When a woman in a tipsy state boarded the bus on her way home, she had a creative impulse to capture what she believed would result in a remarkably cinematic video. However, upon reviewing the footage in a sober state, the reality was far from her initial perception.
Residing in London, Ella James found herself in the spotlight after sharing her drunken video mishap on TikTok through her account @thejokerscrazygirl. Garnering a whopping 3.2 million views, the video was accompanied by the caption: “I was drunk asf (as f***) on my way home and thought this would be such a cinematic shot.”
In the brief 18-second recording, James playfully rotates the camera’s view from the bus scenery to herself and back again. Yet, instead of achieving the desired moody and stylish aesthetic, the outcome resembled a scene straight out of a comedy, characterized by a jittery, erratic camera spin and James’ visibly intoxicated gaze directed at the lens.
Screenshots extracted from TikToker Ella James’ bus video illustrate her initial belief that the footage, captured under the influence, would exude cinematic qualities. (@thejokerscrazygirl/TikTok)
Reflecting on the incident, James disclosed to Newsweek, “I didn’t recall filming the video until I stumbled upon it in my drafts the following day.” She further expressed, “Upon reviewing it, I found it amusing and relatable. Despite my genuine belief in its cinematic potential at the time, I never anticipated the video to gain such immense traction. The response from TikTok users caught me off guard.”
Amidst the millions of views, spectators shared their varied reactions to the episode. TikTok user @bbqsauceh humorously remarked, “No cuz I see the vision,” while Thekkra chimed in with, “No, ur so real.”
Acknowledging the intended artistic endeavor, another observer noted, “there was a vision tbh.”
Many could empathize with James’ intoxicated conviction regarding the video’s excellence. User @urfaveCristina quipped, “Everything is a vibe when you’re drunk.”
For those acquainted with the effects of alcohol intoxication, the rationale behind James’ filming escapade may resonate. In reality, there exists a scientific explanation for why our perceptions alter after consuming alcohol.
Alcohol, from a cognitive perspective, hampers the cognitive functions necessary to restrain impulsive behaviors or anticipate the adverse outcomes of our actions. This impairment can lead us to engage in activities we would typically avoid, such as filming a video that fails to meet our anticipated standards.
While viewers found amusement in this unconventional video snippet, one playfully commented, “Nobody’s home except for the lights.” Another remarked, “The way we can see ur thoughts moving in slow motion.”
Some individuals even shared their own anecdotes of inebriated phone blunders, with one TikToker recalling, “I was drunk at the pub and thought I found good lighting and took selfies, they were tragic.”