Wildmind BriefMaker briefUrban
Mythologies
Brief creator's vision
“Cities accumulate mythology faster than they accumulate concrete. Every neighbourhood has its stories — not the official histories, not the tourist routes — but the stories people tell each other to explain where they live. I want to document three cities at a moment of rapid change: Manchester, Tbilisi, and Medellín. Not as a travel writer. As someone trying to understand what urban mythology does to communities in transition.”
This brief is waiting for a producing brand
A brand that chooses to produce this brief is permanently credited as producer. They can suggest customisations — the brief creator retains their credit regardless of any changes agreed.
Direction
Personal and rigorous in equal measure. Not romanticising urban poverty or change. Not a tourist's gaze. The mythology I'm interested in is the kind that ordinary people use to make sense of where they live — and what happens to it when the city changes around them.
Deliverables
- 3 long-form essays (4,000–6,000 words each) — one per city
- Research notes and interview transcripts (minimum 15 interviews per city)
- Annotated bibliography of existing urban mythology scholarship
- Photo essay (minimum 60 photographs across three cities)
- Final editorial package ready for publication
Brief fields
Proposed timeline
9 months from producer selection — 3 months per city
Filled by makerCity research sequence
Manchester (existing access) → Tbilisi (spring/summer) → Medellín (autumn/winter)
Filled by makerInterview methodology
Semi-structured, 45–90 min sessions, mix of English and local language with interpreter support where needed
Filled by makerPublication intentions
Producer to define preferred publication channels and rights structure
For producer to defineCo-sponsor slots3 open
Photography equipment
Camera and lens kit for documentary photography across three cities.
Functional requirements
- Full-frame or equivalent sensor (minimum 24MP)
- Weather-sealed body — field use in varied climates
- Lens range: wide (24mm equivalent) to portrait (85mm equivalent)
- Minimum 2 bodies recommended for travel reliability
Eligible brands
Camera and photographic equipment manufacturers
Credit: [Brand] cameras used in the making of Urban Mythologies
Archive and research access
Access to urban planning archives, historical records, or academic databases relevant to the three cities.
Functional requirements
- Digitised archive access (Manchester, Tbilisi, or Medellín city records)
- Academic database access (urban studies, anthropology, or cultural geography)
- Letter of affiliation for fieldwork access purposes (optional but useful)
Eligible brands
Academic institutions, libraries, research foundations, or municipal archives
Credit: Research supported by [Institution]
Financial co-sponsor
Additional financial support for travel and production costs.
Minimum: £200/month
Eligible brands
Open to brands aligned with urban culture, travel, independent publishing, or place-making
Credit: Supported by [Brand]
Software credits available
Wildmind software partners can pre-claim these categories. Credited in the final work.
Long-form writing environment
Distraction-free writing software with version history and export to editorial formats
Unclaimed — open to Wildmind partners
Photo editing and cataloguing
RAW processing, non-destructive editing, IPTC metadata tagging, archival export
Unclaimed — open to Wildmind partners
Transcription and interview processing
Audio transcription with speaker identification and timestamp export
Unclaimed — open to Wildmind partners
Research and reference management
Citation management, PDF annotation, bibliography export
Unclaimed — open to Wildmind partners
Community support
£850
raised from 6 supporters
of £2,500 goal
Community support goes directly to the maker team and does not replace the producing brand's commitment.
All supporters are permanently credited in the final work.
Producer commitment
£700/month
for 9 months
Total: £6,300
Covers travel, accommodation, interpreter fees, and living costs across three cities. Equipment budget claimed separately through tool sponsors.
Brief creator
Brief creator credit: Marcus Adeyemi is permanently credited as the creator of this brief, regardless of which brand produces it or what customisations are agreed.
Credits when completed
Brief creator
Marcus Adeyemi
Maker
Marcus Adeyemi (creator is also maker)
Producer
Awaiting producing brand
Co-sponsors + software
3 slots · 4 software unclaimed
Community
6 supporters credited
Wildmind · Brief document