Inspiration for Visualization

We’ll continue with the Owen Roizman and The French Connection on the next posting. I’ve been somewhat delinquent in keeping the blog promptly updated. I’ll do better as we progress in our continuing series of observations, notes and artistic instructions of Cinema Studies, Production Techniques and Protocols, and the fundamentals of Cinematography, both physical (film) and electronic (video – analog and digital).

In the meantime, here are two poems of Langston Hughes (February 1, 1902 – May 22, 1967), the venerable African American poet, novelist, playwright, short story writer and columnist.


Dreams and Youth

I thought these selections appropriate as we are rapidly coming upon Spring when new ideas and dreams flourish, and since filmmaking is often the process of bringing dreams to reality. Likewise, Dreams are so much a part of the phenomenon of Youth. So, dream, think, feel – feel the struggle, write, correct and polish your texts, and think and write some more. Youth is a state of mind, one of learning and vision quest. I’m 66 and half and I’m still learning and I have vision quest.


Dreams

Bring me all of your dreams, you dreamer
Bring me all of your heart melodies
That I may wrap them in a blue cloud-cloth
Away from the too-rough fingers of the world
And that is what poetry may do
Wrap up your dreams
Protect and preserve them
And hold them until maybe they’ll come true
All the progress that human beings have made
On this old earth of ours Grew out of dreams

That is why it is wise I should think . . .
To hold fast to dreams —
For if dreams die
Life is a broken-winged bird
That cannot fly
Hold fast to dreams
For when dreams go
Life is a barren field
Frozen with snow
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Youth

We have tomorrow
Bright before us
Like a flame Yesterday
A night-gone thing
A sun-down name
And dawn — today
Broad arch above
The road we came
We march
Americans together!
We march!
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