Planning Setting and Iconography

The purpose of setting within a music video is to is to set the scene, creating an understanding for the audience of what the video may be about. Location can also be a way of portraying the artist feelings and emotions by where they like to spend their time, for example if an artist is upset, they may shy away in a dark and bland room where they can hide their emotions. Iconography can be used within a music video to narrate the story, which may also connote the artists personality; through their materialistic items, house decor, whether they smoke or not and  so on. When planning setting and iconography for our music video, we need to make sure it relates to and follows our chosen genre codes and conventions.

The settings in which we have planned to film in as a group, helps to portray our chosen genre and narrative being based upon a relationship. We wish to have a mixture of the past and present to show how the relationship changes with time. The setting we wish to start with, is in a Theydon Bois field; we will shot the couple against a single tree at the top of a hill to connote the two spending time together alone. The fact that the audience are exposed to what seems like the perfect relationship, makes them feel aspirational as they want the same. Another location we have planned to film in, is at Drew's house in Waltham Abbey in his bedroom. Obviously this is a typical place

where a couple would spend time when in a relationship, so we felt it was conventional within our chosen narrative. To portray our 'memory' scenes connoting the past, we decided we'd take a trip to Brick Lane. Within Brick lane we thought it was a prime location to show the couple behaving rebelliously together. All
these locations show the individual stages, both good and bad in

their relationship and all the memories they've shared in the past. The audience may connect to the

narrative as most stages of a typical relationship follow the same path, in which many have experienced. For the performance section we plan to film in Theydon Bois again, however this time at the Village Green. The performance shots will be shot in an aesthetically pleasing area; Georgia standing up in a supposing 'apple tree' singing with a pond in the background, therefore building a relationship between lyrics and visuals, following elements of Goodwin's theory. The fact that we plan to follow elements of Goodwin's theory and regularly change the location maintains the audiences attention

After discussion with my group, we decided to change our narrative; making it less of a sweet, perfect and romantic relationship, we decided we wanted to make it more edgy, therefore rebelling slightly against the typical codes and conventions to grab our audiences attention. The first location
we wanted to use within our music video was Camden Town. Camden itself has a very funky atmosphere, where you witness all types of clothing and accessories for various subcultures. It is a very edgy area that breathes a creative underground energy. Many shots will be taken here in mid day, including one of the couple sitting closely by a canal watching boats pass whilst surrounded by block of flats. We decided as a group to keep the location of Brick Lane as we felt it was ideal for the image we wish to portray. Brick Lane is very similar to Camden Town in the way that there is such diversity where ever you walk; Brick Lane is a very traditional flea-market affair offering customers a rich multiplicity of

products. This filming is shot in the evening when the natural light begins to disappear, the fairy lights come out and the vibe picks up. Shots we wish to use, such as the couple smoking shows another side of their personality and behavior; rebelling against typical codes and conventions. Another location we have planned to film in is Clerkenwell in Greater London at a pub called 'The Apple Tree'. As we had decided as a group to get away from the location in country areas that follow the typical codes and conventions, the group and myself

wished to find an alternative way of linking lyrics to visuals. By filming at this pub, portrays to the audience that this place may somehow hold an important significance, for example representing them as a couple in the way it's their personal central location that holds the most memories. We wanted to portray this significance due to 'Let's go down to the Apple Tree' being repeated in the chorus.

The iconography we wish to include within our music video, helps to build the relationship between lyrics and visuals. The group and I have planned to use the rope swing hanging from the tree in the Theydon Bois field, portraying shots of the couple spending quality time together. This shows the audience their love for each other in the way they are their true selves in front of one another. In brick lane the couple will be seen smoking together whilst laying on the pavement, which connotes

their rebellious behaviour. All the changes in behaviour help the audience understand how alike the two are and the supposing strong relationship they share; a bit too perfect to be true. Through the narrative, although it is unconventional the audience are able to connect, as they have a clear understanding that not all relationships are perfect, they all have individual problems. When shooting the bedroom scene, typical iconography in used through decor and is designed to suit their conventional teenage age group. The fact that our audience are then able to relate to the artist being in the same generation, they can pick up on similarities between themselves and the artist. This as a result makes it more enjoyable for them to watch the music video. The performance percentage of the music video shot at the tree in the Theydon Bois Village Green, will show the tree surrounded by apples that are all randomly placed on the floor, making a connection to the chorus lyrics. The fact that all the apples have fallen from the tree, metaphorically represent their underlying problems within their relationship. The fact that the apples have such a significance, makes it more of an interesting video to view by our target audience.

Again my group and I have changed some elements of iconography to suit the new image we wish to portray, however most will be kept the same. The iconography used in Brick Lane, for example the couple seen to be smoking will remain and so will the meaning behind it; showing their rebelious side when they're together. The scene shot in the

bedroom will also remain, however previous to this scene we will be taking camera shots of the outside a block of flats in order to portray a different area that he supposedly lives in. The bedroom
shots of the couple will portray 2 sides of their relationship; where they are happy, yet underlying feelings are portrayed when drew's asleep, when Georgia gives off another impression. This again gives something for the audience to relate to, therefore connecting with Georgia, the lyrics and whats being portrayed. Having elements of the music video that are relatable, something that an audience can connect with is very important and was well thought out by myself and the group. We wish to satisfy our target audience and also gain a larger one.