Phoebe Bridgers Makes Acting Debut and Releases Original Song ‘On Video’ for Primetime Soundtrack
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Phoebe Bridgers has released "On Video," an original song written for A24's crime thriller Primetime, marking her film-scoring debut and acting debut. The track plays over the film's end credits and features a dynamic arrangement that begins gently before erupting into distorted intensity, then receding into a tender haze. She premiered the song during her "The Lost Tour" stop in Chicago last week and has since performed it in Columbus, expanding her creative range beyond her August album Lost Weekend.
"On Video" arrives as Primetime enters theatrical release following its Venice International Film Festival premiere. The film is directed by Lance Oppenheim and set in 2006, starring Robert Pattinson as To Catch a Predator host Chris Hansen, alongside Merritt Wever, Skyler Gisondo, Matthew Maher, and Bokeem Woodbine. Bridgers' North American tour continues through November 1st with support from Alex G, before the trek resumes in Europe from late November, with Isaac Wood and Anaïs joining as additional support.
- Bridgers releases "On Video" for Primetime soundtrack while making acting debut
- Song premiered during her Lost Weekend tour in Chicago
- North American dates continue through November; European leg begins late November
New here? Start with this
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.
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
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
Coverage
- Rolling Stone — Phoebe Bridgers Rings in Spooky Season With ‘On Video,’ From the ‘Primetime’ Soundtrack
- Consequence — Phoebe Bridgers Releases New Song “On Video” from Primetime Soundtrack: Stream