Tahidi High By Prudence Zoe Glorious(08-1333)

CRITIQUE 1.

I have hated local drama since way back, simply for many reasons:
- bad acting
- bad casting
- bad dialogue
- bad storyline
- limited budgets
But If there was a local Kenyan show to be addicted to this would be it. It's the best we have. Over the years local productions have always been stereotyped and stereocast but this programme has remained fresh and surprisingly entertaining.


The cast has a fantastic dialogue. The key to a programme is the screenplay followed by the storyline. Rarely do you have ten minute pauses within each sentence uttered or cheap incidental music to occupy time and dialogue. There is a smooth flow in acting unlike other local programmes where you can tell one is waiting to deliver the next line. The likes of Omosh and OJ together with Johnny are funny in a very refreshing way, the line: "shut up or I smack the alphabet out of your mouth!" that line just killed me in this episode!
The camera angles where used effectively, where they gave you a close up view of Omosh agitated in a very animated face when he was told off by the headmistress.
The lighting was not that good in this particular episode where the outside takes where too light to the extent where they get blurry.
CRITIQUE 2

I decided on doing a research on tahidi high and, in a nut shell, this is what I found: It was voted the best produced drama at the Chaguo La Teeniez (CHAT) Awards 2008. The show is no longer local as it is now aired on Mnet.
The Only loophole is this is a High School Drama and time factor is usually the worst thing to happen to a show running on an actual time line. One major problem with Kenyan TV shows is that they are not divided into seasons. It is so hard to follow a program continuously for five years. It tends to loose so many fans along the way. The producers should consider dividing the show to seasons so as to get more following. In one season we could have Tahidi University. Probably we could have Omosh being a watchy in the women’s hostel and he could allow male students to the halls of residence past restriction hours, of course having been tipped. Oj and Freddie would probably be fighting over the miss Tahidi University, Tanya and probably the tricks would get nastier with backbiting, physical threats and bribery. I liked they way they dollied as Johnny tried running away from a teacher and you could feel the vibe and motions going on. Their visuals never disappoint they way they used P.o.v shots to bring things to reality when Melvin was slapped by the girlfriend you could feel the impact of the slap and see his sad, painful expression
CRITIQUE 3.

I will dive straight in to this lame scene, where one of the school girls is trying to get raped and there is commotion, some blood- a path of blood. My God the obvious choreography in this scene is almost embarrassing. If one cannot have right camera angles or editing skills or computer no-how I suggest omitting such scenes entirely. The scene came out very unbelievable and all I could do was laugh. There is a fine line between ridiculous and lack of technology.
I really felt hoaxed today with this episode.
CRITIQUE 4.

Omosh doesn’t fail to deliver again with his witty lines and the whole storyline is still very interesting and you just can’t help but wonder what is next.
The fight between Tanya and Omosh was hilarious the screenplay, the lines all scream work of a true producer and qualifies them as thespians.
Although the sound wasn’t that clear due to some loud distortion from the passing cars (bad choice of location) and there was also a long pause at some point in the delivery f lines in the classroom when Miss Morgan was addressing the students.

CRITIQUE 5.

Thought I would concentrate today on advertising in tahidi high, product placement,here we have ALWAYS.
Shameless and blatant advertising is present on this show. Surely is it a drama feature or a running advertisement. Just because a certain product sponsors the show its endorsement should in no way interfere or be inclusive of the plot or dialogue.
I feel like this show has been using always and that term so much.
Just because a product is sponsoring the show doesn’t mean you should go on and on about it.