Saint Simon by The Shins

After all these implements and text designed by intellects

So vexed to find evidently there's just so much that hides

And though the saints of us divine in ancient feeding lines

Their sentiment is just as hard to pluck from the vine

I'm trying hard not to pretend

Allow myself no mock defense

Step into the night

Since I don’t have the time nor mind to figure out

The nursery rhymes that helped us out and make a sense of our lives

The cruel uneventful state of apathy releases me

I value them but I won't cry if the time was wiped out

I'm trying hard not to give in

Battened down to fair the wind

Read my head, at least pretend

Allow myself no mock defense

Step into the night...

Mercy's eyes are blue

When she places them in front of you

Nothing holds a roman candle to

The solemn warmth you feel inside

There's no measuring of it

As nothing else is love

I'll try hard not to give in

Battened down to fair the wind

Read my head, at least pretend

Allow myself no mock defense

Step into the night...

Mercy's eyes are blue

when she places them in front of you

Nothing really holds a candle to

The solemn warmth you feel inside of you

“After all their influence and my best intent to interest, the rest won’t mind to intently

leave their mess behind.” The lyrics of the song could change, but the tone that’s been set will

remain. It pictures concomitant to the song are meant to convey the exasperated, yet apathetic

disposition. The scene is meant to depict a morning after what the main character thought

would be a good one. Throughout the story it will be shown as a series of choices in which he

believed were the ones he though he wanted. The shots are designed to have an expatriate and

alone feel to them as the main character roams around trying to put everything back in order.

Transitioning from a scene of partying, the first picture will come into focus with the

main character looking at the remnants of a late night. Evident that a lot of people where over,

empty party cups, and liquor bottles are scattered around aimlessly. The two brightest things in

the photo are a beer pong table and a recycle bin that can be seen in the corner. The

contrasting orange from the generally dull surrounding is meant to lead to the frustration of the

main character picking up empty cans from the ground and putting them into the recycle bin

adjacent to their resting position from the night before. I chose the angle of the camera to

show the main character from above among the wreckage, making him seem small and his

efforts pointless.

The irritation leads from the first photo to the second, where yet more refuse is scatted.

In the foreground of the shot, the trash can is brimming and above it on the counter is a pizza

box and empty beer bottle. If someone notices, there is a big plastic (recyclable) bottle on top.

In the background of the shot the sink is seen with an accumulation that must be weeks old.

Next to that is a collection of plastic bags, showing the need to consume without the

responsibility that comes with having done so. It’s brighter in this shot meaning there is a

possibility of things looking up for the main character, however almost all the colors are dull

except for the bright orange of the soap bottle seen behind the beer bottle. This is meant to

show that all the main character wants is within reach, but must go through some obstacles to

get there. The angle here was really only used to put the soap bottle behind the beer bottle.

The third in the series of shots is mean to be a quick one, but will say a lot about the

main character. I chose an extreme wide shot, so I could put the situation in perspective to the

people viewing. The objects in the shots show more signs of alcohol uses over time. In the

corner is a stack of beer boxes, which aren’t on the fire at this time, because they are only used

to light the fire (important through the story as it is character trait). On the pool table is

probably the most important aspect of the shot. It’s hard to see, but the eight ball is teetering

on the edge of the middle pocket. I wanted to bring that into focus more, but I didn’t want to

add filters or anything like that, and lighting wasn’t working out very well on it. The main

character is to walk through the shot carrying all the trash from the kitchen. He will enter the

shot and exit.

The fourth shot is a simple one. I got on the ground giving an upward perspective which

will show the main character as the personification of growing up. Throughout the scene the

angles will get progressively lower to help portray this concept. In this shot, it’s supposed to be

the last of the trash to be cleaned. Yet more beer cans are thrown about. There is a grill, but

the charcoal in the foreground isn’t near it. I wanted to be subtle and just show how random

people are when they are drunk. People will literally mess with anything.

The fifth shot is the one I really enjoy the most. All of the debris is seen in order. There

aren’t enough trash cans for all of it so the bags are on the ground. The main character’s

disposition throughout the story is bring environmentally friendly when you can, and this is to

make a point on all the trash we make as a throw away culture. In the background is the best

part of the shot. There are two cars in the driveway, which shows he’s been doing this all

himself.

The point of the shots going with the song is that there are always going be times of

frustration. Eventually you will grow a defense and become apathetic to the situation, which

will help you grow up. Although the song is more about a philosophical and political growing

up, it can still relate to the story as the main character is struggling to do both. The shots

depicting his ideals are meant to bring that part of the song into context with the story. Overall

the mood is a serene, but frustrated on. I think it would work well with a slight blue filter over

it. The color pallet is very dull, but has extreme colors in it, which shows where the interests of

the main character are. Overall, I’m hoping the aesthetic shows a relation to the main character

as he sees the world and of course the opportunity of a brighter tomorrow.