The document provides a detailed analysis of the music video for the song "Cocoon" by the British indie/rock band Catfish and the Bottlemen. It summarizes the plot of the music video, which follows two protagonists at a rehab center who are separated but longing to be together. It analyzes the effective use of camera shots, editing, sound, and mise-en-scene to tell the story and illustrate the meaning of the song. The analysis examines how these filmmaking techniques are used to connect visually with the lyrics and convey the band's experimental approach.

1. Cocoon Analysis

2. Background Information
• Catfish and the Bottlemen are an British Indie/Rock Folk band that formed in Wales in 2007. The
band formed after lead singer Van McCann and Billy Bibby learnt to play guitar in Bibby’s parent’s
B&B in Wales. They were joint by Benjamin Blakeway who became their bassist and third
founding member. The band promoted themselves in small car parks and other artist’s gigs before
replacing two members of their band with drummer Bob Hall in 2010 and Johnny Bond in 2014.
• In 2013 they signed to independent label ‘Communion Records’ where they released their first
three singles ‘Homesick’ ‘Pacifier’ and ‘Rango’.
• Later in 2014, they signed to ‘Island Records’ where they released their forth single ‘Kathleen’.
They featured on Zane Lowe’s hottest record in the world.
• Since then they have played at festivals around the country including Leeds and Reading festival,
Latitude, T in the Park and Ibiza Rocks.
• On the 15th September they band released their debut album ‘The Balcony’ which entered in at
number 10 in the UK charts. Shortly after, the band announced their headline tour around the UK
which finishes November 2015.

3. ‘Cocoon’ Analysis
The music video for ‘Cocoon’ follows a narrative storyline where the two protagonists meet at a rehab centre. At first the two
appear to be distant from one another however, as the video continues the audience learns that something has happened
between them which has challenged their relationship. After a series of flashbacks from the male protagonist’s point of view,
we understand that he misses his girl friend’s company since something happened to her mentality whilst being at the rehab.
He tries to bring her back around my repeating activities they once done together and putting up with other people rules in
order to stay with her. The climax occurs during the instrumental of the song when the male protagonist tries to escape with
his girl friend and results with being caught by the staff where he is punished for going against the rules. Although he tries to
struggle from their grasp, he remembers the flashbacks of his relationship and decides to endure the punishment so he can be
reunited with her mentally. It finishes with him and his girl friend sitting together at the end of room and holding hands.
In an interview about the song, leader singer Van McCann said that the song was based around being away from a loved one
and wanting them to just be together despite what anyone says. The music video follows Goodwin’s theory of illustration as it
suggests an alternative scenario where two people want to be together and ignores all the rules so they can be.
The music video also does follow a performance element, but takes an alternative approach. During the instrumental bridge
of the song, the patients in the rehab centre are playing the instruments. This fits the protagonist’s situation and follows the
music video’s storyline as well as showing the audience that the band are responsible for their own music. It also shows that
the band is different and experimental from mainstream indie/rock bands as the lyrics are explicit and very honest which
would usually not get air time because of its lyrics.

4. Camera Mid-shots
At the start of the music video, there
is a great use of mid-shots used. This
automatically indicates to the
audience that there is a distance
between the two protagonists and
makes the audience feel a little
uncomfortable. The protagonists are
rarely central in the shots which
suggests that they feel lonely or that
they are missing the other person and
needs them to be in the frame for the
shot to be complete. The use of mid-
shots help illustrate the meaning of
the song and sets the mood for the
audience to feel.

5. Camera extreme close ups
Extreme close ups are only used when the
male protagonist enters and exits his
flashbacks. The focus on his face shows
emotion and longingness for the female
protagonist which the audience can connect
with on a personal level. The shots are
effectively connect with the lyrics as McCann
sings ‘I remember when you…’, and first
extreme close up premieres followed by a mid
shot of him meeting the girl. This illustrates
the lyrics and helps the audience understand
the key moments of the song.

6. Camera Close ups
During the protagonist’s flashback, there is a
variety of different close ups used. This
allows the audience to see a different side
of the characters’ relationship and to be
apart of it. The juxtaposition of the shots
used are effective as it represents the
difficulties of their relationship as well as
the positive sides to it.

7. Camera Positioning
Camera shots are also used to help introduce the different characters and show their role
in the narrative.
Those who play the authority in the rehab centre such as the female doctor and the staff
are always centre of the frame. This is deliberately done to show the audience that they
have the biggest influence on the storyline and determine the two protagonist’s love
story. This makes a change as usually the artist or the main actors would be centre of the
frame however, this has a greater impact on creating an entertaining piece of film. If it
wasn’t for these characters, then the equilibrium would not have been disturbed and the
video would have not connected with the lyrics and meaning of the song.

8. Edit
The editing in this music video is very limited.
• The transitions are all straight cuts which is very commonly used for
narrative music videos since they tell a story like a film.
• The shots have been edited together to help tell the story and create
emotion. This is most effective when the protagonist enters and exits
the flashbacks as the audience finally understand the relationship he
had with his girlfriend.
• The shots follow Goodwin’s ‘Cut to the beat’ theory.

9. Sound
• The sound falls within the Indie/Rock bracket. Being associated with this genre
enables Catfish and the Bottlemen to explore and experiment their alterative
sound and express themes and emotions other mainstream genres may be
advised against. Although many people associate Indie Rock to be more grunge,
the lyrics of the song take a more reinsuring approach which is a positive
outcome of sticking to an independent image.
• When asked about the sweet nature of the song in Diffuser’s interview, lead
singer Mccann said…
‘I actually wrote this tune in New York when I came to the city for the first time to
write some songs. And I kind of already had been writing a few and been doing a
few things, but then this one came along. And I thought, “Man, this is f—ing good.
I’m gonna keep this one.” It’s a tune about, whether it’s your best friend or your
dad or your missus or anything, as long as you got someone else with you or you’ve
got a direction, it doesn’t matter if people try to get at you. As long as I’ve got you
and you’ve got me and we love each other, then that’s sweet. We don’t need
anything in life. It’s about whatever you want, whenever you want and being
positive, especially when people are trying to get you down. Be happy, and that’s
it.’

10. Mise-en-scene
Costume:
• The mise-en-scene in this
music video is a key
component in making it
successful and realistic.
As the video is set at a
rehab centre, the
patients and staff need to
look like they belong
there. The medical staff
are dressed in white
clothing which is the
stereotypical image for
doctors whilst the
patients are given
something different to
express their unique
individuality.
Make up:
• The make up used give the
audience a good indication about
the different characters and
emotions. For example, the nurse is
wearing red nail varnish which we
would relate to as danger or power.
This might influence the audience
to think a certain way about her
and the impact that her character
creates.
• Another example is the female
protagonist. When the audience is
first introduced to her, she appears
to be very pale and ill. However as
we enter the flashbacks, we see
more colour in her face which
suggests that something has
happened in the rehab centre to
make her look different.