“Reach the star”

Poverty short film

Intro: (View of school, students going to school, ring of bell, kid running late going to school)

Scene 1:

Teacher: “(name), you are late again!”

Kid: “I’m sorry Ms.___”

(The kid will sit down then focus the camers to her face)

Background voice: “I am (name), grade 5 student. A daughter of the poor.”

Scene 2: walking down the streets looking someone throwing food

Background voice: “I barely eat enough food to satisfy my hunger. Sometimes I wonder why the world is
unfair. Why it is easy for others to throw away food wherein for us it is hard to eat 3 meals even for a day?”

Scene 3: Mother talking to the landlord about the rent of the house

House owner: “You promised me more than once! How long will I have to wait for you to pay the rent?

Mother: “Just give me more time Ms.___. I will do my best to collect the money.”

House owner: “No! If you can’t pay me next week, I’m sorry, but you and your family have to get out of
here!.”

(The house owner will leave then the father will see his daughter looking at them)

Father: “It’s okay. Don’t worry about that. Continue what you’re doing”

Background voice: “I live in a place where for other people it’s a squat but for me, it is a home. A home that
will never be ours.”

Scene 4: helping her mother in washing clothes and selling candies on the streets

Background voice: “During weekends, I help my mother in washing other people clothes and during
weekdays, every after class, I sell candies on the streets. I use this time to study.”

(Classmates will come)

Classmate 1: “Hey! What are you doing here?”

Classmate 2: “Why are you selling these candies?”

Classmate 3: “Is this your home? Why you’re still wearing your uniform?”

Classmate 1:”Or you don’t have home that is why you are doing our assignments here!”
 Classmate 2:” Anyways, guys let’s just buy some candies so that she can go home early. Give me a hundred
of that!”

Classmate 3:”we’re leaving. Don’t be late for tomorrow’s class!”

(While looking at her classmate leaving..)

Background voice: “I hate it, but I can’t just stop thinking. Why this world did not grant me luxurious time
like them. Why it is so hard to even have new shoes?”

Scene 5: while walking on the streets going home

“At night, I am always surprised to see homes full of light. I hope their light shines in our house as well.”

Scene 6: eating with candle light. Kid will stand up

Mother: “where are you going?”

Kid:” I will finish my homework under the streetlight ma, it is brighter and we can save more candles.”

Father: “okay, finish it fast so that you can go home early. Take care.”

Scene 7: while studying under the streets

Background voice: “This is my favorite spot. Here I can study well because it is quiet, the cold air calms my
mind and I can look up the stars in the sky. The star is like my dream, my dream that is so hard to reach.”

Scene 8: at the school taking exam. Walking towards home with flashbacks

Background voice: “this is the last day of my examination. I know that no matter how far the star from me, I
am always one step closer. (Flashback: scene 6) I believe one day my family will be able to sleep every night with a
full stomach; (flashback: scene 9: sleeping with empty stomach) we can relax all day without working outside
(flashback: scene 10: saw father working hard) and finally, we may have a home.” (Flashback: scene 2)

Scene 11: hand will show opening the door. Then present the diploma with a star to her parents

KID: “ Ma, Pa, I know it is hard for both of you, it took long but thank you for your hard work. We made it!.”

The family will hug. The end..

“You might be poor, your shoes might be broken, but your mind is a palace” – Frank McCourt.