alt-J - The Actor (Official Video)

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Lyrics

Bricked up a kilo, panelled down in the back door,
All the while i’m riding to auditions I’m not getting,
Why do I keep on returning to you?
All-American jawlines, one room going over same lines,
Grind the script like teeth,
Why do I keep on returning to you, cocaine?
Swarm of TV cameras click and stumble at the Chateau,
Later I hear John’s body got carried out.
‘Ice cream’ was the codeword told to me by a cold man,
These nice hotels, gotta know your clientele.
Why do I keep on returning to you? Cocaine.
Gimme some ice cream! Give it to me now, mama, now.
I’m in the deepest end of an empty pool.
He’s never gonna make it in LA.
I’m in the deepest end of an empty pool.
He’s never gonna make it.
Cocaine

Credits:

Cast
The Actor: @lewiswalker_x
The Heroine: Hannah Mason

Executive Producer: Tom Viney
Producer: Frankie Willcock
Production Manager: Grace Conway
Production Company: Pundersons Gardens

DOP: Peter Bishop
1st AD: Gabriel O’Donohoe
1st AC: Mike Linforth
2nd AC: Rory Power
Gaffer: Ryan Delahunty
Sparks: Jordan Gosling Matt Bohun and Jasper Clarkson
Grip: Adrian Greenfield
Runners: Kleopatra Andreou and Sophie Jacob

Costume: Nichola Farnan
Costume Assistant: Nell Maude
HMU: Lauren Webster
Production Designer: Rana Fadavi
Production Assistant: Max Stranger

Grade: John O’Riordan
Sound Mix: Sound Node

Artist: Alt-J (Thom Sonny Green, Gus Unger-Hamilton and Joe Newman)

Follow alt-J

#altJ #TheActor #TheDream

[stickyicky]

These dancers are incredible. The way the guy moves around without looking like he is doing the moving at all is just beautiful. And the music matches in top notch fashion, as always.

[madelinespooner]

What hits me is that she uses her body to animate her partner's body after he has died in an attempt to "bring him back to life"... the story being told is that this would be her last chance to interact with him in the ways they perhaps had when he was living: i.e fighting, rolling around, dancing, kissing, sitting together, etc. All of the emotions that took place between the two of them when he was alive. Like we are watching the life of their relationship flash before our eyes. We see her conflicting desire to touch his body but also being scared of it because it's not him anymore, how she expresses anger, passion and love towards the body. All so very understandable, touching and eerily haunting at the same time.

[jennifermalcolm]

They could not have found better dancers for this. They are INCREDIBLE. Truly. Gorgeous and fluid. What gorgeousness. You feel her pain and panic. Alt-J never ever fail.

[davidschlenstedt]

alt-J are something really special. Their music is part of the soundtrack of my life, especially their debut album and this new album. Outstanding masterpieces! True artists! Genius! ❤️

[purplerose]

How do they make sadness sound so beautiful?? 😭 This song is a masterpiece!

[mediamom]

Choreography gave me chills. Perfect with this song.

[tommyparis]

Once again : how to talk about death, drug, violence, pain… in a very gentle way… only alt-j can do

[shinyribs]

Addiction.

You love it. You can't stand to be away from it. You indulge.

Moments later you're disgusted with yourself. But you'll find yourself coming back over and over.

This girls facial expressions nailed it.

[jesar]

I don't know who I'm more impressed with she's strong as heck and he's limp as a doll. Both equally difficult to pull off to appear so effortlessly.

[oliviapop]

I bet anyone who's ever been in a codependent relationship can relate to this video way too much.

[digitalslush]

1:19 The "kiss" is not a kiss. She is trying to resuscitate him. After she tries, her head falls on his chest to hear his heartbeat. So, heart breaking...

[crnivrou]

I just cant even tell you what this song means to me. One of the very few bands that can make me explode into the purest form what I truly feel. RIP little brother.

[jaywood]

I feel like the choreography perfectly encapsulates the momentary insanity one goes through after finding out a loved one has tragically passed away

[shers]

The very end, when she grabs the bottle, gawd that part gives me chills.

[sadeschandler]

I’ve had this whole album on repeat since it came out. Definitely a new forever favourite.

[tiffanyr]

I am crying so hard watching this . My ex-husband called me one night and I found him after he overdosed. The pain is real

[nathanielszczerbinski]

I’m just happy that Alt -J exists. One of my favorite bands of all time!

[xavierwashington]

The contemporary in this video has a strong message. Your dead weight to me but I can’t you let you go.

[Mc_muffintop]

This choreography is so distractingly beautiful and well done omg

[tgeijer]

I kept waiting for a happy ending with baited breath, full well knowing it was not going to happen. Still loved it. I have not been able to get this song out of my head since I first heard it when the album came out but I'm not complaining. It's such a mesmerising tune with such melancholy lyrics. Can't beat those jangly guitars. Simply the best thing I've heard in a decade - as is the entire album.