Planning Setting & Iconography - Miss Miller

Planning the settings and iconography for a music video is vital. This is because the setting informs the audience where the artist or characters are and its connection to the narrative or concept. Setting is important when creating a music video as it helps create the atmosphere and mood, which the audience can understand more about e.g a location for a pop/dance artist the setting may be a club as this is the location where the genre usually is played. Iconography is essential in a music video as it helps create deeper meanings on whats being shown for example a candle could symbolise hope. Also, Iconography helps convey the narrative well and make the music video look interesting which makes the audience engage to it. 

The first location my group has chosen for our music video is a black Drama studio. This location will be used when the choreography from the two dancers are seen through a silhouette. The reason why we chose a drama studio to show the dancers dancing is because of the control of lighting we have in there, for instance we can change the lighting by making it completely dark when the spotlight is on the white sheet showing the dancers shadows. Also the location shows the dancers who'll portray the narrative of the video of a struggling relationship between two females, as one wants to come out as a lesbian and the other does not. The drama studio is helpful to use when conveying our music video as the low key lighting present in there will help showcase the low key lighting that is conventional in the indie genre when showing something is dark or creating enigma. The shots that will show the dancers dancing will be a long shot and a horizontal shot, this is so the audience can see the dancers portray the narrative through their movements clearly. The limitation that this location may provide is the lack of space. This is because we cannot change the space we have in there and if we want the dancers to move around a lot in the shot, a problem may occur if the drama studio is not big enough for the movements. A way to prevent this is to make sure the dancers choreography is not too extravagant and they make a dance within the space they have, this means we will have to make them practice their dance in the studio so that they know what it'll be like on the day of filming. A healthy and safety risk that the location poses is the equipment that is used in the drama studio may be in the way e.g black blocks. In this music video we may use the black blocks for the dancers to use and this may be a risk as they could possible hit themselves on the block or fall over. To prevent this from happening, we will make sure that the dancers are fully stable on the block and will have one of us stand near them incase they fall to catch them. Another risk the location may pose is wires being on the floor, this is because the room is highly technical with lights and its likely to have wires on the floor. A way to prevent any injury happening, we will make sure that the wires are carefully put to the side of our pathways so that we can successfully walk around the room without tripping over them. The weather will not affect us when filming in the Drama studio, as we will be inside. But instead of weather affecting us, a problem we may occur is the lack of time to use the space. This is because the Drama studio is a busy place that is used by students and teachers at our school, so our back up plan is to either schedule a time where we can use the room with the Drama teachers or simply record in the Dance studio instead. 

The second location that will be included in our music video, is a field. This is because it'll portray the artist as having a sense of freedom and happiness which is conventional to the indie genre as they usually freely express themselves in this location whilst running and jumping around. A field conveys the artist as being young, wild and free which will help build a relationship with the audience, as they may be similar age to her and be able to relate to what she is doing with her youthful side. There are a variety of things that will happen in this location. Firstly, we will shoot a time lapse of the clouds moving to represent new beginnings and hope in our music video. The use of this portrays the song as it is about having good memories and wishing you were back there. Our narrative portrays her concept but differently as we are having it about being in a relationship but not being able to fulfil it fully so you just appreciate what you have. The time lapse of the clouds portray this as it symbolises a sign of hope in the music video of what the artist has for her relationship. Another time a time lapse will be used, is when we reverse the whole music video form end to start at the beginning of the music video. This will be in time with the music, which is apart of Goodwin's theory of visuals matching music as the build up in the music will be represented through the reversed time lapse. The affect this will have is to show how 'time flies when they're having fun and make the audience feel like they have to appreciate the moments they have as they'll soon grow up. Furthermore, there is a lake in the field were shooting, so we might have a shot of the couple walking around it and holding hands to show them in a peaceful environment.

Secondly, in this location we will see the artist and other characters at a bon fire event to show the fun things they have done together. We will see the artist and her lover being affectionate to one another and gathered with their friends outside a tent near a fire. The use of this location in this particular scene portrays the artist as affectionate and rebellious as we will see her being intimate with her lover, but also outside late which conveys her as rebellious. The limitation that we may have by using this location is having too many people in the shot which may lose focus on the characters especially when were shooting at a bon fire event. A way to avoid this could be to film them in a more quiet space at the event so that It will still show that they're at the event but make them the main focus. A risk and hazard could be the presence of fire in this location. This is because fire is dangerous and someone might get hurt if not careful when around the fire. To prevent this hazard happening, we will make sure that we have the right equipment to light and put out the fire safely e.g water, matches. Moreover, the weather may effect our filming in this location due to it being located outside and we cannot predict the weather. It may rain whilst we are outside which will effect our filming as we are shooting fire, which would get put out if it was to rain. Also when filming a time lapse of the clouds we want it to be clear and not dark and grey. Our back up plan for if the weather is a issue when filming the time lapse is to simply add a video of a time lapse of clouds in our music video as this will save us time and hassle to create our own. Also, if the rain was to effect our filming for the fire scenes, we will choose another day to film when it is hopefully not raining. 

The next setting that will be included in our music video is a street specifically Camden Market. Having a street as one of our locations is highly conventional to the indie genre, as its a public place and shows the things ordinary people may do e.g go to the market. This may help build a relationship between the artist and audience as they can relate to the location as it's not an expensive place to go. The use of this location will convey the past event of the artist and her lover going out together and being happy. This links in with the Birdy's concept of appreciating wonderful memories as this will portray them as content with each other. Also, Camden is quite a vibrant, busy, entertaining place where indie artists usually perform for example at the electric ballroom, so it'll portray the kind of scene indie artists are likely to be in. A limitation that we may face when filming in this location, is the act of filming the market itself. This is because some stall owners may not feel comfortable with their stall being filmed, so we will have to ask permission to film. A health and safety risk that might occur is again the act of filming. Due to the market being busy, it may be difficult to film as it could get too cramped which may result to the camera being damaged for example getting knocked over. We could prevent this by researching what times the market is less busy and go then or simply chose a quieter stall to film at so that we don't have the fear of damaging the camera due to the limited space. The weather could affect our filming as the market is located outside. As it is located outside it may rain and sine were filming in the winter it will most likely be cold and rain. Our back up plans we have in place for if the weather is not up to standards, is simply have our artist and characters wearing suitable clothing e.g jacket and jumper to keep themselves warm. Also we may have to include iconography especially umbrella in the shot to make sure they do not get wet whilst filming. 

The fourth location that'll be included in our indie music video, is a house. The reason why we have chosen to have a house as one of our locations is so that we convey the artist and her lover in a more comfortable and safe environment. Also it will reflect the indie genre because a house is a recognisable location that artists usually use to show real life personal events e.g relationships. In this location you will see the artist and her lover doing everyday things such as watching tv in the living room and in her bedroom. This will convey the artist as ordinary because she is seen in a known environment which the audience can relate to. 

The bedroom in particular will be used to show them in an intimate excluded place, so that the audience see them together when they are both are comfortable to be open about their relationship. This will engage the audience as they'll be able to relate with them due to the privacy a bedroom has for everyone as its a space where everyone can be themselves and keep their secrets. Bedroom's are conventional to the indie genre as it portrays the artist or characters in a real life setting to convey realism for example in Gabrielle Aplin's Panic Cord video, she is seen on a bed with her boyfriend arguing. The limitations that we may face whilst filming in this location is the time we can use the house. This is because we will have to make sure whoever's house we are using that their parents are ok with us filming in there and schedule a time that we can. There are no major health and safety risks in this location due to it being a personal setting to one of the crew members or characters, so everyone will be aware of everything in the house as the owner will inform everyone where everything is to make sure nothing happens. 


Moving onto iconography, the first will be a tent. A tent is a portable shelter made of cloth, supported by one or more poles and stretched tight by cords or loops attached to pegs driven into the ground However we may create our own tent to make it look indie by having a long sheet over a branch and placing a blanket on the bottom so that the artist and her lover can sit inside it. A tent will be used when the artist and her lover are in the fields camping and sitting by a fire. The reasons why we have chosen a tent to be included in our indie music video, is because it conveys another memory or past event of what the couple have done together and allows to show them intimately. This is because when they're shot inside the tent, it'll show them be affectionate to one another and gazing into each others eyes. The use of a tent will portray the scene as passionate, loving and cozy which the audience can relate to if they have been camping with their partner. The tent shows the audience how the artist is adventurous as camping is a adventurous activity, and also loving and warm when in a relationship because we will see these traits when shooting her and her partner inside the tent. A self made tent is conventional to the indie genre because it is creatively made which gives a personal sentiment to it, which the artist may want the audience to establish as it lets them in to their lives a bit.

To make the bonfire scene more intimate, the use of iconography;sparklers will be evident in our music video. A sparkler is a handheld firework that emits sparks. Moving sparklers quickly can create vibrant patterns. This type of iconography will be used by the artist and her lover when they are at the bonfire scene. They will be shown holding the sparklers and creating a love heart in the air with them to convey their relationship. The reason why we chose to include sparklers in our music video, is to show the fun youthful side of the artist as children usually use sparklers. Also, the sparklers could represent the relationship within the music video as exciting and interesting which will give the audience more of an understanding of their relationship through the heart seen. The use of sparklers is conventional to the indie genre as it is seen as fun and romantic especially through the love heart made from it, which will symbolise their relationship as eccentric and cute. 

The next iconography that will be seen in my music video, is alcohol. Alcohol is a depressant that slows the function of the central nervous system and alters a persons perception, emotion, movement;vision and hearing. The alcohol will be used in the music video when the artist and her lover are in the fields with their friends having fun, dancing and jumping around. The use of this iconography will portray the artist as rebellious and out going because alcohol is usually consumed by her age group at social events. Therefore, the use of alcohol will prompt building a relationship with the target audience who are 17 - 25 as they are most likely to consume alcohol at their age which will be relatable to the artist. Moreover, the alcohol used in the music video will help show how the couple show more affection to one another when under the influence of alcohol due to them not being in their normal state. So this will convey them as happy and content with their relationship because they are under the influence of alcohol. This piece of iconography is conventional to the indie genre, as it may be used to show peoples situations for example it is someones coping mechanism or they have an alcohol problem, which gives a sense of realism as someone in the audience can relate to whats being shown because they could be going through it as well.

If possible, my group may have a piano as one of our iconography in our music video. A piano is a keyboard musical instrument that has wire strings that sound when struck by felt covered hammers operated from a keyboard. A piano would be shown when the artist is singing alone and this will be shot from a side view, mid shot or a high angle shot. The reasons why we have chosen to have a piano in our music video, is to convey the convention in the indie genre of an artist being able to play an instrument. Also, it'll show a performance that will tell the audience that our artist is not only talented vocally but instrumentally as well. This may build a relationship between the audience and the artist, as they will feel fascinated at the fact the artist plays an instrument as well as singing. The use of the piano also is to visually match the music as well because a piano is used in the sound. This will help create more of an understanding about the song and make the video seem more personal to the artist by emphasising what she is singing about through the instrument. Piano's are conventional to the indie genre because of its melodic, light hearted sound which may compliment the narrative or concept shown in the video to give further understanding and meaning. 


Last but not least, the iconography, smoke canisters will be used in our music video. A smoke canister/ smoke bomb is a firework designed to produce smoke upon ignition. The smoke canisters will be see in the music video when the couple and their friends are in the field jumping around and dancing like in the gif. The use of this iconography will portray the artist as young, creative and free which will intrigue the audience to her. The reasons why we chose to include smoke canisters in our music video, is to convey the fun element in the narrative and show the happy memories of the couple. In addition, the coloured smoke connotes happiness, youthfulness and rebellion because the artist and other characters will be seen smiling and laughing, but the fact that they're slightly hidden by the smoke could portray them as living in the moment and not caring about what others think. The use of this iconography may help build a relationship between the artist and them as they see her as a fun person to look up to and go against norms. This is conventional to the indie genre as it'll portray the artists vibrant personality and within this genre, artists usually showcase a part of themselves for the audience to get to know them better.

Planning my setting and iconography has helped me prepare for the filming for my music video, because it has given me and my group a clear idea of how it'll look like. By analysing deeply to why we have chosen particular settings and iconography, it has prompted us with what settings and iconography are suitable for our music video, and to make sure it fits our narrative and the indie genre well. From this post, I am aware of the health and safety risks and limitations that our chosen settings have, however I have made back up plans to make sure that we are in a safe environment when filming and we get our video done successfully. Planning the setting and iconography has given us more time to film, as we know what were going to include before hand and are able to get straight on with it when it comes to the actual filming. This means that we will be prepared when about to film and will not have to think about what to use or do on the spot because we already have a plan.