But why write blog posts in the first place? Long ago, I thought that an active blog would bring people to Illuminations and that they would then buy our excellent DVDs and perhaps even commission us to make ground-breaking television and other media marvels. I don’t think it has ever worked like that, although I have met a heartening number of people who have read a post or two, and for whom that might have made them think a touch more positively towards us. There is a utility also in simply being a contributor to debate and helping to raise awareness of interesting things, whether this is a season of obscure archive television, a DVD release of an arthouse classic, or an unjustly overlooked book. Mostly, though, I have long thought that maintaining a blog is above all about personal satisfaction, about affirming things for myself that seem intriguing, about trying out notions, and sometimes about having a semi-public space to work things through. So if nothing more it needs to make sense to me, myself and I to find the time and the focus to post.
John Wyver of Illuminations, a video production company specialize in filming documentaries and theater in the UK, shares some thoughts about blogging. His blog is just a small part of his company’s website; the rest is about his productions, and includes a store where you can buy DVDs.
Why do we blog? For me, part of the reason is to promote my brand; I link to articles I’ve written on various websites, and this helps inform a band of faithful readers who enjoy my writings. But some of my articles here exist just because I have things to say, and this is a place to say them. Writing is my full-time job, so writing a couple of articles on my blog doesn’t get in the way of my work; it’s actually part of it. And some of the articles I write are seeds for paid articles I later contribute to various publications.
Everyone has different reasons for blogging; that’s what makes it interesting.
By the way, you can read my interview with John Wyver where he discusses how he produces the films of productions at the Royal Shakespeare Company. And you can see his next production in cinemas in the UK and around the world, from June 8: a striking new production of Hamlet, with an astounding young actor.