CONTINUATION OF PROGRAMME CRITIQUE- TABASAMU BY ESTHER WEKESA

22/02/10
The start of this episode was a very striking establishing shot of a very classy hotel. The rest of the episode employed medium shots close up shots and full shots among many other camera shots, making the production of high quality. Lighting was also well used as the characters were visibly to the viewers.

01/03/10

In this episode I took time to evaluate the lighting aspect only. I realized it was well used to create specific moods in the production. This was clearly indicated when Maya’s friend was hospitalized silhouette lighting is used in this scene. Cameo lighting is also well used in shooting the out door productions.


08/03/10

I secluded this episode to critique the audio aspect of production. There was not much to audio as the work was well done. The characters could be well heard. However intriguing music was not used at the right time and place. Also the right music for various melancholic scenes was not properly coordinated.

18/03/10

This was the most exciting episode since it was evident that the crew was not prepared and the video was highly edited. The actors had not mastered their script and they kept stammering if not forgetting and confusing their lines. They kept looking at the floor manager to take orders of what to do. Shots of the camera were rapidly made that it was rather evident that armatures were operating the camera. The zoom in an out were quite abrupt and generally the production was of low quality.

22/03/10

Light and shadows were controlled appropriately. No hard shadows evident though a few mistakes pertaining the camera shots. Music and audio were both well synchronized and the production was of high quality however I was a bit concerned with how the programme ends it is so abrupt that it is so unexpected for by viewers. If only they would find a genuine ending point for the programme that would be much better.

Five Factors that Inhibited Reflective Habits in this Class

A Broadcast Techniques class is, ideally, a very practical and interactive class. Our class has generally bordered on the ideal - meaning that it has been quite practical and interactive. However this does not necessarily mean that it was all smooth and easy, and that everything we did in the class encouraged participation let alone reflective habits.

The following explains five factors that inhibited my reflective habits in this class.

The number of the students was quite high, especially when one considers the fact that this is (or is at least meant to be) a practical class. The number of students meant that we had to learn and use the available equipment in groups - in conditions that meant some students never got the opportunity to use some equipment (the cameras, for example) or partake certain roles (say, a director or a producer) - and these roles and equipments are pivotal in understanding and reflecting on what one has learnt.

Time. Communications is a very demanding major (and field) thus balancing the time for this class, other classes and classwork (from both this course and other equally demanding courses) was a hard act - let alone the time for one to reflect on what was taught in class, or what one read. Also, having an assignment to hand in, virtually, every week in, virtually, every class was another way time acted as an inhibition to reflection.

The studio personnel was neither very helpful nor approachable. They acted aloof and unwilling to help even when one approached them to ask for help or make a studio-related enquiry. This cultivated a sort of reproach, if not fear, for reflecting on what we'd learnt in class by practically engaging with the concepts and equipment we study theoretically. And though this might sound like an attack, or a detracting comment, I say it with all respect and with the hope that this might - in some way - change for the sake of future students.

Nature of the class. From within the class there were also various inhibitions. There were many classes were we had to learn theoretically in class then move to the studio for further (and more practical) learning. One might conclude that this is an effective way of doing a class of this nature but, in reality, this sometimes necessitated that we rush through the theory part, run to the studios, then, also (sometimes), rush through the practical part. And although the practical part was, originally, meant to reinforce the theoretical one it ended up being hard to understand - even incomprehensible, at times - due to the lack of a strong theoretical foundation.

Finally, the fact that students facilitated most of the classes led to some classes being unserious and some concepts misunderstood (or just not understood), particularly due to inadequate preparation. And though the lecturer was there to correct and guide whenever there was a misunderstanding, some points were still left unattended. It was, however, a great initiative for the classes ended up being more open to interaction (in relation to other courses) but the depth of the information one gets was only so-so in most cases, leaving little - if anything - for further reflection.

These were some of the factors that I found inhibitive to my reflective habits - as encountered in this class. I hope that, in a way or another, they shall be looked into and, where necessary, worked on for the betterment of the course.

(By Princely Hope Glorious, 08-2026. As a completion of today's CAT.)

continuation cat by Dorcas karanja 07-0634

Q. 42. List and analyse the five factors/activities that promoted reflective habits in this class

Reflective habits are the habits of reading before class that this com 264B class has adopted and the fieldworks that we were sent to do shootings
Pros
1. Co-operation from the interviewees
2. Co-operation among the team members.
3. Teachers consultancy
4. Availability of library research materials.
5. Support from parent.

Co-operation from the interviewees promoted my reflective habits since in the fieldworks that I conducted they were free with me and gave me the information that I was trying to get without discrimination or any hesitance.
Co-operation among the team members also enabled my reflective habits in terms of video operations that we did in class. They have been co-operative and they have also enlightened me on what I did not know.
Teacher’s consultancy has also been effective and helpful to me as a teacher opens sessions for asking her what we have no understood and follows ups done thereafter. Also when I conducted class the teacher was very open to ask us whatever we have not understood we come and ask her which has been a reflectively healthy habit.
Availability of books for research from the library has been a very helpful entity. Books like modern radio production by Hausman and television production by Burrows have been useful. They are readily available in the textbook loan in the school and the reserve library in the library respectively.
Finally the last but not least factor that promoted my reflective habits is family. My family has been supportive by giving me the necessary support be it financial or moral support. I would not also fail to acknowledge the fact that they have paid my fees and I wouldn’t want to disappoint them in any way.
In conclusion the reflective habits of com 264 have been effective and efficient. And over and above all interaction has been an important lesson that I will leave to remember even in my career.


43. List and analyse the five factors/activities that inhibited reflective habits in this class
Factors that inhibited the reflective habits include factors that slowed down the process of achieving the desired conduct of the course. These are the cons of reflective habits. They included;
1. Low internet
2. Time deadlines.
3. Too little tools or field work.
4. Discouragement from friends
5. Only two books in the reserve section to be shared by all the com 264 students.
The internet in Daystar has been unpredictable. It has been on and off hence inhibiting my research to proceeds as the first weeks we had to battle with those issues.
The time deadlines have been wanting in that I have in most times procrastinated to the last minute of racing against time to finish the assignments for example the audio operations exams.
Too little tools for field research. This is where sometimes you’ll find that there are few camera’s since most of the students are using cameras in a rush to complete the assignments. There is also the editing room where you’ll find that there is no specific editing room for the students hence you have to be excused over and over again from the room to allow the rightful owners of the room to conduct their edits.
I have also had to convince discouraging friend that i can make it in this competitive career. The issue comes with my soft voice and my non-aggressiveness which I am hoping will pass with time or I might decide to take the critics positive and change.
There are few books in the reserved section of the Daystar library that I have had to struggle with especially the time I had a presentation in class and I was told to come back later since the text I wanted was borrowed and was being used. This inhibited my reflective habits since I ended up giving up waiting and had to wait for the class handouts.
These are just but a few factors that inhibited my reflective habits which are also my cons or disadvantages.

CONTINUATION OF TODAYS EXAM
NUMBER 43.
BY BERYL OYWER 08-1493

Reflective habits are habits one has after class. The ability of one to reflect on what they have learnt in order for them to apply it to their daily lives. To add to that it is the ability or skill to critically and carefully analyze the teachings acquired and trying to see the relevance they have in our lives.

The first factor that inhibits our reflective habits is first of all the way we were brought up in primary school all the way through to secondary school. our minds are formatted and such that we only do some courses because we have to do them and while doing them we have to pass. since childhood it has been ingrained in us that in order for you to be successful you first have to pass your exams. therefore most students only worry about passing because that has been the norm since time in memorial.

secondly the time allocation for the course is too little. the course requires the teacher to have a one-one with each and every student to ensure that they have understood what has been taught. but because of the large number of the class the lecturer does not have sufficient time to cater for all students and consequently we are put in groups. group work is good for development of interpersonal skills and relations between people but some people lack a lot as they just hide behind the crowd. hence they do not get anything and have nothing to reflect about.

thirdly the insufficient supply of the studio facilities. first of all the communication students make up 60% of the university therefore they take up most facilities which are supplied in minimum quantities due to their high costs. the high demand for the equipment and the low supply causes a shortage and the ones who cannot adopt to the environment get easily distracted and hence give up on the course.

most of the communication courses have a lot of project work that requires dedication by the student. therefore a com 264 student who is also taking other communication courses will have a hard time balancing all the courses and still having sufficient time to do practice for the course. com264 is a practical course and for one to master the different broadcast techniques then they will have to put a lot of practice time which will result in skill enhancement.

fifthly, a students dedication to a course. some students do the com264 course thinking that they will just ride on other peoples work because most of the work done is in groups making their work easier. if one is not dedicated to what they are doing then they will definitely not care about it and will not try and improve their performance or integrate what they learn in their lives.

in conclusion, in this course for one to not only attain a good grade but also add to their GPA one needs to do a lot of practice. this ensures mastery of skill which will enable one to apply what they learn in their future lives making the course to be more than just a pre-requisite for another course in Daystar University but a life changing experience.

continuation com 264 quiz

Susan Mumbua
08-1277

Section c

Question 42.

Com 264 class is a class that you learn broadcast techniques and therefore you need the right attitude to learn new things and how to operate them. Com 263 has told me how to be humble and friendly because the equipments are not enough and you need to hustle to get the equipments and do your assignments thus you have to create a good relationship with the technicians so that they can help you even during your personal practice. The other thing is practice after you’ve read and did some of the work in class, you need to go back and do your own practice therefore studio time has really helped me know how to do audio production. We had lots of group work because even in the media world you cant do it alone you need people doing different things like a producer, director, camera person, floor manager you need all these people in order to have a good production. The lecturer also doesn’t feed you and chew for you and swallow most of the work is up to us thus you get an opportunity to put what you’ve learned into practice. Class presentations on various topics were good since it motivated me to read for the next class.

Question 43

Sometimes in group work some members didn’t want to work and therefore they delayed the production because they didn’t do their part. Com 264 is just the beginning so it’s not given a priority in the studio so you have to hustle your way around. The equipments are not enough and the time given isn’t enough so you don’t get to fully do what you were supposed to do. The number of people in a class is many and when it comes to practical its hard to conduct and for everyone to get the concept. Most of the time the class was disorganized so a lot of time is spent organizing the class before it starts and therefore we cover less content than we were supposed to.

CAT CONTINUATION-ASSIGNMENT

CAT CONTINUATION-ASSIGNMENT

COM 264 A Peter Mwangangi

Introduction
Though we have had many interactive sessions, we also have had our own setbacks too this semester. I will highlight the few challenges we had below. However, I would not rate the class experience as so bad as we learnt a lot and even how to be creative.

Body
Many of us, especially the Kenyans, are used to being taught by the lecturer. Therefore, being taught by students at times would lead to some issues not being clear. However, this happened very few times as the lecturer was there to explain and clarify issues.
The other, and this was a mistake on our part as the students, we were not very seriously following the events on the blog. Sometimes we came to class not knowing that we had either a CAT or a certain activity.

Conclusion
Through these challenges, we have learnt a lot too. And I must confess we also made very important friends, and that should be the bigger picture about schooling.

SHARON OKOTH-PROGRAMME CRITIQUE THE WEDDING SHOW

Episode 1
This episode showed Brenda’s and Mark’s anticipated wedding. It was a church wedding that took place during the day, probably around midday.
Thus the lighting was good enough to make a spectacular video for the important event that was to see Brenda tied to her long time lover and friend Mark Kariuki.
First of all there was an elaborate view of the whole church and the congregation which helped the viewers understand just how much people had anticipated for the wedding. The room was packed and the church looked really beautiful with decorations.
Then the bridal party got in led by an adorable little girl who had a bouquet of flowers on one hand. The camera was tilted downwards as the small girl led the rest of the party down to the alter.
It was then tilted upwards from the alter to the other end of the church at the door to a radiant bride-Brenda!
As Brenda walked down the alter with her parents, beautiful music was being played. The sound was perfect all you could hear was the music so that the whole thing looked so serene as she walked down to be presented to her future husband.
The way the whole shot was made from the beginning to when Brenda walked to the alter told a story. A story of a day everyone anticipates for. The bride, groom, parents and the invited plus the uninvited.







Episode 2

The flowers looked spectacular as the camera panned from bouquet to bouquet. To the lovely bunch that the bride held beaming at the alter. The congregation was smartly dressed, radiant and the good lighting of the church brought it all out to life.
The camera man zoomed from David to Sharon, then from David to Sharon again. A smiling Sharon on one side and an excited David on the other side. They looked at each other their eyes telling a story only the two of them could relate to.
Then came the moment when the preceding father was to join the couple till death does them apart. The sound was pretty good as he read out word for word of what was expected of the two of them. Even amidst the applause after Sharon said ‘I do’, David’s voice could be heard clearly as he confidently said his ‘I do’. There was a camera close up as a silver ring slid down Sharon freshly manicured finger. Then there was a wonderful applause when the father pronounced them husband and wife.
Immediately the choir broke into a beautiful song there was cheers and applause. The sound was good as it minimized the noise. Instead it made it sound like a joyful noise that you would make when you see God’s wondrous deeds as it was witnessed with David and Sharon.
The camera was then dolled as David kissed his wife.


SIDY AND WANGA
The mass was edited so that the important parts of the mass the husband and wife shared was not left out.E.g their first holy communion, when they took the offering forward, lit the candles and got the father’s blessings.
The editing was well done such that the mass felt like it was part of the wedding. People had gathered at the St.Patricks catholic church to witness Sidy’s and Wanga’s holy matrimony.
After all the making them one ceremony was shot the camera crew in order
to create time for the whole wedding show to air, had to edit some parts.
For instance the editing of the mass ceremony was done systematically such that you would still notice it was a catholic occasion and the mass took place after both parties were joined to be husband and wife by Father Wamugunda.It was rather evident because there was a dolly then bust shot where Sidy and Wanga were holding hands and you could see there amazing wedding rings.

VICKY AND WINNY
The photo session of this wedding was wonderfully done. The camera crew fist of all tracked husband and wife as they playfully chased each other at the gardens. Then every other time a photo was taken the camera did not take it as a video but took it like it was a shot complete with the flashing lights and clicking noise.
It made the whole bridal party look glamorous with the colour scheme of wine red marching the exterior décor. The click sounds flashing lights and photo poses made the whole shooting look like a magazine with wonderful wedding photos.
PREPERATIONS FOR THE NOKIA WEDDING OF THE YEAR
We are introduced to a busy environment, an uptown salon elaborate view of the camera. Then a dolly shows a young lady covered with grey mask on her face. She is getting a facial in preparation for her big day. The bride to be explains to Noni Gathoni the wedding shows host on how excited she was to realize she was the winner of the nokia wedding of the year award.
Noni looking very presentable on the set is armored with a hand held mic as she gets a one on one interview with the bride to be. As the interview goes on the camera pans and tilts as it follows every other step that the cosmetician takes to make the bride to be beautiful for her big day which is in a week’s time.
From the beauty parlor the camera rolls to a lavish estate where the groom and his party are doing a fitting of the clothes they will wear on the big day. It seems to be a lot of fun especially when the camera is fast forwarded as they fit their clothes one by one making jokes. There is also back ground music to match the mood. We later learn on an interview Noni has with the groom that later on in the evening there will be a meeting with the wedding organizers about the big day. So that they can make final decisions about the food, guest list, lighting flowers’e.t.c as this happens we are taken to a fast forward i.e. previous clip that show the previous times they did the shopping, rehearsals and all which is relevant as it keeps the viewers glued to what will happen next. We are also shown clips when they are in the meeting tasting the cakes that were going to be aired in the next episode.


CONTINUATION
This episode starts with an over the shoulder view of the couple and a delicious rich looking cake before them. They taste the cake and as the camera pans as the couple move forward we see other cakes also on display at the table.
Then we have a one on one interview with the head cateress and as the interview goes on the camera wonders from the interview to pictures of food not necessarily live on the show. Maybe they were from past clips or folders from the stations of the cooking show. When the cateress talks about how important it is to have good food in your wedding we are taken to flash backs of previous scenes where we see people eating as the camera plays with various angles making it look hilarious. There are several other interviews even with the florist and the flowers look good when taken with a long shot. Then the whole show is wound up with fast forward showing us how the whole journey began to the last bit. It looks like a movie towards the end of this episode because Noni is made to narrate more than commentate as the shots are taken in slow motion. The groom looks tired but happy same case to the bride. The wedding organizers also look satisfied and the episode ends with them switching of the lights. Leaving an impact that they have done the best all that is remaining is for the sun to raise the following day.Noni also makes sure to tell the viewers not to miss out on the anticipated wedding of the year par say.Offcourse on the next episode of the wedding show.


OLIVIA AND PETER’S WEDDING
It was an outdoor setting as flashy cars got tracked by the camera man for quite a stretch to the Zen Gardens where the wedding reception of Olivia and Peter was taking place. The camera finally panned to the Bentley that the newly weds had hired for their big day. Then the camera dolled to an interior shot of the newly weds Olivia with her crispy white dress and Peter with his white meticulously tailored tuxedo, to an exterior shot of their purple Bentley. It was an expensive wedding from what could be seen from the long shot of the motorcade and the ambience of the Zen Gardens.
Beautiful people could be seen streaming in all dressed for the occasion. The lighting was perfect and the sound system quite audible as the two newly weds stepped out in style to wonderful tunes that were being belted out by a Nigerian band. The couple led the guests in dance and you could see on everyone’s face the joy and excitement the day had brought fourth. The camera keen on fashion spotted a few women and men who later had an interview with the show’s host. There was a mosaic effect on the face of one of the selected few who was asked to show off her lovely green dress with golden shoes and clutch to boot! Meanwhile as the pomp and glory went on we had a long shot of the tent settings. A table with five chairs arranged each chair tied with a purple bow. To a close up of one table with a bottle of wine and five wine glasses. The close up showed just how elegant the dining setting looked.




GEORGE AND CATHERINE’S WEDDING
The high table where the just married George and Catherine, their bridal party and the chosen V.I.P guests sat was neatly arranged. The camera zoomed to a beautiful bouquet that was set right at the middle of the table. Where we had a smiling Catherine and George and their equally excited bridal party. The sound was good because there was a lot of noise that could be picked from the reception party but it was reduced. Even when the master of ceremony was busy stirring the invited guests with laughter, we the viewers at home did not miss out!
Then the camera panned to the master piece of the whole event the wedding cake. A beautiful seven tier chocolate brown cake with chocolate sculpture of a man and a woman on the top. ,camera tilted downwards and slowly but surely came up being very keen to show all the features of the cake. The cake looked very delicious and beautiful I wished I was there to to taste it or take photos of it to show to my sister who’s currently in baking school. It was a job well done to the camera man in making us salivate just by the view. After that scene was shot , the cake picture was gradually replaced by the second image of other beautiful cakes that had featured in the show. The current episode’ cake was then again featured as it was gradually replaced in a diamond shape by the picture of George and Catherine as they stood to cut the cake.






ROSELYN AND KABA
There’s was a garden wedding that had a reception and photo shoot in the same lush gardens at the Karen Golf Club. The camera man did an extreme close up of Mrs. Kaba’s ring finger as she cut her cake hand in hand with Mr. Kaba.She had a wonderful silver ring of a kind on her nicely manicured fingers. Amidst cheer and applause.
The camera man then panned following the couple as they walked from one side of the parents to the next. After the cake eating there was the champagne pop by the best man for the just married. Where we had an over the shoulder view as both Kaba and Roselyn intertwined hands and had their very first sip of champagne as husband and wife.
There was a moving performance a romantic poem by the groom’s nephew as the cake was cut. This was one of a kind in the wedding show.
The little boy commanded everyone’s attention as he read out the lovely poem. The camera panned from one face to another and it was clear they were all moved by the poem that Kaba had dedicated to his wife. The gorgeous Roselyn was moved to tears and the camera dollied in as Kaba extended his hug to her. The whole show was lovely and moving, love truly is a beautiful thing and it makes the world go round. Which
was rather evident from the smiling faces as the camera was taken round!






SHIRLEEN AND BEN’S WEDDING
The evening party to Shirleen and Ben’s party looked awesome. The lighting was rather dark but that did not kill the mode but rather gave it the serenity and mystery of a ball room setting. Everyone was dressed in elegant gowns for the occasion. The interior décor was amazing and the ambience looked wonderful although the lighting was somehow dark. The sound system was good because we could clearly hear jazz music playing in the background as people interacted.
All the invited guests looked like they were having a good time as the camera panned from one table to the next. The sound was well regulated as we could not hear the conversations going on the tables over the host’s voice because it was an interior set-up. As the ceremony went on we had a high angle shot of the whole interior se-up seeing from the normal level was one thing seeing it from a bird’s eye view was simply breath taking!
The ball room had quite a number of lighting equipment all in different shades thus the room had some sort of dark red tint which went well with the black dress code. The camera brought it out all right, if there was any distortion of colour then it worked to their advantage. As the whole scene just looked divine and classy.
As Noni talked about the two love birds and how they met there was a superimposition of the two of them that made them look very deserving of each other. As the show went for a commercial there was a bust shot of Ben cuddling Shirleen as the master of ceremony invited them to the dance floor to step in the name of love and ‘open’ the dance floor.