We develop deep understanding of how narratives work across different communities, contexts, and audiences. Then we turn those cultural insights into creative frameworks and tangible artistic strategies that unlock new possibilities.
2024
✦
Completed
✦
Narrative Research
The Narratives of Leadership Project is an extension of an earlier collaboration with Partnership for Public Service, The Civic Leadership Stories Project, where we developed a platform for filmmakers seeking to tell compelling narratives about political leaders. In order to develop our own projects with authentic, multi-dimensional characters and narratives, we spoke with a wide variety of civic leaders to identify key themes, messaging strategies, and storytelling techniques that can inspire and mobilize audiences. We were especially interested in how to reach audiences under 30, to help instill a sense of civic responsibility and activism that can shape the world for years to come. Too often, leaders are depicted as corrupt or incompetent, but there are rich stories to tell about leaders who: ARE GENUINE: Authenticity creates trust. Showing a leader’s challenges, failures, and their full lives outside of politics reminds audiences that we’re all just people. GO ON A JOURNEY: Following a leader as they develop new beliefs from new information, societal norms, personal experiences, or political dynamics fosters more empathy for the complexities of decision-making. CELEBRATE SMALL VICTORIES: Demand for instant gratification poses significant challenges for leaders when meaningful change often happens from incremental shifts over a long period of time. BREAK THE MOLD: Featuring young leadership brings unique ideas, diverse perspectives, and optimistic energy to the table. Their stories empower other young people to recognize their own agency and potential to affect change. Thanks to these insights, Cinereach is developing a web series that highlights undersung civic leaders in a way that’s insightful, funny, and even gamified to introduce younger audiences to new ways ordinary people can make extraordinary change.
2024
✦
Completed
✦
Narrative Research
The Narratives of Leadership Project is an extension of an earlier collaboration with Partnership for Public Service, The Civic Leadership Stories Project, where we developed a platform for filmmakers seeking to tell compelling narratives about political leaders. In order to develop our own projects with authentic, multi-dimensional characters and narratives, we spoke with a wide variety of civic leaders to identify key themes, messaging strategies, and storytelling techniques that can inspire and mobilize audiences. We were especially interested in how to reach audiences under 30, to help instill a sense of civic responsibility and activism that can shape the world for years to come. Too often, leaders are depicted as corrupt or incompetent, but there are rich stories to tell about leaders who: ARE GENUINE: Authenticity creates trust. Showing a leader’s challenges, failures, and their full lives outside of politics reminds audiences that we’re all just people. GO ON A JOURNEY: Following a leader as they develop new beliefs from new information, societal norms, personal experiences, or political dynamics fosters more empathy for the complexities of decision-making. CELEBRATE SMALL VICTORIES: Demand for instant gratification poses significant challenges for leaders when meaningful change often happens from incremental shifts over a long period of time. BREAK THE MOLD: Featuring young leadership brings unique ideas, diverse perspectives, and optimistic energy to the table. Their stories empower other young people to recognize their own agency and potential to affect change. Thanks to these insights, Cinereach is developing a web series that highlights undersung civic leaders in a way that’s insightful, funny, and even gamified to introduce younger audiences to new ways ordinary people can make extraordinary change.
2024
✦
Completed
✦
Narrative Research
Cinereach believes that sustainability is one of the most paramount issues where narrative change requires a shift. We want to learn more about how climate stories can reach a wider audience, and how they can be told as effectively and equitably as possible. By talking with people who understand the climate crisis on a deep and often personal level, we sought to gain greater insight into how to develop, produce, and distribute climate stories that people will love, and have the power to change the world. We synthesized the information gathered from those conversations and created resources to aid our team and other creatives in producing engaging and effective storytelling. The first outcome of the Climate Visibility Project was the development of a that was used to facilitate a game jam, giving video game creators an inspiring resource to make a prototype that explored climate futures. The five finalists were showcased in an activation at the Hollywood Climate Summit in June 2024. And we’re just getting started!
2022
✦
Completed
✦
Narrative Research
We have a crisis of civic leadership at a time when it is most urgently needed. Good leaders seem hard to find on screen and off. But so many unexpected, inspiring, and entertaining stories are waiting to be told! The Civic Leadership Stories Project supports scriptwriters, showrunners, producers, talent, and other creatives telling storylines about characters who are shaking up how things are done in places of power. These storylines can inspire audiences to get involved with voting, advocacy, and public service. Visit the https://www.civicleadershipstories.com official site to learn more and download free toolkits.
✦
In Progress
✦
Narrative Research
Test
View all past work
