Summary
- Margot Robbie’s production company, LuckyChap Entertainment, played a significant role in creating the film Saltburn, highlighting their industriousness and rapid succession between projects.
- Barry Keoghan, who portrayed the character Oliver in Saltburn, meticulously crafted five different versions of the character, showcasing his dedication to perfecting the character’s trajectory from innocent to sinister.
- Jacob Elordi, while shooting Saltburn, simultaneously prepared for his role in Priscilla, displaying his extreme dedication to fully embodying two intensely emotional characters through periods of unrelenting focus.
Saltburn has generated significant buzz and discussion, thanks to its unique performances and shocking scenes. However, intriguing behind-the-scenes details add another layer to the overall impact of the film. The film has swiftly become a cultural phenomenon, sparking endless analysis and debate over its twisted character dynamics brought to life through Jacob Elordi and Barry Keoghan’s hypnotizing performances. Beyond the sensational on-screen moments lies a riveting backdrop: the countless directorial decisions, technical challenges, and creative risks by visionary Emerald Fennell to craft such an impactful viewing experience.
Details, including cinematography tricks that intensify discomfort and revelations about the actors’ dedication, unveil the meticulous construction behind the descent into tension and taboo within Saltburn‘s Catton family tree. Just as the film scrutinizes the most unsettling aspects of human nature, learning how certain scenes materialized adds insight into the filmmaker’s own imagination. For those spellbound by Saltburn, the behind-the-scenes lens provides a masterclass into filmmaking and the technical wizardry required to completely captivate moviegoers.
8 Margot Robbie Was A Producer
Her production company helped in creating the film
Knowing Margot Robbie produced Saltburn through LuckyChap Entertainment, the production company she founded with her husband, uniquely impacts appreciation of the film. This company also released Barbie the same year, with Robbie finishing Barbie’s shoot then visiting Saltburn’s set after only a two-week break (via Variety). Understanding the minimal recovery time she allowed herself before engaging in Saltburn’s more demanding production aims admiration back at LuckyChap’s industriousness. Such rapid succession between huge projects becomes all the more impressive because Robbie herself helmed this company while actively producing.
7 Barry Keoghan Created Five Different Versions Of Oliver
Oliver’s layers were created by Keoghan
Barry Keoghan crafted five distinct versions of his unsettling character Oliver with each existing in separate notebooks (via Vogue). This adds deeper dimensions to the character when watching it play out on film. Understanding Keoghan intentionally shifted vocal tone, physicality and demeanor every time Oliver appears prompts analyzing how the transformations manifest on screen. Retaining intense commitment to tracking his character’s evolving motives aimed at perfecting Oliver’s trajectory from innocent to sinister leaves audiences wondering what vile actions might have filled those notebooks. This rare method-acting insight invites reexamination of scenes searching for Keoghan’s layered transitions.
6 Jacob Elordi Prepped For His Role In Priscilla While Shooting Saltburn
Displays major dedication
Jacob Elordi acted in Priscilla immediately after finishing the Saltburn shoot. He prepared for his Elvis Presley role in the film every night in his hotel room while working long Saltburn days (via Vanity Fair). The shooting schedules’ back-to-back nature without days off underscores Elordi’s extreme dedication to fully inhabiting two intensely emotional characters through periods of unrelenting focus. Understanding the transitions that occurred rapidly explains how authenticity radiates in both acclaimed performances despite their stark differences. Appreciating the demands of his acting process shines light on the preparation translating directly into on-screen excellence requiring total immersion around the clock.

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5 Saltburn Is A Real 127-Room Mansion
Highlights the astounding privilege of accessing such an exclusive location
The Saltburn filming locations took place on the grounds of Drayton House, a private estate guarded by an elite family since 1770. The Baroque opulence of Drayton House, spanning over 700 years with 127 rooms, remained unseen by the public until the filming of Saltburn (via Harper’s Bazaar). The movie captured the essence of this £42.5 million estate, with its imposing walls and immaculate gardens. The revelation of Drayton House’s role in the film evokes awe, as it highlights the characters’ sense of entitlement emanating from a setting steeped in centuries of secrecy and aristocratic pedigree.
4 The Filming Ratio
4:3 aspect ratio creates a feeling of detachment
Saltburn‘s unique use of the 4:3 aspect ratio demands a reevaluation due to its previously unseen distortions. This atypical frame creates a sense of detachment, akin to viewing captivating art rather than an immersive reality. The deliberate choice of this surreal perspective challenges the assumption of movie-watching as a passive experience, prompting introspection. Understanding the profound impact of such meticulous formatting decisions reshapes awareness of the technical craft, subtly influencing narratives. Saltburn, upon close examination, reveals itself as an expertly constructed film, leaving no room for accidents and encouraging a deliberate focus on existential discomfort through its structural choices.
3 The Final Dancing Scene Took 11 Takes
This scene underwent a significant transformation
The final scene of Saltburn initially portrayed Oliver walking through the mansion, but was reimagined as a nude celebratory dance. This change aimed to subtly align the audience’s empathy with Oliver’s unsettling perspective. Captured in 11 takes, lead actor Barry Keoghan, despite the difficulty, agreed that performing such an exposed, choreographed routine fit the desired tone (via Variety). Each iteration of filming focused on achieving a delicate balance, showcasing Oliver’s humanity while retaining sinister subtleties in his expressions. This unusual directing choice ultimately succeeded in adding complexity by blurring moral lines.
2 The Bathwater Keoghan Slurped Was A Mix Of Yogurt, Milk, And Water
The reality behind a memorable scene
Beneath the unsettling image of Oliver ingesting bathwater lies a mundane concoction aimed at ensuring the safety of actor Barry Keoghan during filming. Instead of using actual hazardous substances, each take relied on a blend of yogurt, milk, and water (via Business Insider). However, Keoghan’s unbridled performance prompted full immersion, earning quiet admiration from the production team after four differently slurped takes. Recognizing this fearless dedication, even in a scene with a relatively simple simulated basis, fosters a deeper respect for the conviction and commitment of talent that elevates material.
1 The Grave Scene Was Not Originally In The Script
Method acting taken to another level
One of Saltburn‘s most chilling sequences arose spontaneously from actor improvisation, diverging from the initial vision. Barry Keoghan, seeking to intensify the portrayal of obsession, requested a closed set to experiment with risky methods (via Variety). Recognizing that pivotal moments can sometimes stem more from performers than meticulous planning enhances appreciation for the creative process’s unpredictable elements. Trusting the instinct to achieve greater authenticity merits admiration for Keoghan’s daring contribution. The realization that this great scene from Saltburn, now etched permanently into the public consciousness, started as sparks of in-the-moment inspiration reframes notions about directorial authority in shaping iconic results.
Source: Variety, Vogue, Vanity Fair, Harper’s Bazaar, Business Insider

Saltburn
Written and directed by Emerald Fennell, Saltburn is a 2023 comedy-thriller film. When Oxford student Oliver Quick is invited to his friend Felix’s family’s wealthy estate, Saltburn, for a summer vacation, he is drawn into the world of eccentric characters and increasingly chaotic events as his obsession with Felix comes to a head.
- Release Date
- November 17, 2023
- Director
- Emerald Fennell
- Runtime
- 131 Minutes
- Writers
- Emerald Fennell
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