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.

FELIX BRIAN ONYANGO'S PROGRAMME CRITIQUE ON BEBA BEBA

BEBA BEBA
INTRODUCTION
. Beba Beba is a local comedy aired on NTV on Tuesday night from 8:30-9:00p.m. The programme is approximately twenty two minutes without the advertisements. The programme’s main target is the youth in Kenya, a testimony to this is the extensive use of the Sheng language jargon. Matatu appearing on the show is certainly cool one because of the graffiti present.I chose to critique Beba beba as its timeslot is most convenient for me. I find it quite captivating. Local productions have been known to have a knack of mediocre production a times but I salute the crew of beba beba for their concerted efforts that show clearly when the program is aired. The programme evolves around:
i) Mr. Tembo. A middle aged man who tries to juggle parenthood and at the same time make sure his Matatu business.does not run to the ground as it is his main source of livelihood.Thus the programme derives its title from the Mr Tembo’s business.
ii) Mrs. Tembo. She is Mr. Tembo’s wife and also a housewife and her character is evolves around being the family issue solver and ensure that there are no hitches in the house.
iii) Angel. The firstborn daughter in her late twenties. She is self-motivated and cannot let anything or anyone come in between her and her future set goals.
iv) Job. The last born son. A form four leaver and is trying to self-actualize himself. He aspires to be a famous rapper in future. He has no hope in education. He has been to many colleges soul searching and clearly has not found what suits him. He is adamantly has a point to his parents that he can make it in the entertainment industry especially as a local musician. His parents however do not approve of their son becoming a local musician.
v) Sifrosa. Mrs.Tembo’s friend. She is also a shrewd business woman and a devout Christian. She embodies equality and is seen to clearly trying to solve people’s quarrels amicably. She is loving and caring. This is evidenced by the fact that she is living with her niece who happens to be an orphan.
vi) Vokezz. The matatu’s conductor. He enjoys his job as he is always concerned when the boss (Mr. Tembo) does not want them to work. He is optimistic as he has hopes for one day becoming something better in life but for now he is content. He makes the programme livelier with his altered language (sheng) that always leaves people stunned and confused.
vii) Banda. He is the matatu’s driver. When the boss is not around he acts like the boss and bosses Vokezz around. He sounds more intelligent than vokezz which he uses as an upper hand to intimidate others. Just like Vokkezz loves his job but aspires to be something better in future.
viii) Majengo. He is a maize hawker along the road. He is fun-loving and fond of makingrib-cracking jokes of the working class who pass by to buy maize and at the same time unveil all their troubles to him. He proclaims himself to be a therapist.
ix) General. He is Mr. and Mrs. Tembo’s neighbor. He is quite annoying and spends most of his day in their house. He is an old man who has retired. He is always trying to solve other people’s problems instead of first solving his. This is finding something to do after retirement.

CRITIQUE
SEASON 2: EPISODE 3
This episode kicks off with Mr. Tembo and Mrs. Tembo debating about the matatu business and how the business has headed for the doldrums, with less returns from the business. However, that is not the case, due to the fact that Vokkez and Banda have been swindling some money for their own personal good and feigning it on the rise in fuel prices. Immediately thereafter Angel goes to Jobo’s room to find out why he was still sleeping and he was already late for college. She finds him lying on the bed in pain so she quickly rushes to the nearest hospital to get an ambulance to take him to hospital. Along the way she meets Majengo who has fooled by Banda and Vokkez that he is dying because of a misinterpretation of his blood test results. He has resolved to pursue everything he has ever wanted to do before he passes on. Angel explains in a logical manner to about his fate with the release of the results and he leaves very angry at Banda and Vokkez for being dishonest with him. When she comes back to the house she finds Jobo playing his guitar and not looking as sick as he did earlier. She confronts him angrily for lying about his sickness because he did not want to go to college and do an exam he had not prepared for.
Deception is the main theme in this episode. This is because deceit rotates prominently around the episode. The episode starts inside the house and there is some indoor illumination because of the presence of shadows of the actors. Outside the house the key light used is the sun because the programme seems to have been shot approximately at 12 noon when the sun is directly above them and by the appearance of the shadows, it insinuates and affirms that the timing of noon could be true.
The introduction music which is the same for all the following episodes is from a popular local musician which attracts and holds the attention of their target audience who are obviously the youth. The song is also satirical-like hence best suited for the show. There is use of zoom in during concentration on something and zoom out to show the matatu going away to show that it has gone a far distance. There was an instance when Angel was talking while walking with Majengo. Use of tracking shots and also the use of nose room shots are evident. There is also the use of studio cameras which are normally used to shoot sequels and are of high quality for television use. The microphones used both outside and inside the house are dynamic because they are magnetic and don’t need outside source of power and is also Omni-directional because the sitting position is arranged in that they are sited in a circle that is around the sitting room table. The transmission from one story line to another is flawless as one does not notice the change meaning their editing techniques are good. The editing technique used is most probably computer software called cool-edit pro.


SEASON 2: EPISODE 4
This episode is centred around the theme, The Fight for Animal Rights. The family decided to invite their friends for a get-together gathering. Mr. Tembo decided to treat them to some goat meat. Jobo was totally against the idea of slaughtering the goat citing that all animals had rights therefore they should not slaughter it. However the rest did not concur with him and could not wait for the feast. He tries all ways to prevent it from happening, including hiding the goat so as to avoid its demise. Apparently he fails at this effort. At the same time Angel finds a lonely kitten along the way and decides to take it home with her. Her parents are totally against it.However, she decides to keep it against their wishes by hiding it in her room. Her mother finds out she throws it away and she is very saddened claiming that it will probably die out there.
The episode is shot and acted indoors with the family still debating on weather to slaughter the goat or not. There is indoor lighting which creates the mood of homeliness this is determined by the shadows and also because it is a comedy it needs to be illuminated to show happiness. The microphones used are Omni-directional as their voices are of the same pitch and it can pick sound waves from all directions since they are sitted around the coffee table. External outside scenes are pegged with plenty of sound distortions due to the interference by strong winds hence the sound quality is poor as one struggles to get what the actor is saying. sunlight is employed as the form of lighting outside. There is presence of funny sounds to create a comical relief especially when Jobo goes to hide the goat also when Angel is hiding the kitten and then Mrs. Tembo throwing it out. The use of trucking shots following Angel as she carried the kitten to their house. There was use of dolly-in and dolly-out which is the smooth movement of the camera from Jobo to Mr. Tembo when they were arguing weather to slaughter the goat or not. One cannot realize the camera movements because of continuity of the action. There are also close-ups especially when a specific actor is talking and when they want to show all of them in the room there is use of wide shots or long shots.
Just like in the previous episode the start up music is constant also the ending music is similar. They are both comedy like hence emphasizing on the genre. The editing is done by cool-edit pro computer software.



SEASON 2: EPISODE 5
The theme of the episode is centred on teenage dating. Jobo is head-heels in love with Generali’s niece. After being misadvised to gain false courage by Vokezz and Banda he gathers up his courage and decides to go and confess his feelings to her.Her feedback is clearly reluctant and hesitant to commit to him at first but later on decides, she obliges. Upon finding about their love affair,Generali vehemently condemns their love and is against the whole relationship because he knows Jobo’s wrong influence and claims that he will influence his niece..
Angel on the other hand is being forced by her friends to start dating because she has all the featurs a man would want in a woman for she is beautiful, young, independent and intelligent.Despite all the pressure she is relentless to give it much thought claiming that she is still young and is not ready for a relationship and the consequences that comes along with it.. She would rather focus on her career and later on engage herself in a relationship when she feels mature enough.
Trucking shots are extensively employed in this episode because three quarters of the episode is acted outside. Especially when Jobo is talking to Vokezz and Banda as he paces up and down trying to gather up his courage to go and talk to Generali’s niece and also as he walks towards the house. The source of light is primarily the sun and it was most probably shot at noon due to the presence of short shadows. There is zooming in when Angel’s features are being discussed by her friends the camera zooms in to focus on her. This is done hand in hand with medium shots as her image fills the screen. There is use of High Definition cameras which are suitable for Television. There is use of close-up shots when Jobo is talking to Generali’s niece but when Generali comes into focus it changes to a wide shot showing all the three characters.
The introduction music is the same as the previous episode also the ending music is similar. They are both comical like emphasizing on the genre. The editing is definitely done by cool-edit pro computer software.



SEASON 2: EPISODE 6
The theme of episode six is wittiness and the importance of having to employ crafty ways in order to pull it through in life for people who work pursue blue collar jobs. Vokeez and Banda took the matatu for its monthly regular servicing to the mechanic. The fuel of the vehicle was to be changed and other things like the brakes checked before the public service vehicle was out on the road. Strange enough, instead of the mechanic changing the oil, he drained it out and filtered it to apparently remove the impurity which is not practical at all.. He later returns the same oil to the car and on addition to that he mixes it with vegetable oil which he ignorantly argues adds flavor and makes the oil fresher. When Banda goes for the car to carry passengers he starts smelling a queer smell. Moments later the car stalls and it refuses not only to move but also to start. He immediately calls Vokezz and they push it all the way back to the mechanic who later on explains to them what he did. He insist that he was trying to save them unnecessary expenses by filtering the oil which was cheaper than buying new oil. They are mad at him and make him drain the oil and put a new one without pay.
The introductory music is the same as the previous episode to create consistency in that whenever one hears that song their minds immediately is registered to tune in to the programme. The ending song is also still the same to the previous episode. This episode is mainly shot outside with the sun as the source of lighting. Time of shoot is probably at noon because of the short shadows. The use of bright light is to emphasize on the mood of happiness. It also helps brighten up the audience. Background music is evident, especially when the mechanic is filtering the oil and mixing it with vegetable oil making a hilarious scene. There is use of fast forward on that scene because the process of filtration is long and would have cost them time. Which in this case is very limited to content and getting the desired effect. The use of close-up shots when Banda is talking to the mechanic and he is the one in focus but when the camera man wants to show both of them talking s/he uses a wide shot. Full shot is used when we Vokezz arrives and we can see the three actors plus the matatu. The trucking shots used when the vehicle is moving and then the camera man zooms-out to show that it had gone a far distance. When the matatu stalls the shot is back to close-up. There is a lot of distortions from the microphone used because of the wind Since the entire episode was shot outside. The microphone used is Omni-directional as it picks sound from all directions that are not even necessary..
The introduction music is the same as the previous episode also the ending music is similar. They are both comical-like emphasizing on the genre. The editing is done by use of computer software called cool-edit pro.


SEASON 2: EPISODE 7
Theft is the prominent theme in this episode. Jobo manoeuvres to make away with his father’s old records which he sells to some collectors who are ready to pay a large sum of money for them. He quietly sneaks into his parent’s room who were apparently not sound asleep to steal the records. No sooner had he stepped out of the door outside than the lights are switched on and in shock he drops the records which later fall and distort. Mr. Tembo is angry and disappointed by the actions of his son . Mrs. Tembo who was also evidently shocked orders Jobo out of the room so she can have a talk with her husband concerning Jobo’s actions.
Meanwhile Banda and Vokeez need quick cash to pay for some loan they took from one of their friends during the Christmas holiday. Running out of choices and all their efforts proving futile they resort to theft. Majengo had recently started selling chicken besides his maize they reason out that he will still survive even if he lost a few chicken. They come up with a plan. They trick him to go and buy credit for them in a kiosk claiming they can not go because they owe the kiosk owner. Since he is their friend he agrees to it and they promise to watch over his business while he was gone. After three minutes when they are sure that he can’t see them they start untying the chickens and make a run for it. They get a buyer and sell them at a throw away price just to go a few miles and meet with Majengo who was watching them from a distance. They are tongue-tied and have to get back the chickens from Sifrosa who is reluctant to return them at that price.
The episode begins with a shot in the bedroom to capture the illusion of darkness thus use of dim light. The camera man uses trucking shots following Jobo as he stealthily walks towards the records. The music used is for anticipation and keeps the viewer at the edge wondering whether or not he will be caught. When Mr. Tembo suddenly opens the lights there is a pose for a moment and the volume of the music becomes much higher. The suspense creates a shock and immediately after Jobo drops the Records because of the shock he gets. It leaves the audience wondering in anticipation of what will happen next? When the lights are turned the camera man uses a full shot as we can see all the actors plus the entire room.
In the other scene there is use of two-shot when Vokezz and Banda were conversing and also use of trucking shots because they were moving. Since the scene is shot outside the sun is the source of lighting. It was most likely shot during noon due to the shadows. When they reach Majengo the focus changes to a close up as he is the one speaking. The background music is comical and it makes the whole situation of chicken theft hilarious. The scene is fast forwarded to show the rush of Banda and Vokezz trying to untie the chicken before Majengo returns. But after being caught the music changes abruptly to a more dangerous one indicating the trouble in which Banda and Vokezz were in. The camera zooms in on Majengo’s face to show the anger by giving us an extreme close up.
The start up music is the same as the previous episode and so is the ending music . They both emphasize on the genre of comedy. The editing is done by use of computer software, cool-edit pro.





SEASON 2: EPISODE 8
Business is the theme of this episode and the key to Success is Customer Satisfaction. Mr. Tembo decides to implore his business keenly. He discovers that the reason his matatu is not fetching a lot of money is because Vokezz and Banda are not treating the customers well. He thinks that they should change their habits which they find are very reluctant to.They do not want to customers to be acquainted to it and if they will lose respect and regards from the other matatu drivers and touts plying the same route. Mr. Tembo comes up with a customer care policy that they should greet the customer before s/he enters the vehicle and incase s/he has a heavy luggage they should offer to carry it for them. In addition the driver should wait till all the customers are seated for them to start movement cause the abruptness in which they move can cause someone to fall consequently they will not choose to board the same vehicle after such an experience.
Majengo decides to improve the quality of his maize by having different flavors so as to create a range for one to choose from. He puts up a big Billboard written “I MAKE HOUSE DELIVERIES 24 HOURS A DAY ‘NA KIBOGOYO NI SARE’”. This is quite hilarious and Jobo makes fun of him asking him how he will sell maize for twenty four hours.
The introduction music is the same as the previous episode and so is the ending music. They are both comical in nature hence emphasizing on the genre. The editing is done by use of computer software called cool-edit pro.
The two scenes are acted outside with the use of the sun as the primary source of lighting. They are both shot at noon due to the presence of the short shadows. The bright lighting is used to insinuate the mood of happiness. The first scene employs use of a long or wide shot to show the three actors that is Mr.Tembo, Banda and Vokezz talking. By the use of dolly in the camera man changes the orientation of the scene however still showing all three actors. This later on changes to a medium shot not filling the entire screen and showing less of the physical environment. When Mr. Tembo is giving Banda and Vokezz the guidelines to better customer treatment the camera man uses a close up shot on him removing the rest on focus. The microphones used are dynamic because they do not need an external power source. They are also Omni-directional because signals are received from all three actors who are and trying to talk at the same time in a semi-circle.
In other scenes the billboard put up by Majengo is quite funny and the camera man gets an extreme close-up on it filling the screen and giving the audience a chance to read it. The background music used is also hilarious adding to the comical effect. When Jobo arrives the Camera shot immediately changes to a two shot of him and Majengo conversing. When Jobo is trying to explain to Majengo that his idea will not work there is an extreme close up as his face fills the screen. When Jobo gives up trying to convince Majengo to forget his silly idea he walks away and the camera zooms out showing how far he has walked.

SEASON 2: EPISODE 9
Large scale business is the central theme of this episode. Mr. Tembo decides on his business going large scale. This is impractical; due to the fact that matatu business cannot operate in large scale the best choice is making the matatu operate for 24hours which will also not be practical. His wife Mrs. Tembo tells him sarcastically that he should go and extend his matatu so that it can carry many people. To her surprise he agrees with her suggestion and is off to the garage.
The start up music is the same as the previous episode also the ending music is equally the identical. They are both full of humour hence emphasizing on the genre. The editing is done by cool-edit pro computer software.
The episode kicks off with a two shot of Mr. and Mrs. Tembo having a conversation inside the house. The key light used is quite bright creating a lot of shadows and although it is meant to be bright for comedy it makes the actors look dark because of the shadows formed in their faces. The microphones used are Omni-directional as the actors are in opposite side of the room and still their voices can be captured pretty well. The use of close-up shot when showing Mrs. Tembo reaction to her husband’s idea of expanding the business. Use of a dolly out to change the orientation of the subject that is Mrs. Tembo but maintain a continuity in action.
There is also use of monologue when Mr. Tembo is walking towards the garage and he is talking to himself how the car would fetch a lot of money which is quite hilarious.


CRITIQUE 9
SEASON 2: EPISODE 10
The theme of the episode was traditional food and how the ‘dotcom’ generation is neglecting their culture. Mrs. Tembo hasn’t eaten traditional food for a long time and decided to change her westernized menu to incorporate the traditional cultural food made of milk added vegetables. Jobo comes home from college and eager to eat meatballs only to find ‘kienyeji mboga’. He doesn’t understand why his mum is forcing him to eat vegetables that according to him look rotten. Angel walks in to also find a rude shock and declares that she is on a diet the minute she saw the food. Surprisingly Mr. Tembo is quite astonished and eats even the children’s share. This highlights the western culture influence in our lives that we can even reject our own culture. As Kenyans we are gradually losing our identity and our culture is becoming obsolete.
The introduction music or start up music is the same as the previous episode also the ending music is similar. They are both comedy like hence emphasizing on the genre. The editing is done by use of computer software called cool-edit pro.
Throughout the whole episode there is a comical music used to create a funny mood. Since the first scene is in the kitchen the camera shot is an extreme close-up shot of the food being prepared. There is also use of a monologue as Mrs. Tembo is talking about how it is a high time that she changed her home diet. Then there is a medium shot of her and the kitchens background is visible. Then immediately Jobo walks in the Camera zooms in on him to show his facial expression of surprise bringing out the emotion. Then the camera pans to the left where the food is being prepared when he is saying that he will not eat it and back to his face to show his disgust. When Angel walks in it moves to a wide shot and all of them can be viewed. There is an extreme close-up shot of her to show her shock and bask to a medium shot when she is dialoguing with her mother and a trucking shot as she walks away from the kitchen until we reach her bedroom. This creates a continuous flow of action it’s like the viewer is waling with the actor.
The microphone type used is a dynamic Omni-directional one. It picks sound from all sides of the room. When Mr. Tembo walks in the house there is a medium shot and a close-up of his face as he is excited to see the food on the table a pan to the right towards the dinner table to show his source of excitement. The episode is acted entirely in the house with the use of an outward source of light.
What this episode lacks is that it leaves the audience in anticipation mainly because of the timing allocation which limits the enhancement of the theme properly.

Conclusion
The programme is widely popular among the youth because of the use of sheng which attracts a youthful demography. The plot is also key as many people can relate to it. In addition to that there is entertainment and educational value.



Changes I would make on the programme
To begin with its ironical that Tembo’s matatu does not have passengers yet it is a matatu business. The script writer should include that in the plan for their next edition of beba beba
The locations used are also very predictable. Throughout viewing of the whole season there are o two locations are used. This has made the scenes predictable and very boring. In order to make the programme volatile they should consider adding more shoot areas. This can be accomplished by showing an air view of Muthurwa market or the central business district to show the traffic.
The lighting used inside the house should be changed. The lighting director should change his lighting plan as the key lights illumination is quite a lot causing a long shadow which is not entirely diffused by the fill and the back light making the actors look quite dark. The lighting director should therefore check the contrast ratio and make sure its the recommended 20:1 for quality production.
In addition to that, the transitions from one scene to the other are artificially done. They are not inter-related and they really mix-up someone as one is left in amazement why we are abruptly moving from one scene to another. The script writer again should try and work with a theme that is consistent and is able to link the matatu area and the house creating a flow.
Lastly the microphone technicians should look for the boom microphones which are padded and reduce the noise made when handling and are easy to carry around. By using unidirectional microphones to avoid the noises picked up on the side distorting the quality of the sound.






GLOSSARY
Sheng- A language that crops up with the youth living in urban areas as a result of mixture of the English language and Kiswahili language
Matatu- Swahili word for public service vehicle
Kibogoyo-Someone without teeth
Sare- something is given out for free

CONTINUATION OF JULIAN'S CRITIQUE ON THE WEDDING SHOW

CONTINUATION OF JULIAN’S CRITIQUE OF THE WEDDING SHOW.

Episode 7

In today’s wedding, the function starts in a church which is Consolata Catholic church. The choice of colors in this wedding is very wonderful; they choose to combine red, gold, purple and orange. I must say the colors are very bright and hence they create a lively mood. There is an establishing shot of the church and its compound. Then there is the dolly in as the camera person gets into the church and we can see the seat arrangement inside the church.
At the front we see the groom’s man waiting nervously for her lady, he has an orange three piece suit with black pants. The camera man focuses on his face down then he tilts down to his shoes that are sparkling. After some time the bride walks in with a beautiful gown on which has quite a long train. The camera man zooms in on her diamond earrings and chain and hence we can clearly tell that they are made of pure diamond. She is walked down the aisle by her parents who are also very smartly dressed. There is panning as the whole altar is viewed from the left to the right and back to the centre where the couple is together with the priest. Then there is the high angle shot where the whole congregation is seen. The reception is held outdoors in a well lit area. The sound is good as we can clearly hear as the people sing and dance for the couple. The lighting is also good and hence there are no blurred pictures. Then there is an over the shoulder shot as the groom gives the bride the cake. The wedding is colorful and I enjoy it.

Episode 8

In this wedding, it is held outdoors for it is a garden wedding. There is an establishing shot of the seat arrangement. Then there is a lake just next to the garden and it makes the place look very beautiful. The theme colors in this wedding are green and gold and they match quite well. The groom comes first in a stunning Mercedes and we get a close-up shot of him inside the car then a dolly out as we see the exterior of the car. He walks to the front escorted by his best man. They sit at the front seats and we get an extreme close-up shot of the groom’s hands and we can see him fumbling his fingers. As the bridal party walks in, we get a long shot of them heading to the altar. Then there is the close-up low angle shot as the little flower girl blushes from the camera. Then as the bride walks to the front we get a medium shot of her as she is escorted by her father. As the ceremony begins we see a three shot of the bride, the groom and the priest. The lighting here is also good though at some point the groom seemed darker than he actually was, this is because the camera person was facing the direct light from the sun as he was taking a shot of him.
As the groom put the ring on her bride, we get an over the shoulder shot and also an extreme close-up of their fingers and hence we can clearly see the neatly manicured nails. The sound is good and we can clearly hear them as they talk. I also love the special effects, where the red love hearts are displayed on the screen hence creating a good mood in the wedding.



Episode 9

In this wedding, the ceremony is held outdoors too and the theme colors here are red and black. The colors are simple but beautiful too. There is a background music that creates a romantic mood for the wedding. The groom is putting on a black suit with a red tie. His best man too is in a black and red three piece suit. They stand at the front waiting for the bride to come. There is a long shot of the venue and a high angle shot of the congregation too. The groom in this wedding is wearing very unique shoes and hence the camera man zooms in on his shoes quite often. The bride comes to the venue on a horse and this is quite interesting as she seems quite at ease on it. The bridal party this have tiny beautiful umbrellas with them and they match with their outfit. There is a medium-shot of the bride’s mother as she walks her daughter to the altar. We see tilting as the camera person shows us the bride’s gown from her neck to her shoes. Then there is an over the shoulder shot as the bride puts the ring on her husband to be finger. Then we get an extreme close-up of the couple kissing. We get a long shot of the congregation as the camera person pans it from right to left. The cake is very unique in that it is made in the form of a mansion and we can see a lot of creativity. The sound is not very good in this wedding because sometimes the wind distort the sound; this shows that they did not use the right microphone.

Episode 10

This wedding is unique in that the whole ceremony is held in doors. The couple in this wedding is Indians and we can see as the bride is preparing for the wedding in a separate room. Someone is drawing her arms and legs with some henna. Then the groom is wearing some traditional wear, long shorts with a beaded shirt. The bride is wearing an orange sari and sandals. There is an extreme close-up shot of the drawings on the bride’s hand and we can see that some dragon like patterns. There is also a long shot of the room in which the wedding will be taking place. This wedding is quite different from the rest and the bride and the bride groom are allowed to kiss before they have made their vows. The sound is good though we cannot understand what they are saying since it’s in Indian. There is a high angle shot of the women as they dance around the room separate from the men. Then there is a close-up shot of the groom as he is seated on a special seat specifically made for him. We get a three shot of the bride, the groom and the priest as they make their vows. The camera zooms in on the rings that the page boy gives to the priest. The light here is good but at the corners of the room where the guests are seated, the shadows are cast on the walls. Then we get an over the shoulder shot as the groom puts the ring on her bride. There is panning as we see the guests as they dine and wine. The priest makes a joke and we get an extreme close-up of the bride as she laughs. This enables us to see her facial expression in a more clear way. The camera person dolly’s in and out of the room. The sound is poor though because we can get a lot of echoes from time to time.




Conclusion

If was the producer of the wedding show, I would make it better by ensuring that the right microphones are used in the different environments available. I would also ensure that the weddings that are held in doors have proper lighting to produce quality production. I would also change the graphics and the special effects where it is always the red love hearts in all the weddings. I could use a variety of special effect to avoid monotony. I would also ensure that I get at least a variety of shots and angles to avoid the same shots in a whole episode. The background music is also important in that it creates a happy mood which is right for such a production. I however would rate this show as good because it has at least followed the basic fundamentals in broadcast.

susan's final critique

SUSAN MUMBUA 08-1277. FINAL CRITIQUE ON TAHIDI HIGH.
An action packed high school drama, full of intrigue, love, infighting as well as the usual battle of the sexes. Based on a high-class secondary school, Tahidi High brings to fore the daily conflicts between teachers, students and parents in a typical Kenyan setting. It’s a story about students' struggle to tackle life's dilemmas and challenges and teachers struggling to bring sanity to the institution and those within it.

I had the chance to watch TV with a reason and look at the various local programmes on TV and think about our Kenyan production. It was really hard sometimes to know what the programme really wanted to bring out but Tahidi was focused on high school students and they portrayed different themes, I got to learn some of them like boy/girl relationships and its effects in students, evils in the society like stealing, lying and how their consequences were bad.
For example on 16th March this was the theme: sexual relationship among students.

“Freddy receives the letter and he thinks he might be in some kind of trouble.
During class break we see Freddy reading the letter and after a short while he faints and Louis and Tanya help him, instead if helping him they start reading the letter creating more suspense because they don’t say what’s in the letter, when he wakes up he goes straight to Omosh to borrow his phone because he needs to talk to his cousin and this is where we get the story behind the letter. He had sexual relations with Schola in their Rural home and she is pregnant. So he is asking the cousin how come the contraceptives he gave him didn’t work and the cousin goes off because of credit. On the other side Louis is telling his friends about the letter and they are curious to find it but Tanya doesn’t give them, Freddy is at risk because he might have contracted STI’s or HIV/AIDS so he goes to the guidance and counseling teacher on hoe to go about the test. Just after talking to the teacher Omosh comes running giving Freddy the phone and it’s Freddy’s cousin telling him that the girl was playing a joke on them. She wasn’t pregnant. Freddy is relieved but there’s another problem Miss Morgan saw him talking on phone so he is in trouble and it ends in suspense…………’ and handling this kind of theme taught a lesson to the audience, especially students. Another theme they handled is the theme of cheating for example in exams,

‘O.J got his exam results and he is not happy with his exam results since he got 37% and therefore he had to see the teacher to explain the cause for his low marks. Since it was parents’ day he uncle Omosh had to see the teacher instead. In the process he changed his results to read 87% so when his uncle went to see the teacher he knew he was in trouble. The rest of the students seem to be all over the place because their parents are coming to school to see their results, for some they are happy but for others they are not happy because they didn’t do well in the exams. Omosh is not happy with O.J’s results so he decides to talk to O.J about his academics so that he can improve because this is his last year in high school. From these there’s the theme of education and its importance, because it worries Omosh that O.J isn’t performing well………….’

Apart from that they need to step up especially their acting skills and production skills. Before we go to the production skills, I would like to point out that there are reflective habits in the programme with students these are things that happen in schools day in day out. Students carry phones to school yet its not allowed. They cheat on exams, trash each others names and so it’s a good thing that they are portraying these even to the parents to enlighten them on what really happens in schools. Now production was getting better everyday, there were camera shots, camera movements, lighting, use of microphone and sound. For example camera shots and movements:
Camera shots- close-up- especially when showing someone’s emotions
Long-shots- when Julia was walking toward the mother.
Full shots- when showing Julia’s mother form of dressing

Close-up to see the business paper when it was left on the table and zooming in to see the letters on the paper. When Joni is in dilemma on whether to pick the paper or not there’s extreme close-up that makes the viewer feel like he is in the dilemma too, it leaves you thinking what if I was in his shoes what would I do? There’s a three shot when Lisa and her two friends are reading in the library before Joni joins them. Long- shot and some sounds to create the mood as Mr. Karimi approaches the class and it made me start talking to the TV telling the students to disperse like nothing is going on. Dolly in and dolly-out to show how the different students were revising and you almost feel the tension in the room. It looks so real.
When it came to sound it had some faults like when the person holding the mic moved you could hear some background movements, and it distorted the sound, they mostly used omni directional mic because it picked sounds from the surrounding. Lighting there were several shadows formed that means they didn’t use enough lighting to dissolve the shadows. They mostly used incident lighting because they used the light from the sun and they shot during the day. Even with that some rooms were dark the light wasn’t even and they didn’t show the people inside the room clearly. That’s all I observed during this time that I watched Tahidi high and it was a good challenge.

Critiques

Hi, my name is Esther Neema. I have been viewing and critiquing Mother in law. It is aired on Sunday night from 7.30 pm to 8.30 pm. It has a very interesting story line and a unique, a line of thought that has not been thought by many productions.
It is a comedy as well as a drama just like many of the current local productions. It has a continuous story; however the mother in law has new dramatic actions in every episode.
The outstanding theme in this program is that of the relationships between mother in laws and their daughters in laws as well as family relationships.

31st January 2010
In this episode, the mother in law had gossiped about the grand daughter. The story line was close to what usually happens in normal circumstances.
The lighting was great, giving the atmosphere and the surroundings a natural look. There was no exaggeration. Also there were shadows which again gave a sense of naturalness.
The voice of the production was audible and clear meaning there was good microphone usage. The sound was also pleasing to the ear.
On the other hand there could have been more times when both speakers are being shown, because in the instances when an individual is speaking a lot, one is left to wonder for a long time who the person is talking to. To add on to these, there could have been more shoulder lengths to ad to this effect
Also in some cases, there were instances when the sound effects were out of place and uncalled for. It was not all bad; there were cases when suspense as well as tension came in very well because of the sound effects that fit perfectly for the part.
I like the establishing shots that kept reminding the viewer the scene or the place where all the activities were happening. It also gives us an idea of what kind of people we are dealing with. According to the appearance, these are well off people.
I like the mid shots that show people’s faces and reactions, however in some cases, certain parts of the body were out of focus. For instance there were times when half of the mother in laws hair was cut, or quarter shoulder. In my opinion such occurrences are not necessary. In many cases they may be more of a distraction to the viewer.
In general it is a good production; it captures audience attention and does not appear too fake.

14th February-2010
The major problem in this case may come in as a result of the directing. The angle at which people were standing in the sitting room during this shot appears very unnatural; there are two people standing by the stairs, and one person sited on the couch. Two of the people standing by the stairs are standing facing each other, while both facing the one sited on the couch. Under no circumstances would people, especially members of the same family, be standing in such a way, which looks planned. The angular shot was not really necessary.
The issue of exaggerated suspense is also very persistent. There cases when there is too long a pose for an issue that does match up to the issue. In my opinion, there has to be a good enough reason to include suspense, and especially with the use of long poses or sound effects.
It is evident that most of the shots are medium shots. There is no close up shots in the whole production, making it almost predictable. In my opinion close up shots are necessary to achieve the right effect and maximum tension
Positively, there was very good lighting as well as good sound. The establishing shot is also still great. The best shot was the one between the father and the son. The son was sited on a chair, while the father was standing. It established some kind of authority.
There was also great focus between Robert and the brother when they were both in the room. The focus achieved maximum effect of showing the tension that was present in the room. This was even made more serious and even better by the sound effect. The movement in this shot also complimented the above. In my opinion this was a better production than the last I watched on 31st January.

21st February-2010
I liked the use of shoulder length shots. I liked the sound and even the script. This time there was a good close up shot of the mother in law. The medium shots were also very well used.
I had a problem however with a shot that I felt was not necessary. When the elderly daughter in law was having tea with the brother in law, there was a shot that was showing the tea cups, ad the chef serving. It focused on his hands, the flask and the tea. It might have been necessary at the beginning, the first time, but it was prolonged for such a long and repeated for a second time to a point it got annoying. It was at this point also, that there was obvious advertising with the shots of ribena juice, infarct there was a point where the camera focused and zoomed on the ribena. In my opinion this maybe to obvious and may not go down too well with other people.
In th

Julian W. Kamau CRITIQUE ON THE WEDDING SHOW.

Critique of the wedding show


The wedding show is a program that is normally aired on citizen television from 6.00pm to 6.45pm on Sundays. The host of the show is called Noni Gathoni and she is normally invited to weddings where she derives her program from. The wedding show showcases several weddings and all the details in the weddings are highlighted. One episode showcases two weddings.

Episode 1
During this particular episode, the wedding was been held at All Saints Cathedral church and there was a large congregation. The lighting was good since there were several sources of light. The sound was however poor at times since we could hear the echoes of the bride and the bride groom as they made their vows.
When the bride and the bride groom were making their vows, there was a close-up shot on each of them and when they were hugging and kissing there was the extreme close-up shot. To feature the whole congregation, an establishing shot was used. When describing the flowers, decoration, the cake, the bride’s gown, the grooms outfit and also the maids outfit, he zoomed in on them for a close-up look.
The pictures were perfect and they created a happy mood to the audience. When Noni was interviewing the couple, she used the hand held microphone which she put at a safe distance to avoid distortion of sound.




Episode 2
During the second episode, the wedding was held outdoors since it was a garden wedding. The congregation was not as large but the set-up was great. The camera man used the establishing shot to show the set-up of the wedding even before the guests had arrived.
During this wedding, they used the sun as the source of light and it worked well for them.
Sound was however not as good since there was a lot of wind and hence it affected the good quality of sound. This shows that they used the wrong kind of microphone for the outdoor wedding.
The pictures were good and there were red love hearts on the screen. This created a special effect to the program and also to the audience.
Episode 3
This particular wedding was held indoors and it was at night. We get the overhead shot where each person is captured as they dine and chat. The lighting here is good since we are able to clearly see the people in the wedding ceremony. There is also the background music which adds a special effect and also gets the audience into the mood.
When showing the cake and the beautiful decorations on the walls, a close-up shot is used. Also, there’s perfect lighting as no shadows are cast on the walls. This shows that the concept of light has clearly been depicted. The graphics used are also excellent where there are red love hearts that blend well with the theme color of the wedding. Camera shots are well taken and hence produce quality pictures.
Episode 4
This wedding is held outdoors next to a lake. We see the overhead shot that captures the congregation as they are sitting down. An establishing shot is also used to show the whole set up of the place. As the bride groom awaits the bride, we get a close-up shot on him and we can see him nervous and fumbling his fingers.
The camera person uses a full long shot to capture the bride as she is walked down the aisle by her parents. This creates a good effect as we can see her moving closer to the altar.
Lighting here is not as good since the nearby lake is not clearly visible as the lake waters reflect the light hence creating a poor view. As Noni interviews the couple, a close-up shot is taken of them. The sound quality is good hence we can tell that they used the right microphone for the outdoors occasion.
Episode 5
This wedding is held indoors in a church set up. The camera person uses an establishing shot that captures the whole congregation. Sound is perfect as the bride and bridegroom make their vows there are no echoes. There is an extreme close-up shot on the golden rings that the couple put onto each other. Lighting is also good as there are no shadows cast on the walls and all the persons in the congregation were clearly visible. There was also the background music that created a happy mood for the occasion, as the couple walked out of church. During the reception ceremony, there were close-up shots for the maid’s shoes and the different details on the bride’s gown.
Episode 6
This wedding is held indoors and it is at night that is during the evening party. There is the establishing shot that captures the whole congregation and also the set-up. Sound and lighting is perfectly done and we also see the use of background music which blends in well during the transition of one scene to the next. The camera movements are good as the camera person uses a close-up shot to scroll down the brides gown and the grooms outfit, from their neck to their shoes.
The camera angles are also perfect as we are able to see from all angles of the room. The graphics used also create a special effect to the show as the love hearts are seen to pour out of their mouths as they are kissing.
There is however a distraction when especially the camera person is taking a long short then a person walks in front of the camera.

Ngaruiya N Phillip (08-0419) Critique on Tahidi High

Episode 6
The camera shots are taken in precision. The close up shot is mostly used to depict the characters emotions. We get to feel what they are experiencing and we relate to it. There’s also the medium shot that is taken on characters when they are addressing a point. This is done professionally and there isn’t a lot of head room misused. It enables a good production.
Camera movements are used too such as tilting up and down. This is used to show the full object or subject. This movement makes us feel like we are in the position of the characters eyes as he/she looks at the other character from head to toe. We get a connection with this kind of shot.
In this episode, OJ gets his results and he’s discouraged and saddened by the fact that he didn’t perform well in his exams. The themes brought out in this episode are those of education and its importance, the aspect of respect as well as those of power and authority as shown by Mrs. Morgan, the school’s principal.
Lighting is done in perfection and no shadows appear to be cast especially in scenes done in-doors.

Episode 7
The camera movements are defined in this episode. Panning is used on a character when they are walking and the shot used in assimilation with this movement is a wide shot, this gives the whole view of the subject. There’s also the zooming in, which is normally used when the program begins, in the signature tune as the camera zooms in on the schools logo/emblem.
Over the shoulder shot is used on a subject when they are having a face to face conversation with each other.
The sound and lighting are perfectly laid out though at times we get to hear the sound projecting to the background especially when the setting is in a closed room.
In this episode, the theme of authority and respect and subordination is brought out. O.J. and his friend had tried to initiate a strike but didn’t succeed as the administration found out. Sound and lighting are done well.

Episode 8
In this episode there’s the use of suspense and anxiety/tension. Omosh, a subordinate staff in the school is trying to do experiments meant for other students when an explosion occurs. This not only scares the other students but also us the viewers who are left wondering what that could be.
Movements such as tilt up-down are used and this is what gives us the answer to our question on the explosion. The fact that the tilt starts from down and slowly progresses up heightens the tension and this comes to a denouement when we find out its Omosh as the tar that splash on his face is evident.
Lighting is perfect and it chimes in with the mood of the setting in the scene.

Episode 9
Shots are well used in relation to the mood and the theme being brought out. For instance, in this episode, a close up of Mr. Tembo is used to show his reactions when two students disguising as parents walk into his office and especially when they threaten to pull out a gun. There’s also the double medium shot of the two students. This shot that pairs them together seems to depict oneness or corporation in something together especially now that they are in this disguising business together.

Episode 10
In this episode, there is the use of a close up that didn’t appear suitable for that scene. A close up is used to show Shish passing a small piece of paper to her friend during exams in the classroom. To depict this idea properly, a long shot would have been appropriate especially from the front of the class. This shows they are in a class of many students and they are trying to do it secretly to avoid being caught. Because if someone was to walk in and start watching at this scene they would think the two were in class alone but a long shot shows this clearly.
A close up is used on the teacher as he walks from the staffroom and from the look in his face we see his moods as being low, like something must have been pestering him.


Ngaruiya N Phillip (08-0419)

Critiques

11th april-2010. Esther Neema 07-0146


This program was about the usual mother in laws gossip. I feel that the lighting was a little too bright which made it look almost unnatural, however the lighting was good enough to portray the comedy mood effect that the program is all about, however there was some reflection coming from the mother in laws face, and the daughter in law. I feel more powder could have been added to their faces to reduce reflection.
There was a shot on the aerial, and the a cut in to a shot of sunset, and the later an establishing shot was done. In my opinion, it is not necessary to have shots of the aerial and sunset as the do not add much in to the story. I say this because, right after the shot of the aerial was the shot of sunset and the again in to the house which was a day scene, so it really did not make much senses.
There were good close up shots on the faces of the mother in law, Swapo and the daughter in law, on hearing that the Swapo had an older girlfriend. It was accompanied by good sound effect that captured the essence of shock.
There was cutting from one subject to another which I feel was very appropriate as opposed to panning which would have caused discontinuity of reactions.



4th april-2010 Esther Neema 07-0146
This was an episode that was all about the effect pf face book on people. I feel that it is good that this topic was tackled because it is a current issue.
There were a number of medium shots, and especially two medium shots because most of the conversations were dialogue. I would have used the same shots. The rest of the shots were the usual, nothing extra ordinary about them, they are more or less like the ones in the past.


28th march Esther Neema 07-0146

I like the two shot medium shot of people when people are exchanging glances. both of the are in focus the same time which is a clear indication that they are in sync. I like the use of use of the close up shots to establish dramatic effect of the faces. The close up focused on the faces the house boy at the sight of Sandra who is not welcomed in the house, the frowning is brought up well by the close up.
There was a shot where the mother in law puts the lunch box on the table, there is special attention and focus on her putting the lunch box on the table. I feel this was an unnneccesary shot, as the essecec of the lunch box had already been established earlier. It was to show that she had packed lunch for her son. This was an action that did not please her sons wife. This was clear without having to show the container being placed on the table as she had already mentioned and pointed towards it.

WARIDI CRITIQUE EPISODES 7-10 BY STEPHANIE WAIRIMU

EPISODE 7

Tilt down of cleaner poster indicating that the first scene will be at the Harry Potter offices. Paul and Sanga plan to kidnap Lulu to make Karama give back their money.

Zoom out of Harry’s house then a long shot of Linda and Paul talking. A close up shot brings us in on the conversation and we get to know how much Paul misses Waridi. He seems anxious and unsettled.

Truck shot of Lulu and Karama walking as a car approaches them. Lulu is kidnapped at knife point. Music is heard in the background through out this scene to enhance tension and to make up for the fact that there is no talking. Extreme close up of Paul’s phone to enable us to read the message he has received. Karama has agreed to pay up. Paul and Waridi’s faces are juxtaposed next to one another as if to signify that if she were around she would not approve of what he was doing. Low level shot of Sanga holding a knife to Lulu’s neck. He is the one in command of her life. high level shot of Lulu indicating her helplessness.

EPISODE 8

Tilt down of the cleaner poster. Panning from Paul to his auditor as he assures her that he can save the company.

Zoom out shot of Harry reading a newspaper. A close up shows us that the paper is the Star. The shot moves to a wider shot to accommodate Linda.

Eye level shot of Gitonga talking to his constituents conveying honesty in his speech. He has taken most of Harry’s supporters.

Music can be heard as Karama gives money for Lulu. Zoom in on Karama as we learn that he organized with a police officer to set up Paul and Sanga. He gave them fake money.

Full shot of Sally cleaning the house then tripping when Andy comes in. Extreme close up of Andy helping her up. We can tell from the look on his face that he is concerned about her.

EPISODE 9

Begins with a tilt down of the cleaner poster ushering us into the Harry Potter offices. Sanga tries to convince Paul to borrow money from Harry. Tight shot of Harry and Paul as Paul asks his father for a 3 million shilling loan.

Zoom out of La Mada Hotel where Lorna and Gitonga are having a meeting. Dolly out of Harry as he approaches them. Low angle shot of Gitonga as he sarcastically tells Harry what a ‘wonderful job’ Linda is doing for his campaign. Panning as Lorna apologises for the incident with Harry.

Tilt up shot of Jane showing us that she has a good sense of style when it comes to dressing. She always looks her best for Paul. Low angle shot of Sanga as he looks disappointed over the fact that Paul is ignoring his calls. He decides to threaten Lulu to get to Karama. Zoom in on Karama taking on the phone to someone about buying Harry Potter at the auction.

Over the shoulder shot of Sally as she talks to Andy. They have now reconciled. Eye level medium shot of them as they enter their home.

Full figure shot of Harry entering his house looking for Linda. Zoom in on a letter written by Linda telling him that she has left her. Full shot of Linda seated on a bed in what appears to be a hotel room ignoring his calls. Close up of the phone screen informs us of the fact that it is Harry calling her.

The theme here is reunion. Sally and Andy reunite.

EPISODE 10

Begins with a close up shot of the La Mada Hotel sign. There is a cut that brings us to the zoom out of the hotel building. Harry is about to steal CDF money to help Paul in order to get Linda back.

Tilt down of the cleaner poster. Jane informs Paul of Sanga’s capture by the police over threatening lulu. The scene change here is quite confusing as one minute we see and hear about Sanga’s capture and the next we see him at the auction. There is a reemphasis of his capture through a high angle shot of him in a jail cell. He could not have been at two places at the same time. Harry won the bid for Harry Potter Limited.

Music plays in the background as Harry and Linda enter their home. Close up shot of Linda as she calls someone. There is a cut to Gitonga’s wife letting us know that she is the one Linda is calling. Linda warns her over Lorna and her husband.

Medium eye level shot of Paul and Jane talking. He wants to divorce Waridi for her. Close up of Jane as she throws out Waridi’s things from Paul’s room. There is a long shot of the room that shows us that she has brought her things to the room to move in.

Tight shot of Lulu and Sally then an extreme close up of Lulu showing tears on her face. This is for emotional purposes. Over the shoulder shot of Lulu as she tells sally of her pregnancy and the fact that Karama has rejected her over it. There is contrast here as the one who wants children can not have any and the one who had never thought of having children is pregnant.

Themes in this episode are; poor governance as Harry uses constituency funds for his personal agenda. Betrayal of Lulu by Karama who she thought loved him.

Tahidi High critique-Selly

SELLY S AMUTABI
08-1969

CRITIQUE OF LOCAL PRODUCTION
TAHIDI HIGH

Critique 1
It starts with Miss Morgan addressing a parade and a zoom out is use d giving as a wider and better view of the teachers and students present on parade. The zoom out effect has been used to the advantage of the producer as the required effect is reached without difficulty. A zoom in is then used on Ojay and Freddy as they wondering and pondering over their fate after their efforts to start a strike were quashed by the administration. When the two, Ojay and Freddy are called at the front, dolly is used to create that suspense on the audience wondering what will happen next. A tilt down is then used to show how Miss Morgan is scrutinizing the two students. The tilt down technique helps emphasize and magnify the fact that Miss Morgan is superior making the students look inferior. The high angle also used emphasizes on her power. Finally, a dolly is used as Ojay and Freddy are frog marched to the principles office hence audience left in anxiety.

Critique 2
There is use of an extreme long shot showing the staff room and Miss Chebii inside, this gives the viewer an overview of the surroundings in a scene. A long shot is then used to show when Becky student is seen from a distant approaching the staffroom. This enables viewer see her dressing and be able to conclude that she is a student and not a teacher. However, the lighting used to show it is day time became too much that it almost caused her image to be blurred, which is very risky on a production despite the fact that it was able to portray and make the viewers know that it is mid morning just after classes have began. Adequate and appropriate lighting should be used in every production when need be. Finally, instead of zoom in, an extreme close up shot would have been used in order to show Becky’s facial expression best.

Critique 3
There is sudden sound of explosion, as Omosh encounters an accident trying to do some science project work for Teddy and Johnnie who are students. It is by the sound that accompanied the explosion that the entire school is able to learn of an explosion some where within the vicinity of the school, though to them it’s either a tyre burst or gun shot. As for the viewer, both the explosion and music used helps create anxiety wondering what is up next. In general view, just like the students and fraternity of Tahidi high, the viewers would have thought it was a tyre bust or a gun shot but thanks to the good use of tilt up, that gradually shows Omosh’s body from top to bottom and finally the use of close up that shows how tar has sprinkled all over Omosh’s face after the explosion.


Critique 4
The episode starts with Tonny and Ted, who are classmates of Mohamed walking to the head masters office in Islamic women regalia. Their identity is hidden from the audience not until we are shown, the two changing back into their school uniforms. However, all thanks is to the use of the tilt up technique. The viewer suddenly sees two young women walking towards the head masters office, Mr.Tembo while engrossed in a conversation .We are not shown the faces or the whole body at once but we are gradually shown their images fro m the bottom to upward creating the correct suspense mood. This leaves the viewer with the question “who are these? Parents or student’s in disguise?” The production would have been best if better sound effects appropriate to the mood of the scene were used. Hence boosting of the delivery. An extremely close up shot is also used on Mr.Tembo when he makes a facial expression of being in great shock after the exchange with the disguised students who threaten to pull out a gun on him if he accepts to release Mohamed a fellow student for earl marriage rights. The extreme close up shot increases delivery and the adequate appropriate lighting used makes it easy to be ware of the events taking place.

Critique 5
In this scene, the students are in a class taking a Physics exam. Shish a student then passes over a paper to Veronica containing answers. The viewer learns that the paper has answers through the use of an extremely close up shot that reveals the details to them. In addition, the pan to the right shot have been well used as the camera is moved to the object to the right, being Veronica who is seen clearly receiving the paper. However, it would have been best if an extreme long shot would have been used to show the building holding the classes, the silence and the absence of students outside only teachers going to their various classes for the lessons. This would have easily helped the viewer have an idea that classes are on and the next scene is likely to take place in a class room setting. Finally long shot is used to show how Mr.Kilunda is approaching his class. His sulking
facial expression is made visible to the audience with the help of the extreme close up shot.

critique by Georgina Kakuyu

9th March
there was a three shot on Tero, Dj Mr. T and the guest Stan who is a singer. the right panning from Tero to Mr.T and then left panning was well excecuted. the zooming in and out was smoothly done. there was an ECU ON Tero's ring

16th March

the sound quality was not too good though the topic of discussion was interesting. it was about embarassing moments in people's lives. there was a point where the camera movements were abit shaky. there was also a time where there was too much headroom. there was a two shot of Tero and Dj Kaytrix. there was a waist shot of Tero and a CU of Kaytrix

23rd March

in the episode there seemed to be technical hitches with Tero's microphone which took two minutes for the producer to correct the situation. the producer should be more keen on such situations.there also seemed to be a problem with sound as the voule was too low.

6th April

the show talked about high school experiences and people were sending their experiences via sms, emails and facebook. it was very interesting as people talked about bullying, skiving school and being naughty. there was the use of three point lighting as there was hardly any shadows and there was a separation between the presenters and the background. i was also able to envision the set up of the studio as we had seen in KBC studio.

critique by Georgina Kakuyu

2nd April
the cross fading between Tero talking and the songs playing was excellent and the background music is never too loud so as to overpower her voice.there was a medium shot of Dj Kaytrix and a close up on Tero's face

Continuation of Guy centre review- David Oyuke

4) as in all episodes, there is a perfomance that is done at the rehabilitation centre.
The camera movements as i noticed are the same for all perfomances. They zoom in and out, they pan and show the surroundings of the stage then pan until they show the cast dancing along.

5) when the policeman and woman are in the car discussing guy, there is an over the shoulder shot as the lady policeman is facing away from the camera listening to her partner scheming.

6) the shopkeeper who is working to get rid of guy from the rehabilitation centre is zoomed into when on the phone then later a cut in shot of his hands are seen.
They then take a close up shot to show his emotion.

7) a very wide shot is taken of the centre when schemers are hatching a plot to wreck the centre.
The centre is still visible but emphasis looks to be placed on its surroundings.

8) a point of view shot is taken when the schemers point to the centre at a distance and the camera captures the pointing.
There is also a two shot of the 2 police when they get into the centre.

9) when the people are digging in the forest, the camera dollies with them both as they walk and as they run then later they zoom out.

10) the confrontation has the director tell a specific camera man to tilt along the body so as to show as if the police is sizing up guy. A low angle shot is then taken of the police man to show superiority and a subsequent high angle shot on guy

critique of the Patricia show by Tanya Kamatu.

9th April 2010
Todays show was all about secret talents as several Kenyans who felt that they had talents that they needed to share were put on the spot as they talked about what it is that they do best. The show began with a medium shot showing Patricia and the guest she was interviewing. There was then a close up on the guests as they show cased their talents to the audience. The camera then tilted from top to bottom as the interviewees showcased their talents especially those who were on stage and finally the camera dollyed out as the show was ending.

That has been my critique on the local Patricia show that airs weekly on MNET-EAST.