Setting and Iconography

Setting and Iconography

Location and iconography elements are important when planning to create a music video as they are highly important features of mis en scene and are required in order to make the music video look professional, realistic and to make the conventions of the video make sense. When planning a setting for a music video I have to make sure it is relevant to the narrative and concept of the video, as well as having many different genre conventions with it in order to make our video successful and appeal to audiences. They are also important in making the music video because it is a main focus of the video for audiences and what they can constantly see and focus on so it therefore has to match the purpose of the song and on screen visuals and actions. Iconography is also very important when planning a music video as they are the main features and connotations that are seen as genre conventions in the music video. For example, any piece of iconography used in the video will be used or seen for a specific purpose which makes the video conventional and builds up to the narrative of the song making it a key element. I took inspiration from music video narratives and ideas I liked when planning my settings and iconography and then put in place how and when they will be used and for what specific purpose they have and representation they create. 

The first location I have chosen for the planning of my music video is a kitchen. The reason I have chosen to film in a kitchen as a scene for my music video will be to show the couple making cakes in there and it will be one of the artists loving memories with her boyfriend and a key feature of our narrative. It helps to convey the idea of innocence and love on the video and narrative as it shows the couple in a happier time when they were together and creates an emotional feeling on the audience being able to relate to the couples experiences and memories so overall, it creates a dramatic and emotional effect. The actions that will take place in this setting are cake making and the couple simply messing around lovingly and playfully whilst throwing flour on each other to create a happy and playful atmosphere and help portray how its a happier memory. The main limitation we have with filming in the kitchen is that it will be hard to use the services of someone in our groups kitchen when its not in use or whenever someones not busy and also a key limitation in terms of genre conventions, the decor and style of the kitchen. We will therefore have to ensure that the kitchen we use is suitable for what we plan on doing in terms of action and it looks appropriate to our concept and conventional to the indie genre. There are no real health and safety risks with the kitchen setting itself but the actions may be an health and safety risk however as kitchen utensils, ovens etc will be used and have to be used properly for our safety and for the good of the outcome of the video. As well as this, weather will not be a problem for us in terms of filming and whatever the conditions, will not effect the setting. 

Another setting we plan on using for our music video is a garden. We want to film in a garden for a key filler memory for the music video and some performance elements so it is a key setting and feature for us and as well as this, it creates a natural and pure representation of the video and an innocent representation of the artist and song in terms of when it will be seen and the actions our artist will take place in when in the garden. The actions that will take place in the garden scene are creating a bonfire and fort. We want to do this as the bonfire will be used for the artist to throw photographs and bottles on to and it creates a warm and loving yet dark feeling for the audience as they see her in two different minds. The limitations we have when creating the bonfire and filming in the garden are that it will be hard to make a good and well lit bonfire and film around it. It will also be a limitation to film certain shots around it as it could be deemed as dangerous or unsafe and we have to film close ups of the fire and other aspects of the video with this setting. Weather could also effect us when filming with this setting and bonfire as we can't film if it is raining or damp as we won't be able to complete the actions we want too and we can't do it to close to winter time or if its to cold as it wont create the warm, loving atmosphere we aim to create and this will cause for a different impact and effect on our audience. 

The main piece of iconography we plan to use for our music video is a memory box. This memory box will be used throughout the music video and will be a key feature in terms of creating the impact on our audience for our narrative, concept of the video and at time when the artist is preforming the song with the memory box in hand or with an item from inside it. We chose to use a memory box as I am aim to name the title of the album 'memory lane' so it has a similar correlation and it fits well with the narrative of the video as she is picking memories she has with her boyfriend out of the box, e.g. a shape cutter for when she is making cakes with her boyfriend in the kitchen scene or the picture memory for when they were once happy but she later throws it into the bonfire, so every memory seen pulled out of the box then shows a scene which involves it. It will be seen at the start of the video with the artist alone in her room and at the end when the song and narrative takes a darker turn therefore helping to create a loving atmosphere and feel for the audience and artist, as well as a dark and horrible one. 

Another feature of iconography we will use in the music video is a picnic basket and blanket. This will be used when the couple are over the fields with each other, walking the dog and having picnic. The scene it will feature in will come at the beginning of the video when it shows the couple in a happier and more loving memory therefore helping to create a natural and innocent feeling and the audience will be able to relate with this iconography and scene as the narrative is during happier and mire relevant times. The picnic basket is also a conventional piece of iconography to the indie genre as it is rather basic and ordinary but however portrays a deeper meaning and has a number of connotations behind it that we often relate with indie artists and there videos. The picnic basket will also be used in a filler memory shot to highlight its importance in the music video and to show that despite how simple it is, how much it and the memory meant to the couple. 



In conclusion, pre planning our settings and iconography has helped us for when we create our music video as we are now aware of what we need to to get ready and prepared to film our scenes, how everything will be used and when it will and also how we can prevent any complications. It has made me more aware for when we are filming, how we can stick to our plan of settings and iconography but still make it conventional to the indie genre and look realistic and helped me to make any changes when filming if necessary.