Preparation, preparation, preparation is the key to success, and so we held a reading for Man in the Mirror in final preparation to lock the script. The event was arranged by by our talented Script Consultant Clare Stopworth who did a superb job not only in hosting the event, but also in taking our script to heights beyond all expectations.
We were fortunate in having an eclectic array of actors from South Africa, Africa, UK, and New Zealand read for us, and it was magical to hear our story come to life. In addition, we were able to meet a host of young and enthusiastic talent, that we hope to work with on this and other projects in the future.
We were delighted when the African and South African readers enthusiastically volunteered how moving the story was to them, how they related to the nuances and authenticity that the script captured. They unreservedly complimented the story and related to the characters. They found the adversity these characters encountered and the choices they were forced to make under adversity believable.
The authenticity of the Zulu culture is thanks to the invaluable input by esteemed Zulu novelist and authority on Zulu culture, Bhekisisa Mncube, political correspondent and author of the best selling novel, Love Diary of a Zulu boy. Behekisisa, in his written motivation for the project wrote this:
‘I was awed by the almost autobiographical details of the main character, of which I later renamed him Mpiyakhe. I am a native South African of Zulu heritage, born in Zululand (Eshowe). Like Mpiyakhe, I turned my back on the politics of my village, left in 1993 to eke a living in the big city of Durban. I participated in the ANC underground structures, met and fell in love with fellow ANC member, an English speaking white South African ....
' .... I saw my role in the co-script writing as imbuing the movie script with the relatable Zulu dialogue, and authentic Zulu cultural experience. And I believe I have succeeded in helping make this a moving and authentically Zulu story that will touch the hearts of people not only in South Africa, but throughout the world.’
And now, we wait impatiently, to finally, after an ardous journey, to go into production, and tell this important story. Several industry professionals have stated that, owing to it being an authentically African/Zulu story, whilst possessing conflict that a global audience identify with, it will travel well, and have mass global appeal!
The essence of the story we are advised, again by industry professionals, will make it a festival darling, with the potential to garner prestigious awards!
