The "Furries" - people who feel, deep-down inside, that being human actually constrains who they are. One may believe that his true self is something other than human - not extra-terrestrial or other-worldy, but something very much of this world: a bear, perhaps, or a mouse, or a rat.

In A Tail of Identity we meet three such men who reveal, with incredible honesty and humor, what it means to feel more like themselves when dressed as an animal than they do in their own skin.

"Rattus has lots of friends," says one man, of the persona he has created with a hand-crafted rat costume. "He knows lots of people, and lots of people know him. Whereas I'm not so well known in my human form."

"I didn't choose the rat," he exclaims. "Who would want to be a rat? I believe the rat chose me."

A Tail of Identity is a product of 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 online training at mediastorm.com/train.

Toni Greaves, Photography, Additional Video, Audio and Stills

I'm very grateful for the MediaStorm team holding such an amazing workshop. It's really the pinnacle of the multimedia world to be able to work with these guys, and I'm thrilled to have had the chance to do just that. 

The workshop has elevated my sense of storytelling, further opened my editing eyes, and inspired me to reach even further in this medium. Also, Brian's insight into stories, and his editing skills are epic and inspiring. He could charge an admission price for that alone, but instead with the workshop you get to witness that, while being a part of the whole MediaStorm team in action.

Jeff Davis, Video, Additional Video, Audio and Stills

A new team, an evolving story, tight deadlines, unpredictable weather, collaborative opportunities, studio lectures, on-the-go instruction, creative expression, and exposure to MediaStorm's unique approach to production came together to create an immersive, exhausting, and highly valued experience. 

The workshop format allowed each member of our team to contribute, explore new professional roles, experiment, and learn a ton while driving toward a finished, compelling story. As expected, there were moments of uncertainty, insight, comedy, tension, focus, disappointment, and encouragement along the way. 

Participating in this process from start to finish was awesome. I left the workshop with new goals for my professional development and a stronger sense for the challenge, tools, structure, and power of multimedia storytelling.

Steve Rowland, Audio, Additional Video, Audio and Stills, and Additional Music

We are all facing a changing world. A world that is losing traditional journalism at a time when it may be needed more than ever before. The challenges facing any photographer, radio producer, print journalist or documentary makers are enormous. 

Each of us is expected to know how do it all. We also have to find ways to survive as newspapers fold and government and foundation support for the arts is drying up. Enter MediaStorm. Brian Storm is a master multi-media producer, and he is committed to sharing his knowledge and helping others face these big transitions. A week of very long days working intensively with Brian, producer Bob Sacha, and 3 other wonderful workshop participants was tremendous. It was eye-opening to see the MediaStorm approach. Find the story. Keep yourself organized. Work your butt off. Be compassionate. See the humanity in all people. The story is key and every element added must have a purpose. 

As a radio producer I was delighted to see that my experience is directly relevant. I learned non-stop, and about each and every aspect of the process. MediaStorm is leading us into the next decade of journalism. These workshops and MediaStorm's commitment to sharing will ensure that the we have producers ready to comment on our changing world, both its perils and its joys. Excellence, commitment, vision and hard work will never go out of style.

Gregory Warner, Editor, Additional Video, Audio and Stills

The advanced multimedia workshop forced me to reevaluate my workflow from the ground up. Enjoyable, intense, and much more useful than the typical sit-on-your-ass-and-listen workshop.

MediaStorm online training videos provide essential tools and techniques proven to enhance production and post-production. Created from years of live training experience, the online training videos provide useful tips no matter what your role.

MediaStorm's award-winning team of producers and cinematographers lead the online training videos with lessons learned from their experience producing films and training groups and organizations around the world.