I have always dreamed of being a writer for the big screen. Ever since I was a child, I loved watching movies and imagining stories of my own (more of the latter than the former honestly). I was fascinated by the power of words to create emotions, characters and worlds. That’s why I was overjoyed when I got the opportunity to write for my first film titled Mma Moruti.
Mma Moruti (which loosely translates to “Pastor’s wife”) is a drama film that explores the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on a family in Botswana that goes into lockdown for contact tracing testing. The film follows the lives of a married couple, Kagiso Morwa (Mma Moruti) and Jacob Morwa, their son Troy and their maid Gertrude who live in a suburban house. Mma Moruti is a healthcare worker who believes in following the healthcare protocols to prevent the spread of the virus. She wears a mask, sanitizes her hands, and avoids contact. Jacob Morwa, on the other hand, is a rebellious man who misuses his religious position to downplay the virus to the extent that he invites his church assistant to the house while under lockdown. Kagiso and Jacob constantly argue, often bringing up other issues in their marriage, while Troy struggles to run his illicit business and Gertrude uses the cover of night to sneak out of the house. It’s a mess!
Me writing at my desk
The film is big on dialogue, showcasing different attitudes and how conflict arises when two people with strong opposing beliefs clash. There are twists and turns, betrayal and lies. I did my best to represent both sides fairly, however, Covid-19 is just a catalyst in this story, not necessarily the message. I’ve noticed how easy it is to insert one’s biases onto a character and give them the win as sort of a third-party reinforcement of one’s own ideals. Thankfully, my co-writing partner has substantial experience in the film industry and helped me remember that the story must be thought-provoking, not preachy.
I was honored to be part of this film project as a writer and a script supervisor. As a writer, I had to do a lot of research on the Covid-19 situation in Botswana and how it affected people’s lives. I also helped create realistic and relatable characters that would resonate with the audience. Although conflict was the major goal, I wanted to convey a message of awareness, responsibility and compassion through this film. As a script supervisor, I had to work closely with the director (who was also the co-writer) and the actors to ensure that the script was followed accurately and consistently throughout the production. I had to keep track of the dialogue, the actions, the props and the continuity of each scene. It was a challenging but rewarding role that taught me a lot about filmmaking.
Working on Mma Moruti was an enjoyable and educational experience for me as a writer. I learned so much from my colleagues and mentors who were supportive and helpful throughout the process. I also gained valuable skills and insights that will help me in my future projects. I am proud of what we achieved together as a team and I hope that our film will touch many hearts and minds. Mma Moruti is currently in pre-production and will hopefully grace your screens or the big screen this year!