MediaStorm Presents: “Homecoming” For Starbucks on Veterans Day

MediaStorm, in partnership with Starbucks and Starbucks Armed Forces Network, was tasked with developing a character-driven documentary that speaks to the responsibility Americans have towards returning veterans and their families. By focusing on the stories of returning veterans, MediaStorm set out to describe the staggering reintegration challenges facing veterans while celebrating their mission oriented focus, teamwork, discipline, service, and diverse work experience--thereby demonstrating their job readiness. Homecoming tells the story of Major Amy Quesenberry. As Major Quesenberry transitioned out of active duty military, she started asking herself what she wanted to do with her civilian life. With all the experiences she had built up over 14 years of service, she found the transition difficult. She isn’t alone. The veteran unemployment rate is nearly double the national average. Breaking away from the traditional viewpoint of veterans as charity cases, the film aims to portray veterans as important members of our community that have the skills and…

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I Love Your Work

I Love Your Work, released today by Jonathan Harris, is an interactive documentary about the private lives of nine women who make lesbian porn. It consists of 2,202 10-second video clips, taken at five-minute intervals over 10 consecutive days. The full interactive website is limited to just 10 viewers per day, and tickets cost $10 each for 24-hour access. There's also a premium package available for $300, which includes one 13x19" limited-edition archival print of I Love Your Work signed by Jonathan Harris and three 24-hour instant-access tickets to the full interactive website (for yourself or as gifts). Ten percent of ticket sales is donated to the Sex Workers Project, providing social and legal services to sex workers. Tickets available at iloveyourwork.net/. About Jonathan Harris Jonathan Harris makes projects that reimagine how humans relate to technology and to each other. Combining elements of computer science, anthropology, visual art and storytelling, his projects…

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‘Rite of Passage’ Honored by 2013 Webby Awards

We are pleased to announce Rite of Passage by Maggie Steber has been selected as an Official Honoree in the Documentary: Individual Episode category of the 17th Annual Webby Awards. The nominees in this category are The Flaming Lips - The Soft Bulletin by Pitchfork, The Roper by Lucid Inc, America the Gutted by GlobalPost, Out for Change by Ford Foundation and The Unseen Bean by Whole Foods Market. The Webby People's Voice award is now open for these five nominees. Place your vote at http://pv.webbyawards.com/nominees. Watch the nominees now... The Soft Bulletin The Flaming Lips offer an oral history of The Soft Bulletin, with intimate interviews examining the stories behind this modern classic. The Roper The Roper from Lucid Inc. on Vimeo: The true story of Kendrick, a young calf roper we met in Louisiana who dreams of one day making it to the Las Vegas rodeo finals. America the Gutted…

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New from MediaStorm–480 Votes for Care

MediaStorm is pleased to announce 480 Votes, a new client project for CARE. This project was produced in collaboration with Ripple Effect Images and support from the Harbers Family Foundation. The project is a short, character-driven video piece that shows the life-changing impact CARE’s programs have had on the life of a woman in rural Peru. The piece extends beyond the surface of what the organization provided and speaks to the psychological effects of empowerment. Project Synopsis: Lourdes Pilco is a middle-aged woman who’s spent most of her life working backbreaking jobs for little money. With the help of CARE, Lourdes was able to send her children to school while setting a new standard for women in her community.

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‘Surviving the Peace: Angola’ Launch, A Great Event for a Worthy Cause

The Mines Advisory Group launched a major fundraising initiative, Angola100K, last Wednesday, Feb. 6 at the Goethe-Institut in Washington, D.C. The initiative uses MAG and MediaStorm's latest collaboration, Surviving the Peace: Angola, as a centerpiece to raise $100,000 for landmine education in Angola. As the editor and producer of the piece, I was honored to be part of the event (Unfortunately MediaStorm director of photography Rick Gershon was out on assignment and couldn't make it to D.C. for the event). MAG packed the house—a beautiful cinema that seats 90—with people from organizations that both confront issues surrounding landmine removal and are in a position to do something about the problem. Representatives from the Office of Weapons Removal and Abatement, the Angolan Embassy, the U.S.-Angola Chamber of Commerce, The World Bank and Africare, among others, were in attendance. After a passionate introduction from MAG executive director Jennifer Lachman, the lights went down and…

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