Read more about the article Pulitzer Center and MediaStorm Present “Japan’s Disposable Workers”

Pulitzer Center and MediaStorm Present “Japan’s Disposable Workers”

In collaboration with the Pulitzer Center for Crisis Reporting, MediaStorm created a documentary based on Shiho Fukada’s portrait series, Japan’s Disposable Workers. In three sections the film explores the labor issues affecting Japan, and in so doing, illustrates the larger global labor crisis: Overworked to Suicide After the recession of the 1990s, Japan’s white collar salarymen increasingly must work arduous hours for fear of losing their jobs. Working essentially two shifts a day for weeks at a time leads frequently to feelings of depression, something that is still stigmatized in Japan. Net Cafe Refugees Internet cafes have existed in Japan for over a decade, but in the mid 2000s, customers began using these spaces as living quarters. Internet cafe refugees are mostly temporary employees, their salary too low to rent their own apartments. Dumping Ground Kamagasaki, Osaka, Japan used to be a thriving day laborer’s town. Today, it is home to approximately…

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Read more about the article Coming Soon: “The Long Night” – A Feature-Length Documentary by Tim Matsui & MediaStorm

Coming Soon: “The Long Night” – A Feature-Length Documentary by Tim Matsui & MediaStorm

As many as 2.8 million children live on the streets. One out of every three will be lured into prostitution within 48 hours of leaving home. Set in Seattle, Washington, The Long Night, by Tim Matsui and MediaStorm, gives voice and meaning to the crisis of minors who are forced and coerced into the American sex trade. The film weaves together the stories of those whose lives have been forever changed by this issue. “I’ve never seen more vulnerable, more open people,” said editor and producer Tim McLaughlin. “They’ve managed to articulate this situation in ways that are so human and so open. We didn’t intend to make a feature film, but the issues, the moments, and the importance of what Matsui captured warranted it. It’s not an issue-based story. It’s the human experience of this issue.” The Long Night was made possible by the generous support of the Alexia Foundation and the…

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Read more about the article Neighborhood Centers and MediaStorm Present “H-Town Stories”

Neighborhood Centers and MediaStorm Present “H-Town Stories”

Neighborhood Centers Inc., is a not for profit organization that brings resources, education and connection to over 400,000 people throughout Houston and the Texas Gulf Coast region every year. Dozens of different social sectors fall under its scope. Neighborhood Centers asked MediaStorm to create a film that addressed the question: why does our work matter? H-Town Stories offers an answer. Rather than tell the history of how Neighborhood Centers came to exist and explain all that this massive organization does, we took the approach of telling personal stories about the people they serve everyday. Intimate, cinematic narratives bring the heart and soul of the organization to life. Houstonians can view an edited version of the film on Saturday, August 24th, 2013 at 5:00 pm on KHOU 11 News. The full-length feature will premiere on MediaStorm.com on September 19th, 2013.

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Read more about the article 50 Years of Afghan History Come ‘In Focus’
The entrance to the Karkar coal mine around 12 kilometers northeast of Pulikhumri, the provincial town of the Northern province of Baghlan. The Karkar coal deposit at one time met the needs of Kabul city. (AFP/Getty Images)

50 Years of Afghan History Come ‘In Focus’

The 1950’s and 1960’s marked a unique period of great modernization and relative peace in Afghanistan’s long, tumultuous history. The Atlantic explores mid-20th century Afghanistan on their In Focus blog: This time was [an era] when modern buildings were constructed in Kabul alongside older traditional mud structures, when burqas became optional for a time, and the country appeared to be on a path toward a more open, prosperous society. Progress was halted in the 1970s, as a series of bloody coups, invasions, and civil wars began, continuing to this day, reversing almost all of the steps toward modernization taken in the 50s and 60s. View over 30 high-resolution images at The Atlantic. Then take a deep dive into the history of Afghanistan, picking up where the photo series leaves off. A Darkness Visible: Afghanistan, our collaboration with renowned photojournalist Seamus Murphy, examines thirty years of Afghan history through the stories of ordinary…

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Read more about the article MediaStorm Presents the 2013 ICP Infinity Awardees

MediaStorm Presents the 2013 ICP Infinity Awardees

MediaStorm is pleased to present eight new films produced in collaboration with the International Center of Photography with support from the Harbers Family Foundation. Since 1985 ICP's Infinity Awards have brought attention to outstanding achievements in photography. The 2013 Infinity Awards films serve as a portrait of some of the important contributors to photography today. Special Presentation: Jeff Bridges Jeff Bridges is an Academy Award-winning actor. He is also an accomplished photographer. He’s been taking pictures on the set of his movies for more than 30 years, capturing intimate and surprising behind-the-scenes moments. Young Photographer: Kitra Cahana Blurring the line between subjects and friends, Kitra Cahana captures a rare level of intimacy with her subjects. As a documentary photographer, her images explore anthropological, social and spiritual themes through a human perspective. Applied/Fashion/Advertising: Erik Madigan Heck As a photographer, Erik Madigan Heck does not differentiate between art and fashion in his work. Adhering…

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