Jill Scott
© AFP/Getty Images/File Evan AgostiniGABORONE (AFP) - The prophet divined that the film, to be shot in the southern African nation and based on the book by Alexander McCall Smith, would be a huge success, Amy J. Moore told a news conference Tuesday evening.
"About a year ago, I was in Gweta scouting for the movie with Anthony Minghella, our director... We met with a very old man -- a sangoma (a witch doctor)," she said.
The film managers decided to seek divine intervention from the "wise spirits" following six years of planning the movie.
"We all sat huddled around him, for we had been told he was a very wise sangoma. He handed me the (animal) bones and instructed me to ask them a question.
"I asked about the movie, what was about to happen, how would it turn out. After I threw the bones, through a translator, the sangoma said to me: 'It is going to be a very long journey, but a very successful journey'," she said.
So far, the diviner has been proven right, said an elated Moore.
"Here we are today, with our good partners from Botswana, to celebrate and announce what has been, indeed, a very long journey and which, because of Botswanas support, will be a very successful journey."
Award-winning British Hollywood director Minghella and his crew arrived last week for the shooting of the movie, due to start July 9 in the capital Gaborone, the Okavango Delta and the Kalahari Desert.
The star-studded flick will be the first of its kind to be shot in Botswana, with more than 1,500 locals set to benefit from playing supporting roles.
American rhythm and blues diva Jill Scott has been selected to play the lead role of Precious Mma Ramotswe in the movie, scheduled to be released by Christmas, Moore said.
©AFP