In this paper, we focus on content based access and manipulation techniques for digital video. We review different techniques developed for extraction of contents of video using visual information. We then present description of a system which can extract video object based representation of video sequences and builds up a video object based description of the content of the video collection. We also present a brief review of another technology which provides for interactive manipulation of the video content through interaction with audio-visual objects like digital actors. © 2003 Taylor & Francis Group, LLC.