Overview
Song Title: Pain
Artist: Jimmy Eat World
Food Reinterpretation: Good & Plenty Licorice Candy
Concept: A comedic reinterpretation of Jimmy Eat World’s “Pain” as a song about a desperate, somewhat unhealthy relationship with Good & Plenty candy, primarily consumed as an escape mechanism within a movie theater setting.
Logline: A moviegoer finds solace from life’s angst in an obsessive, one-sided relationship with Good & Plenty candy—their personal “painkiller.”
Director’s Vision: Darkly comedic, visually literal, and tonally ironic. Juxtapose the angsty, driving energy of the song with the absurdity of finding profound relief and developing a dependent relationship with Good & Plenty. Humor derives from the literal interpretation of lyrics (especially “white pills,” “takes my pain away,” “kiss with open eyes”), the visual setting of a slightly worn movie theater, and the protagonist’s overly intense interactions with the candy.
Act Breakdown
Act 1
Visual: Opens with our lead looking stressed and anxious waiting outside a movie theater.
Lyric/Visual: “I don’t feel the way I’ve ever felt” – Lead looks visibly uncomfortable, out of sorts, scratching their face and arms as if they are lacking their fix.
Lyric/Visual: “Gonna smile and not get worried / I try but it shows” – Lead forces an awkward smile when their friend shows up to join them for a movie.
Event: They have their tickets taken and argue about wanting to go to the concession stand versus going to their seats first. Lead buys Good & Plenty candy while their friend gives them an odd look as they get their popcorn.
Lyric/Visual: “Anyone can find the same white pills” – Dramatic slow-motion shot of the pink and white capsule-shaped candies spilling into the lead’s hand. Focus on the “pill-like” appearance.
Lyric/Visual: “It takes my pain away” – Lead pops a Good & Plenty into their mouth. A wave of exaggerated relief washes over their face as they enter the dim theater auditorium. Mood: Shifts from anxious reality to anticipated escape.
Act 2
Visual: Lead is settled in their movie seat, the screen flickering (content unimportant). The focus is entirely on their interaction with the Good & Plenty.
Lyric/Visual: “It’s a lie, a kiss with open eyes” – Lead awkwardly tries to “kiss” the candy box, eyes wide open and staring blankly ahead at the movie screen.
Lyric/Visual: “And she’s not breathing back” – Lead holds the box up to their ear, shakes it gently, and looks disappointed when it doesn’t respond.
Lyric/Visual: “Anything but bother me” – Lead shakes the candy box while the movie is playing. Other audience members glare at them, but they are undisturbed.
Lyric/Visual: “I never thought I’d walk away from you / I did / But it’s a false sense of accomplishment every time I quit” – Lead’s friend tells them to put the box away. They struggle but finally relent. You can sense their unease, and they continue to look longingly at the box.
Lyric/Visual: “Anyone can see my every flaw / It isn’t hard” – Close-up on the lead’s face, showing pink and white candy shell dust smudged on their cheek or chin.
Act 3
Visual: Our lead is now forced to decide between the movie and their Good & Plenty; they choose the Good & Plenty and walk out of the theater.
Lyric/Visual: “Never mind, these are hurried times” – Lead sees someone passed out in the lobby. They look panicked and look around for help but can’t find anyone.
Climax & Ending: “I can’t let it bother me” – Lead looks at their box of Good & Plenty and decides it’s what will save this person. They open the person’s mouth and pour the candy in. They mash their mouth closed and check for a heartbeat. They give up hope and walk out of the theater, eating more candy while the person lies dying with mashed Good & Plenty on their face.
Visual/Technical Highlights
Visuals: Emphasize the bright pink and white of the candy against the darker theater environment.
Sound: Original song.
Editing: Match the song’s driving pace. Use close-ups on the candy, the lead’s expressive face, and hands interacting with the box. Slow-motion for key comedic/dramatic beats (candy spill, pouring into mouth).
Visual References
