My film journey began last year in 2024 through Sisi Film Lab training. During this training I got the opportunity to make a few short films. The students I studied with will tell you about the murder freak I was, or I am (out of five student short films only one is a love story: a breakup story to be exact. With me it never ends well.)
Recently, during the very first screening of “Murder Chose Me” at Raw Cinema, someone asked how I was able to create such a gruesome film. (She asked to know my mind and here I am explaining exactly why I wrote it.)
Murder Chose Me began as a story of a man who lands on an unknown body that has his image. Everything about that body pointed towards him as the killer. But as I wrote the script, the narrative shifted, and it became a story of a young boy, Torak. With Torak as my main character, it gave me the opportunity to explore the curiosity and innocence of a young mind.
When I first pitched this film, I did not get the funding, and I got really frustrated even though I knew that I could film it some day through the Collective. I loved this story, the character of Torak and the darkness he had.
Eventually through Sisi Film Collective I was able to shoot Murder Chose me. My mates call it Murder Chose Me 5 because I did many versions before landing on this last version. I call it last for I am not doing any part 6 or 7. Yeah, I am not!
It took us two days of production, since we were working with children, we did not want to strain them. If I recall well, this was the only production that has ever had several kids on set. The crew became a bunch of ‘aunties’ and ‘uncles’.
The kids did an incredible job and a moment that still lingers in my mind; the youngest actress, Christiana Atulinda Taaka did not realize she was acting in a murder film and referred to the blood as tomato source (well, that’s what we told her). The only time she became frustrated was when her costume got drenched in blood for a scene, she cried to have it immediately cleaned.
Funny fact, my assistant director’s job was not about making call sheets, etc. but babysitting the child actors and ensuring they lacked nothing and stayed entertained throughout the shoot. He made sure that they felt comfortable in the story’s dark world.
Murder Chose Me is about the darker aspects of human nature and the fragility of childhood innocence and how negligence can manifest in the most unexpected ways such as mimicry. Through Torak, I wanted to explore what makes someone commit the acts of evil; not to glorify it but to understand it and reflect on the responsibility adults have to guide and protect the young minds. The film shows the power of media and how it can shape a child’s character, hence shaping their adulthood.
Torak’s descent into obsession, stalking his siblings became all more real with Abudul Samil Kajubi giving his best performance. Looking at the final film, I feel so much joy having worked with young people who helped bring this film to life. I remember being asked during a pitch session about how I will handle child actors, literally it was considered tricky, but ask me now… (you already know my answer.)
Postproduction is done, the story has come to life after a whole year of many Murder Chose Me series (some nicknamed, me director Murder Chose Me) Finally, the vision I had in mind is now available to be watched on screen and came out exactly how I envisioned it (trust me my mind is not dark though)
Now, the film is finally ready to meet the audiences so keep an eye out, Murder Chose Me is coming out soon, with all its darkness and a lot…a lot more to enjoy and learn. I can’t wait for you to watch it, and I hope it leaves you thinking, feeling…
The darkness is waiting…are you ready to step inside?