MediaStorm is pleased to present a film about something we all spend way too much time talking about: sex. Return to the Body, a collaboration with Verse, takes a look at our culture’s relationship to sexuality through one woman’s experience, Rebecca Torosian. She has a hard time explaining what she does. "I'll just tell this person like I'm a mind-body coach and if they want to know more they can ask me," said Rebecca. Want to know more? Rebecca’s a sex surrogate. Rebecca’s work is a deep exploration of the mind-body connection, and how it can enliven or harm a healthy sex life. In Return to the Body, Rebecca works with Rob, a faithful husband, father, lawyer, and cancer survivor whose treatments left him unable to continue a fulfilling sexual relationship with his wife. In an effort to regain that connection to his own sexuality, he seeks Rebecca’s help. For Rebecca, “Sexuality, is…

The W. Eugene Smith Fund is now accepting applications for its Grant in Humanistic Photography.  The W. Eugene Smith Grant is presented annually to a photographer whose past work and proposed project, as judged by a panel of experts, follows the tradition of W. Eugene Smith’s concerned photography and dedicated compassion exhibited during his 45-year career as a photographic essayist. For 2017, the amount of the grant will be $35,000. An additional $5,000 in fellowship money will be dispersed, at the discretion of the jury, to one or more finalists deemed worthy of special recognition. Awards will be presented in a ceremony held in New York City on Wednesday, October 18, 2017. Past recipients include Justyna Mielnikiewicz, Matt Black, and Maya Goded. To learn more and to apply please see here.    

The Associated Collegiate Press (ACP) is holding its Midwinter National College Journalism Convention from March 2 - March 5 in San Fransisco. The convention provides workshops, practical session and networking opportunities to hone leadership,critical thinking skills and ethical sensibilities. All sessions will be led by media professionals, accomplished media advisers and a select group of student journalists. We are thrilled that Brian Storm, Founder of MediaStorm, will be presenting on digital storytelling and creating cinematic narratives on Saturday March 4, from from 1:30 - 3:20pm. Join him for a unique opportunity to learn more about how to create compelling narratives that get noticed. To learn more about the Convention and to sign up please see here.

Wondering what we’ve been up to these past few months? We’ve been working hard on these storytelling projects to create impact in these challenging times. Developing an Immersive Experience for Summit Public Schools This summer, we partnered with Summit Public Schools–a transformative charter management organization and nonprofit that uses personalized learning to prepare a diverse population for success in college, career, and life. Summit’s results are amazing–96% of its graduates are accepted into at least one four-year college and its students finish college at double the national average. To help Summit demystify its process and pedagogy so other educators can implement its model, we built an interactive website that combines video and interaction design to demonstrate what it’s like to teach, learn, and thrive at Summit Public Schools. The toolset is already having an impact, as more and more educators learn how to implement personalized learning in their schools, helping each child…