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Kenzie Roberts
Dr. DiSarro
ENG 101-05
7 March 2014
Kindness Makes the World Go Round
A concept called Random Acts of Kindness is known around the world. It can be in the
form of a compliment or a nice, respectful gesture. All it takes is one person to complete one
Random Act of Kindness to make another persons day special. Some examples are as simple as
holding the door for someone or telling an individual that his hair cut looks fantastic. The idea of
Random Acts of Kindness is to continue the chain of good vibes. When one human feels
happier about himself, he may wish to pass his happiness on to someone else. A music video
made by Life Vest Inside depicts a chain reaction of Random Acts of Kindness, using the song
One Day by Matisyahu. Life Vest Insides video is called a Kindness Boomerang, and it
relays the message of kindness through music, colors, lighting, and camera techniques to convey
the message to its audience.
Life Vest Inside is an organization thats mission statement is To empower and unite the
world with kindness. Life Vest Inside inspires people to recognize the potential they have to
affect real and positive change in this world through kindness, (Life 1). The means for which
they want to create world unity through kindness is by inspiring, engaging, educating, and
uniting (Life 1). Life Vest Inside inspires through social media and film; it engages by using
worldwide events and technology (Life 1). The organization uses educational curriculum to
educate, and it allows one to become a kindness ambassador to unite (Life 1). Its official
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webpage shows diversity due to the pictures of numerous people of different backgrounds,
coming together as one (Life 1).
The intended audience of the video is a diverse expanse of people. Everyone ranging
from children to elderly is meant to see the video to gain something positive from it. People of
various races, social classes, ethnicities, genders, and ages are the audience that is being targeted
to promote Random Acts of Kindness. Friendliness is not based on one type of people; it
includes all people, no matter how big or small. The video demonstrates diversity by showing
individuals helping others who are different from them. For instance, a young boy assists an old
lady in carrying her groceries across the street. One man in the video buys an African American
man living on the street, a hot dog and water. The African American man sees that a teenage girl
forgets her phone where she was standing, so he brings it to her. For another example, the man
singing the reggae song in the background is a white Jewish man.
The artist for the background music is Matisyahu. He is a reggae singer who declared
himself a hippie as a teenager yet returned to Judaism (billboard 1). He was born in West
Chester, Pennsylvania, and grew up in White Plains, New York (billboard 1). He wrote the song
One Day to open ones heart and give one hope (1Matters 1). The song begins slowly and
Matisyahu sings syllables like they are floating. A rhythmic beat begins in the background as
soon as the first act of kindness occurs, when a construction worker helps a boy after he falls off
his skateboard. As soon as the boy walks over to help an old lady carry her groceries across the
street, the lyrics of the song say: I know someday it will all turn around. When that line is
stated, the camera angle that is following them rotates to their front. The lighting becomes
brighter, as if the sun is coming out, and the music picks up its pace with a happy, catchy beat.
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The background beat continues as the old lady gives a woman spare change for the
parking meter yet slows. There is an echoing sound and a pause as the artist sings: But I never
let it get me down. The song goes back to its original steady pace towards the beginning as the
lady picks up an item that a snazzy guy dropped. When the snazzy man aides another person by
helping him take his suitcase out of his car, the music returns to its up-tempo rhythm and chorus.
The song returns back to its slower pace when the luggage man thinks about buying an African
American man on the street a hot dog and water; it repeats its fast-paced portion of the song and
repeats the lyrics when the man gives the street dweller the food.
One Day uses the same part of the song that sounds airy and light from the complete
beginning of the video when the African American man notifies a teenager that she left her
phone behind. Matisyahu redundantly sings the slower portion of the song that was near the start
as the girl buys a woman flowers. When the woman accepts the bouquet, the song returns to its
chorus. When the waitress is greeted by a nice tip from the woman, the song appears to fade out
but then returns to the fast-paced part of the song and the One Day chorus when she gives the
construction worker a glass of water. The song ends the way it started, with Matisyahus feathery
syllables. The lyrics of the song demonstrate the world becoming a better place. It communicates
world peace.
Throughout the music video, bright colors are represented to show that the world is
becoming a better place through kindness. The opening shot is of vivid green leaves on a tree.
Skateboarders appear on screen, and they are all wearing bright colored shirts. The boy who falls
over on his skateboard is wearing both teal and yellow. The old lady is wearing a yellow clip in
her hair. The traffic sign in the middle of the street and the buildings behind the two people are
yellow. The next woman is wearing a zebra-patterned dress to be bold and stand out. An
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individual passing in the background is wearing a sky blue shirt; the man that the woman
approaches is wearing a light blue tie. The umbrella at a restaurant is blue and orange. The man
on the street and the teenage girl are wearing orange. There are construction cones and a few
individuals wearing orange in the background. Yellow flowers are being sold at a stand. Finally,
the construction workers vest turns into the logo for Life Vest Inside.
Along with the colors, the lighting is frequently bright throughout the video. The video
begins with the camera angled up to a tree and the sky. The lighting is bright due to the natural
lighting. When the kid helps the old lady cross the street, the lighting becomes gradually more
vivid. The brightness demonstrates happiness, for when good moments happen to individuals,
they become happy. After the two cross the street, the sun is above the New York City buildings.
The side of the street that the kindness chain continues on is the shady portion, yet the sun is
visibly shining on the buildings on the opposite side of the street, in the background. The video
shows a glow of light, not complete brightness. Crescents of objects are lit up with light, as if
they are being illuminated. Shadows ascend with the peaks of light, giving the subjects a halo-
like effect.
Along with lighting techniques, camera techniques were used to show that Random Acts
of Kindness can change someones life. The camera angle begins upward, representing the light
in the tree and sky above before moving to a straight-on position. The entire video is a
continuous camera shot; it is a never-ending circle, following along the chain of kindness. The
continuous style allows the viewer to see the perspective of the characters. It causes them to feel
as if they are the people in the video: grateful to have someone looking out for them and wanting
to pass the love on. Each scenario begins with the camera at the backs of the individuals; after
each encounter, the camera rotates to the front of the people so the viewers can see the blissful
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expressions on their faces. It also conveys an image of the world turning around for the better
and demonstrates the multiple perspectives of the characters.
The message of kindness is conveyed throughout the video. Its purpose is to change the
hope of the world, making it a better place by completing nice gestures for others. Life Vest
Inside is an organization that promotes kindness throughout the world. The message of the video
is represented to its diverse audience through music, colors, lighting, and camera techniques.

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http://www.lifevestinside.com/
https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/?shva=1#search/one+day/14469dd285a4821c?projector=1
http://www.empower-yourself-with-color-psychology.com/meaning-of-colors.html
http://www.billboard.com/artist/309981/matisyahu/biography
http://www.1matters.org/2013/08/07/music-of-hope/