 American screenwriter Jason Filardi was asked to write the script by production company Armada and subsequently " fell in love " with Drum 's plotline . In preparation for this task , he read books on Nxumalo and the history of South Africa , and stayed for a month in Johannesburg . Filardi said that his work on the film was his fondest experience with the medium . Filming began in May 2004 and lasted for six weeks . On 29 May , producer Dumisani Dlamini died after being shot in the head at his home in Johannesburg . 
