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Emily McGee

BA [Hons] Film + Television Production

Emily McGee has developed a holistic approach to her filmmaking practice, which is a direct result of her creative experiences in both the theatre and as an artist. With a major in Directing and minor in Producing, she has developed practical skills and found her voice as a creative professional. Her interest is in creating both drama films and experimental films; often combining the techniques and styles of both, to articulate stories and explore ideas in a unique way. It's important to her work to share female stories and experiences. Previous directorial accomplishments include short film C*nsored which premiered at the Galway Film Fleadh in 2019.

**Logline:** On the precipice of coming-of-age, Mia grieves the loss of her childhood as she confronts her changing body without a maternal figure.

Synopsis: Following the death of her mother, Mia and her father Felix are thrust into the unknown. As Mia struggles to adapt to her changing body without a maternal figure for guidance, her efforts go unnoticed as Felix attempts to cope with the loss of his other half. The two make a fresh start with a new house, but all too soon realise that their problems have come with them. The empty house only makes their losses grow stronger.

The film explores that familiar but liminal space between childhood and adulthood. Mia feels too old to be a child but too young to be a grown up.

Mia and Felix's relationship grows complicated, as they become less familiar with themselves and each other.

The characters speak in both english and gaeilge, in order to most authentically represent Irish society today. It is also used in the film as tool to illustrate the characters' connections with each other (or lack thereof) at a particular moment.

As Mia unpacks the boxes at their new house, Felix repacks them in denial. Through their action and lack of dialogue, we get insight into their characters, and understand how they feel about each other and the situation.

The veil-like curtain reoccurs throughout the film as a symbol of the purgatory both characters find themselves in.

The film explores themes of natural life cycles in both the changing of the body, and in life and death. This idea is visually represented by nature imagery.

Sapling (2022)

The story of Sapling is one that I've wanted to tell for a very long time, and one that draws on a lot of my own personal experiences. During the script development and pre-production stage, I spoke with many women about their early experiences with puberty, and found that we all (myself included) had almost identical experiences. Growing up in catholic Ireland, a woman's changing body was always a "it's perfectly natural, but don't talk about it" thing. It was always hushed conversations after siblings went to bed, and dad left the room; or sometimes even just being discretely handed a book for pre-teens and never speaking about the matter again. This unfortunately universal experience felt vital to express through film, and thus start more open conversations about. It's hugely important to me as a director and an artist to create films that provoke and pave the way for change.

Emily McGee CV PDF

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