Iron Light Labs

09/29/2023

Our impact team had the privilege to meet with movie studio leaders, TV executives, showrunners and filmmakers to discuss social impact strategy and the role we all play in creating content focused on bridging divides and engaging our audiences. Thank you and for hosting us in Los Angeles!

06/29/2023

In places like Iran, where women’s voices are being silenced, the courage to tell a story comes at great risk.

When Filmmaker Farbod Ardebili wanted to tell the powerful story of a fearless female singer of a death metal band in Iran, he knew he would need a safe, secure way to connect with his film crew.

In order to reduce the risk to his cast and crew, Farbod directed the whole story using WhatsApp. This way, he could shed light on the struggles and aspirations of his characters, while also revealing the depth of women’s rights and free speech issues in Iran.

Watch as Farbod talks about his challenging yet incredible experience making FORBIDDEN TO SEE US SCREAM IN TEHRAN with the CEO of WhatsApp, Will Cathcart.

We are proud to be the impact partner for this movie and are incredibly grateful to WhatsApp for making it possible to tell this story.

Follow See Us Scream Film for updates on the movie's journey.

06/05/2023

We're ecstatic to unveil our latest endeavor - An Army of Normal Folks! 🙌

Our goal? To create an Army of everyday superheroes like YOU who are committed to positive change! 👊

Look no further than Coach Bill Courtney for a shining example of this mission. In a Memphis neighborhood where young men are often challenged by generations of poverty, Bill has helped them steer the ship towards a brighter future.

The results? A whopping 31 out of the 32 seniors under his wing soared off to college in his last two seasons. 🎓

Echoing Bill’s words, “it's not all these fancy suits on CNN or Fox who will change our world. It's An Army of Normal Folks” - that's us. That's YOU!

To fuel this movement, we're launching our podcast, "An Army of Normal Folks." Let's come together, amplify our voices, and reshape our nation – one story at a time. 🎙️🎧

So, what are you waiting for? Join us in this exciting journey. Watch our launch video and sign up for the Army.

03/08/2023

A team of Iranian filmmakers risked everything to produce a short film in the streets of Tehran — and the behind the scenes story is as compelling as the film itself.

The filmmakers submitted a fake script to the Iranian government in order to secure permits to shoot the film. Embedded inside the fake script was the real film.

LA-based filmmaker Farbod Ardebili directed the film from the United States via WhatsApp. He relied on the platform's end-to-end encryption to securely communicate with the team in Tehran.

Once filming was complete, he edited the film stateside.

"Forbidden to See Us Scream in Tehran" tells the story of a fearless frontwoman for an Iranian death metal band who will stop at nothing to free her little sister from an oppressive Islamic regime.

Our hope is that the film helps raise awareness of the current uprising in Iran sparked by the tragic death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini.

Amini was arrested by the morality police for her allegedly loose hijab. Her death sparked protests against the Islamic Republic with thousands being arrested and killed by the regime.

12/21/2022

Powerful storytelling combined with emerging technology, like virtual reality, results in effective empathy-building and shifting culture. By combining VR and film with an immersive physical experience, the Iron Light Labs team is taking the possibilities and impact to another level.

Virtual Reality (VR) is a simulated 3D environment that creates an opportunity for the participant to become part of the story, interact with the characters, and be transported to another place. Meta, the parent company of Facebook, is the number one seller of VR headsets called Oculus. According to them, "VR uses cutting-edge graphics, best-in-class hardware, and artistically rendered experiences to create a computer-simulated environment where you aren’t just a passive participant, but a co-conspirator. With a VR headset, you’re fully absorbed in realistic 3D worlds, creating a major shift in how we experience the digital realm."

According to Zippa, 15% of Americans are using VR, and 1 in 4 VR users are between the ages of 25 and 34 years old.
- There are 50.2 million VR users in the U.S., which is 15% of the country's population.
- There are over 171 million VR users worldwide.
- The VR industry market size is $7.72 billion.
- 47% of Americans say they are familiar with VR.
- 25- to 34-year-olds account for 23% of VR/AR device users.
- 57% of VR or AR device owners are male, while 43% are female.

The creation of VR requires expert knowledge, and special equipment to master the technical expertise. It also needs powerful storytelling to connect the VR content to a larger content strategy and impact. Research shows that VR accelerates empathy and helps participants deeply understand and connect to the topic of the VR they are experiencing.

Listen to a recent podcast interview featuring our president, Jo Jensen, and Karmen Berentsen, owner of A Line Boutique, where they discuss VR and all of its possibilities.

Listen here:

Listen to this episode from A Line Stories on Spotify. This week Karmen sits down with Jo Jensen. Jo is an avid A Line shopper, film producer, and charity board member.Jo and her team create documentaries about real-world issues that to raise awareness and cause real, lasting solutions. Some of Jo's...

07/22/2022

"I first met Lisa Creason by chance. But that chance meeting changed both of our lives forever.

In 2015, Lisa read a newspaper column I had written about barriers to opportunity for ex-offenders in Illinois. She reached out to tell me she was on a mission to destroy those barriers.

When we spoke for the first time, on the corner of LaSalle and Adams in the heart of downtown Chicago, she told me about her dream of moving her children out of Section 8 housing, out of a dangerous neighborhood and off of government assistance.

Most people would be content after accomplishing their life’s goal. Lisa is not most people. Her dream today is that no mother ever has to go through the pain that she did to pursue her passion. Unfortunately, in 15 states, men and women like Lisa are still being denied their dreams to work in health care because of their criminal record. We hope to use her story of redemption as a tool to help change those unjust laws, just as we did in Illinois.

That is why this film exists. Because nothing will stand between Lisa and her dream." - Austin Berg, Executive Producer of FREE TO CARE

FREE TO CARE will screen at the Montauk Film Festival on July 28th at 8pm.

06/17/2022

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Thanks to for a glowing review of THE HONG KONGER after viewing the film at our screening this week in Washington D.C. ⁠
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We were excited to be joined by hundreds of people – including members of Congress and policy leaders – at the Capitol Visitor Center to watch and discuss the film. This film, made in partnership with , tells the story of Jimmy Lai, a successful Hong Kong entrepreneur currently in prison for speaking out against the Chinese Communist Party. ⁠
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Visit our story or head to the link in our bio to read what National Review had to say.⁠
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06/08/2022

"One person can start a movement."

Our original short film FREE TO CARE premiered at Mountainfilm in Telluride, CO at the end of May to a standing ovation.

Lisa Creason's story of changing an unjust law in Illinois is remarkable. There are still 15 states, though, where she could not be a nurse today because of her criminal record – and Colorado is one of those states. That is why the film premiered there. We plan to elevate Lisa’s story with this film to help change these unjust laws.

Everyone deserves the right to pursue their passion and be free to care. Keep up with the film: https://freetocarefilm.com/

06/08/2022

"(TikTok) is finicky and requires lots of time, tinkering, experimentation, brainstorming and creativity. But if you’re willing to put in the time and effort, it can help your organization go viral."

Joe Kent and Josh Mason from Grassroot Institute of Hawaii share their TikTok tips in our new Lab Report, "How to Go Viral on TikTok – Without Dancing."

Check out all our reports: https://ironlightlabs.org/lab-report/

06/06/2022

Does this sound familiar?

If so, it's time to take an active role in sharing your work and your stories with others in mutually beneficial ways that set you up for success.

Read our latest Lab Report – "Networking: How Good Ideas Get Adopted" – by Iron Light Senior Advisor Chaz Cirame.

https://ironlightlabs.org/lab-report/

06/03/2022

“The only thing we can do is persist, not to lose spirit or hope.” - Jimmy Lai

We are partnering with the Acton Institute to tell the important story of Jimmy Lai, a successful Hong Kong entrepreneur currently imprisoned for his opposition to the Chinese Communist Party.

THE HONG KONGER was produced in partnership with Iron Light Labs, and we are excited to bring Jimmy’s story to Washington, D.C. where it will be shown at the Capitol Visitor Center June 7th.

RSVP to secure your seat for a viewing of the film and Q&A with an expert panel.

Q+A and Film Viewing on the Status of Freedom in Hong Kong