Lurker (2025)
Director: Alex Russell
Writer: Alex Russell
Stars: Théodore Pellerin, Archie Madekwe, Zack Fox, Havana Rose Liu, Wale Onayemi, Daniel Zolghadri, Sunny Suljic
Plot: Retail worker Matthew Morning is employed at a popular Los Angeles clothing store frequented by rising pop musician Oliver, whom Matthew impresses one afternoon by playing an under-appreciated song he loves on the store’s speakers. Oliver gives Matthew a backstage pass to an upcoming concert and quickly befriends him thereafter, inviting him to join his entourage as his documentarian. Matthew is initially met with skepticism and resistance by Oliver’s friends but is eventually accepted as he begins contributing numerous visual elements to Oliver’s upcoming album cycle, ultimately quitting his job at the store.
Matthew himself soon becomes a well-known social media figure for his association with Oliver and is approached by his former co-worker Jamie, who is also a fan of Oliver’s and wants to meet him. Matthew reluctantly agrees and Jamie quickly becomes an additional member of the entourage as the group’s stylist, drawing the ire of Matthew. Oliver takes his entourage, including Matthew and Jamie, to London to accompany him at a concert. During the trip, an increasingly jealous Matthew makes several attempts to sabotage Jamie, culminating in him injuring Jamie by knocking him off of a ladder during a photoshoot. He is promptly shunned by Oliver and his friends afterwards.
After Matthew’s attempts to make amends with Oliver prove futile, he encounters two underage fans of Oliver, whom he equips with backstage passes and discreetly records an encounter between them and Oliver, who is under the impression that they are adults. Matthew subsequently blackmails Oliver with the footage and forces Oliver to allow him back into the entourage until he finishes a documentary about Oliver.
Matthew accompanies Oliver and his friends on tour, during which Oliver makes several failed attempts to retrieve the hard drive on which Matthew is keeping the footage of the encounter. Oliver attempts to convince Matthew that he truly sees him as a friend and deleting the footage is necessary to eliminate any tension between them, but Matthew argues that the pressure is pushing him to be a better artist and that Matthew is his first true friend because he isn’t simply a yes man.
Eventually, Oliver’s friends stop their tour bus in a desolate area and begin beating Matthew, allowing Oliver to access the hard drive. However, as he’s searching through it, he is able to see edited footage of the documentary Matthew has been filming during the tour, and appears to reconsider. Sometime later, Matthew’s documentary premieres at a film festival to an enthusiastic crowd, who applaud both him and Oliver together onstage. After Oliver answers questions, an aspiring photographer in the audience asks Matthew how he got to where he was. The film ends in the middle of him stammering to answer the question.
* * *
Lurker (2025) | Transcript
[Man] Right here.
My turn.
[Man] What?
[Man] Give it to me.
Oh, here he is.
Hello, camera’s turn.
Hi.
[Man] Hello, how you doing?
I’m good. It’s okay.
[Man] Okay, no
[Man 2] Enough.
[Man] Yo, stand up please.
Tell us your name.
[Man 2] Um…
[Man laughs]
[Man] “My name is…”
Matthew.
Matthew. Hello, Matthew.
Hi.
[Man] How are you doing?
I’m good. How are you?
[Man laughs]
[Man] Tell the people.
Tell the people, um… Tell me… where you
hey, Matthew with a move.
Where do you see yourself in five years?
[Matthew] Is this like a job interview?
What is this?
[Man] Where did you see yourself in five years?
I don’t, I don’t think that far into the future.
I don’t think about that.
[Man] Okay, well, if you had to.
I already have everything I want.
[Tape whirrs]
[Woman] I’m looking for, like, a nice kind of jacket.
Look.
He’s back.
You’re good, bro.
Yo.
[Quiet murmur]
[Man] This
okay, yo!
That’s ok
that’s okay.
You can ask.
Wait, I
You can ask for a picture. That’s cool.
[Fan] Can I…
[Man] Yeah.
[Fan] I love you.
[Man] Yeah, yeah. You’re good.
Cool, man.
[Fan] Thanks.
[Man] Nice to meet you.
[Smooth, soulful music]
Hey, do you need help with anything?
[Man] I’m good, bro.
Okay.
[Man] Thanks, man.
[Music plays
My Love Song for You]
♪ This is my love song
♪ For you ♪
Seb.
Who’s playing this?
Who’s playing this?
Oh, we get to, like, choose the music.
How do you know this song, man?
This is Nile Rodgers.
Nile Rodgers.
Yeah.
[Man] Yes, he knows.
Bro, you didn’t know this when I played you that song.
I just, I grew up on this type of shit.
Yeah, bro, me too. Yes, bro.
No one knows this, man, yes.
Yeah, my grandma used to play this for me, like, it’s such a classic.
[Man] This is what I want my next album to sound like, You know, it’s just, like… just, like, timeless.
Maybe we’re on to some next thing, man.
You… you make music?
Yeah, sometimes, bro.
[Matthew] Yeah, I mean, I guess, like, that’s why these kids are looking at you and taking pictures and shit.
Like, I’m fucking dumb, I’m sorry.
No, you’re good, bro.
[Matthew] No, that’s cool.
Yeah, I don’t really listen to, like, new music or whatever, so no offense.
[Man] Don’t worry.
Seb, how about these?
[Seb] Where are you gonna wear those, man?
You don’t need those.
Hey, I
I hate to be that guy, but…
I’m a really big fan of your music.
[Man] Oh, bro.
Yeah, I appreciate you, bro.
Yeah, man, I think you’d like my music.
For real. If you’ve got an open mind, and you’re into this kind of shit.
Wait, we got space on the list tonight, no?
[Seb] I don’t work for you, man.
[Man] Shut up. You might as well do.
Yo, give me your number.
You should come to the show tonight.
I need somebody there to, like, actually appreciate it, that’s going to listen and not just taking pictures, putting it on their story.
You should come.
I need a real person there.
[He chuckles, softly] Yeah.
[Man] Give me your number.
[Man] Sick.
All right, just hit me when you get there.
Cool, bro.
[Music ends]
Hey.
Hello.
[Matthew giggles]
[He breathes shakily]
[Clerk] What just happened?
[Music resumes, loudly] ♪ This is
My love song
♪ For you
♪ This is my love song
♪ For you
♪ For you
♪ This is
♪
[Music stops;
Repetitive, uneasy piano notes]
[Song plays] ♪ This is
♪
[Song stops abruptly;
Music continues]
[Music continues]
Matthew. He told me to come out here.
[Bouncer] Go ahead.
Yeah?
[Music concludes]
Hey… what’s up?
What’s up?
You gonna just stand there with your pants on?
Why the fuck are you laughing?
You see we got our pants down.
You just take your pants off ’cause a grown man tells you to?
Okay.
I’m just playing with you, dude.
[They laugh]
What are you doing?
Did I tell you to put ’em back on?
We literally do this to commemorate our homie, James.
The dead homie. He was gay.
So don’t come in here disrespecting Gay James.
Stop fucking smiling.
I’m not, I mean, should I take them off?
You tell me, bro.
[Oliver] Who the fuck is James?
[Man] Dude!
[Man 2] Y’all remember Gay James?
Gay James made beats.
I’m sorry. It was too easy, bro.
It was right there.
I had to
I had to do it.
I like you, man. You just do whatever.
[Oliver] My belly.
You just, you take your pants off whenever I say.
[Oliver] I’m crying.
[Man 2] What else can you do?
What other tricks you got?
[They scream and laugh]
No! No!
[Man 3] No way, bro.
[Man 2] You win, what the fuck?
Alright, that’s it, man.
[Man 3] What!
[Oliver] Bro. Bro!
[Man 3] Fuck you.
Alright.
No, for real, though.
These are my boys.
I couldn’t do this without them.
[Man 2] Oh, thank you.
Well, nice to meet you all.
[Knocks on door]
Yo.
That’s all you, bro. You get it.
Me?
[Man 3] Yeah, I just spilled my shit, bro.
Shit.
[Oliver] Go with him.
[Man 3] What?
Go with him.
[Man 2] Come on.
[Oliver] Don’t be rude.
[Man 2] ‘Sup, “Meethew.”
You looking for somebody?
[Man 4] Yeah, actually my girlfriend.
She, like, left to get a picture.
You have to go.
Come on.
[Man 4] Yeah, do you know if she’s in here? If her phone is in here?
[Oliver] Yo.
[Man 4] What’s up, Oliver?
My God.
[Oliver] Good to meet you, bro.
Yo, for you, take this man on a little tour of this place.
We’ll head out together, man. Swear.
[Door slams]
[Door opens]
Hey.
Hi.
Sorry, do you know where Oliver went?
Oh, no, sorry.
He does that sometimes.
He’ll probably be back in, like, one to two hours.
That makes sense. Yeah.
So, where’d he find you at?
You in, like, a meet-and-greet or something?
No, no, he… he came into the store I work at, and he just, yeah, he told me to come by, see the show, like, hang out.
That’s cool.
Yeah.
That’s cool.
Just stick with me.
You’ll be straight.
Oh, okay.
[Crowd cheers;
Upbeat indie-rock music]
♪ Tickets on the dashboard
♪ Said we went too fast before
♪ I was holding back just for you
♪ Numbers on the board and
♪ Lines drawn on the floor
♪ You ever was the one split in two?
♪ Swallow your words
♪ And spit it out
♪ Come on, won’t you spit it out? ♪
This how you envisioned it?
What?
It’s all good, nothing.
♪ Get it out
♪ Come on, won’t you get it out?
♪ Get it out
♪ There’s blood… ♪
Just try to make yourself useful.
What do you mean?
If you wanna stick around.
♪ These things you wanted ♪
[Oliver] Thank you, LA.
I love you.
You good?
[Oliver] Whoa, you made it.
Yeah.
You watched?
Yeah, yeah.
Thank you so much.
What’d you think?
Yeah, it’s cool.
We gotta…
Musically. Hold on, dear.
Two seconds.
Still, I’m just-I’m still processing, like, I… but I heard the influences, like, for sure.
And I can tell…
I can tell you really do this.
Like that’s… that’s really you up there.
Bro.
[Oliver exhales, relieved]
That means so much, man, thank you.
Thank you.
You’re riding back with us.
Yeah?
Where?
We were literally, when we were 18…
[Propulsive electronic music]
19, 18…
Let’s just get in the green…
I thought we’d agreed though…
No.
Every fucking time.
It’s y’all’s fault that they showed up.
It is that unmemorable.
‘Cos if y’all didn’t go to middle school with them and all that, they wouldn’t be at the door for the show.
[Woman] That doesn’t give you a way in.
[Oliver] This is the crib.
This is my house.
This is Noah’s hallway…
Get back in your home.
This is self-explanatory.
Help yourself to, ya know, whatever shit you want.
This is my room.
[Matthew] Oh, whoa.
[Oliver] Yeah, yeah, come on in.
Is this, like
[Music stops]
Like, built in, or is this, like, added?
Or…
Yeah.
Well, we’re having a house meeting, so just chill, make yourself at home, and we’ll be back.
Okay.
[Door slams]
[Inaudible dialogue]
[Men converse indistinctly]
[Oliver sighs]
Yo.
Yo.
[Oliver grunts] Bro…
Trying to pass my friends off as professionals, man.
[Matthew chuckles]
Killing me.
Yo, I just-I wanna say, like, this…
This night has been super eye-opening for me.
Like…
I feel like I’ve known you guys my whole life.
Really?
Yeah, it’s like you’ve already inspired me so much just to… to be creative, ya know, and to… to not be afraid of being myself.
It’s like…
Yeah, I feel like I’ve met you guys for a reason.
Well, maybe you did.
[Matthew] Yeah.
[Oliver chuckles] I really think you’re gonna be the biggest artist in the world.
They don’t see–
They don’t see that.
Yeah, they just look at this moment like I’ve already made it.
You got a camera?
Yeah.
You know how to press record?
I do, yeah.
What are you doing for the next few weeks?
Um… I’m…
[Oliver] Hey, you’ve clearly got taste, that’s all you need. I…
I genuinely think you’ve got an eye.
I mean that.
I mean, you can be whatever you wanna be.
That’s crazy.
[Door opens]
Yo.
Yo, Shai.
Can you get Matty set up?
He’s gonna be here for a bit.
Happy for you.
Yeah.
[Music plays I’m Your Puppet, by James & Bobby Purify]
♪ Pull the string
And I’ll wink at you
♪ I’m your puppet ♪
[Woman] Kiwi?
Thank you.
Here you are.
♪ I’ll do funny things
If you want me to
♪ I’m your puppet
♪ I’m yours
♪ To have and to hold
♪ Darling
♪ You’ve got full control
♪ Of your puppet
♪ Pull another string
♪ And I’ll kiss your lips
♪ I’m your puppet
♪ I’m your puppet ♪
[Cellphone camera clicks; Music fades]
[Indistinct conversation in the background]
[Man 2] You don’t even know about World War II.
Yeah. Tell me about II.
I know about II.
[Matthew] ‘Sup, guys? Hey.
[Man 3] You don’t even know we on the beach of Normandy right now.
Hey.
Whassup? You back?
[Matthew] Yeah.
[Man 2] Whoop your ass.
Is Ollie here?
[Man 2] We could be fighting together.
[Man 3] There it is.
…to kill Hitler.
Ollie? No, I don’t think so.
[Man 2] Calling this man “Ollie” already?
You sound like one of his bitches.
I don’t call that man “Ollie.”
I call that man “sir.”
Salute.
Lieutenant O.
You’d have no rations.
[Man 2] I wouldn’t need rations in World War II.
I’d be out there getting money.
[Man 3] Right.
You would be out there, like “Can I get some rations?”
Yeah…
I would be getting money… no bread for you.
…selling drugs.
Oh, that’s a cra–
That’s a crazy map, though.
You gotta… so open.
[Man 2] Here we go.
Trash. Trash.
Fuck you.
[Man 3] Trash.
Fuck you.
Get off my dick.
[Man 2] Damn!
Let’s go!
Oh, shit.
[Man 3] Get off my dick!
Hey, man.
Hey. Hey, what’s up?
Oliver told me I’d be helping out with the doc, so…
[Noah] Oh, cool. That’s dope.
Yeah. Can I…
Can I help with anything?
[Noah] Do you know how to use Premiere?
Not really.
[Man 2] And you’d think they would just call it that.
Right. Instead of, like, Big Ass Gun 1, Big Ass Gun 2…
[Man 2] Yeah.
…type shit.
[Man 2] We should be in the military.
Fuck it…
Tenhut. Hey, whoa.
Whoa, whoa, whoa.
What’s going on, man?
What are you filming?
Is that on?
Yeah.
[Man 3] Why?
It’s…’cause Oliver asked me to film for, like-I don’t give a fuck.
Can you please put the camera away?
[Man 3] It’s weird, bro.
Don’t act like some sort of tour thot or some shit.
Like, just put the camera–
I’m not. I’m not.
I mean, it’s not for me.
It’s just ’cause Oliver asked me, so II just thought that it could be cool, tha–
You don’t even ask or nothin’.
Right. Nah, I’m sorry.
I haven’t got my makeup on yet.
[Man 2] Right. Exactly.
So, put the bigass porno camera down.
Stop filming us…
Yeah.
…like marsupials or something. Please.
[Shai] Yo.
Hey.
Hey. What’s up?
What’s up?
Hi.
Hey.
[Shai] Yes.
Yes.
[Repetitive, uneasy piano notes]
[Man 3] Alright, bro.
This is it right here.
So, this leopard ’bout to be with gang,
and he about to gang up on this little
Ain’t that a cheetah?
[Music continues]
Matty, you be watching this?
Bro, that’s–
No.
[Buzzer rings in the background]
Yo, what’s wrong, bro?
You… you good?
No, it’s just… like, do you know when Ollie will be back?
[Man 2 chuckles softly]
Here he go.
My bad.
I forgot you only talk to the boss.
[Man 3] Can’t be bothered with us peasants no more.
Crazy. It’s really wild.
I’ll let you know when the man of the house get back.
[Music continues]
[Music intensifies]
[Music stops; Door slams]
[Oliver] Yo!
Hey, man.
You’re back.
Oh, you’re here.
Cool.
Cool, cool.
Yo!
Let’s bounce.
Where
where you headed?
[Door closes]
[Keyboard clicks]
Yo.
Can you toss these for me real quick?
Yeah.
Thank you.
[Subtle, uneasy music]
[Music builds, fast-paced delicate beats join] He does.
I know we’ve had so many conversations about it.
I think it’s always been a dream.
But I think there’s things he doesn’t like about the venue that make, like…
[Oliver] Put money on it.
Put
Put money on it.
Put money on that. How much?
Watch this. Alright.
Watch this.
Watch this, Watch this.
Shit!
[Seb] Bro, come on!
Shit!
[Oliver] Hey, yo!
Yo, did you get that?
I was just…
Let me see. Let me see.
I-I…
[They laugh]
Now, this goes hard.
Why is that sick?
You gotta put this in your next video.
Dude, this is the video.
Bro, you killed that.
Yo, do you know Matty, by the way?
I don’t think we met.
This is my documentarian.
We kind of met at… at the store.
Oh, yeah, I remember. I remember.
So, you’re doing my video next, right?
Get out of here, bro.
Come on.
Get your own little boy.
He’s my little boy. My man.
He sold his soul to me.
Bro, I’m dependent on this one.
He sold his soul to you.
[Music swells, obscures dialogue]
Stand back, please, stand back.
[Music continues]
[Music subsides; Indistinct chatter nearby]
[Man 2] I think stick to game.
Maybe stick to game.
How about this?
Matty, you on next?
Yeah.
[Man 3] Alright. Alright.
Don’t get bodied, Matty.
Real quick. Hold on.
Swear, Matty, if you’re good at this…
I’m not.
[Joystick buttons click rapidly]
[Faint yelling from video game]
What the fuck?
Bro.
Bro, you were born a computer.
What the fuck is this?
You might wanna stop doing the same shit.
Relax. Okay. Okay.
That’s cool.
[Noah] Yo.
What’s this?
That’s Ollie fucking around outside.
He and Sebastian.
Seb was here?
Yeah.
He’s actually-he’s, like, super down to earth.
Like, he’s, like, really chill.
Yeah. Yeah, I’ve met him.
Can I see it?
Um…
[Noah] Yeah, just down in my office.
Yeah.
[Video game beeps]
[Man 2] Yeah. Let me get him.
That’s kind of sick, right?
Can you put this on a flash drive for me?
Um…
Yeah. It’s just Ollie asked me to, like, send it to him, bro
Who do you think he’s gonna give it to?
Right.
He’s gonna forget about this in two seconds.
Yeah, yeah, yeah.
Actually I’ll just throw it up on my desktop right now. Here.
Look… we’re gonna work together on this.
I’ll teach you everything, okay?
You’re gonna be my sous chef.
Okay, yeah, that sounds great.
So, what’s on the menu tomorrow?
Actually, why don’t you take tomorrow off?
We’re not doing much.
You’ll just be standing around.
I really, actually, I don’t mind.
I kind of just like being around you guys, honestly.
Yeah, man.
We appreciate your help.
But…
If you want, I can show you a couple things on the computer right now.
Just a couple tricks.
Yeah.
Yeah, you can pull up that chair in the corner.
[Singing] ♪ Rhythm’s
Going down like a flame ♪
[Matthew] Hey!
[Man 2] Hey!
Bye.
Bye.
[Man 3] Love you.
Peace, man.
Good night, guys.
[Man 2] Bye, stank.
[Singing resumes]
♪ Even in my head
♪ Deep inside my head
♪ Don’t know what you say ♪
[Delicate, uneasy music]
[Music continues]
[He exhales heavily]
[Cellphone vibrates;
Music fades]
[Music plays My Love Song for You]
♪ Me, I stumble
♪ But you give to me
♪ Here is the best I can do ♪
[Woman] Yes.
♪ This is my love song
♪ For you ♪
[Woman] What is this song?
♪ This is my love song
♪ For you ♪
[Cellphone rings]
♪ Stay…
[Music continues in the background]
Hey, what’s up?
What do you mean?
I’m at my house.
What? I-Yo, I didn’t know.
No one told me. I can-I can just come right now.
No, no, no, no.
I’ll just head over there right now.
[Woman] Hey, where’s my dance partner?
No, she’s fine. She’s fine.
Yeah, I’m
I’m coming. Alright?
Can you not talk to me when I’m on the phone!
Hey!
Yo!
[Oliver] Yo.
‘Sup?
Done shooting?
[Oliver] Yeah, love.
[He sighs, pants]
Fuck.
[Oliver] It’s all good.
You’re doing great.
[Indistinct chatter in the background]
Hey!
Noah!
[They laugh]
[Tense, subtle music]
[Man on tutorial] By the end of this video, you’ll know how to create a new project, import and organize footage, and the basics of navigating the timeline.
So, let’s get right to it.
[Rapid typing] Let’s start by creating a new project.
[He breathes heavily]
[Music continues]
[Music fades]
[Shai] Sometimes you’re too much.
[Man 2 giggles]
[Man 2] Wait, so you don’t think I could bag Meryl Streep?
Let me get that for you.
Where do you want it?
[Noah] Here.
Just right here?
[Noah] Yeah. Thank you.
[Oliver sings] ♪ Don’t think you
Remembered my name when I met you
♪ Said let’s meet in West
But no trains to the venue
♪ I’m running off of time
♪ Later when I tried
And my hair was looking off
♪ But yours was looking nice
And I tried sending a text
♪ But I don’t think it went through
♪ It was second best
The best part, I’ll try to
♪ Get more of your time
Said you’d give me time
♪ And I saw you ’bout to blush
♪ And I thought I’m doing nice
♪ But you said
I should have stayed a while
♪ When you talk to him
He doesn’t make you smile
♪ I’m just trying to get you
To my darkness
♪ I feel it burning up my lungs
♪ Getting water down the tongues
♪ Of my lungs
♪ And I really should have stayed ♪
[Song ends]
[Noah] That’s perfect.
I’m just standing.
[Noah] Maybe when we roll on this one, have her do, like, circles around you.
How the fuck am I gonna get her to do that?
[Noah] Or…
[Camera beeps] Shit. Grab me another battery.
It’s in the green bag.
In the green bag?
[Noah] In a Ziploc.
There should be six of them.
Just one second.
[Oliver] Yo, this moose is about to shit on me.
[Matthew] Um…
Are you sure?
I mean, it’s not in this one.
I gotta do this shit myself?
[Matthew] No. I mean, I’m looking.
[Oliver shouts]
It’s just, II can’t…
[Noah] Well, where is it?
I mean, maybe it’s in this one?
No, it’s in this one. It’s in this one.
It’s always in this one. Where did you–
I don’t know. I just–
It’s your shit, Noah.
Don’t press Matty about it.
[Noah] I can’t shoot anything without a battery. Where did you put it?
[Matthew] We’ll find it. It’s fine.
[Noah] It’s not in here.
Well, what the fuck are we gonna do?
We gotta just go back, I guess.
We’ll come back tomorrow.
This is fucking trash.
I’m sorry.
[Oliver] No! Check your shit.
It’s your shit.
[Noah] It’s not in here.
Wait, what if we tried to, like…
Try–
We could just try using this, I guess.
Wait. You had this shit the whole time?
I thought we were sticking to using real cameras.
I didn’t want to get in the way.
Why aren’t we using that?
We can’t just shoot half on a DSLR
and the other half
[Oliver] What’s your idea?
Because you forgot the batteries.
So, what, d’you wanna go home?
[Noah] I own that.
Let’s go home. Fuck it.
Maybe the best thing is to come back tomorrow.
[Matthew] What if we, like, shot this…
What if we, like, use this but from, like, the perspective of the sheep, ya know?
What?
[Matthew] Like, I don’t know.
Like, we strap it on the sheep, and it’s like we’re… we’re seeing Ollie through its eyes.
Ya know?
[Noah, chuckling] What?
[Matthew] I don’t know–
I’m down.
[Matthew] Yeah?
We could try that instead of just going home, ya know?
[Oliver] I’m down to try it.
Let’s try it.
[Matthew] Let’s try it. Yeah.
[Singing resumes] ♪ But you said
I should have stayed a while
♪ ‘Cause when you talk to him
He doesn’t make you smile
♪ I’m just trying to get you
To my dark
♪
[Song halts]
[Matthew] Shit.
[Oliver] Let me see.
Alright, let’s see this shit.
[Oliver] Wait.
[Song plays faintly on camera]
Bro. Yo, come look at this.
This shit, this slaps.
This shit actually goes hard.
Wait, yo, yo, yo.
We put this shit…
We put this shit with the shit with me and Seb on the bike.
The shit that Matty got with me on the bike. We put the two to–
The juxtaposition with the two of those two together.
It’s like some Spike Jonze type shit.
Matthew, Noah, sheep, shepherd.
[Man 2] Come on, come on.
Robes.
Bro, second album, second coming.
Bro, this…
Oh, my God.
Yo, no one’s doing this shit, bro!
[Matthew] That’s crazy.
Am I tripping, or this is sick?
No, this is great.
[Oliver] Okay, wait, hold on.
I’m in a flow. Wait.
Give Noah the camera.
Do you mind getting on your knees?
[Noah] Yeah, yeah.
Get down and, like, hold the–
Like, on your knees.
Like, actually on your knees.
Matt, Matt, get in it.
Matt, get in it.
I’ve got Matthew.
I’ve got my disciples.
My disciples with me.
I think what’s gonna help is if you push it down a little bit, we’re gonna see the fluff in the foreground.
I agree.
So, we really feel like we’re, like, from that perspective.
[Oliver] I agree.
[Shai] Just hug it.
Are you ready?
Bro, hold, hold it.
And then, wait, what do I do?
Bro, you’re just here.
Okay.
My director.
You should rub him a bit.
You gotta comfort the animal.
Yeah, bro.
You gotta comfort the animal.
Yeah.
[Man 2] I still got sheep on me, right?
Yeah.
[Shai] Yeah, I can smell you.
[Man 2] Were you about to shower first, or should I?
[Man 3] Maybe, yeah, I’m kinda tired.
I’m not gonna lie.
Yo, yo, Crazy.
[Oliver] I just got on a guitar, and I taught myself how to play guitar. I came down.
I played him this demo. I laid out my whole business plan.
I told him I didn’t need money, but I just wanted to know what he thought, and he just…
I remember he just turned up the volume and sat there till I walked away.
He didn’t believe in you?
[Oliver] No.
No, he did not.
[Matthew] Does he…
Does he believe in you now?
Well, he believes in the money I send each month.
[Oliver chuckles]
What about your mom?
Next one.
[Matthew] What’s your happiest memory?
[Oliver] My happiest memory?
Yeah.
[Oliver] Yeah, probably when I was 18, and, um… when I left home and came here.
[Matthew] Yeah?
Fulltime and did this. Yeah.
[Matthew] Was it, was it scary?
[Oliver] No.
No, it’s like…
You know, I have a new family now, and I get to choose who’s in it.
[Oliver chuckles]
That’s why, you know, I don’t talk to people like this, man.
I mean, I guess that means you’re, like, my best friend.
[Uplifting, dreamy music]
[Matthew] Hey.
How old are you, actually?
Come on, bruh.
Mile zero.
We’re at the beginning.
We’re just at the beginning, bruh.
[Matthew] Just at the beginning.
We’re just at the beginning.
[Matthew] What’s your favorite cereal?
What?
[Matthew] What do you love most about music?
Bro, what are you doing, bro?
What’s up, man?
Get this camera outta here, bro.
Hey.
Can I ask you some questions for the doc?
Yeah.
Yeah. Alright.
This is for The New York Times?
[Matthew, chuckling] Yeah.
[Oliver] No one’s prepared for questions, I think.
Ollie. He will be historic.
Now, that’s-Now, that’s a good answer.
Dude, you’re Matthew, right?
Yeah.
[Music fades]
I saw you at that concert, like–
Dude, you’re always on Oliver’s Instagram.
Yeah, yeah, yeah.
Yeah. Dude, you’re, like, my hero, man.
Yeah.
Yeah. You just inspire me just to be myself, and it’s okay to be who I am.
Yeah, dude.
I mean, don’t, don’t forget that.
Yeah.
Like, for real, there’s, there’s no difference between me and you.
Like, you could be doing this, too.
Yeah.
Yeah.
Can I ask you something?
Yeah, bro.
Yeah. What…
What do you, like, do?
Or I wanna be like you, but, like, what do you do?
Or what did you do to, like, get to where you are now?
Right, right.
Well, I’m a… like, I’m a photographer, right?
So, I’m… And I’m making a documentary right now.
So, I do mostly, like, I do visuals, right?
And I’m…
So, yeah, like, just visual art.
Like, I’m a… like, I’m a visual artist, you know?
Okay.
Yeah.
Did you go to school for that?
Like, dude, how did you get in with them?
I just
We, we grew up together, so…
Okay. See, I’m trying to get my homies from back home to move out
I gotta go, bro. Sorry.
Okay. See you.
[Matthew] Have a good one.
Yeah, see you.
[Hip-hop music plays on store]
[Clerk] Yo.
[Matthew] Yo.
Bro. What’s up?
[Clerk] What’s up?
Shit is crazy, man.
Shit is crazy.
[Clerk] I know. I see.
What’s up, though?
How you been?
Good. Good. Like, yeah, I mean, actually, like, really good.
Just been growing and learning a lot, realizing shit, you know?
Yeah. I’ve been seeing you everywhere.
[Matthew] Yeah.
It’s like a whole cult following now.
It’s sick.
I mean, I don’t care about any of that.
Just been working on creative stuff with Ollie and them mainly.
[Clerk] Really?
Yeah.
Like, like what?
Just, like, visuals, mostly.
Like, music videos, photos.
Working on a documentary right now with Ollie, kind of, like, a behind-the-scenes type of thing, so it’s been good.
Damn. Damn, you… you really made it.
You know, I just feel like they get me, and they’re helping me reach my potential as an artist, which is tight.
Yeah, that’s tight.
Could I see it, you know, like, some of the footage or whatever?
No.
No?
Okay. Yeah, no worries.
Well, that’s cool that they’re letting a fan spend so much time around them.
[Matthew chuckles]
I’m not a fan.
[Loud music in the background]
What the fuck are you wearing?
I made it myself.
Why?
‘Cause I like it.
Okay. Just be normal, alright?
Yeah. I got you.
[Loud, indistinct chatter; Music continues]
Yo!
[Matthew] Yo!
[Oliver] Look who I found.
Love of my life.
You made it, bro.
This is, my boy, Jamie.
Oh, what’s good?
[Seb] What’s up?
Yeah, we, we actually
we met.
Oh, for real?
[Jamie] We bumped…
Sure.
Yeah, at the… store.
[Oliver] Oh, wait, so you knew the old Matty?
Yeah, yeah.
[Oliver] Before we put him on.
[Seb] What’d he used to be like as a kid?
No, no, no.
Tell us his secrets.
He’s pretty much been the same, honestly.
[Oliver] He’s good?
Just a good boy.
Nah, he’s like a big brother to me.
[Oliver] Big brother?
Yeah.
Alright, you know that this is my son, right?
But wait, hold on. You my son.
So, what does that mean?
No, you’re dad, and this is my son.
Alright, I’ll take it.
[He sings] ♪ One big happy family ♪
Alright.
[Oliver] Pull the camera out.
You should be getting all of this.
[Matthew] Yep.
All of this shit for the doc, man. Yo.
[Music intensifies;
Happy yelling] No, no, no, turn it around.
Look at the shorts.
Got shorts on.
Yo.
There’s somebody in there robbing everybody right now.
[Oliver] What?
[Seb] Bro, why you always playing?
[Oliver] Don’t scare me like that.
Crazy, man. Yo.
Who the fuck is that?
[They laugh] [Oliver] Matty’s young boy.
That’s Jamie.
What’s up?
[Shai] Hi.
[Man 2] That’s a cool sweater.
Where you get that?
Oh, thank you.
Actually, I made it.
[Man 2] Really?
Yeah.
[Man 2] That’s cool, man.
[Jamie] Thank you.
[Man 2] You got another one?
[They laugh]
[Jamie] No, but I mean, I actually, II can make you one if you really like it.
[Man 2] No!
[Jamie] Yeah, I sew custom everything.
[Man 2] Right now.
[Jamie] Yeah. Well, not right now, but…
[Man 3] Yo, yo, I gotta get one, too.
[Oliver] Well, yo, yo, yo, vultures, man.
Make me one before you make him one, fuck’s sake.
[They laugh]
[Jamie] I mean, if you guys are free, I could
I’ll make you guys one.
[They laugh]
[Oliver] Generous of you, bro.
[Jamie] Yeah, just send me your sizes and then, yeah.
[Oliver] That’s…
[Shai] Aw. What’s your number?
[Jamie] It’s, 323…
[Tense reverberation obscures dialogue]
I’ll put you guys in a group chat.
Okay.
That cigarette fucking burned.
[Muffled pulsating music; Muffled laughter]
[Jamie] Yo, thanks for bringing me, by the way.
[Music fades]
Are you coming back tomorrow?
Coming back where?
Here, the house. I mean…
They said they were just gonna kick it, little less people.
I mean, I’ll be here. Are you?
I mean, yeah.
I mean, yeah, I want to.
[Wind blows]
[Shrill, fast-paced music]
[Music continues]
[Music stops]
[Man 3] …eventually they’ll make–
They’ll build like a Bugatti.
For real.
[Man 2] A Bugatti?
[Man 3] A whole Bugatti.
I swear to God.
Like, if you leave it there long enough…
I forgot what it was saying.
Yo.
[Man 3] Like, if they…
What’s up?
[Jamie] Yo.
[Man 3] How are you?
Yo.
What are you doing here?
Ollie hit me.
[Matthew] Oh, shit. Okay.
Directly?
Said he needed help with some things for, for London.
Yo, what’s
what’s London?
Yo?
You’re going to London?
[Oliver] Yeah, man.
You are, too!
You’re shooting.
Shooting what?
So, you sound very stressed for some reason.
I’m not. I’m not.
I wanna do the album over there, the cover, and then we gotta do this Nike thing.
So, I’m gonna double up and use the same studio.
But I wanted to bring everybody out.
And then your boy, your boy Jamie, I was gonna get him to style it.
Wanted him to tell you.
And then I thought maybe you could do the album cover, but it seems like maybe you don’t wanna do that, actually.
So, I can probably just find somebody else.
No, I, I wanna do that.
Oh, you wanna do it?
You do wanna do that?
Yeah. Yeah.
“Thank you, Oliver.”
Thank you, Oliver.
Yeah.
Yeah.
Bro, you need to be getting way more Broll.
Just shit around the house.
People eatin’, chillin’, just everyday shit.
Yeah. Yeah, for sure.
For the doc.
Yeah, yeah, for sure.
Especially when we get to London, brother!
[Happy yelling in the background]
Oh, my God.
Shut up!
[Matthew] Okay.
[Woman] Whoa.
Wait, shit.
Aren’t you that kid?
[Matthew] Yes.
Yo, you’re coming to London with us, right?
Yeah.
He wants me to shoot the cover.
What?
That’s sick, bro.
You’re gonna kill that.
Uh-huh.
Do you need help with any ideas or… something?
Ideas?
[Jamie] Yeah.
[Matthew] Um…
[Jamie] I mean, cause I got-I got a few.
[Matthew] No, I’m good.
I mean, you can take out the trash.
I think that’s an idea for now.
[Tense, slow-paced music]
What’s up, London?
[Man 3] London, we’re trying to get a Guinness.
You ready?
I’m following her.
[Matthew] Shai, what’s going on?
[Man 2] This is half the battle here.
You got to make sure your artist is fresh when they get overseas.
You know, all that walking, all that
all that bullshit.
[Matthew] Yeah.
[Man 2] That’s
That’s for us.
Like sitting in it?
I’m holding my legs up.
[Music stops]
[Shai] Yo.
When we get there, you can’t tell them that you’re with us.
I don’t have performance visas for you guys.
What’s that?
[Shai] When you and Jamie go through customs, just say that you’re visiting friends or family.
Ollie’s doing a one off-show in Shoreditch.
And if you say that you’re with us, they might not let you in because you don’t have a performance visa, and we could all get fucked.
Okay.
Can I get one though?
No, you have to apply for them months in advance.
Just say that you’re going to Buckingham Palace or something.
You’ll be fine.
[He chuckles] Yeah.
[Officer] What are you here for?
I’m seeing a friend.
[Officer] Where do they live?
They’re in… Shoreditch.
Yeah.
[Officer] How long are you here for?
Sorry?
How long are you staying in London?
Just a couple days. Yeah.
What’s your occupation?
I, I make, like, photos,
like, music videos and stuff.
[Officer] No.
Not what’s your hobby.
What’s your job?
Do you have a job?
Um…
[Officer] Unemployed.
Do you have anything to declare?
Declare?
Do you have any perishables, meat or meat products?
Vegetables, fruits.
[He stutters] Uh, no.
No.
[Officer] Enjoy your stay.
Thank you.
[Shadowy, eerie music]
[Man 3] Oi, coming up. Please, oi.
[Shai] Is that a British accent or something?
What do you mean?
Doing alright, babes. Yeah.
I see you, babe.
That’s pretty good.
That was pretty good.
[In a British accent] Suck your dads.
[Music concludes]
Yo, where’s your boy?
I thought he was riding with you guys.
No.
Oh.
Weird.
[In a British accent] I thought he was in the trolley with you lot.
[Oliver] There was a time where we were going off to school.
[Woman] Yeah, and we did Nando shots.
[Oliver] Nando shots.
Nando shots, back to back.
[Man 2] That’s not sanitary.
Yeah, yeah.
[Man 2] That’s not sanitary.
[Oliver] Medium hot. Extra hot.
[Man 2] I’m talking about belly button.
[Oliver] What does that mean?
[Man 2] Body shots.
You never done a body shot?
[Oliver] No, with Nando’s?
[Woman] “With Nando’s?”
[Oliver] What do you mean in your belly button?
[Man 2] Yeah.
[Man 3] I showed the fucking card.
[Oliver] The list is sorted.
We’re going to The Box.
What is The Box?
What is The Box?
I’ve never heard of The Box.
I know you don’t know what The Box is.
I’m tired.
I know you don’t know what The Box is.
Get up!
No, no, no.
[Oliver] Yeah, yeah.
[Matthew] Wait, who?
Who you talking to?
Is it your first time on a guest list?
[Faint electronic music] No, it’s yours.
[Indistinct chatter]
♪ Hey, Chris, put in the cut… ♪
[Electronic music continues]
[No audible dialogue]
[Music fades, resonates]
[Man 3] Nah, that’s kind of weak.
Yeah.
[Man 3] Gimme that.
You need to get them to pull some more, low key.
That’s what I think.
Pulling the…
I feel like we ain’t pulling up stuff, y’all.
[Matthew] Bet it’s gonna be great.
It’s gonna be great.
Um…
Okay, let’s not do too much with his face.
I think it’s good.
Thanks, guys.
Okay, turn your body to the right and then your head towards me.
I want to see, like, shame, okay?
Can you, like…
Yeah, that’s good.
That’s good.
[Camera shutter clicks] Yeah, that’s really good.
And then, like, can you take the coat and then the neck up a little bit?
And you hold yourself like this?
Like you’re trying to…
With the light, it’s crazy.
Bring your head down a little bit.
And then furrow the brows a little bit.
[Metallic door slams]
That’s nice. That’s really good.
Is that Jamie?
Oh, shit, Jamie.
Hey.
What’s up?
What’s good, bro?
How are you?
How’re you doing?
Good to see you, man.
Good, good. How are you?
Yo, you made it.
Yeah, yeah, I did.
What’s up?
What’s good?
How are you?
And…
Now do as if you’re like a-You’re like a Chelsea player.
Yo, actually…
I got something for you guys.
[Man 3] Yo, Swett, yo.
Jamie said he got something for us.
[Swett] What’s this?
What’s up, man?
Oh!
Wow.
Oh, wow.
You actually made them.
Yeah,
Wow.
I wanted to surprise you.
What the fuck?
For you, Swett.
Yes.
Oh, my God.
Yeah, that’s good too.
Let me know what you guys think.
Oh, sick.
[Jamie] Got you, guys.
Guess what?
Bro…
This one.
[Man 3] Bro, yes.
[Oliver] Look who decided to…
What’s up, how are you?
How’re you doing?
Yes, yes, yes.
Good, good, good.
Bowen.
Actually, I have one for you, yeah?
[Oliver] I hope so.
Who got the better one?
That’s one for you.
[Oliver] Hard, man.
[Jamie] You like it?
[Oliver] Yeah, bro. Hard.
Yo, what’s up?
[Oliver] Sick.
What’s up?
Can I show you what…
Yeah.
Yo, come look at what we’ve been working on.
Yeah.
Hey, look at this.
My creative dream team. Yo…
All the boys.
Hmm.
Say, yeah, these are sick, but I kind of feel like… it’s got an era, like, it’s not really the vibe.
Like, I kind of want it to feel more emotional, You know what I mean?
Yeah, yeah, I don’t think it does.
What?
Like, your album is minimalist.
I think it needs something like that.
What are you talking about?
There’s an eight-part orchestra intro.
Yes, but what I’m saying is, like,
you gotta kind of cut it
I got an idea.
Maybe we could…
A what…
[Jamie] Try to use one of these props.
Wait.
Come on.
Yeah, yeah, yeah.
[Oliver] Alright, let me see.
I think it came out pretty good.
[Oliver] Let me see that.
You like it?
Nah, bro, I look silly.
What?
Nah, I look too silly. I look goofy.
No, no, we can edit it.
Yo, Noah, what you got?
[Matthew] What if we
I said Noah.
What you got?
Um…
What if you, like, wrap this around your neck?
You lot really love imagery of me killing myself?
[Oliver chuckles]
It’ll just look sick.
It’s a metaphor.
For what?
Nah, like, the industry.
No, right… No, I’m not.
[He sighs] No…
No, no, no.
This shit feels so much fucking easier than it is.
I just…
The album is…
Thank you.
The album is chaotic and busy and eclectic, and, and I want it to feel emotional.
Like the visuals need to represent what the album sounds like.
And you are the only people that have heard the album, So I want you guys to help me make that happen.
But for some reason, it’s like fucking pulling teeth.
I don’t know, I just…
I want it to feel original.
Right now it feels like some copycat shit.
Like, what the fuck are we doing?
Super Soakers and shit, like…
[Matthew] That’s good.
Bro, just while–
Just chill for a sec.
I think it’s like a detail shot.
Fuck. Get the fuck back!
Bro!
It’s a detail shot.
Walk fucking back, walk back.
Fucking fanboy, man.
Get the fuck off my dick.
What the fuck?
He got in trouble.
Yo, Swett!
[Swett] We throwing shit?
[Bowen] We throwing shit!
Are we throwing shit?
We throwing shit.
That’s what’s happening.
[Shai] No!
[Matthew] That’s great.
No!
Let me get one.
[Matthew] Wait. Keep doing that.
Keep doing that. Keep doing that.
[Camera shutter clicks repeatedly]
Do you feel good?
That’s great.
[Oliver] I can’t defend myself.
Go get
Enough!
[Bowen] Take his shoes, take his shoes.
Yeah, yeah.
Don’t take my shoes!
[Oliver] No, you won’t–
Come on out.
Stop, stop!
Ollie, wait.
Okay, try to sit down without the stool.
Like, on the ground.
This could be pretty good.
[Oliver] I just sit?
[Jamie] Yeah, right there,
Like this?
[Jamie] Yeah, that looks good.
[Oliver] Fuck sake.
[Jamie] Yeah, right there. Right there.
[Oliver] Whoever throws something at me is fired.
[Jamie] Oh, I think this is gonna look really good.
[Oliver] Like this?
Yeah, yeah.
[Camera shutter clicks]
Let me see.
[Jamie] You gotta see this.
Look.
I feel like we’ve seen this before.
Bro, this is
This is crazy.
[Noah] This is pretty hard, not gonna lie.
Yes, this is
What?
Wait, yo
No, grab the sweater.
We’ve seen this so many times.
Grab the sweater.
[Matthew] What?
[Oliver] This is it, bro.
[Excitedly] This is it. This is it.
How can this be it?
[Oliver] Yes! Fucking yes.
We’ve seen this so many times.
Let me grab this. Okay.
Fucking cover and the stylist, bro.
We fucking love it. Yes. Okay.
[Noah] He’s snapping.
Yeah, Jamie is good.
Matty, grab the B-cam.
You need to get this for the doc.
We have to capture this moment, bro.
Let’s do it. With the sweater too?
We have to capture this moment.
With the sweater too?
Now we’re making art.
Do you know what I mean? This is what I’m saying. This is how it should–
This is when you know it’s right.
Okay. Just back on the floor like this?
[Jamie] Yeah, yeah, same thing.
I mean, we could get like a few different versions, but…
[Oliver] Yeah, it should kind of feel like…
I don’t know, I like the whole
the fetal thing of it. It’s kind of coming through.
Yo, man, check this out.
[Somber, delicate music]
[They laugh]
Plug this in.
[Jamie] I got it.
Okay.
[Thick thud; Music stops]
[Matthew] Oh, my God.
Shit.
[Matthew chuckles, pants]
[Shai] Jamie.
[Steady breathing]
[Soft grunts]
[He exhales heavily]
[Matthew] I
I
I’m in a group, though.
Yeah, I’m in a group with Oliver. It’s just Oliver, it’s, like, the artist, you know? Can you-can you just Can you just, like, look him up? Oliver.
[Unsettling, subtle music]
Yeah. Yes. Yes.
So there-in there, there should be a ticket for me.
Matthew Morning. I mean, that, that’s so weird.
‘Cause…
Okay.
No…
And when is that?
I mean, I don’t have that.
[Music continues; Ringback tone]
Hi, Grandma.
[Music continues]
[Music fades]
[Woman] So… how was the trip?
It was great.
[Woman] It was good?
Yeah.
[Woman] That’s…
And your friends?
I mean, it’s so…
What a treat to get to travel with your friends.
Yeah, can you just drop me off and I’ll come home later?
[Birdsong]
Yo.
What the fuck happened?
That shit was so crazy.
Did they lose yours, too?
No, I… Actually…
You gotta head out.
[He chuckles]
What?
No, I know, I…
I…
You gotta bounce.
Okay, what do you mean?
I’m doing the documentary.
Yeah, I think…
I think we’re gonna have someone else finish it or just, like, not do one.
What are you talking about?
What’s going on?
Ollie’s, like, more into being mysterious now.
Where is he?
He’s in his room.
He’s not gonna come down.
Shai, Shai, I think I’m just, I’m just gonna go talk to him, okay?
I know he wouldn’t want anyone else doing the doc.
Like he said, I’m his fucking muse.
I don’t know what’s happening, what you’re going through, but I’m just gonna talk to him.
I feel like you should just take a break.
Like, just, like, chill for a little bit.
[Matthew] Ollie.
Ollie…
Ollie.
[Indistinct, muffled chatter]
Hi.
[Oliver chuckles] Yeah.
Yo.
Listen, I can help you?
Oh, okay.
Yeah, I need help.
[Oliver] What are you…
Okay.
The fuck?
This fucking guy.
[Muffled chatter resumes]
[He breathes heavily;
Unsettling, delicate music]
[Music swells]
[Music fades]
[Song plays on phone]
♪ I’m just trying
To get you to my door
♪ With my song
Feeling burning up my lungs
♪ Getting watered down
The tongues of my ones
♪ And I really should’ve stayed ♪
[Song fades]
[Man] Hey, man. Excuse me. Sorry.
Can you help me out with something?
[Hip hop music plays in store]
I need to… I need to get a birthday present for my son.
I guess all his favorite celebrities shop at this store.
He’s kind of obsessed with it, and figured I’d surprise him.
So…
Can you show me some of your favorite stuff?
Yeah, that’s…
We got a couple of things.
[Man] Thanks, man.
Got like a bunch of hoodies here.
[Uneasy, subtle music]
All the shirts. Like, shirts…
So, like…
[Music continues]
[Oliver, on tape] No, no, it was like… Look, I’ve got a new family now. And I get to choose who’s in it. You know, I, I don’t talk to people like this, man. I guess that means you’re my best friend. My best friend. I guess that means you’re my best friend. I guess that means you’re my best–
[Recording stops abruptly; Music halts]
[He breathes heavily]
[He chuckles softly]
[Hiphop music in the background]
[Girl, whispering] Look that way.
Can you zoom in?
There’s no way that’s him.
Why would he even leave?
Oh, my God, Matty, we love you.
Hey.
Wait, can we get, like, a picture with you, please?
I was actually about to go home for the day.
Can we, like, talk to you for a second?
[Girl 2] Wait. Oh, my God.
Do you work here?
Yeah.
Why?
Aren’t you, like, rich or something?
Yeah.
No, not exactly.
[Girl] Are you going to the show tonight?
What show?
Oliver’s show.
Duh.
No, I don’t think so.
[Girl] Why not?
Because I’ve just been to, like, 8,000 of them.
If I hear him play the same fucking album one more time, I’m just gonna kill myself, yeah?
No, self-harm isn’t funny.
Yeah, I know.
Yeah, I’m not joking.
Are you guys going?
Kind of. It’s 18plus, we’re just gonna go to the parking lot and listen from there.
[Girl 2] Yeah, you should go.
Oh, my God, and can you FaceTime us backstage so we can meet Ollie?
Please, Matty.
Please?
Nah, I mean, maybe when he puts out some new music.
Yeah.
So you’re, like, not really good friends with him anymore, huh?
[Cellphone vibrates]
[Uneasy, delicate music]
[Fast-paced, repetitive clicks join]
[Music continues]
[Music continues;
Muffled cheering]
[Inaudible singing]
[Music and clicks continue; Inaudible dialogue]
[Music continues; Women speak indistinctly on video]
[Music and voices halt]
[He breathes shakily]
[Oliver chuckles]
It doesn’t look that bad, does it?
[Shai] 16 years old?
I think it looks pretty bad.
Yeah, it is pretty bad.
[Unsettling, subtle music]
[Door closes]
[Music continues]
[Music builds]
[Matthew] Three, two, one!
[Music halts] Wait, you got that?
Yeah.
Wait, can you post that?
Ollie.
What’s it like being one of the most beloved artists in the world?
I don’t really…
I don’t think I’m that big, to be honest.
Just look at, look at the camera, not at me.
[Oliver] Sorry.
Say more about that journey.
Cool.
What, you want me just to talk about… how I got into music and…
Yeah.
Yeah, I…
Well, you know, everybody…
Everyone told me to get a real job.
They said I was delusional, that, you know, it’s one in a, you know, one in a billion people get to live out their dreams.
[Matthew] Yeah, but out of a billion, there’s gotta be that one.
Yeah.
And that was you.
Yes.
Yeah, I guess.
I guess.
[Music plays
I’m Your Puppet, by James & Bobby Purify] Thank you.
There’s more shit in there.
♪ Pull the string and I’ll wink at you
♪ I’m your puppet
♪ I’ll do funny things
♪ If you want me to
♪ I’m your puppet ♪
[Indistinct conversation]
♪ I’m your puppet ♪
That looks good.
♪ I’m your puppet ♪
[Music concludes]
You’re supposed to… dip it in the…
On this?
No, no.
This one?
No, not…
This is good.
What is this?
It’s called birria.
Can I show you something?
Yep. Let’s go.
What was that one?
That’s a concert in Cleveland last year.
Oh, yeah, sure.
I remember that one.
[Matthew] You got so fucked up.
[Oliver chuckles]
Were you there?
I think it’s here.
What’s this?
So what part of the process do you think you’re at?
[Matthew] I mean, I was kind of thinking…
I should just keep capturing shit for like, the next couple years.
‘Cause then, like, people will really be able to see the progression, you know, and like, the relationship develop.
And also just you as an artist, I think.
Like, you’re right on that verge, and we kind of want to see it happening, you know what I mean?
Yeah, that makes sense. Sick.
[Oliver, on video] ♪ Sweet on you
♪ So swing to me, honey
♪ I swing to you
♪ With this sweet talking
♪ ‘Cause I’m sweet on you
♪ So sweet
♪ If it’s sweet on me
♪ ‘Cause I’m sweet on you
[He laughs]
Yeah, sick.
[Matthew] Bro.
Yeah.
[Oliver breathes heavily]
[Matthew] Hey.
What’s up?
I was just checking to see how you’re doing.
I’m good.
I just was thinking it must get… you know, kind of lonely in here sometimes.
[He sighs]
It’s alright. It’s not too bad.
What are you doing?
I was thinking that maybe I was…
I don’t know, a bit odd on you earlier, maybe.
[Oliver chuckles; Matthew exhales sharply]
It’s alright.
I’m just happy to be here.
[Oliver] I just want you to know…
I… appreciate you.
I appreciate you.
I just want to see you succeed.
Yeah, I know.
[Matthew breathes heavily]
Let’s wrestle.
What?
Let’s wrestle.
Dude, I’m good.
Yo, dude.
I said I’m good
What the… the fuck.
Let’s, let’s.
Dude.
Get off.
Get the fuck off me.
[Matthew laughs] Yo, get off me.
Get
What the-What the fuck are you doing?
Fuck you!
Get-Stop!
Fucking stop!
Stop!
[Oliver pants;
Matthew laughs]
[Uplifting, pop music]
Tour life is crazy!
[Music continues]
Cray-cray.
Actually, it’s not that crazy.
But yeah, mostly it’s just about, like, spending a lot of time together, kind of living on top of each other.
And so much so that we don’t even really have to talk anymore to share…
But, yeah. This is the bus.
This is Spencer.
Hi, Spencer.
How’s it going?
Sometimes we take naps here.
Sometimes we have little chats about life.
Oliver writes songs all over the place.
♪ The tape is making it worse
♪ Give it up
♪ I want you to give it up
[Muffled cheering]
♪ Give it up
♪ There’s blood on the leaves
♪ There’s bones in the closet
♪ There’s snakes in the garden
♪ And everyone knows it
♪ Everyone but me
♪ There’s snakes in the garden ♪
Thank you.
Thank you, thank you, thank you.
And I’m happy to do that throughout the verses, but I want it to swell for the second.
Like horns, violin, but same kind of
The simplicity of the…
[Oliver hums] What’s up, man?
Hey.
[Oliver] Hey, man. You good?
Yeah. How’s it going?
Yeah, just…
Still just… yeah, cracking away.
You really inspire people.
Huh.
Thanks, man.
Yeah, I appreciate that.
But…
What?
Nothing.
I just feel like I don’t know what I’m doing… anymore.
Wait, what do you mean?
Like, you have something to say.
Yeah.
Exactly. I mean…
That’s the reason I have you around, right?
To remind me of things like that.
Thanks. Thank you.
Thank you, man.
[Matthew] You know, sometimes…
I don’t really know what I’m doing either.
I just know that when I met you, it felt like it was supposed to happen.
Yes, dude, I feel exactly the same way.
It felt like it was… like, it felt like it was supposed to happen.
[Matthew] Yeah.
Right? And…
I just wanna say… you don’t have to do… all of this weird shit.
Like, I-I don’t want you to think… that that’s the only reason why you’re here.
Like, it hurts me to think that you think you have to do this, to hang with us or work with us, you know?
Yeah.
Right.
No, I, I agree. I do.
I just wonder, like… so what’s the plan, you know?
Okay, well, for me, just, and… we can discuss this, but I-I think that…I just think from…
If you deleted the video, I just feel like I would be able to trust you more.
Yeah.
And… it’s just because then we could go back to working together organically, you know, and, and, and hanging and just, just being friends.
Right? Just being friends.
Yeah. I mean that’s…
That’s all I ever wanted.
[Oliver] Right? Me too. Same.
So, what the–
Yo, what the fuck are we doing?
Let’s just
Let’s, let’s…
Let’s fucking do that. What?
That’s
That’s all I want.
But… you took that from me.
You know, you did.
And I can’t…
I can’t let that happen again.
I know what you’re doing.
Yeah? What?
Do you even listen to my music?
Do you like my music?
Do you?
I…
Ollie.
You haven’t done anything good in a while.
You’re stuck.
You don’t know what you’re doing.
Right now you’re just whatever your fans want you to be.
And of course you’re gonna be stuck if you surround yourself with “yes” people.
Have you not noticed all your friends say they love every single thing you do?
Like, that’s not normal.
That’s not fu
They, they…
What the fuck are you talking about?
They support me.
No, that’s not support.
And you love watching us all fight for your attention.
Fuck are you talking about?
Wait, what the fuck are you talking about?
Everyone around you is exactly the same as me.
Everyone.
You’re alone.
You’re on the other side.
The rest of us, we all want the same thing.
I just want it more.
And I’m better.
Please don’t take it away.
Please don’t take it away.
Ollie, I…
I’m not gonna take it away, sweet boy.
It’s not…
It’s not about that.
If there is one thing you don’t have to worry about, it’s this.
I’m here to help you, okay?
You just follow my lead.
Yo.
[Bowen] Yo. What’s good?
Let’s, let’s go again.
I’m gonna stay here for this one.
[Bowen] Okay. Alright.
[Matthew] Okay.
It’s okay.
[Oliver inhales heavily]
[He sings] ♪ I don’t have to try
To show you affection ♪
[Matthew] I’m gonna stop this right now.
Just, can you start again, please?
Okay.
[Singing resumes] ♪ I don’t have to try
To show you affection
♪ It’s just something that I’m happy to do
♪ I struggle in pursuit of perfection
♪ ‘Cause I don’t think that
I’m good enough for you ♪
[Music joins]
♪ I feel
If I ask you the question
♪ Then all the noise
Will leave from my head
♪ But I don’t heal by taking possession
♪ No, it only seems to hurt me instead
♪ What’s the difference
Between love and obsession?
♪ I don’t know
But I know I want you
♪ And judging by your facial expression
♪ Oh, I think maybe
You might want me, too
♪ What’s the difference
Between love and obsession?
♪ I can never tell them apart
And
♪
[Music halts]
[Matthew] Cut.
Yeah, let’s just go again.
[Singing resumes] ♪ I don’t have to try
To show you affection
♪ It’s just something
That I’m happy to do
♪ I struggle in pursuit of perfection
♪ ‘Cause I don’t think that
I’m good enough for you ♪
[Loud bangs]
[Muffled singing] ♪ I feel
If I ask you the question
♪ Then all the noise will leave
From my head… ♪
[Uneasy, deep music obscures singing]
[Music continues]
[Knocks on door]
It’s just Matty.
Hey.
Don’t stop ’cause of us. It’s fine.
[Matthew] We were thinking maybe we want some, some company, you know?
[Woman] I don’t mind.
[Heavy breathing, panting]
[Music stops]
[Engine roars]
[Brakes squeal]
[Swett] Get the fuck up.
I was sleeping, what…
What are you doing?
I was sleeping.
Come on. I was asleep.
[They grunt]
[Matthew chokes, coughs]
What is it?
Come on, what is it?
What is it?
Okay.
Okay.
Okay.
O…
L…
I…
VERFAN 94.
[Bowen] Dog, that didn’t work.
[Swett] Matty.
No, it’s all caps.
It’s all caps.
[Swett] Matty.
Wait, what if that really was the password?
Like, that would-That would be funny, no?
You changed my life.
I was just so… so alone…
[Somber, aggressive music]
[He breathes heavily]
♪ I don’t have to try
To show you perfection
♪ It’s just something that I’m happy to do
♪ I struggle in pursuit of perfection
♪ ‘Cause I don’t think that
I’m good enough for you ♪
[Somber music continues, faintly]
♪ I feel if I ask you the question
♪ Then all the noise will leave
From my head
[Somber music fades]
♪ But I don’t heal by taking possession
♪ No, it only seems to hurt me instead
♪ What’s the difference
Between love and obsession?
♪ I don’t know, but I know I want you
♪ And judging by your facial expression
♪ Oh, I think maybe you might want me, too
♪ What’s the difference
Between love and obsession?
♪ I can never tell them apart
♪ And judging by the way that I’m guessing
♪ There’s a missing piece
Inside of my heart
[Song continues]
I’ll do anything to get your attention
♪ The idea with you is someone else
Brings me pain ♪
[Oliver on video] You got me there.
[Matthew] Did I?
[Oliver] Yeah.
[Song turns melancholic, tender]
Okay, I got another one for you.
Okay.
[Matthew] Yeah.
What’s your greatest fear?
Um… being broke.
[He chuckles; Song continues, faintly]
Kidding. Um…
Probably…
Probably being misunderstood.
I just have this…
Just have this fear of people pretending that they… connect to or relate to what I’m saying when they really don’t.
You know? I just…
Yeah, I’d hate to be misunderstood.
[Cheering and applause]
[Music continues]
[Host] Seems like you guys liked it.
So proud of you, man.
This is my brother.
I just wanted to ask, how does it feel to be a Grammy-nominated artist?
Um…
[Man in audience] We love you!
What inspires you?
Probably being told that I can’t do something.
How did you guys find each other and become a team?
I mean, really organically.
You know, we kind of–
Me and Matty just clicked.
[Young man] This is a question for Matthew, actually.
Oh. Sure, okay.
I really look up to you, and I take photos and stuff, too.
And I just really wanted to say I wanna be just like you when I grow up.
It’s just, what do I have to do?
Um…
[He stutters, softly]
[Uplifting string music]
[Music continues]
[Music swells]
[Music concludes]
[Soulful, profound music]
♪ Well, I know
♪ That you think
♪ I got a wickedness
♪ And I know
♪ I get bitter and hard when I drink
♪ Yeah but who else
♪ Has got a super eye on you?
♪ And who else
♪ Can take the hexes off you?
♪ Who else?
♪ Tell me who else?
♪ Oh, oh
But if it’s sweet talk
♪ It’s ’cause I’m sweet on you
♪ Sweet on you
♪ So swing to me, honey
♪ I swing to you if it’s sweet talk
♪ It’s ’cause I’m sweet on you
♪ So swing
♪ Oh, oh
But if it’s sweet talk
♪ It’s ’cause I’m sweet on you
♪ Sweet on you
♪ So, swing to me, honey
♪ I swing to you if it’s sweet talk
♪ It’s ’cause I’m sweet on you
♪ Sweet on you
♪ So swing
♪ Strawberry
♪ Girl, you’re pretty
You’re messy
♪ I know that I’m late again
I’m late again
♪ I’m always late
Whenever you ask me
♪ Well, okay, who else
♪ Keeps a super eye on you
♪ And who else
♪ Makes sure no black cats cross you?
♪ Who else?
♪ Tell me, who else?
♪ Oh, oh, but if it’s sweet talk
♪ It’s ’cause I’m sweet on you
♪ Sweet on you
♪ So, swing to me, honey
♪ I’ll swing to you if it’s sweet talk
♪ It’s ’cause I’m sweet on you
♪ So swing
♪ Oh, oh, but if it’s sweet talk
♪ It’s ’cause I’m sweet on you
♪ Sweet on you
♪ So, swing to me, honey
♪ I swing to you if it’s sweet talk
♪ It’s ’cause I’m sweet on you
♪ So swing
♪ But if it’s sweet talk
♪ It’s ’cause I’m sweet on you
♪ Sweet on you
♪ So, swing to me, honey
♪ I’ll swing to you if it’s sweet talk
♪ It’s ’cause I’m sweet on you
♪ Sweet on you
♪ So swing
[Music concludes]
