Support “Frame by Frame” on Kickstarter

For filmmaker and multimedia journalist Mo Scarpelli, Frame by Frame is an opportunity to give a voice to those relegated to silence. Developed with filmmaker Alexandria Bombach, the character-driven feature-length documentary follows the story of four Afghan photographers to explore the country's recent revolution in local photojournalism. You can help complete their project on Kickstarter. Background In 1996, the Taliban banned photography in Afghanistan. Since the regime was removed from Kabul in 2001, photography has become an outlet for Afghans determined to show the hidden stories of their country. "The need for local journalism in Afghanistan couldn't be more important than it is right now," says Scarpelli. "To build democracy and independence, to hold those in power accountable, to drive social and political change. This is going to be an incredible story of what that means." The Film The film chronicles Afghan photojournalists seizing a unique opportunity to build democracy in a…

Continue ReadingSupport “Frame by Frame” on Kickstarter

For Minga: The Impact of One Girl’s Story & How You Can Help

Last year we premiered Surviving the Peace: Angola, a short film that gives a personal representation of the amazing work MAG (Mines Advisory Group) does to remove landmines, bombs and other weapons from post-conflict countries. More than six months after the film’s release, its youngest participant continues to make a huge impact. Minga, only eight years old at the time of filming, recounts the day she found the landmine that blew off her arm and left her blind. The production team and viewers alike have been moved by her bravery and tenacity. We received this note from Lauren of Brooklyn, New York just last week: ...This morning I was still thinking about Surviving the Peace: Angola, and most specifically, Minga. The film and her story touched my heart so deeply and I can’t reconcile *not* doing something. I watched her sweet hand reaching for her Grandmother and noted how she stood so…

Continue ReadingFor Minga: The Impact of One Girl’s Story & How You Can Help

Worth Clicking: MediaStorm Links Roundup

You've made it through another week. To celebrate, unwind with some of our favorite reads and videos from the past week. All links are hand-picked by the MediaStorm staff. Cheers! Google just demoted your television set into a second screen, a slave to your phone or tablet or laptop. [BuzzMachine] Despite new technology and the leveling of the creative playing field, video is still a prisoner inside the rectangle viewing window. Can it be freed? [Inside the Story] Turns your iPad into a Mac control pad. [Macworld] The production duo behind Beasts of the Southern Wild has a fellowship from NYU’s Cinema Research Institute to research grassroots audience outreach for films; here are the top takeways from their research so far. [Indiewire] Is your work designed to stand the test of time? [Seth's Blog] Innovation happens when ideas intersect, so innovative people are at the intersection of fields. [Fast Company] Steinway &…

Continue ReadingWorth Clicking: MediaStorm Links Roundup

Brian Storm on Why You’ll Never Master Multimedia

Senior Producer Eric Maierson’s post “I Hate ‘Multimedia’” stirred up a discussion on what success in our industry looks like and what is required to get us there. We used your comments and questions to ask our Executive Producer and Founder Brian Storm (with thoughts from Director of Photography Rick Gershon) how visual storytellers can flourish in a constantly evolving industry. Do you hate ‘multimedia’ too? Hate is a strong word, but I would argue that word has become meaningless. It’s sort of like saying “awesome.” What does awesome mean anymore? Everything is awesome. Multimedia has been associated with my professional title for twenty years of my life. So, of course, the word means something to me. What I’ve seen happen is that it means something different to everyone you talk to. Eric made a bunch of good points about it being too small in scope. It’s about our industry, the way…

Continue ReadingBrian Storm on Why You’ll Never Master Multimedia