Steven Wilson - PERSONAL SHOPPER (Official Video)

"The song PERSONAL SHOPPER sits somewhere between being a love-letter to shopping (which I love to do!) and the uneasiness I feel about the more insidious side of modern consumerism. Lucrecia’s blackly comic video captures that dilemma perfectly." - Steven Wilson

“The track is a social criticism of consumerism and how we fill our lives with unnecessary goods to feel important, special or loved. But the truth is, the feeling of unhappiness won't go away with the next pair of sick trainers. Those feelings will only go away when we look within, and if we don't... well, then we're going to end up with a lot of stuff around us, but still pretty empty. Luckily the track being 6 minutes gave me the opportunity to develop an interesting narrative. I wanted to create a fictional world in which people buy goods and the transaction would not only be money but also a part of their body, alluding to the concept of the more you look for answers outside, the more you disappear on the inside.” Lucrecia Taormina, Director

Director: Lucrecia Taormina
Executive producer: Luke Tierney
Production company: FRIEND
Producer: Joseph Goldman
Casting Agency: Lane Casting
Casting Director: Hannah Ashby Ward

Cast:
The Consumer: Robert Lane
Cash Lady: Paula Benson
Shop Owner 1: Jill Buchanan
Shop Owner 2: Stephen Wale
Shop Owner 3: Amy Gallagher
Worshipper 1: Ocean Navarro
Worshipper 2: Karlu Solomon
The Thief: Romano Solano
The Shopper: Steven Wilson

Director of Photography: Pieter Snyman
Editor: Meg Thorne
SFX: Natasha Lawes
Grade: Richard Fearon
Production Designer: Oliver Hogan
Movement Director: Simon Donnellon
Styling: Flora Huddart
Wigs, Hair & Nails Artist: Natasha Lawes
Makeup Artist: Andrea Gomez Anzola

TFB Product Rendering:
Miles Skarin, Crystal Spotlight

VFX Artists:
Kelvin Chim, Steve Hawken, Rob Chandler, Abi Tomasiewicz

Crew:
Production Manager: Hugo Holford
Production Coordinator: Ash Teague
First Assistant Director: Ty Hack
Second Assistant Director: Heini Susanne
Steadicam Operator: Doug Walshe
Focus Puller: Phil Heron
Grip: Charlie Wyldeck - Flowers
Clapper Loader: Rob Hawkins
Camera Trainee: Jack Plumbridge
Gaffer: Peter Bishop
Sparks: James Leech, Matt Simmons
Spark 1st Day - Simona Pran
Spark 2nd Day - Greg Probert
Lighting Trainee - Josh Wood
SFX Prosthetics Assistant - Jess Heath
SFX Prosthetics Trainee - Alice Platts
Art Department Assistants: James Middleton, Rupert Wilson
Stylist Assistant: Molly Robinson
Runners: Joe Coulson, Tara Sadeghi, Tom Stuart
Location Manager: Dean Whittaker

Edit House: Cut + Run
Edit Producer: Maggie McDermott
Edit Assistant: Rob McGuire
Post House: Black Kite
Post Producer: Polly Durance

Commissioned by Natalia Maus

[whitewizzardllc]

Steven is the best musician and producer of the last 20 years period. This is just fantastic. Speechless. Bravo. It will go over so many heads but I hope it makes some noise. We need more of this.

[lohankarachay]

Just imagine the satisfaction of Steven Wilson releasing this on a black friday with the black friday hashtag. Man must be delighting in irony.

[TheWaterdog]

I have seen this like 50 times and this is better than half the movies out there. Good music, good message, symbolism and ambiguous meanings. The other songs and videos do not measure up to this one. This is his best work ever.

[YokohamaCalling]

Elton John reading the list of shopping items at 3:47. One of the world's biggest shoppers. And he had to start with Sunglasses :) Poetic.

[HermeticAscetic]

Listeners, please read the description. The one thing I like the most about Steven Wilson is the way he elaborates his ideas/concepts musically and lyrically, be it the PT’s The Incident or this track. Brilliance personified.

[cosalidra]

Everytime I am about to make an impulsive purchase, I will watch this. Thank you Steven Wilson.

[costassiachamis]

Masterpiece of new era.
Congratulations Mr. Wilson

[djpetenice]

Hard hitting truthful song about the dangers of mental health surrounding consumerism. Thanks again, Steve.

[PuriRafaela]

It's like an 80's video, 80's music, but both with a contemporary production, using the best of the resources available nowadays. This guy is always flawless. Hate to be such a fangirl, but I simply cannot find any bad music under his name

[mattcraig]

Lost in the mall, shuffling through the stores like zombies.

[AleksMaik]

The biggest plot twist would be if we saw Steven buying shoes at the end of the video.

[WarhawkBeyond]

Weird, creepy, funny and very catchy: welcome to the highly versatile world of Steven Wilson where there's no such thing as a single genre, just all music with a meaning and story you can get behind.

[AnnaAwe]

This is one of the most brilliant pieces of art I've heard/seen lately. Modern-sounding synth pop mixed with disco elements. Catchy yet still able to pack a punch of social commentary. I love the choral parts and the psychedelic vibe. In the video, the expressions of the salespeople are unforgettable!

[_MrPink_]

As Steve said, "Lost in the mall, shuffling around like zombies." This is pure feel. LOVE.

[targaryenXoolf]

That's how you cameo in your own music video. Brilliant.

[lerxzt]

Have a great Black Friday mr Wilson! (...and Tim says "absolutely")

[highartalert]

Some Steven Wilson songs hit you hard after a couple of listens. This is one of them. I am getting addicted to it.

[nedim_guitar]

The sonic quality of this track is amazing! The production, the mix! Those drums! Ear candy!

[incognitech]

Brilliant concept. The way customers look with their distorted view the souless objects of consumerism hit the spot. You pay products with your body, your health and your life until you're banished from existence. Wow Steven.

[tonsoftonez]

The chordchange in that "consumer of life" part is pure gold.