Final synopsis

By Mahnoor Khalid and Aiza Yasir

Short Film

Genre: Drama

Title: In Pursuit of Happiness

The story revolves around a garbage collector's son, (name of the character) who despite his poor financial status is studying for the Matric Board Examination that is held every year in Pakistan. Despite the many problem he has to continuously face, he studies with all his might and will. Problems such as electricity and lack of finanacial resources to purchase books and notebooks- he has to make use of second hand books. Also with little food in the house, he has to share his food with other members of his family and study in congested rooms with his siblings interrupting him on and off.

Short film will show scenes of the son and his father working in the scorching heat collecting garbage and at any time when the boy finds himself free, he immediately  absorbs himself in studying. In another scene, we show him studying in his house when suddenly the electricity supply is cut off and he is unable to study, but he finds the alternate to that and studies under the lamp post light on the main road, studying with such concentration that the noise of the ongoing traffic does not bother him.

Any money he collects for working extra hard overtime he saves to pay for his Matric Examinations.

His efforts are fruitful and in the end he scores the second highest grades in the Matric board Examination all over Pakistan and this stirns an interest in all the educational sectors and the media who broad-cast this event widely. The boy is approached by various schools to become their student on full scholarship.

The short film idea has been inspired by the real life event of a scrap collector Qayanoos Khan, who is a resident of Azaad Kashmir currently.

The story would not just be about the boy and his struggle for studies, but there are a lot of other ways to look at it too; it would also convey the message of not giving up, to keep faith and keep believing that for what one is working so hard will eventually bear fruit.

The target audience for this media product would be the masses and it would reach them through television and internet e.g. Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and Myspace etc. Local TV channels like GEO, HumTV and PTV etc. can air the video since it ould be something relating to the struggles and problem that the lower socio-economic class of Pakistan is going through. Moreover, the video can be advertised in newspapers as well. The age group would be from 12 onwards.

Teacher's comments: Much improved.