MVA Sum 41 - 'In Too Deep'

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The Canadian four-piece together with Marc Klasfeld (Video Director) have created, in my eyes, one of the most memorable music videos of the decade. I say this I regards to people in and around my age group, as Sum 41 were at the top of their game in the late 90’s early 2000’s when this video was released in ’01.

As the video commences we see the band in a long shot proceeding forth from their van towards the camera. The song ‘Fat Lip’ (another Sum 41 classic) is heard the sound is diegetic as if being played through the vans stereo.

As the four men pass the camera, the camera pans left at a steady pace revealing a sign which reads “Diving Center meet today @ high noon”. Upon panning left the stereo fades and the song “In Too Deep” begins. The camera at this point is still panning left and comes to a halt at 180° we now see the band members in black bath robes with the band’s logo on the back. This is a great edit making it appear the band have changed clothes in a matter of seconds whilst the camera pans 180°. There is also an air of comical value amongst this section as we now assume the band will participate in a diving event of some sort which is utterly ridiculous thus being funny.

The next frame we see displays the band in an empty (waterless) swimming pool. This is a great location as it links perfectly with the diving center and the song title. Empty swimming pools are also favoured locations for skaters, and bikers as the bowl like gradient is ideal for this type of sport. This relates to Sum 41’s image and their fan base predominantly being young teenagers who enjoy punk rock and nu metal and spend most of their spare time skateboarding.

This mid shot of the frontman establishes the fact it is a performance as the band are seen in the background and fans are situated crowding around the edges of the pool watching from a height. At 19 seconds the camera has reverse zoomed revealing the whole band and a large crowd in a long shot. This is a great shot which only lasts a matter of seconds, yet it looks great and establishes what is going on at this early stage.

The series of shots which follow take place by a large Olympic size swimming pool. We see the band walking towards the poolside in their bath robes, before switching to a mid shot which tracks left revealing a crowd of screaming fans. The band remove their robes in a long shot revealing their slim and undefined bodies. Meanwhile a group of athletic young chaps stand across the pool in blood red Speedos taunting the band as seen in a mid-4 shot.

The rest of the video flicks between performance and narrative. Due to the similarities of both locations as a viewer you do not feel lost or confused at all, the closeness between the settings works well in a way which makes the video seem whole and well crafted; there exists a close link between the two capturing your attention and focus.

The narrative sees the band take on a bunch of, what seem to be, professionals at a diving competition. They in turn each make their way up to the diving board, perform a dive and the panel of judges award marks out of 10 for each dive. This is just like a professional event like the Olympic games, which to some people may well be the most boring thing in the world, however because it is a band performing acrobatic leaps into a swimming pool it is extremely funny.

A great shot which occurs around 47 seconds sees one of the ‘pros’ making his way up the ladder to the diving board. It is a high angle shot looking down the ladder, and the swimmer makes his way up towards the camera.

Low angle shots are used when the band and the swimmers are diving off the board, this is so that we as viewers can see the dive and gives us a perspective of the judges who also watch from ground level.

Further camera work of good standard is used when the band members compose themselves at the top of the ladder, bracing themselves for their jumps. Midshots see the band from the shoulders up revealing emotion and building tension.

On more than one occasion we also see the band members mid air in a midshot as they plummet towards the water.

At the 2.30 mark the crowd in the performance element begin to pour into the empty pool in which the band is performing. This shows we’re coming to a climax in the song.

We certainly come to a climax in the video when the drummer takes up his position on the diving board. The sticksman removes his shorts revealing leopard print Speedo swim shorts. A close up displays the drummer performing a hand stand on the diving board, as he winks into the camera appearing upside down in the hand stand position.
The drummer performs a series of jumps and leaps as he makes his way to the water having jumped on every single spring board on his way down. Not only is this a joy to watch but it adds brilliant comical value.

My favourite shot occurs at 3minutes and 14 seconds: An old man is watching from the crowd in a cowboy hat, a close up shot reveals his shocked face as he gapes open mouthed as the drummer flips and spins amongst the spring boards. The thing that makes this shot is the old man’s face, his forehead is wrinkled and his smile lines are ever so prominent, his facial expression is priceless. You can understand why they used him for this video this emphasizes the importance of appearance when casting for my music video, you need someone who fits the part and who you know will do a good job.

Upon the drummer entering the pool the judges appear ecstatic; one judge gets up from his seat and dives into the pool himself. This causes the crowd to follow suite and the video comes to an end with a pool full of wild fans kicking and splashing.