0 : 00
The video opens with an overhead shot of a dining table. The composition is rectangular and symmetrical, and the wooden table is the central focus, emphasizing a domestic, intimate setting. On the bottom left, an African American man is immersed in paperwork, signifying responsibility , while a plate of uneaten food and coffee sits in front of him. On the right, a child who is also African American and likely his son is sitting on a chair with cereal, juice, and a phone on the table. There are also some extra condiments in the center of the table. This arrangement visually communicates a physical and emotional distance between the two figures, even as they share the same space.
0:01 – 0:03
The camera transitions to a closer side-angle shot of the father, who is deeply engrossed in his work. The light filtering through the window behind him casts a cold, muted tone, reinforcing the emotional detachment. In the foreground, the blurred silhouette of the child with their head resting on their hand adds to the feeling of disconnection and depression.
0:04 – 0:07
The camera zooms in on the child, who stirs their cereal absentmindedly, their gaze distant. The dim lighting highlights the child’s drooping posture and tired expression. The father appears to have said something that has angered his child, as the kid throws his hands up and gets up and leaves in frustration.
0:07 – 0:10
The camera focuses on a glass of juice and a cereal bowl as the text “It can be difficult to know how your kid truly feels” overlays the screen. The background shows the father slightly blurred, reinforcing the idea that the child is not easily understood and is having a hard time.
0:10 – 0:13
The child is now shown in silhouette against a softly lit background, sitting in their room on the bed. The framing isolates the child, emphasizing loneliness. The text “Music can help them open up” appears, introducing the idea of a solution or bridge for connection between the family.
0:14 – 0:15
A close-up shows the child wearing earphones, listening intently. The lighting is softer, and the focus on their expression hints at a moment of comfort or escape through music.
0:15 – 0:18
The child is seen sitting at a table in warm, yellow ambient lighting. The text “When you can’t find the language, Find the Lyrics” appears, addressing the challenge of articulating emotions. The cozy setting contrasts signaling a shift toward understanding and warmth.
0:18 – 0:22
The father and child sit together at the table. The father looks at the child with a compassionate expression while placing his hand on top of his sons and they start talking. The lighting remains warm, signifying a breakthrough in their communication.
Counterintuitive Fall 2024 
This is NOT categorized in your username, Skibidy, making it invisible to certain searches and NOT representing it in the sidebar under your username.
Let’s look at the first second or two.
SPEED FEED DAY: I’ve given myself a 15-minute deadline for feedback today in an effort to get through at least a “first pass” at more than 30 feedback requests in one day. Of course you may still receive additional feedback but only following significant (as judged by me) improvements.
11:50 Start
YOU SAY:
The video opens with an overhead shot of a dining table. The composition is rectangular and symmetrical, and the wooden table is the central focus, emphasizing a domestic, intimate setting. On the bottom left, an African American man is immersed in paperwork, signifying responsibility , while a plate of uneaten food and coffee sits in front of him. On the right, a child who is also African American and likely his son is sitting on a chair with cereal, juice, and a phone on the table. There are also some extra condiments in the center of the table. This arrangement visually communicates a physical and emotional distance between the two figures, even as they share the same space.
I SEE:
Much the same thing except that the clearly very artificial camera angle is meant to alert us that that is NOT homemade footage meant to capture a boy and his dad in a natural moment. This is ART. I appreciate that Dad’s food is uneaten. That’s a good catch. But also, the son’s cereal is “partly consumed,” indicating just as clearly that he’s only halfheartedly committed to the meal, distracted maybe. Dad takes his coffee black. And probably without sugar since none is evident. The condiments at the center of the table are out of reach. So is the juice. The son does not pour his own. He’s dependent on Dad for juice. But also, he’s not distracted by his phone, the screen of which is dark. Would we notice all of this in the first second? Probably not. Would our unconscious note it even if we didn’t consciously “register” it? Maybe not. Does that absolve you from noticing it when the frame is frozen? It does not. It was part of the director’s plan even if it didn’t make the “final cut” of the video. It’s evidence of what was in the creator’s mind. Part of the message. Even the fact that we so clearly see the white cuffs of Dad’s shirt, which indicate, perhaps meaninglessly, that he is wearing long sleeves. Whoever costumed him went to that trouble, so it’s significant. Placemats mean that even when Mom is not on the scene, they still take care to protect the table. Which of the four empty chairs would she occupy if she WERE here?
I haven’t watched the rest of the video, but as 00 transitions to 01 I notice that Dad’s button-down shirt is dark blue. How could the same shirt be blue and have white cuffs?