On The Outside

 I'd love to make a video for 'Message in a Bottle' by the Police. I'd want it to emphasize isolation in every day life, and how you don't have to be on a deserted island to be alone. Which, of course, is the whole point of the song. This is an outline for a possible video that I hope gets that point across.You can watch the official video for this song here.

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Opening: All is gray scale. A student dressed in a ragged black hoodie sits in a classroom. Camera pans across classroom, everyone is wearing unisex uniforms. Student in question wears uniform pants, has hood pulled over head to obscure face. Teacher is at the board, which is a black chalkboard. Lecture is on solipsism. Student suddenly stands, shoves desk away,walks down hall and into the bathroom. Locks self in stall and draws a sliding x-acto knife. Student pulls up sleeve to reveal a heavily scarred and cut forearm, camera pans in on scars as “rescue me before I fall into despair” is sung. 

Just a castaway, an island lost at sea, oh

Another lonely day, with no one here but me, oh

More loneliness than any man could bear

Rescue me before I fall into despair, oh

. The student raises blade dramatically, slashing randomly across the arm as “I hope that someone gets my” is repeated. Slows when “message in a bottle” is sung and camera watches blood roll down student’s scrawny arms,splashing in a pool on the floor. Only the blood is in color, all is stark white except for the hoodie.

I'll send an S.O.S. to the world

I'll send an S.O.S. to the world

I hope that someone gets my

I hope that someone gets my

I hope that someone gets my

Message in a bottle, yeah

Message in a bottle, yeah

Student returns to classroom, leaving trail of blood.  Sitting down in class, the student tries to make contact with the people around him. Others are uniform in hair, clothing,and expression. As it becomes clear the others will not respond, the student grows enraged. 

A year has passed since I wrote my note

But I should have known this right from the start

Only hope can keep me together

Love can mend your life but

Love can break your heart

Student pulls another person out of a desk, other person lays limply on the floor, and no one else responds. Student grows violent,throwing the desk across the room, jumping up on the teacher’s desk, trying desperately to disrupt the lecture. Throughout, the student can be seen screaming (silently but with obvious anger). Camera pans in on the student’s face before zooming back out to show the entirely of the class acting passively. Shift to focus on the blackboard, where the professor is indicating“total isolation” with a pointer. 

I'll send an S.O.S. to the world

I'll send an S.O.S. to the world

I hope that someone gets my

I hope that someone gets my

I hope that someone gets my

Message in a bottle, yeah

Message in a bottle, yeah

Message in a bottle, yeah

Message in a bottle, yeah

Student walks out of classroom (slams door open), runs out of the school building and stands now in a crowded town square, surrounded by high rise buildings. Stands with arms outstretched, blood pouring freely from sleeves. Random people bump into the student’s outstretched arms.

Walked out this morning, don't believe what I saw

Hundred billion bottles washed up on the shore

Seems I'm not alone in being alone

Hundred billion castaways, looking for a home

As people are brushing against student’s arms, events in their life flash. These correspond with the chorus. Specifically: a man in business attire in a bar at closing time, drinking until he is numb. A woman standing in front of her mirror in her underwear, crying. A father holds his child at a funeral in the rain, watching mother’s casket lowered into ground. A couple in their small kitchen, fighting violently. A child locked in a closet,bruised. 

I'll send an S.O.S. to the world

I'll send an S.O.S. to the world

I hope that someone gets my

I hope that someone gets my

I hope that someone gets my

Message in a bottle, yeah

Message in a bottle, yeah

Message in a bottle, yeah

Message in a bottle, yeah

Student smiles at takes off the hoodie, gaining coloration.Underneath is androgynous, with bright blue hair and facial piercings. Scars are all over students arms, slightly visible underneath the blood-stained white tank top. As ‘sending out an S.O.S.” is repeated, the student slashes it’s arms violently, splattering passers-by in blood. As the blood lands on them they gain color and begin to strip away their markers of civilization (taking off ties, dropping briefcases, removing high heels, etc.)

Sending out at an S.O.S.

Sending out at an S.O.S.

Sending out at an S.O.S.

Sending out at an S.O.S.

Sending out at an S.O.S.

Sending out at an S.O.S...

Camera pans back until the city is distorted and fades to black.