial Highlights

Love+War | National Geographic Documentary Films

Faculty Position in Photojournalism, The School of Visual Communication

Documentary series The Darkroom MCs to premiere on June 18th

Back from the Brink for Catalina Island Conservancy

Case Study: CatchLight’s Impact Report

Sebastião Salgado passes away

Lights in the Shadows

Case Study: Seattle AI Film Festival Website

World Press publishes video of jury comments for 2025 contest

New Features Added to the MediaStorm Platform

A few spots still available for MediaStorm’s upcoming Master Classes

Early 2025 MediaStorm Master Classes Announced

NY Times features Catherine Russell, subject of MediaStorm film

Documenting Dual Eligibility recognized by the Anthem Awards

MediaStorm Platform Spotlight: The Photojournalism Archive

Join our MediaStorm Methodology Master Class on Dec. 17-19

Documenting Dual Eligibility is an Anthem Award Finalist

Apply by June 11 for our Tuition-Free MediaStorm Storytelling Workshop

Apply for a MediaStorm Internship by Saturday, June 1

Tuition-Free MediaStorm Storytelling Workshop Thanks to MPB

Deadline to Apply for the Fall MediaStorm Internship is June 1st

Vote for the MediaStorm Platform in The Next Challenge for Media & Journalism

MediaStorm Platform a finalist for the 2024 Next Challenge for Media & Journalism

MediaStorm Founder to speak in Stanford XR seminar series

MediaStorm Founder to present at 2024 Xposure in United Arab Emirates

2024 Alexia Grants Now Accepting Applications

The MediaStorm Storytelling Workshop: Finding Balance

Mick Wang joins MediaStorm to lead Business Development

Elements of a successful documentary story

Compelling Character

Universal Themes

Conflict or Overcoming Conflict

Epiphany or Character Change

Element of Surprise

Narrative Arc

Access

Submit a Story Idea

UnionDocs ‘Ritual and Magic’ workshop coming up in late October

Documenting Dual-Eligibility with Isadora Kosofsky and CatchLight for Arnold Ventures

Celebrating World Rhino Day

October 6 deadline to apply for MediaStorm Storytelling Workshop

MediaStorm Storytelling Workshop in the Santa Cruz Mountains

2023 ICP Infinity Award Films

The Kalish Workshop 2023

Remembering Sudan

Art of the Photo Book with David Campany

Welcome Back Brow

MediaStorm Master Classes Dates Announced

The 2022 ICP Infinity Award Films By MediaStorm

Internships, Sales, Development & Storytelling job openings at MediaStorm

INTERNSHIPS

SALES REPRESENTATIVE

Description The Sales Representative will:

Qualifications A successful applicant will have:

FULL STACK DEVELOPER

EDITOR

CINEMATOGRAPHER

OPERATIONS & SOCIAL MEDIA MANAGER

2022 MediaStorm Master Classes Announced

Description
The Sales Representative will:

Qualifications
A successful applicant will have: