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Phoebe Bridgers debuts as actor and film composer with Primetime song
Developed over time first seen 2 months ago
Phoebe Bridgers has released “On Video”, a new song written for Primetime, Lance Oppenheim’s psychological crime thriller about television presenter Chris Hansen. The song will play over the end credits, while Bridgers also makes her acting debut as Del Harvey, marking her first major film role and film-composing contribution.
The A24 film is based on a 2007 Esquire article about Hansen’s predator-sting programme and stars Robert Pattinson as Hansen. Bridgers’s song begins with subdued guitars and whispered vocals before building into distorted rock, while the film’s broader score was composed by Ari Balouzian. The cast includes Merritt Wever, Skyler Gisondo, Matthew Maher, Bokeem Woodbine and Alex Winter, and Bridgers said working with Oppenheim and the rest of the cast made the intimidating project enjoyable.
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In short
- Bridgers releases a song for the film Primetime.
- She also makes her acting debut in the A24 thriller.
- Robert Pattinson plays presenter Chris Hansen.
How this story developed
- 2 months ago Primetime is now in theatrical release, marking Bridgers' expansion into filmmaking alongside the release of her third studio album Lost Weekend in August.
- 2 months ago It has emerged that Bridgers' on-screen character Del Harvey is based on a real-life decoy from To Catch a Predator operations, and the film draws from a 2007 Esquire article.
- 2 months ago The track features over Primetime's end credits as the film enters theatrical release following its Venice premiere, with Bridgers having performed it live during her North American tour.
- 2 months ago Phoebe Bridgers has released "On Video," an original song for A24's crime thriller Primetime, marking her debut in both film composition and acting.
Full account
The American singer-songwriter Phoebe Bridgers has released a new composition titled 'On Video,' which serves as the end-credits music for the feature film Primetime. The track simultaneously marks her transition into screen acting, with the film having made its world premiere at the Venice International Film Festival before its recent theatrical distribution.
Musically, 'On Video' commences with gentle, warm textures before intensifying into a more aggressive, distorted section, ultimately resolving into a tender, melancholic fade. Primetime, directed by Lance Oppenheim and released through A24, dramatises the narrative surrounding the television programme To Catch a Predator, featuring Robert Pattinson as the show's host Chris Hansen. Bridgers appears in the ensemble cast as decoy operative Del Harvey, alongside performers including Merritt Wever and Skyler Gisondo, with additional roles played by Matthew Maher and Bokeem Woodbine.
The song represents Bridgers' first new release following the August debut of her third studio album, Lost Weekend, which she is currently promoting through 'The Lost Tour.' This marks her first full-band touring venture as a solo artist since 2023. The concert series spans North America through early November with support from musician Alex G, followed by European dates beginning in late November, featuring additional supporting artists Isaac Wood and Anaïs. The tour operates under a no-mobile-phones protocol throughout venues.
Regarding her participation in the film, Bridgers acknowledged in remarks at the Venice festival that accepting the acting role had initially proved daunting, though she attributed the positive experience to collaborating alongside accomplished professionals. She has further expanded her working relationship with director Oppenheim by engaging him to direct the accompanying visual presentation for 'Lost Boys,' another piece from her new album, which features her Primetime colleague Gisondo in a prominent role.
Where outlets differ
From the full account, which is AI-written from the sources:
Musical description: SOURCE 1 characterises 'On Video' as a 'chilling rocker with dense guitar riffs,' whilst SOURCE 2 employs more sophisticated language tracking the song's structural progression from warmth through distortion to melancholic resolution
Editorial emphasis: SOURCE 1 prioritises Bridgers' personal testimonial and emotional experience, whilst SOURCE 2 adopts a predominantly factual, informational register
Cast information: SOURCE 1 lists Alex Winter among principal cast members, whereas SOURCE 2 names Matthew Maher and Bokeem Woodbine instead
Tour coverage: SOURCE 1 references phone-free touring and specific venue examples anecdotally, whilst SOURCE 2 provides comprehensive tour dates and detailed support-act information
Temporal framing: SOURCE 1 references the film's imminent release ('hits theaters on Friday'), whilst SOURCE 2 confirms it is already 'screening in theaters'
Direct quotation: SOURCE 1 includes Bridgers' personal remarks from the Venice press conference, whilst SOURCE 2 contains no attributed quotations
Explained simply
Phoebe Bridgers is a musician and singer-songwriter known for albums and performances in the indie and alternative music world. Her work has primarily centred on recording and touring as a performer.
Primetime is a crime thriller produced by A24, an independent film studio known for distinctive dramas. The film is directed by Lance Oppenheim, set in 2006, and stars actor Robert Pattinson in a leading role.
Musicians seldom branch into film scoring and acting, which makes such moves a notable career shift. Bridgers' involvement with the film marks an expansion beyond her established position in the music industry into cinema and performance.
Coverage · 3 sources
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