Reflection

Overview
‘Saltbush to Sea’ was an opportunity for me to showcase my hometown of Whyalla.
Whyalla is a place that I am truly connected to – born, raised, educated and now growing my own family and businesses here.
Whyalla is often portrayed in a one-dimensional way in the media. I intended to focus my film on the lifestyle and personal experiences of people who were raised here. I aimed to provide a lens on the generational stories of immigration, work and raising children, and to capture Whyalla more intimately, as ‘more than a steel city’.

The creation of place
The challenging part of this was disconnecting my emotional attachment enough so that my lived experiences didn’t dominate the story. I didn’t want to let my lifetime of knowledge override my research and execution. I had to make a conscious effort to find information and resources that were new to me, or supported my knowledge.
The project began with some academic research. This quickly limited the potential options for my assignment. Whyalla had few papers written about it, and I couldn’t find a lot of culturally significant resources.
Integrating storytelling elements required a considered approach. What should I include in my film and what should I avoid? Capturing stills gave me a chance to explore Whyalla like a tourist. YouTube videos uploaded by tourists showed me that most visitors stop in the same areas, in effect bypassing the spots that locals know and frequent. This gave me insight into the areas I wanted to focus my film on.
The unique position of Whyalla between arid bush and salty coast, gave me vast opportunity to explore the immediate region for open, scenic spaces. It was important for me to connect people and sounds to those places.

Personal growth and Experience
I came into this project with some background experience of photography, graphic design and wordpress development. Parts of the creation process were intuitive to me. Some of the more sensory elements of media creation (ie sound layering and motion), and the more technical side (ie capturing clips, Premiere Pro and creating rhythm) required me to slow down and take the time to learn. I enjoy the learning process. I’ve been happily challenged by the assignments, and went down many rabbit-holes chasing knowledge. I feel more confident in my ability to produce another film or website.

Role of Design in Digital Media
Digital media is a multi-sensory communication tool. There are many layers of design, from the initial conception of ideas and narratives, to the complexities of production and creation. A visually impactful composition can elicit meaningful emotions that resonate with and capture audiences. The use of colours, sounds, movement and storytelling immerses viewers in that experience, and provides more accessible ways to communicate beyond language barriers. Compelling stories and unique narratives engage people, build awareness on a topic, have real impact, and sometimes even elicit behaviour change. When done well, it is a powerful way to communicate and share stories.