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The adaptation of Mhudi into a viable South African screenplay.
Bogacwi, Naledi Nonofo
Bogacwi, Naledi Nonofo
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Abstract
From the early silent era to the present day, South African filmmakers have demonstrated a remarkable ability to adapt literary works, stage plays and real-life events into compelling and thought-provoking films that resonate with audiences both at home and abroad. The purpose of this research is to examine my screenplay adaptation of Mhudi, the first notable novel by black South African, Sol Plaatje. My adaptation provides an Africa-cantered reframing of the historical adventure film genre. The novel Mhudi explores the conflict between the breakaway clan of Matabele
kaMzilikazi and the tribe of Batswana. The book is a historical African classic (set in the nineteenth century) that deals with disruptions caused by Mzilikazi and his power-hungry son, Langa. Threaded through this, the novel follows the experiences of the main characters, Ra-Thaga and his wife, Mhudi. This dissertation investigates how Mhudi the novel can be adapted into a screenplay by understanding successful screenwriting conventions. It is a practice-based research study in which I explored my process of writing a feature film outline and the first draft of a screenplay. In this regard, I used Michael Hauge’s 2011 standpoint that artistic success is a matter of opinion, unlike commercial success, which can be defined by box office revenue. This dissertation is combined with an artistic output, namely a feature film screenplay. In drafting the screenplay, I first wrote an outline of the screenplay, which was analysed using Linda Seger’s guidelines on the ‘phases of adaptation’ and Christopher Vogler’s ‘hero’s journey structure’ for constructing mythic stories. One of the most notable changes I made in the adaptation process of the novel to a screenplay was changing the protagonist from being Ra-Thaga to being Mhudi. I explain my reasons for this within the dissertation. My intention was not only to produce a faithful retelling of Plaatje’s story, but to re-imagine it for a filmic audience through inventive departures from the novel. At the end, I confirm through my process the intangible value of adaptations and in the case of Mhudi that the historic references made in the novel reveal a part of South African history which is yet to be explored in cinema.
Description
Submitted in fulfilment of the requirements for the degree MAGISTER TECHNOLOGIAE: Motion Picture Production, Department of visual communication, Faculty of Arts and design.
Date
2023-06-01
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Tshwane University of Technology
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Keywords
South African filmmakers, Mhudi, Screenplay