I’ve often felt that the work I do is of no real impact or value to society when compared to other professions. Most of what I do is in the entertainment or advertising industries, not  rocket science, government, or any kind of philanthropy. I’m not saving lives or changing the world.

But wait…I’m often reminded that the the things that entertain us are also the things that bring us relief in hard times and the things that bond us together. I’ve made many friends on set and have fond memories of those experiences. I’ve had many insightful conversations at neighborhood cinemas, film festivals, and industry screenings. I vividly remember the first time each of my children saw their first movie in the theatre.

Stories make us feel and inform us. Whether it’s narrative or documentary, the stories told come from a space that is at the essence of human connection, the desire to share with and connect to others. All stories say something about from where they come.

A story is communal and means nothing if not shared. These shared stories make up the history and shape the cultures which give them life. They will be passed from generation to generation. There is a reason it was given life. Was it to inform or educate? Was it to entertain or evoke a cathartic release? Who’s perspective is it?

There are movies that I would be hard pressed to watch a second time. Not because they are bad but, rather, because they evoke such a visceral emotion and feeling, that I don’t want to go through it again.  Some would say that it’s a bad story. I contend that the story is amazing because it connected with me on such a base level that I’m slightly different for having seen it.

Therein lies the importance of what I do. My industry provides a release and a break from the double edged sword of human existence. The suffering, stress, and pain of life can be abated by the creative sharing of hope, humor, beauty, or an escape into an alternate reality.

…and that’s important.