Wyllie O Hagan win Michael Nyman Film Competition October 2009

We are delighted to hear that we have won the Michael Nyman Film Competition for the most creative and original use of his soundtrack "The Embrace" with our digital film short 'A Deep White Sea, Karelia'.

Nyman writes:

"I chose this film because of it's daring yet humble use of visuals and animation techniques"

Winner Michael Nyman Film Competition for the most creative and original use of his soundtrack "The Embrace"."I chose this film because of it's daring yet humble use of visuals and animation techniques" Michael Nyman 2009. The White Sea is situated on the North coast of Russia. The earliest forms of fossils found here are considered to be the finest source of the Vendian period in the World. The Vendian Period being over 600 million years ago. There is intensive scientific research of these rocks that reveal information on the first animals and flora to live on Earth. The question of what these fossils are is still not settled as they are hard to interpret. In our moving image artwork we reveal fossils from the earth and sea going back over 600 million years to the Vendian period. A Deep White Sea is an exploration of the theme using artworks, photographs and sound to create a high definition digital moving image artwork. Inspired by images of The Paleontological Institute, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, we have utilized scientific information, cross media constructed objects and sound to convey a poetic interpretation of the White Sea. The soundtrack The Embrace, Lost and Found is by Michael Nyman, one of Britain's most celebrated and recognised contemporary composers. The music suggests the lapping of water and the gentle passing of time in this short digital moving image artwork. We have great respect for Michael Nyman and it was therefore an exciting challenge to work with his composition and our own visual material to create a fresh interpretation. It will exhibited in an international art science exhibition - Otpechatki" The IV International Triennial of Visual Arts, Petrozavodsk, Republic of Karelia, Russia in November 2009.