The USUAL, the UNEXPECTED and the UTTERLY SUBLIME

There is an eyewear shop on Kensington High Street in London with a poster in the window that says, “I’d like to see all the top designers under one roof.” The lady in the poster might just as well have been referring to the lighting exhibition that was taking place around the corner and a few clicks down Warwick Street in Earl’s Court. While many of the usual suspects plied their wares at the European trade fair, the show had plenty of unusual aspects this year, some of which were utterly sublime.

It is a diverse group of Hometown Hero honorees that were presented to the Parnelli board by a finicky and discerning jury of peers. Despite their surface differences, the shared characteristic of all of these companies is a passion for the artistry and a reverent dedication to the client.

It’s not far-out to assume that every year, hundreds of good road dogs “retire” to start their own company. Most flounder and fail. Few are able to make a living. Fewer still rise even higher, earning special attention and accolades.

Selected by their peers, these six companies are honored as standouts in their region.

In the 1990s and into the new millennium, the video industry experienced a “convergence” of sorts when computers, GUIs and Ethernet connectivity slowly invaded all aspects of video products and production workflows. To underscore the revolution, the NAB (National Association of Broadcasters) even named their 2002 convention “The Convergence Marketplace.” Today, there’s hardly a piece of video gear that doesn’t have an IP address.