Synopsis
Set in a stylized Los Angeles ruled by rival youth gangs, "Our Deal" follows Veronica, a member of the Night Creepers, and Lucky, a Day Trotter. Their secret romance grows despite the hostility between their groups, but neither can escape the loyalties and violence surrounding them. As tensions rise, the couple's attempt to bridge the divide ends tragically. The video plays like a compact teen gang drama, mixing romance, melodrama, and vintage street imagery around Best Coast's wistful, surf-pop track.
Factoids & Trivia
- The video was created as part of MTV's Supervideo series, which commissioned narrative films that did not require the performing artist to appear on camera.
- Two edits were produced: a roughly four-minute version built around "Our Deal" and an extended version running approximately ten minutes. The longer cut expands the story into a short-film format.
- The cast includes Chloë Grace Moretz, Tyler Posey, Alia Shawkat, Miranda Cosgrove, Donald Glover, and Shailene Woodley.
- Moretz was 14 when the video was made. The role of Veronica was reportedly written with her in mind, and her emotionally intense performance became one of the video's most frequently noted strengths.
- The production had only two shooting days and no budget, despite the ambitious cast and cinematic concept. Preparation lasted about a month, with the team planning as many as 100 shots per day.
- The story draws on the tradition of rival-gang romances, particularly the framework associated with "West Side Story," while also borrowing the street-level attitude of "The Outsiders."
- The visual design deliberately avoids placing the story in one precise decade. Denim jackets and other costume choices were used to suggest everything from the 1950s to the 1970s and 1990s.
- The video was released on August 2, 2011, in connection with Best Coast's debut album, "Crazy for You."
- The video's concept was shaped by the contrast between the song's short running time and its larger dramatic arc. Rather than compressing the plot into a conventional performance clip, the production expanded the music into a standalone narrative.