We Are Scientists- Nobody Move Nobody Get Hurt: Music Video Deconstruction

The video released in early 2006 begins with a close up of the lead singer’s guitar as he strums it in time with the music. This video is a fine example of an Amplification music video; the shot then cuts to a meat shot (a shot of the lead singers face). Next in a series of shots, the drum is introduced into the music and so there is a close up of the drum as it is struck by the drummer; and next is a close up of the bass being played as it is the next instrument to be introduced to the music. The camera zooms out for a wide shot containing the whole room and the bands performance, this shot is cut in time with the music and a series of shots and cuts are edited as we hear the instrument played and in time with the music, a typical convention of Amplification music videos. After this shot is a close up on the microphone and singer Keith Murry’s lips as he begins to sing, this is then edited to a cut zoom out as his whole face can be seen singing.

Then a two shot with both the guitarists and the drummer, later is a high angle tilt, looking down on the band with Keith’s face filling most of the frame (basically a meat shot). A series of interesting shots are used, the drummer can be seen within the frame, however he is not in focus, later the guitar neck enters the frame, this is in focus, (shallow focus).

The audience notices that something is not right with the band members (in relation to the narrative of the video), they are looking out of a window, with a concerned look up on there face, they continue to glance over until the drummer drops his drum sticks and sprints out of the frame this cuts and we see him continue out of the room in a long shot. However the music continues as normal as the remaining two band members continue to plus, until that is, they run out of the room also. The shot holds for a moment, the microphone stand is still swinging and suddenly, and quite unexpectedly a man in a bear suit jumps and smashes through the window.

The next shot is a cantered angle of the door out side of the studio; within the frame; the door bursts open and the band sprint out. The shot is cut to a series of hand held shots, this shot type is very useful as it increases the tempo of the video along with the music, and creates a sense of urgency about the music video. To make this effect even better not only is it hand held but the camera man is very loose with the camera, making the shot very jerky and sometimes even out of focus. This is a massive contrast with the still and calm shots used at the beginning of the video.

The band members try to get into a car but because they are rushed they cannot get the keys in the lock, the shot is cut to another handheld shot of the studio door, the bear runs out. The bear turns in a rather sinister way and sees the band and immediately starts chasing them. Despite not knowing why the bear is chasing them, or why he is dressed as a bear, the audience feels the negative presence of the bear that is clearly meant to represent a evil person.

The camera follows the band around a corner as they frantically try to escape from the bear, mid shots of the band pan as they run down the street and the same shot is repeated for the incredibly speedy bear. A track or a car is used for the next shot as it smoothly follows firstly: the bands midriffs and then their feet as they sprint down the street. Next wider shots and close ups of the bear smoothly filmed in the same way follow, cut to the beat.

There is defiantly a comedy aspect to this video, firstly the fact that, a bear is chasing a group of men down the street, and in another a long shot the bear forcefully shoves a passer by to the ground. Next is another comedy moment within the video, as the music is a slower pace, they turn to see the bear has been ran over. When the tempo increases (more instruments are added).

The band members run into a building and run up a flight of stairs, this shot is edited to look like CCTV cameras on the flight of stairs, the camera takes photographic shots of the band climbing the stairs. With each beat of the drum the band are further up the stairs, they then run past a corridor in line and the camera is constantly moving towards them, the camera cuts again and the same sequence is repeated for the bear.

Constantly throughout the video the bands feet are in frame, each step they take as they run represents the beat.