Ideas for Locations

2. 1
The bench is where we begin and end our music video due to it’s
circular narrative. This meant that we had to pick a location which
was memorable for the audience, but could also provide the
backdrop for a relationship blossoming and falling apart.
Therefore, the location of the bench is very private and serene,
which represents the idea of the couple ‘having eyes only for each
other’ at the beginning of the relationship; however, it can also
create the feeling of being secluded and lonely when only one of
the men return at the end of the music video when the relationship
had ended. The bench is located in the Marshes in Eaton.

3. Forrest Gump (1994) is a film which features an iconic use of
a bench, using it as a way to position the protagonist as he
sits and narrates his story. The famous opening scene -
where Forrest announces that “life is like a box of chocolates“
- features a slow pan, almost like the audience is listening in
on an private conversation. This is an effect we want to
achieve when we shoot our music video, as we want to show that the first meeting of
our couple is an intimate occasion; the pan-in also brings the introduces the characters,
as the nearer the pan, the more detail is revealed to the audience.
The image of a bench is seen on numerous folk / indie
artists album artwork. It inspired us to use a bench as the
starting point of our video as it is a generic location of the
folk / alternative genre; it is quite a warm image, conjuring
up images of being with friends, while also creating lonely
connotations when empty. Also, benches are often found in
parks or areas with lots of wildlife, in keeping with the
natural imagery throughout our track Gather and Run.

4. 2
The field is our second location, so the couple in our story are still
in the early stages our the relationship; therefore, we wanted a
location which could be seen as bright and calm to represent them
falling in love with one another. Due to the light, open landscape,
the location is far from claustrophobic so you feel that the couple
do not feel forced or uncomfortable with one another. Also, the
lush green of the grass symbolizes growth and harmony (indicative
of the budding relationship). The green also connotes safety,
which suggests that the couple are comfortable in each others
company. The field is also located in the Marshes in Eaton.

5. 3
The gardens are our third location as we wanted a location which,
much like the field, could mirror the good part of the relationship
we are telling. The location is, again, open and bright to remove
any sense of claustrophobia. The location is that of somewhere
you would want to go on a date with someone, so we chose
Blickling Hall, near Alysham, to be a potential location due to it’s
stunning scenery and hall which would provide visual interest for
our characters and the audience watching. The hall also has a
hedged-maze in it’s grounds, which will provide a location for our
characters to disappear behind so to transition to our next scene.

6. 4
The forest will be our fourth location, as this is the part of the track
when the lyrics ‘to the forest we will gather and run’ are first
introduced. According to Goodwin’s theory on music videos, there
should be a link between the lyrics and the visuals of the video, so
this would be a time where we provide such a link when it comes to
the location of the shoot. Also, this is the turning point in our video
when the couple will become more distant from one another, so the
enclosed, almost claustrophobic, nature of the location may reflect
how they feel trapped with one another, suggesting that the
comfort and easiness that was once in the relationship has gone.
The forest is located around and in the Marshes in Eaton.

7. 5
The river is our fifth location in our video. It will feature after the
forest, during a musical break between verses. The guitar melody
is very flowing, and so reminiscent of a river, which, again, links to
Goodwin’s music video theory: that there should be a link between
the music and the visuals. The river could also be symbolic of the
couple’s relationship become more and more turbulent as the
video continues; this is because a river can often seem calm and
tranquil but can also turn fast-flowing and dangerous. The river we
want to shoot at is located in the Marshes in Eaton.

8. 6
The beach is our sixth location. We chose this location because it
links to the lyrics: ‘Water’s flowing and my hands are weak / Until
this moment passes when my mind can sleep / But we’re drowning
in an ocean too deep’. Similarly to the forest, we wanted the visuals
to match the lyrics, as mentioned in Goodwin’s theory. Also, the
location may prove unsettling; while the beach can be associated
with happiness and freedom, in can also produce darker
connotations, especially during the winter, with associations with
suicide and storms. This links to the troubled relationship of our
characters, as the audience does not know what troubles are facing
their relationship. The beach location will be filmed in Cromer.

9. All of the above locations are featured in music videos for indie / folk artists. This is because natural imagery has strong
associations with being wild and free, ideals which are often discussed in the lyrics of folk songs. Also, it explores the
idea of being young and carefree, not being tied-down or limited of where you can go; it is important that we explore
this representation of youth in our music video, as our lead characters, track artist and target audience are young adults.