MASEGO MOHWASA ENTERS THE FILM INDUSTRY
Motswana film maker, director, producer and writer, Masego Mohwasa, recently had her short films showcased at New Capitol Cinema in Acacia Mall, Phakalane.
The films are: And then there were three, Gobe, Maikotlhao, Thanya, Manong, Masaitsweweng, and Bu Dwilo. They were screened as part of an initiative spearheaded by New Capitol Cinemas called Homegrown, which affords Botswana film makers the opportunity to showcase their films on the big screen. Mohwasa runs her own production company, 27 Pictures, which also does consultancy. She said there is need to operate the film industry in a business culture model with paper work and all. “Film has a large and lucrative value chain that can be highly tapped into,” she said. She further said there is an abundance of skill, talent and equipment in Botswana, but not enough boldness and drive. “Batswana should think outside the box and share a different perspective, and also explore abstract and concept films. We have to push boundaries if we are to go global. I would like to see Batswana in the film industry using the space to explore themes and genres; having fun but still maintaining high quality. We have room to create a style. The Botswana story has not been told. We can go far if we think international,” she said. Mohwasa’s story is a fascinating one; she fought hard to pursue her passion. The second born of five children, Mohwasa was born in Ramotswa but moved around Botswana because she lived with her mother who was a lawyer and magistrate. She has lived in Lobatse, Selebi Phikwe, and Gaborone, and sometimes stayed in Maun or Molepolole with her dad. She completed her Form 5 at Naledi SSS in Gaborone obtaining an impressive 46 points in her BGCSE results. Her proud parents encouraged her to take up medicine, law or finance, however, she was not interested in any of those fields; she wanted to be in the creative industry.
She explained that from a young age, she was always captivated by television and books, and enjoyed getting lost in stories. “It was great to travel without leaving the room. It was also a getaway from reality; a big escape mechanism.”
Mohwasa knew that her decision to go into the creative sector would not be well- received by her parents so she went to the University of Botswana where she had been accepted for a degree in business management. She quit her studies after two years. “I was unhappy and miserable. I didn’t enjoy the course and also didn’t envision myself working a 9- 5 office job.” Her family was disappointed and felt she had lost the plot. To prove her seriousness, she applied for film at different institutions and was accepted at all of them. The challenge was securing funding, but the stars were aligned in her favour as things worked out beautifully. “God is amazing when you consider how things worked out. Around that time, AFDA was opening its doors in Botswana, and I contacted the Joburg office and asked them to move her admission here; they agreed. I secured government sponsorship once again under the Target 2020 programme,” she said. In 2015, she started her first year as a student Motion Picture Media majoring in writing and directing. She has since graduated and is proving her mettle as a sought- after film maker, one production at a time.