RESEARCH PART 2 TEXT MESSAGE: HARRY WATT AND BASIL WRIGHT: 'NIGHT MAIL

RESEARCH PART 2 TEXT MESSAGE: HARRY WATT AND BASIL WRIGHT: 'NIGHT MAIL

During the project brief on 'TEXT MESSAGE' my lecturer introduced us to the very influential film called 'NIGHT MAIL' directed by Harry Watt and Basil Wright. It shows the very famous scene where a train is travelling to Scotland, the sound is in sync with the motion of the train tracks with a written poem and music. When watching and listening I realised that there poem is describing the journey to the audience which also extends the vast imagery used, such as the many cut shots and rapid shots of the certain aspects of the train and its surroundings.

This was for me a good starting point for me to understand what the project expects of me. My objective is to sought a creative response to the text message, my whole animation is to be revolved around the text met with creativity and matter of fact. As I mentioned in a previous blog post, 'WAR STORY' was the animation I was most intrigued by. However, Watching the scene from Night Mail has made me rethink my strategy.

I dug deeper to try and find out more information regarding this scene. I learnt that the poem that was used was from W.H.AUDEN and it was used towards the end of the film and importantly a few lines from the poem were taken out to fit the film sequence. I am also contemplating finding a poem or a verse that would fit into my animation and if I were definitely going through with this idea, I would consider cutting down lines to save time and fit the scenes. I gathered this information from (gradeasaver.com) 

I learnt that the speed of which the poem is read out matches the movement of the train, which I thought was quite effective as it provides a clear understanding visually and audibly. Auden in the first part of his poem used eight rhymed four-beat couplets in accordance to the sequence. (gradeasaver.com)

I was also thinking for an idea, in contrast to the films scene, I could pick up the tempo and the pace of the animation to give more variety and make the animation seem more interesting because it may prevent the animation from becoming a drag and boring.

I also wanted to gather information from this film scene because my lecturer says that it is on of the most influential films ever made and in any circumstances for research and planning, I want to learn from the best and try to incorporate valuable information I have found as a way of improving my skills and to help me learn from my mistakes from my previous animation.

In conclusion, I have been able to broaden my mind and have found new sources of inspiration that have allowed me to emerge more ideas based upon strategy and how I approach this project. I want to however carry on my research because I still have not yet made a decision on my final idea.

SOURCES OF INFORMATION:

GRADEASAVER.COM