Few activities are as human or powerful as storytelling. The fantastic -what is magical, what is ‘unreal’ or ‘impossible’ - are precisely the elements that bring audiences together through stories and characters grounded in authentic or historical lived experience, even in imaginary and fantastical realms. We often first encounter what is different and unknown through stories, and we use what we learn from those stories as guides and teachers.

What we put in stories matters. Fantasy and the fantastic have always been strong forces in popular entertainment, and most of these productions knowingly - and sometimes unknowingly - incorporate medievalism, folklore, and fairytales into their narrative structure, costuming and props, and thematic tropes. However, most people working in and on productions do not have the time nor expertise to effectively research, understand, and comprehensively incorporate these elements, which can result in a narrative muddled by mixed or inappropriate messaging. Media Res can help your production avoid those pitfalls, allowing you to create stories that reflect the intention and creative ethos of its creators and producers.