“Waterbirth” delves into the deeply personal and challenging themes of trauma, abuse, and healing. What inspired you to explore these themes in your screenplay, and why do you believe it is important to address them in creative outlets?

Waterbirth was the result of an unexpected moment of self-reflection. I’d found myself reflecting on my childhood and was also surrounded by friends with painful past trauma. Writing Waterbirth felt like a natural progression after that period in my life. I believe that whenever possible we should try and seek healing for ourselves and for others. I’ve found that in some of my darkest times, storytelling has usually pulled me through. Stories are incredibly powerful, regardless of the creative form they take.

Can you discuss the significance of using a road trip as the backdrop for Tobi’s journey of confronting his past and engaging with his trauma? How does the physical journey parallel his emotional and psychological growth?

I think road trips usually have a connotation with fun and carefreeness. Juxtaposing Tobi’s internal journey of trauma and pain against a format usually associated with happiness felt like a weirdly appropriate reversal. Tobi’s physical, emotional and psychological journey all follow a trajectory focused on reflection. In all aspects he’s faced with obstacles and pain he’s already familiar with, but he must move forward regardless.

As a writer and director with a multifaceted skill set, how did your background in cinematography and editing influence your approach to crafting the screenplay for “Waterbirth”? Did it impact your visualization of the story and its emotional impact?

Waterbirth was a visual experience in my head before I put pen to paper. I already knew exactly how I wanted each moment to sound, look and feel for the audience. Having such an engrained vision of the film before it’s even scripted can be great but sometimes limiting when you want to take on outside influences. My creative background absolutely influenced the visual language of Watebirth; I can only hope it translates on screen and creates an emotional impact for those experiencing it.

The themes of child abuse and suicide are often not widely portrayed in creative outlets, particularly within black communities. How do you hope “Waterbirth” will contribute to raising awareness and encouraging support for those who have experienced similar traumas?

One of my primary goals for Waterbirth is to empower others to look back at their trauma honestly and seek out ways to heal. Aside from that, raising awareness and less judgement around people who have suffered from child abuse and struggle with the resulting scars would be an amazing achievement.

THE SCREENWRITER

Name: Imoje Aikhoje
Script: Waterbirth
From: UK