I have watched more than my fair share of movies especially sci-fi but I can not compare the script of Pumzi to any movie or story.

Before the Film

I received details that the audition would focus on facial reactions, which was a first for me. I was looking forward to seeing how it goes and what I could learn from it. I arrived at the Audition venue with another casting mentality as usual – be yourself and do what you have to do and listen to their response to you. I introduced myself to Wanuri, who went into explaining the script and the mood of the script to me. I was taken aback by the energy and passion that did this with; it is unusual for me to meet people who wear their creativity as part of themselves and not as a prop. Off course at this point I was a bit concerned:  because this woman was taking time off to explain things in detail TO ME! I was nervous coz she was nice and I did not want to see that look of disappointment once I have auditioned or even during. To make it worse the producer – Amira walked passed to make it worse “oh my gosh you are perfect! Can you Act?” to which I just smiled. After the audition, Wanuri offered to let me read the script as I had expressed my genuine interest in the story and I was sucked into it. I wanted to see how the scenes would be shot, where would it be done, what expressions would be used I wanted to watch the film already! I thought the storyline had beautiful mix of adventure and drama. So I was ecstatic when I was offered the part, I still am….

Location trips

Going to the different locations was supposed to allow me connect with the environment to make it easier to get into character. Asha was ‘born’ during this trip. Asha is not someone new to me but someone I have kept sheltered from the outside world. If I could roughly describe her, I would say she is naïve and lead by the heart.  Allowing myself to be Asha was the trickiest thing I had to do, because I needed to trust that I was safe with the crew (people I did not know until then) and I could just allow myself to feel and react without feeling judged. Asha felt vulnerable to me in the beginning but the need to shelter her quickly wore off all because I worked with the most support people and especially Wanuri, who guided me to just let Asha be.

The shoot

Once I had a hold of my character the action was excitingly amazing from walking in a forest of dead trees, being at the dumping site, mountain climbing I was constantly excited to find out more I could do.  The set always felt like a dream to walk into because it was a new world to explore for Kudzani. The beautiful sets made it easy for Kudzani to fade away and let Asha be in her space. There were moments when Asha would escape me but Wanuri was always able to spot it and remind Kudzani to rest and Asha to play. It was only at the end of the day that Kudzani would surface and try to diarize what ever the brain still remembered and what the body had experienced. Wow is the word I used a lot because words escaped me.  My favorite scene to shoot was the water dream sequence only coz it was the most difficult (yet I managed to find some humor in it) and I have always wanted to do a water scene.

I doubt there could have been a better opportunity for me to be introduced into the world of acting. The emotional journey of Asha left me wondering what else this is about. To work with the talent and skill of the people responsible for making Pumzi:  Wanuri and Simon- the knowledge you two have individually puzzles me – how do you get to have such great ideas? Wanuri – how do you manage to keep such peaceful, positive, welcoming energy around your being?

What Asha’s journey meant to me:

Asha has claimed a bigger part of my life since working on Pumzi, the whole experience pulled me up to let my heart lead me and it does not matter where it goes as long as I do what I believe in. it is from the heart that hope is conceived. I am on my own journey: I know there is life on the “outside”.

There are some people with the strength to dream also others with the strength and courage to look into their dreams. Asha had a dream that did not make sense; her curiosity gives her the courage to explore what dream means. Now, no matter what I dream of, I am curious its origins.

Thank you

Kudzani Moswela

This entry was posted on Tuesday, January 19th, 2010 at 7:30 pm and is filed under Cast and Crew. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.