History, history! We fools, what do we know or care.

William Carlos Williams, In the American Grain (1925)

Although the wonderfully pithy Williams (I can’t recommend his poetry enough!) was referring to the story of North America, the comment encapsulates a tension within history relevant to us all. On the one hand, the sheer vastness of the past intimidates and boggles the mind, and even when the brave do look back in time they find that it is so distant that it is barely recognisable. On the other hand, we all know of the great tragedies if we don’t learn from history. So I take it as a warning, a rallying cry – that there is a thirst for understanding and that we must therefore reach out to as many people as possible, as creatively and engagingly as we can!

In March 2020, Jack completed a Documentary Film Making course at the London Film Academy, learning hands-on everything from producing and directing to shooting and editing. Above is his first short documentary on the arrival of coffee into seventeenth-century London. It is designed as a teaser for future projects to come - enjoy!