MediaStorm

As a toddler, Philly Mayer was healthy and happy. A chubby baby, he was quick to laugh and eager to get up on his own feet.

And then, before his first birthday, Philly suddenly stopped walking. His motor skills began to deteriorate.

After a slew of tests and endless emotional upheaval, doctors diagnosed Philly with Spinal Muscular Atrophy, a genetic disease that occurs in an estimated 1 out of every 6,000 births and leaves the spine underdeveloped. His parents were told that he would not live past seven.

A Thousand More is the story of one family's determination to give their son a whole and vital life. In the midst of a great burden, one small child – with a seemingly endless supply of love – can be the blessing that holds a family together.

A Thousand More 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 https://www.mediastorm.com/training/online-training.

Published: August 25th, 2011

Credits

A film by
Photography & Video
Interview , Photography & Video
Photography & Video
Director of Photography
Editor & Producer
Associate Producer
Director & Executive Producer

Special Thanks

The Mayer family would like to thank all doctors in research and patient care for making the future a brighter place for Philly and other children with SMA. Thanks be to God for his love and continued blessings on Philly.


Testimonials

Kristina Budelis, Photography, Video, and Interview

Before the workshop, I was looking forward to hearing the MediaStorm producers talk about multimedia -- about both the nature and strength of the medium, and also their storytelling techniques. And they delivered, often with inspiring clarity, occasionally with thoughtful uncertainty. After the first day, I was able to better understand and articulate the power of multimedia, and how to harness it. But as soon as we began shooting, we were all focused on telling our subject's story. Storytelling, though, was gracefully linked with discussions of technique and process, and that's the best thing about this workshop. During the week, you are product-motivated but with so many MediaStorm producers working alongside the talented participants, you're bound to learn a lot as you (especially with teammates and teachers who will all stay up until 3AM, sipping coffee and arguing about storyline.) Working with such talented and dedicated individuals was without a doubt the best part of the workshop. It was truly a joy to collaborate with Brian, Rick, Eric, Leandro, and my teammates Piotr and Jeff.

In the end, I learned a lot, but, more importantly, I am immensely proud of our story. I can't wait to show it to friends and colleagues, and I am eager to apply the techniques I learned to future visual storytelling endeavors.

Piotr Malecki, Photography and Video

The workshop was so packed with activity and information that towards the end I was surprised that only one week had passed! These long days brought a lot of new ideas to my head that will certainly prove very useful in the future.

Information about building the scene, about storytelling and workflow was invaluable, very practical and hands on.

I also understand that a well shot and well edited story needs time, resources and careful planning. And the power of a finished piece can be huge; short documentary film thanks to its careful editing, good shots and music can be a real beauty, not only conveying the message, but also releasing emotions, provoking thoughts, raising awareness.

This workshop was also a great team experience for me. It was as a good lesson of technical skills as of communication and cooperation within a group. As a photojournalist I was always more happy to work and shoot alone, but during this workshop I have learned to appreciate the power of teamwork; brainstorming, exchanging ideas, the creative kick that it gives. I think that it can really help achieve better results.

And last, but not least, I need to mention great atmosphere and plenty of humour during workshop. It was a good time.

Jeff Rhode, Photography and Video

The amount of resources that the MediaStorm team put into our workshop was amazing and impressive. A Director of Photography was available in the field, a Producer in the editing suite, an Associate Producer who helped with every detail, and an Executive Producer in the office for the final creative decisions. We worked long hours-a couple of 19 hour long work days-and the whole MediaStorm team was available all the time pushing us to do more and keeping us on track. Once the workshop was complete our project was still a rough edit, even with the long work days. We were assured that the final edit, color grading, sound polishing, and titling would be completed so we would have our finished video.

I procrastinated a long time prior to applying to MediaStorm, because there are a lot of other workshops available for less money. After experiencing the resources that were available to us during our week and the dedication of the staff I know I made the right decision. Their dedication and passion was inspiring and changed the way I see.


Get involved


Online Training

During the week of July 23 MediaStorm and three Advanced Multimedia Workshop participants shot and edited the short documentary A Thousand More.

This educational module invites you to learn about the decisions, both in the field, and within the editing suite that went into the making of A Thousand More. Join a conversation between Producer Eric Maierson, Director of Photography Rick Gershon, and MediaStorm Executive Producer Brian Storm, as they discuss the development of this story through a scene-by-scene break down of the piece.

The Making Of provides over an hour and a half of discussion and exposition on the thousands of decisions that went into the editing and shooting of A Thousand More.

Topics covered include:

  • How the story was found
  • What subject to focus on
  • Working in teams
  • Scene by scene explanation of editing decisions
  • Developing the opening
  • Working with music
  • Shooting techniques
  • Building a scene in video
  • Shot choice
  • Developing the narrative arc
  • Continuity
  • Screen direction
  • Going back to the subjects



Recognition

Webby

Year: 2012

Place: Nominee

Category: Documentary: Individual Episode

NPPA's Best of Photojournalism

Year: 2012

Place: First

Category: Feature Multimedia Story

NPPA's Best of Photojournalism

Year: 2012

Place: Honorable Mention

Category: Best Use of the Web

Pictures of the Year International

Year: 2012

Place: Award of Excellence

Category: Feature Multimedia Story

Fotoweek DC International

Year: 2011

Place: First

Category: Multimedia - Documentary Storytelling and Exp


Related Links


Press


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.

These are the upcoming one day workshop dates:



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.

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

Upcoming date:



MediaStorm Storytelling Workshop Stories

A Thousand More

A family is determined to give their disabled son a whole and vital life. In the midst of a great burden, one small child – with a seemingly endless supply of love – is the blessing that holds a family together.

Take Care

Virginia Gandee's brilliant red hair and dozen tattoos belie the reality of this 22-year-old's life. Inside her family's Staten Island trailer her caregiving goes far beyond the love she has for her daughter.

Remember These Days

For Walter Backerman, seltzer is more than a drink. It’s the embodiment of his family. As a third generation seltzer man, he follows the same route as his grandfather. But after 90 years of business, Walter may be the last seltzer man.

The Amazing Amy

Using humor and a love of fantasy, "The Amazing Amy" Harlib connects with audiences through performing strenuous yoga-based contortion acts in New York City.

The American-Made Benny

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Coney Island Jay

Jay Singer has been in love with one Brooklyn neighborhood his entire life. He grew up there, pined for it when he was forced to leave and returned when he couldn’t stand to be away. “Coney Island Jay” really loves Coney Island.

Finding Balance

Tim Obert has been a commercial fisherman since he was 12. But regulations aimed at saving whales and salmon in California leave him struggling to find balance between his dream, his family’s needs and the industry he loves.

Family Kocktail

Kryssy Kocktail grew up in troubled family and, as an adult, followed the mythic path of joining the circus. Amid the lights and energy of the Coney Island Circus Sideshow, she has found something that she never dreamed would be hers.

Hold Out

One evening, David Sheets read a story about a new basketball arena proposed for his neighborhood. Then he realized the plans were drawn right over his house. Hold Out is the story of a few neighbors who haven't been very easily dislodged.

Broken Lines

Joe Soll has spent half of his life searching for his birth parents, in the process he uncovered a mystery that’s haunted him for years.

Exodus

Diana Ortiz spent over half her life in prison for a crime she committed when she was a teenager. Now 45, she has turned her life around and works to help other inmates rebuild their lives. Exodus is her story.


Additional Training Products

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

Developed over seven years and more than 100 projects, our downloadable post-production workflow covers every phase of editing, from organizing assets through outputting final projects and archiving.

Available for iPad on iTunes, the MediaStorm Field Guide outlines fundamental concepts for gathering multimedia content in the field for documentary films.


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Zora J Murff

This page recognizing Zora J Murff for ICP’s 2023 Infinity Award for Documentary Practice and Visual Journalism features a film about his life, a slideshow of his projects and extra clips of his thoughts about his work and motivation.

Sebastião Salgado

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."

Esther Horvath

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.

Acacia Johnson

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.

Don McCullin

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Fight Hate with Love

As a formerly incarcerated person, Michael struggled for work, and found purpose in being a husband, father, and activist. But 7 years since his release from prison, the cost of Michael’s activism is evident.

The American-Made Benny

Benny is a “certified” garbologist. He collects what others throw away. Benny is also at war with his family. Here is a man sharing a house with his wife but living as a stranger. This is a household on the edge.

Amber Bracken

Photographer Amber Bracken recognized something deeper than a protest was afoot when hundreds of tribes gathered at the Standing Rock reservation in opposition to the Dakota Access Pipeline.

A Shadow Remains

How does the death of a child change a parent? How does the death of a parent change a child? How do these moments change us as we develop and grow further away from who we were as children?

Maurice Berger

Maurice Berger–cultural historian, and columnist for the New York Times’ Race Stories–has spent his career studying and teaching racial literacy through visual literacy. 

Japan's Disposable Workers

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Karl Ove Knausgaard

Karl Ove Knausgaard is the celebrated author of a massive six-volume autobiography. But Knausgaard remains confused by the attention. This is a portrait of a man who has achieved massive success yet still considers himself unworthy.

The Last Move

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Michael Christopher Brown

A film about Michael Christopher Brown for the 2017 ICP Infinity Awards.

The Long Night

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Jonathan Harris & Gregor Hochmuth

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Inside Tracks

In 1977, Robyn Davidson walked 1,700 miles across the Australian outback. National Geographic sent Rick Smolan to photograph her perilous journey—a trek that tested and transformed them, forming an immutable bond that continues to this day.

Driftless: Stories from Iowa

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Common Ground

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Remember These Days

For Walter Backerman, seltzer is more than a drink. It’s the embodiment of his family. As a third generation seltzer man, he follows the same route as his grandfather. But after 90 years of business, Walter may be the last seltzer man.

Art: Larry Fink

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Evgenia Arbugaeva

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A Thousand More

A family is determined to give their disabled son a whole and vital life. In the midst of a great burden, one small child – with a seemingly endless supply of love – is the blessing that holds a family together.

Lynn Johnson

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Hungry Horse

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The Amazing Amy

Using humor and a love of fantasy, "The Amazing Amy" Harlib connects with audiences through performing strenuous yoga-based contortion acts in New York City.

The Bride Price

In many countries, girls as young as eight are forced into marriage by their families, culture and economic situation. This practice destroys their chance at education leading to tragic results.

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Take Care

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Based on 14 trips to Afghanistan between 1994 and 2010, A Darkness Visible: Afghanistan is the work of photojournalist Seamus Murphy. His work chronicles a people caught time and again in political turmoil, struggling to find their way.

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Collaborate With Us

We collaborate with a wide range of clients to tell their story. Our services include reporting, post production, interactive design and interactive packaging.

The MediaStorm Platform is an advanced video platform that extends the user experience beyond linear video to include the interactive capabilities of the Internet. 

Learn storytelling, filmmaking, video, multimedia production and business skills through MediaStorm’s intensive, hands-on workshops and in-depth online training resources.



The MediaStorm Platform is an advanced video platform that extends the user experience beyond linear video to include the interactive capabilities of the Internet. 


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