Research Tasks - "Saltmark" - Chloe McGlinchey

Saltmark (Robin Haig, 2008)

* Saltmark is mainly a drama based film, although you do see some social realism coming into it as well. It is a short film about love, courage and growing up.

* This film uses genre/style conventions uniquely because of the simplicity of the film and the subtleness of the way it has been directed. The relationships of the people that are in the film both conflict yet work together very well, as "Rowan" has been looking after her Granddad yet you can see by her facial expressions that sometimes she does not want to be there and feels embarrassed where as other times she sees the funnier side of the incidents and goes back to her Granddad.

* The film uses short format exceptionally well, you can see the bond between the Granddad and his Granddaughter. As well as feeling a little sorry for "Rowan" you also think that she may take life for granted as she spends time with her granddad, he wont be there forever. The relationship between the two characters do not seem obvious at first, although you do not know their related during the whole film, at points in the film you can see that "Rowan" feels uncomfortable and embarrassed. I was inspired between the characters relationship the way they acted towards others and themselves.

* The sound i thought intertwined with the piece very well as it was completely a diegetic soundings. The sounds of everyday life, the sea, seagulls, chip shop and the simple yet effective pieces of small dialogue. The characters and in their comfort zone as they are surrounded by their home life.

* The audience has been positioned in a way which makes you feel like you are a fly on a wall. Or almost a reality TV show as the characters haven't reacted with the fact a camera is there and are acting completely normal.

Chloe McGlinchey