programme critique by Tanya.

Hi I'm Tanya and the local show I chose to critique was the Patricia show. It is a local talk show hosted by the former radio personality Patricia Amira and it is aired daily on K.B.C. from 6.OOpm to 7.00pm. The Patricia show mainly discusses real life issues that affects Kenyans and Africans at large and it is targeted to audiences of all ages. It is a current fun and educative show enjoy.

29th january 2010
on this episode Patricias fashion expert correspondent Carol Wahome invades a couple of peoples houses to check their wardrobes. As the show begins the cameras distance is long shot for it focuses on the surroundings and narrows in on Carol. As Carol begins to climb the stairs the next scene we see is when she has arrived at the doorstep this visual editing technique is the matched cut which is used for smooth transitions from one scene to another. As the viewer and Carol speak we see the two-shots camera angle in use and during the 'clothes inspection' there is some background music that accompanies the actions taking place.

5th march 2010

Blind dates were the subject matter in this episode as an employee of the Patricia show acts as if she has no ettiqutte and goes to meet an unsuspecting date. The cameras were hidden and Mary who was the actress had an idea of what was going on and she wa to meet David. The camera distance are medium shots where Mary and David occupy equal areas in the frame.When Mary starts to show her true colors like speaking with food in her mouth the camera makes a close-up on David showing his facial expression of disgust. The camera zoomed out when Mary was speaking to David so as to show who she was adressing.The sound used was probably studio sound so as to eliminate the background noise.The visual editing technique applied was the reaction shot showing Davids reaction to some of the statements Mary made.

12th march 2010

Teenagers facing different challenges were on the show and they were discussing what issues affect them most while growing up. The camera angle in use was the point of view shot because the camera was pointed to the teenagers who were seated on the couch.There was also the crab technique where the camera moved from right to left that is from Patricia who was interviewing to the teenagers who answered her questions.The visual editing techniques used were split screen where the screen is split into parts showing the viewers several images at once.This was mainly applied when a clip of the teenagers in school was being shown to the viewers where they would give their opinions to some teenage issues this is called vox-pop.

19th march 2010

Patricia finds out how well known couples know one another by asking them questions about tastes preferences and memories. The camera angles used were close-ups on the couples as one spouse talks about their partner, the close-ups are to show the emotions of the couples highlighting how fond they are of each other.

26th march 2010

The less priviledged in the society have no one to turn with the exception of the few individuals who had been featured in todays episode. the episodes begins by showing the homeless and destitute people in society and the camera angle used is the close-ups so as to highlight their helpless state. They also zoom out to show the poverty surrounding them and the background music sounds sorrowful and it imediately captures the sympathy of the viewers.

PROGRAMME CRITIQUE- WARIDI.

My name is Cynthia Kimola and for the programme critique assignment I have been watching Waridi. It is a local Kenyan programme which airs on Citizen Tv every Friday night from 7.30pm to 8.oopm.

I chose to do a critique on this program because it is a swahili soap opera that reflects on different subjects of life, especially the subject of love and betrayal. It is based on three major families, its background is of the present modern society though with the ever fervent opposition from the traditional society. The story aims at showing how determination can take one to greater heights and how love on the other hand can cause destruction rather than healing. From watching it in the last 5 weeks i have seen that it aims at helping people/viewers sober up to reality and avoid taking things for granted and not forgetting to tame love because its like a wild animal.


29th January 2010

In this particular episode i saw that the camera man really liked to use VWS(very wide shot) to help us place or identify with the environment. For example, whenever they wanted to show us a scene taking place in the MPs house, they would first start with VWS of his house which is very luxurious to show us that its the MPs house and then zoom into his compound and slowly dissolve us into the house and into the living room where he is talking with his wife.

Still on the same scene, the camera man used th noddy shot on his wife to show us how she is listening and reacting to what her husband is telling her.

5th February 2010

In this episode we see Sally at her home with her husband and he hands her a glass of some green liquid which we later learn is herbal medicine to help her get a babay because she is infertile. The camera man here uses a POV( point of view) shot and i was able to see the glass with the liquid from sally's perspective and it really looked yucky. I also felt nauseated as Sally looked when they did a close up of her face.

The background music was also too loud at some scenes compared to the characters talking volume and i had to adjust the volume levels with my remote from time to time.


12th February 2010

This particular episode really impressed me because the camera man used the dolly shot to show us how weak Sally looked when she was walking to her aunt's place because she had been crying the whole night when her husband left her and went to stay with his mother because she was infertile. At some point she was about to trip and fall and i also felt that i was going to fall to. he had captured me. The dolly was also used in Paul's office when the secretary was hurrying to pick up her papers and rushed from her workstation toward s the boss's office.


19th February 2010

Here there was good use of cutaways of cars passing then stopping in a traffic jam just before the camera zoomed out and in to Paul's office. it was to give us a sense that the scene was now in the city in an office.
Also when Linda, the Mps wife gets back home at night and doesnt find her husband the camera angle was not all that god because the camera captured the incident light which at that time was the lamp and this didnt relay good pictography because i could see the shadow that was made onthe subjects face.


26th February 2010

In this scene the camera man used very good video shots. When Sally was crying he first showed us a medium shot of her which helped me see her in detail while still giving me an impression of her whole body and he slowed moved into a close up of her face and I could see her tears trickling down her face.

When Paul and his HR manager were talking in his office there was good use of OSS( over the shoulder shot, it helped me get the feel that i am looking at one person from the other person's point of view.

Overall, as i watched the 5 episodes it has been exciting because i had to read first and familiarise myself with video shots and lighting terms and how they are done so as to identify them when i see them on Waridi. I have been reading and familiarising myself with these terms on: http://www.mediacollege.com/

You guys can check it up.It is really helpful.

programme critique

Hallo everyone! Hope you are doing great! Firstly i would want to thank Mrs.Kowuor for facilitating our class. You really have been inspiring me to stretch and simlpy do more than i have been. My fellow classmates, we are together in this journey, and i appreciate each one of you.

I have been watching Tabasamu, a programme on citizen every Monday night. The following is my critic.

31/2/2010.

There was right use of left and right pans and close up shots on characters.
The pans were especially when two characters; J.B. and Shalima were arguing. They really help us focus on what each character is saying and shows us their reaction.
There was good visual editing although some scenes were too short.

8/2/2010

There was a scene done in a house in the slums, where the lighting used was directional. However, diffused lighting would have been more appropriate.
There was good use of medium shots and pans of the camera. This help us focus on the characters.
Zooming was appropriate as it brings the objects closer to the screen for better viewing.
Few full shots were used. Sound was also not clear in some scenes especially when the phone rang. There were echoes.
Some scenes had scratches. This shows us that there were problems with visual editing. An example is a scene where Shalima is kidnapped.

15/2/2010.

Close up shots on Maya and her secretary in the office were appropriate. There were also medium shots of Shalima's family.
A zoom of the camera on Chris and Ruvina when they were arguing in the car helped us focus on the facial expressions of the two.
Full shots on Ousman in the office, help us verify that it is indeed an office. We were able to view his surrounding.
Visual editing was still not the best as the show had many scratches.

22/2/2010.

Again, the camera shots are appropriate; left and right pans, medium shots at Ruvina's office when they are having a conversation.
A full shot on Maya when she has been delayed by a boyfriend on a date was appropriate as it potrayed her impatience. Some scenes are however too short. An example is when Shalima's brother throws bags into her room and leaves. A full shot on her then, was appropriate as it showed us her desperate state. She is locked in her room and has no way of escape. The programme is however too short.

This has been my critic so far. I hope that i am on the right track. I would higly appreciate your advice on the same. The programme is every Monday at 9.45pm. Thank you!