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.

During this course, attendees will learn about the history and recent developments in photojournalism, multimedia and video journalism, including the current trends in documentary filmmaking, all through specific examples in MediaStorm’s work.

The MediaStorm team will share their workflow and methods and discuss essential elements of project organization and storytelling concepts. We will also have detailed discussions about working with clients and fostering relationships with NGOs and other partners as well as traditional and new models of distribution, offering a detailed blueprint with specific recommendations for producers and educators alike.

Attendees will be encouraged to participate in ongoing discussions and in-depth critiques of MediaStorm’s work, as well as the industry as a whole. Our goal is to teach and inspire others to improve on MediaStorm’s model and approach, and to foster a growing family of storytellers that will continue collaborating with one another and moving the business forward for years to come.

You can attend in person or via video conference.

• Photojournalists, videographers and documentary filmmakers who want to learn how to improve their craft, while also getting up to date on the current state of the industry.
• Educators looking to build out video journalism, multimedia or documentary filmmaking programs for both undergraduate and graduate levels.
• Organizational leaders and entrepreneurs looking to build or grow successful video/multimedia departments and companies.

The fee for this workshop is $1500.

All workshop participants receive a free one-year all access subscription to our online training.

The next workshop dates are:

July 16 - 18, 2025 (Deadline to apply is May 7)

You can attend the master class in person (in Los Gatos, CA) or via online video conference. The workshop will start at 9am and end at 5pm PST with an hour for lunch.

Sign up to be notified when new dates are announced.

Interested applicants must fill out the online application. Once you submit the form, you will not be able to edit it. We strongly recommend copying the questions and working offline, and then pasting in your answers so that you don't lose any information.

You can also sign up to be notified as additional workshop dates are added:

Participants will leave the Master Class with an understanding of what it takes to produce quality documentaries and digital multimedia stories, from software options, to story selection, to distribution. This Master Class is not a hands-on workshop, nor is it designed to teach attendees how to use editing software or how to shoot video--we offer detailed Online Training videos for that and each participant will receive one year of complimentary access.

Storytelling Fundamentals

• Fundamental video storytelling skills and techniques
• Documentary filmmaking essential principles
• Best interviewing practices for your subjects
• Working with still photographs, sound and video
• Organizing your dailies
• Optimizing your editing workflow
• Putting the package together

Design Fundamentals

• Creating appropriate graphics packages for cinematic narratives
• Fundamentals of web design and interactivity
• Using animation appropriately and effectively in your work

Partnering with Clients

• Pitching to and collaborating with clients/partners
• Wisely choosing different types of possible clients/partners
• Applying to production and post-production grants and contests

Packing and Distribution

• Efficient and appropriate ways to showcase work on the web
• Encoding and distribution for various online platforms
• Syndication models
• Various distribution models for both short and feature length content
• Best festivals to submit your film to depending on your priorities
• Specific examples and recommendations of companies and platforms to use to distribute your film

The Business

• Real financials and business strategy of a small production company
• Different possible modes of business for a successful production company
• Remaining innovative and ahead of the curve as a video/multimedia producer

“I envision creating a company in Mexico that will use multimedia to tell the stories of people or communities positively impacted by social enterprises. The week with Brian Storm and his team has clarified in my mind the capabilities required to make my dream not only real but a sustainable business. The MediaStorm Methodology workshop, through real examples and people doing the actual work, is a great approach to really understand the nuances of good versus great storytelling. It is also an in-depth walk through the process of creation, editing, publishing, and distribution. It has been an invaluable experience that will inform my future direction as a storyteller.” - Francisco Alcala Torreslanda / Social Documentary Photographer

“MediaStorm is a company pushing the boundaries of storytelling and raising the bar higher with every project they produce. The Methodology Workshop is the ultimate gateway to the behind the scenes, providing an opportunity to understand how they accomplish such great work. Anyone whose job involves multimedia and storytelling should take this workshop. I am grateful for Brian and his team for sharing their knowledge and experience with such generosity.” - Kemal Akdogan

“My week at the Methodology Workshop with Brian Storm and his team has been life changing. All of my questions about MediaStorm’s quality documentary filmmaking were answered as we went deeper than I expected into the storytelling secrets that make them who they are. Now the blanks are filled in, and I’m looking forward to increasing the quality of my own multimedia projects with renewed passion. Clearly compassion rules the way MediaStorm tells people’s stories, but they also make sure to get the stories in front of people who can benefit from them the most. Brian’s work is pure journalism, and he preaches his convictions on this throughout the workshop, honoring the true principals of storytelling that his company was founded on. Some of my favorite quotes from Brian are:

“What serves the story?’’

“Everything on screen should have a purpose.”

“Everything and everyone is a story.”

“Don’t just take their picture, give them a voice.”

“Simple is the hardest thing.”

Thank you Brian and all the team at MediaStorm for your inspiring generosity. I will make it count.” - Carla Adelmann / Freelance Documentary Photographer

Where will participants stay?

Participants are responsible for their own room and board. We will provide local hotel and neighborhood information to accepted participants. MediaStorm is easily accessible by subway, so location is flexible.

Do you offer introductory workshops?

No. We feel there are already several terrific workshops out there offering introductory and intermediate instruction (see below), so we are focusing exclusively on advanced training.

Are there other workshops like this?

We think the MediaStorm Workshops are unique because of the small number of participants and the focus on advanced multimedia storytelling. With that said, there are a number of great workshops to consider:

• The Kalish Workshop
• Knight Digital Media Center's Multimedia Reporting and Convergence Workshop
• Maine Media Workshops
• Missouri Photo Workshop
• Mountain Workshops
• NPPA's Multimedia Immersion Program
• NPPA's NewsVideo Workshop
• NPPA's Advanced Storytelling Workshop
• Transom Workshops