What's so important about video?

Ever since I was a kid I've always been fascinated by film and video. My bedroom walls were festooned with adverts I cut from the local paper, for the latest films at the cinema. When, in later life I got to work for the BBC I couldn't believe my good fortune. Then it was still a small industry with only 4 TV channels, no satellite TV and no internet video. 

I still think I'm fortunate to get to work in an industry I love so much. Now, years later I still haven't lost that early fascination that we can capture moments in time, little pieces of history, and preserve them for others to watch later.

The industry has changed and grown beyond all recognition since I first started, bringing with it an influx of great talent and the rapid development of new technology both in cameras and post production. This is great news which encourages us all to stretch the creative boundaries and explore new techniques.

But at the heart of it all is still video. As it becomes more and more common in our lives and an increasing amount of video battles for our attention I hope we never lose sight of what an important, powerful and wonderful tool it is. It's how we record our history, how we learn, tell our stories, share information, gather the news, how we influence and change opinions.

So .... welcome to my blog. The musings of someone who is fascinated by the power of the moving image.