Setting and iconography - Miss Miller

Planning setting and iconography

It is important that we plan as a group before filming the music video, so that our time we have to create our production is used effectively. The setting and iconography is important to consider when planning as it sets the scene of the music video, which therefore makes it easier for the audience to understand the narrative.  The different range of settings used in the music video are important as they must be places that are familiar to the audience so that they can relate and build up a relationship with the artist, throughout the music video. Furthermore the iconography is key to making the music video conventional to the soul genre. For example the use of the piano in the video is very stereotypical and is recognised as a typical soul genre musical instrument. This will lead to the audience having a good understanding of what to expect in the music video, and being able to compare the music videos similarities with other soul genre music videos in todays charts.

One of the settings my group decided to use was our school. The reason for using our school in the music video is to strengthen our narrative style music video. We thought by using this setting it will make the narrative relatable and conventional in showing that it was to do with the artists life before fame. We also intend to include black and white filters, this is because the use of black and white filters suggest the past and it shows how the artist is reflecting on her past, which makes the audience build up a relationship with the artist as they can see her growing up into the artist she is today. The location within the school that we will be using is the music room, this is so the audience can understand that this is where the artists music career started.  Our plan is to crop out the background in order to use cgi images to convey the artists thoughts and feelings. Which will help the audience to connect with the artist emotionally.
The iconography being used within this setting is the piano. The piano is a typical soul genre instrument that shows to the audience that the artist is multi talented, because the artist can both sing and play an instrument. It is conventional to the soul genre because within my music video, the artist is going to be reflecting on her past. The black and white piano also connotes the past. Therefore is a conventional instrument within the soul genre.



Also by using the school music room it will show to the audience that she was just a normal girl, and this is one of the key aspects we want to convey in our music video. Due to us planning as a group we have found some barriers and things that may become difficult when we begin to film. By planning we can plan ahead so that these barriers do not slow down our filming schedule. We decided that we would use black drapes in order to cover up the background around the music practise room. The reason for this is because we feel that the room would make our media production look amateurish and just thrown together. Therefore by using black drapes we can take out the background and make this part of the music video look professional. The music practise room being a small size comes as a positive to our group as it will be less room we have to cover with the black drapes. While planning our setting and iconography it is important that we asses the health and safety of filming in this location. The music room proves to be a safe location as there is nothing else in there other than the piano, stall and radiator. The hazard risk is very small and therefore we will ensure on the day of filming that we use all our equipment sensibly and safely in order to keep the health and safety of us to the best standard.
The iconography within this setting is the black stall, the black stall is conventional as is commonly seen throughout professional soul genre music videos. The stall being black connotes to the audience that the artist is depressed and is sitting with the depression which portrays to the audience that the artist can not escape this depression.

Another location we have planned to use within our music video, is also in school, but the stage which will either be in the drama studio or the main hall depending on what is available at the time. The stage is being used for our performance style side of the music video. We have planned to use this setting as it is typically conventional to the soul genre and shows her the artist would have done gigs and performances in her building up to her fame. Also by using the stage we will have a wide range of different types of lighting we can use and incorporate into our music video, to make the music video look professional. One of the techniques we are going to use in the back-lighing in order to create a silhouette of the artist, this is in order to emphasis how the artist feels lonely and lost, furthermore relating to the song as the artists wants to come back to her hometown. The way we are going to film in this setting on stage; are going to be as if there is a real performance taking place, therefore making the video as realistic as possible, furthermore making the audience feel like they are watching a live performance. When planning this location we did identity a few limitations of using the hall: due to the high usage of the school hall we will only be able to film when the hall is not in use by other members of the school. Furthermore the stage is not the biggest and fairly small compared to stages seen to be used by professional artists. The health and safety risks of this location are small. The only risk to be seen as dangerous, is the risk of falling off the stage. In order to prevent this we are going to be extra careful when filming on and around the stage, especially when near the edge.

Another two settings we have planned to include in our media production is Theydon Bois ( which is her hometown in the music video ) and London.

Firstly Theydon Bois is a location that is very accessible for all group members and is quick and easy for all of us to get there. Which means we could film on short request if need be. Also Theydon Bois is a small village that portrays happy times for the artist. Within this location we will be using one of the group members houses in order for it to be the house the artist grew up in. We thought the use of using a location that the artist grew up in, would make it easier for the audience to understand he child hood and therefore be able to connect and build up a relationship with the artist, overall making the video more effective and intriguing for the audience. By planning the location we did come across a few possible problems using this location. The members of the groups house it is, if the house is busy and cannot be used on certain days could slow down our filming schedule. Also if one of the members couldn't find the location this would be a problem. Therefore in order to overcome these situations the member of the group is going to warn her family of the days we would be filming so that there will be no problem. Also as a group we have formed a group char therefore if a member has trouble finding another we can message each other very easily.

The Theydon Bois setting is conventional to the soul genre because it brings normality and realism to the music video which the target audience are able to relate to.  During the Theydon Bois setting the iconography that will occur will be: sofas, phones, televisions, all these iconography's are normal everyday things that the audience would come across on a day to day basis. Therefore the setting and iconography within the Theydon Bois location is very conventional as it allows the audience to effectively relate and build up a relationship with the audience.



The London location is where most of the health and safety risks are as you are surrounded by possible hazards such as heavy traffic of cars and people. Therefore we have set out to be as careful as we possibly can and to stick together as it would be very easy to lose one and other. The location was planned so that the audience can have a familiar location to relate to with the artist. London being a very well known city and somewhere we expect most of our target audience have either been to or seen on television. We felt as a group this location will be effective in creating a sense of familiar grounds between the artist and the audience. It also portray to the audience of how the artist was once a normal girl, going unnoticed on a busy city, and how it has all changed now.

The London location is conventional to the soul genre and commonly seen throughout successful soul genre music videos. London is in contrast with the theydon bois setting as they are opposites, one being a city lifestyle (London) and they other being a village hometown lifestyle (Theydon Bois). The contrast allows the audience to understand that this is where the artist is becoming distressed and wants to return to her hometown. Therefore the setting of London helps the audience to build up a relationship with the artist as they can build up a relationship and understanding of how the artist is sick of her city life and wants to return home. The iconography that'll well be evident throughout the London setting will be; buses, flat type buildings, bus stops, telephone box. All of these iconography's enable the audience to gain the understanding that the artist is surrounded by a city life.


In conclusion

the research has helped my group plan out how we will use certain locations and what iconography will be needed within our production. For example the use of the microphone when filming on stage, the microphone will show the professionalism of the artist. Overall this planning has helped my group develop our ideas of what we will include in our filming, and we have become more realistic. We highlighted the problems that could occur and found solutions for all of them. I believe that this planning has achieved our group to have a better understanding of the sort of schedule we will have to stick to,  in order to include all the different settings and iconography.