back to Methodology
04: Jan 2012
Gina Gayle / Professor of Practice, University of Southern Mississippi
Being back in the classroom a full week and having had time to go over my notes and my week at MediaStorm allowed me to fully digest what I actually experienced.
When I was preparing for the workshop I am not sure I knew exactly what it was going to be like. I felt we would learn valuable information and get a look into how MedaStorm does the work that you do. There was no way that I could have imagined that you would literally open up and give us everything you did, so freely and graciously. I literally wrote in my notes the second day, that "he is giving us the keys to the kingdom…….this is his way of saving journalism." I am going to take those keys and pass them along to anyone who will use them wisely.
When I started teaching multimedia storytelling, I told my students that this is their chance to change journalism, re-create and mold it because there is so much possibility out there and people in the industry need and want direction. I am still on my MediaStorm Methodology Workshop High and it showed as I returned to my classes this week. As I told you, we use the MediaStorm projects as our homework, research and tutorials in my classes so the students were excited to see what I had brought back. My getting to go to this workshop was similar to a star studded event for them as well as for me. I will tell you this, when I came back to the classes I felt and saw an immediate shift in how I teach. My students also noticed it and are ready for the new journey. I know you wanted a quote from me but here are a few things from them: "It's nice to have a professor who is re-energized." "Teach me everything they taught you." and "Do they have a workshop for students, I want to go." They understand the importance of great storytelling and I am hoping some of them will go on to be just that.
Understanding the Methodology of how you work helps me to understand why you choose the projects you do, which in turn is allowing me to think about using multimedia storytelling across a multitude of businesses. I also teach Digital Storytelling for graduate Intergrated Marketing Communication students, who have said that thinking creatively or in a storytelling manner, makes them better at their advertising and PR campaigns. I have shared the MediaStorm site with them for reference and now it gives them a foundation to see what a project can be used for.
Another marvelous attribute of this workshop was being able to work, talk and brainstorm with my classmates for the week. I think we had such a diverse group that added to the ability to see how storytelling works across so many businesses and genres. As we all could feel our own minds ticking away we also got to see everyone's else's ideas manifest right there in the room. Each person in the workshop seemed to have the same awakenings and was excited to talk about the possibilities in their own line of work or even in their own country! That was amazing in itself. I have been wanting to come to a MediaStorm workshop for years however I feel this was the exact one I was meant to be in with the people I met during the week.
I think the most powerful and personal thing I will take away is how to use it for my personal projects. We talk "multimedia" and we think about it but now I have a firmer grasp on how to use it for projects and the wide reach that a great multimedia story can have. As still photographers, we were always relegated to a few images at most and now we can use multimedia to get exposure on platforms, websites or through business ventures that we were not privy to before. When I wrote you were giving us the keys to the kingdom I really meant it.
Thank you for all you do and showing us the way to do it.
Gordon Jung / Project Manager, Gestionnaire de projets
What can I say about MediaStorm?
"Awesome" comes to mind.
I first became aware of this up-and-coming firm about 4 years ago, and was immediately impressed with the care and quality of their story telling and production values. Then I was able to finally attend a workshop this year...
The time spent at the Methodology Workshop introduced me to many interesting views, experiences, and practicalities of molding content into something not only fluid and fair, but emotiionally compelling.
Think beyond the normal A-Z steps of running a program, or company, or process - Add the firm conviction of sharing and collaborative work, and you get a more intimate and restrospective approach to any type of content you have the opportunity to work with.
After attending a variety of conferences and courses over the years... the buzz, or high wears off rather quickly. What's the difference here? It feels like a steady fire that is fueling my conviction to bring back a "voice" to the content that I am working with.
Thanks to everyone I met at the workshop, and thanks to everyone at MediaStorm - I enjoyed my time with you. You've got freaky mad skills and talent.
Steve Lewis / Steve Lewis Films
I was hoping for some serious progress, and what I got was a quantum leap. It was an amazingly productive week.
Thank you and your crew for a fabulous experience. I really enjoyed the entire week. It was great to get to know you better as well. I am happy to always be a part of MediaStorm.
Joshua Smith / Vice President, International Guild of Visual Peacemakers
The Methodology Workshop will give you an intimate look into how Brian and his team have run this successful multimedia production company. They will walk you through every aspect of their business from pre-production, field reporting, licensing, through interactive application creation and multi-platform distribution. Brian discusses what it means to be a purpose-driven company rather than profit-driven, along with the challenge of striking a balance between feeding the soul and the pocketbook. The value of this workshop is not just in the information presented, but also in the relationships formed with the other amazing participants and staff. If you want to learn how to run a financially viable business, tell stories you feel need to be told, and connect with others that are passionate about storytelling, then you should attend this workshop.
Scott Toncray / Public Relations Specialist
Brian and his team took the needed time and had patience with a variety of backgrounds, expertise and personalities and yet we were able to feel as one connected class participating in an intensive learning workshop on his methodology for running MediaStorm. I can say that we were all stretched in the way we think about topics such as advocacy journalism and how multimedia can use the medium to promote change - global change - change that this world needs. And MediaStorm is cranking this change out - one story at a time.
03: Aug 2011
Martin Herrera / Executive Director, Dokumental
The Methodology workshop is a unique and rare opportunity to deep dive into the inner workings of a successful multimedia production company. In a simple and extremely generous way, Brian shares the most intimate details of how to run the business. To add even more value to this mix, a significant amount of time is dedicated to reviewing and dissecting the most powerful stories created by Brian and his team, from pre-production preparation, to in the field production practices, to the post-production learnings that make their pieces some of the best out there. I was blown away by the sophistication and excellence Mediastorm puts in their products and into the workshop. Worth every minute and every dollar invested!
Ronald Hole / Visual journalist, storytell.in
This was a really inspiring meeting with skilled storytellers at the MediaStorm Methodology. As a long time television storyteller, this was frefreshing, and inspired me to challenge my own skills and goals I have for storytelling. MediaStorm makes high end multimedia productions with strong and engaging stories. I am very glad I had this opertunity. You meet and have a personal chat with the staff, and get to pick some of the best brains in the business. Thank you.
02: Jan 2011
Patty Caya / Digital Media Producer
I applied to the MediaStorm Methodology Workshop because I had attended a one day workshop with Brian Storm where I was so riveted by the content I didn’t want to leave my seat: not for lunch, not for the end of the day, not for a single minute as long as he was willing to keep teaching.
The Methodology Workshop is a chance to learn what goes into the secret sauce that makes a MediaStorm multimedia project taste so damn good.
This workshop is a chance to not just peek behind the curtain and catch a glimpse at what makes the organization tick, but a chance to have the curtain torn down and observe the work under a microscope. You will learn both the operational and creative processes that support the creation of some of the best cinematic narrative projects produced today. And the material will be presented with warmth, humor and a genuine interest in turning the tables to learn what you think about how they do what they do.
Brian and his team don’t hold anything back. They teach. They share. They listen. And they invite, or rather they insist that you take their process, apply it in your own business or educational environment and improve upon it. They want you to succeed because they believe by doing so, it will make them better as an organization and it will improve the industry overall.
MediaStorm is not just a company at the forefront of multimedia production; they are a company that is investing in the future of an industry through their own work and through workshops such as this.
If my experience is any indication, you will learn more than you expect. Your opinions and perspectives will be valued at every stage of the workshop. And you will end the week wishing you could stay a lot longer.
K. Matthew Dames / Executive Editor, Copycense
It is difficult to emphasize how important the MediaStorm Methodology Workshop (MMW) in January 2011 has been to my development as a creator, scholar, educator who is interested in using narrative to teach and inform others about the importance of copyright and other legal topics.
MMW is at once exhausting and invigorating: for five consecutive days, all the participants shared, thought, and deliberated extensively about how best to sustainably produce and distribute important, compelling, and timeless multimedia packages. We did this eight hours each day, and often for another hour or two after each session. We critiqued video; we considered business models; we shared insights on techniques; we reviewed technology and gear.
If it seems like there are few public specifics about what a typical MMW will be like, you're probably correct. I don't think there can be a "typical" MMW, for two basic reasons. First, participants' experiences, goals, and talents will vary in each iteration. My session's participant group included mostly visual professional (i.e. photographers, videographers); in contrast, I deal mostly with audio. Yet, I never felt out of place or diminished. In fact, we spent a lot of the Workshop talking the importance of great sound and how to get it. Different Workshops may have a different vibe.
Second, almost all the participants and staff members talked about a variety of projects or business initiatives that were in development, and therefore not publicly available. Confidential and controversial issues were discussed. As a result, there is a sort of "What happens at MMW stays at MMW" aspect to these sessions. Still, I sensed an incredible amount of trust between MediaStorm personnel and my fellow participants; this trust allowed everyone to benefit.
MMW demands a lot of time and energy, both from participants and MediaStorm personnel. You must commit to being invested. But I believe these investments were well worth it. At the end, I thought everyone suspected this session could be one of the most important sessions of our respective careers.
If you have any interest in producing and distributing timeless multimedia works that will impact others, you owe it to yourself to attend MMW. I give the MediaStorm Methodology Workshop my strongest unqualified recommendation. The entire MediaStorm family and all my fellow participants were overwhelmingly candid, giving, genuine, talented and professional. For that, I thank them again and express my deepest gratitude.
Gavin Frankel / Freelance Photographer
I learned so much during the MediaStorm Methodology, January 2011, that it has taken me a good week to digest it all. Well worth the tuition fees and traveling over from Paris. Everything said was so relevant to my work as a freelance photographer. My only wish was that I knew it all earlier! Not only was it an excellent overview of the development of multimedia storytelling, past, present, and future, but also an inside view to how a top end multimedia company works. I enjoyed the break down of their stories, listening to the group's questions and answers, hearing from all the staff one by one as they explained their craft. Everybody had something to offer and it was offered freely. Clear thinking, clear presentation. A very personal atmosphere where creativity and exchange were encouraged...and obviously flourished. It's sure that I will stay in contact with MediaStorm and the seven other participants of the workshop. I feel lucky to have had this experience, to have met everybody that I did, simple as that.
Alan Hill / Associate Lecturer/Queensland College of Art
That MediaStorm offer a methodology workshop speaks volumes about their thoughtful, intelligent approach to storytelling, and having completed it, it's now easy to see why they are the undisputed leaders in this field. Their passion for the stories they tell comes from the heart, but their relentless pursuit of the best way to bring each story to life is driven by an intellectual process of reflection and refinement that is all to rare in the media today.
To know and understand your methodology so well that you are able to successfully teach it to others means you have broken down every aspect of the process you are engaged with and have interrogated it to the fullest extent. Nothing is left to chance and it's got nothing to do with cameras, equipment or software packages. Which is not to say the workshop is not practical, it is. Precisely because MediaStorm are themselves so methodical (and incredibly generous) the workshop is full of practical advice, distilled down from their years of experience, that allows you to quickly and easily understand and see ways you can apply and/or modify it to your own context.
That is why I will be able to directly apply so much of what I learned at the Methodology Workshop in my own work, but also in my university teaching. Brian and the whole MediaStorm team are passionate, methodical and generous, so the opportunity to spend a week learning from them was a unique and inspiring experience I would highly recommend.
Elaine Hill / Online Art Director, Greenpeace International
I came away from the MediaStorm methodology workshop totally inspired and excited about the future of multimedia storytelling. The opportunity to spend a week with this team of extraordinary individuals at the top of their game and to see the nuts and bolts of production was beyond priceless. The effort that went into preparing the workshop - down to the group dynamics - was greatly appreciated.
It's so rare and special to walk into a work space where you could tell everyone loved being there, the enthusiasm person brought to us when talking about their work was totally infectious. Brian's own story and personal commitment to spreading the potential of multimedia is in itself is a testament to pushing boundaries, embracing innovation and proves that quality is still worth pursuing. I only hope I can take what I learned and use it in a way that brings value to the effort you put into the individuals in this workshop.
Gary Matoso / Gary Matoso Photography
The MediaStorm Methodology Workshop proved to be an invaluable source of information and inspiration. It was a nicely balanced mix of creative and technical skills and business strategy and was the perfect primer to help get my new media production venture off the ground.
I really loved the open agenda. Our workshop was comprised of a diverse group of attendees from business, journalism, photography, academic, and non-profit worlds. Each of us came in with a different set of expectations for what we hoped to achieve. From the start Brian took care to listen to our stories and tailored the sessions to cover everyone’s needs. I believe we all walked away with what we needed to move forward with our professional goals. I know I did.
The most valuable aspect of the workshop for me was learning how the MediaStorm team works. Getting an inside look at their approach to project organization and workflow was hugely helpful. We were able to integrate much of what I learned immediately into our own productions, which really helped us tighten up and standardize our process and workflow. As an added benefit, it was great to be around the MediaStorm team for a week. It was insightful just to watch how they worked and interacted on projects.
The other aspect of the Methodology Workshop that I appreciated was the exchange of ideas and expertise between the MediaStorm team and my fellow attendees. At times it felt more like a roundtable discussion than a classic teacher/student workshop. It was great to be around these smart people with various perspectives discussing strategies for the changing media landscape we’re all facing today. We had many enlightening conversations about the challenges we face but also the great opportunities that lie ahead.
And it was just plain fun. Good people, innovative thinking, and very practical advise. I recommend it wholeheartedly.
Rebecca McInroy / Multimedia Manager KUT Radio Austin, Texas
It's hard to overstate the value of my experience learning from the talented, skilled and thoughtful team at MediaStorm. Over the course of five days, along with seven dynamic professionals from all walks of life, I was immersed in the method behind MediaStorm's seemingly magic madness.
They covered multimedia production and editing techniques; shared recommendations for the best tools and technology to use when producing multimedia; and mapped out their business model and social media strategy. The most incredible part of the workshop was hearing their personal stories drawn from years of field experience and advice applied to our own endeavors.
I found being part of this workshop not only instructive, but also empowering. If you're a creative, thoughtful person and are considering whether to sign up - DO IT! It's five days that will change your perspective on what's possible.
Scott Willson / Manager Photo/Video/New Media, The North Face
Usually when asked to develop a creative department from the ground up, you'd start with the basics...strategy, process and workflow, etc.
You'd then layer on all of the "cool" components...creative concepting and development, shooting, editing, production.
At least this is how it would work 'in theory'.
Those of us tasked with incorporating video and multimedia elements into an existing department are quickly learning that we're working with an inverted model: the great stories, ideas, assets and distribution channels may already be there...now, we need to build that foundation so we can effectively build and manage great multimedia content.
In 5 intensive days, Brian and his team at MediaStorm provide invaluable insight into the business of producing stellar multimedia stories. From the initial project request, through the development and production phase and ultimately distribution, you're immersed in their thought process. You gain a better understanding of the overall creative development process, as well as the nuts and bolts of production, workflow and distribution.
The close interaction with other participants enhances the learning. You walk away from the workshop with a lot of great ideas that can be implemented to build or strengthen a multimedia department. Equally important, you'll get validation on what you're already doing right.
01: July 2009
David Carlson / Executive Director, Center for Media Innovation
You can't put a price on something like the MediaStorm Methodology Workshop. Brian Storm and his team are open, insightful and provocative. They have been there and done what most of the rest of us have only thought about, and they are willing, even anxious, to share the knowledge they've gained.
Tavia Gilbert / Audio producer, director, narrator, writer
The methodology workshop has already proven to be a very wise investment of my time and resources. After 5 intensive days in a room with 5 leading figures in methodology and curriculum development, I could see clearly the tremendous potential that exists in this disruptive moment of communication. Less than two weeks since the conclusion of the workshop, I have already implemented effective changes in the way I approach my work as a creative artist and the leader of a small company.
I was inspired by the MediaStorm team's ability to harness rapidly changing technology and concepts, which has enabled them to narrow the gap between impulse and execution and focus their energies on producing extraordinary stories. MediaStorm's work is a testament to what happens when one combines craft and technology to remove obstacles between audience and exceptional experiences of the body, mind, and heart. MediaStorm's commitment to quality and purpose-driven work is powerful and inspirational.
Kim Komenich / Assistant Professor, San Jose State
The Mediastorm Methodology Workshop exposed me to the inner workings of one of the most celebrated multimedia houses in the history of the medium. I watched as MediaStorm multimedia producers and interactive designers created cutting-edge multi-platform multimedia in real-world environment where creativity, technology and economic survival meet.
My hypothesis about teaching all the skills necessary to do original, compelling multimedia were validated--the student needs to found their career on a core competency. There are processes that students need to understand and there are prosesses that students need to know, to know as well as a jazz musician knows their instrument.
The temptation is to try make multimedia students "jacks of all trades", but the MediaStorm experience shows that graduates who are "masters of one" seem to be getting the good jobs. Students with a rich portfolio and an original point of view will have an advantage over those who have "shown competency" in all of the multimedia disciplines.
In short, there are things to know and there are things to truly understand. The multimedia project should be thought of as a production, so we should be educating "producers" who are proficient to the point of originality and insight about their multimedia core storytelling competency (video, audio, stills, etc.), and knowledgeable enough about the other skills needed to be able to assemble the best team of interactive designers, video editors and coders, to get the job done.
For the multimedia teacher, the first day of class might best be compared to the first day of football camp or the first day of band camp. Who is a natural-born quarterback? Who aspires to play the trumpet? Once this is decided, the process of teaching music and football can begin.
As much as multimedia teachers don't want to believe it, there are natural-born coders and back-end people in other departments who need story content for their projects.
And that's what it's all about, really-- telling a story. The only people calling this "new media" are the teachers. Most of our students have grown up with digital photography. Some might have already shot and edited a short video. To add too much weight to the teaching of the technical aspects of multimedia, to the detriment of the fieldwork and storytelling, is the equivalent of spending a semester teaching a group of aspiring writers to be better typists.
The Mediastorm Methodology Workshop gave me the confidence to set these priorities:
--Find a student's core competency and light a fire.
--Encourage collaboration.
--If you are practicing true multimedia storytelling, the story will tell you, as producer, how it should be told and what the proportions of video, audio, stills, and interactive design will be.
--Encourage entrepreneurship. There will never be a time in your students' lives when it will be easier to crash on a friend's couch and eat Taco Bell while inventing the next breakthrough in multimedia storytelling.
What a week! Do it!
John Temple / Editor, Honolulu Civil Beat
The methodology workshop gave me time to stop and step into a different way of seeing journalism. I came away inspired by what's possible if we commit to a different way of thinking about stories.
The Amazing Amyby Espen Rasmussen, Terje Bringedal, Torsten Kjellstrand and Finn RyanUsing humor and a love of fantasy, "The Amazing Amy" Harlib connects with audiences through performing strenuous yoga-based contortion acts in New York City.  Watch this project
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The Amazing Amyby Espen Rasmussen, Terje Bringedal, Torsten Kjellstrand and Finn RyanUsing humor and a love of fantasy, "The Amazing Amy" Harlib connects with audiences through performing strenuous yoga-based contortion acts in New York City. Watch this project
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The Amazing Amyby Espen Rasmussen, Terje Bringedal, Torsten Kjellstrand and Finn RyanUsing humor and a love of fantasy, "The Amazing Amy" Harlib connects with audiences through performing strenuous yoga-based contortion acts in New York City. Watch this project
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The Amazing Amyby Espen Rasmussen, Terje Bringedal, Torsten Kjellstrand and Finn RyanUsing humor and a love of fantasy, "The Amazing Amy" Harlib connects with audiences through performing strenuous yoga-based contortion acts in New York City. Watch this project
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The Amazing Amyby Espen Rasmussen, Terje Bringedal, Torsten Kjellstrand and Finn RyanUsing humor and a love of fantasy, "The Amazing Amy" Harlib connects with audiences through performing strenuous yoga-based contortion acts in New York City. Watch this project
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