"know/do" - amber/thayer - teenage dirtbag
Title: Know/Do
Music: “VCR” by The XX
Subject: Amber/Thayer, Teenage Dirtbag (2009)
Length: 2:50
Summary: You just know. You just do.
Vid notes: Heavy spoilers for the film. Further notes and lyrics under the cut.
Lyrics:
You used have all the answers
And you, you still have them too
And we, we live half in the day time
And we, we live half at night
Watch things on VCRs with me and talk about big love
I think we're superstars, you say you think we are the best thing
But you, you just know
You just do
I went and found myself by the sea in anothers company
By the sea I wanna go out the pier, I'm gonna dive and have no fear
Because you, you just know, you just do
Watch things on VCRs with me and talk about big love
I think we're superstars, you say you think we are the best thing
But you, you just know
You just do
Notes: This video was an exercise in restraint. Not only was I working with Windows Movie Maker (ARGHHHHH) but the song is so short that I just couldn’t manage to get everything I wanted in there. There are visual parallels that I didn’t have the chance to focus on-the repeated use of black and white, the colour shifts between Thayer’s home life and school, the river. Also, the notebook which is so important to Amber and Thayer’s relationship was virtually impossible to fit in with the quick cutting I used.
I know tonally this is kind of fucked up-the music is romantic and cheery and most of the footage used is as well, but this just isn’t a happy story. I’ve taken every other character out except for Tabitha, who physically had to be there for the grody/hot neck licking scene and the random guy Amber bones, because there just wasn’t room for anyone but Amber and Thayer, not even Jeannie.
This movie was moving to me in a way I can’t properly explain with words, so I’ve tried to use this vid to express that. IDK if what I am trying to say even comes across but if it doesn’t hopefully you will at least think “WOW THAT WAS CUTE AND SWEET. SORT OF.”