The Award System in the Kenyan Motion Picture Industry

Another award has just gone down in the Kenyan motion picture industry. I categorically use the words motion picture industry because there is an assertion that a Kenyan film industry is looming large, to counter the telebroadcast industry that has dominated the airwaves since pre-independent periods. These are entities that are virtually the same, but as far as possible different and unique in their own ways. Well, the awards was the infamous "Chaguo la teenez" which showcases the best of popular programming and actors mostly derived from the context of the teens, and maybe, just maybe the youth.

Its clear to note that yet again no feature film or even a Kenyan documentary features anywhere near being nominated for such an award show. This is mostly attributed to the fact the television preceded the emergence of the film industry, and that the lack of promotion of the Kenyan films in the television stations is but a factor to marvel at. Take for instance the rise of Hollywood, it was mostly fueled by the association of filmmakers and the television media owners. But this mentality seems like a thing of the past and no where near application in the Kenyan context. Another issue to note is that the awards if not sponsored by a media house, the idea might have generated from one of the media houses. This might be a factor that has lead to the locking out of potentially eligible Kenyan films.

Clear cut, the genres of categorizing the awards is wanting and i believe what is needed is an independent regulator that merges both the television industry and the film industry. With this in mind, the contents of motion picture will have a competitive edge both on television and film. And also, the rise of the industry will not only be a one sides affair, but an all round affair. But its good to note that the award system is cutting a niche for competitiveness in the motion picture industry, just what is needed in Kenyan television productions.

Pany

Kenyan Television Productions

After watching Kenyan Television Productions and comparing them to productions from other countries, a viewer is left wondering whether Kenya has professional producers, directors and scriptwriters.I don't have issues with the content but the mode of delivery.

The award winning television shows in Kenya tells it all. Talk of Papa shirandula, Vioja Mahakamani and Vitimbi all of them once won awards. All these television dramas have something in common, they all have clowns involved in the drama. Papa has Otoyo and Jalang'o, Vioja has Olexanda, Makokha and Lijodi and Vitimbi has Chemasunde, Mogaka and Nyasuguta.

The way clothes or shoes tell a lot about a person, the same way television productions tell a lot about a country and its people. Lets take an example like our neighbours Nigerians,their productions are full of witchcraft American productions are full of sex and drugs.You will just know this is American or Nigerian from their clothing. Therefore these Producers using clowns in almost all their productions means most of the Kenyans are made up of clowns. (that's my view)

I am just wondering, if some day Kenyan television productions are taken to an international festival, what picture of Kenya will the productions paint?


Mary

THE CONCEPT OF COMEDY IN PAPA SHIRANDULA

This comedy is ideally what the Kenyan middle and low cases have the ability to associate with easily, though it can not only be restricted to this group(s). It is strategically programmed for seven thirty in the pm to grace the Citizen television waves, and just at the opportune moment when most Kenyan are having their supper or just about to.

First of all, the classification of this Kenyan series is one hard nut to crack, though its classification can be angled from different view points such as its genre or attempted sub genres during its presentation. My initial conception is that Papa as it is so synonymously referred to is a dramedy. This is to mean that it is a type of comedy that preys on the dramatic aspect of life or a situation in occurrence. This is but one of the channels in which the concept of comedy can be exposed in Papa.

Then again, it is a reality drama series as derived from its classification on the upcoming chaguo la teeniez awards slated for sometime in Mid April. This type of classification is further advanced in a comical manner, so as to dispense the reality of what is trying to be passed across. Papa's concept of comedy cuts across many comedy types. One of them is the use of slapstick technique. Slapstick is a type of comedy where the actor or performer tries so desperately hard to use unintelligent actions mostly in a non-verbal manner to illicit humor to an audience. Such as is the case of Jalang'o who wears a suit without a shirt, which is an act aimed at making us laugh without him even necessarily uttering a word.

Also, the situations that it highlight are of the stand up comedy nature but not necessarily such since they have no sit-in audience but designated for the television screen. But the concept employed are screw ball comedy where the comedy of highlighting bizarre occurrences is in play, the use of black comedy where ills such as tribalism and racism are exposed and subsequent use of comedy of situation and manners which are self explanatory. anyway, the concept of comedy in Papa cuts across very manner comedy dispensations, that it remains vague to clearly conclude which type of concept it is adversely characterized as.
Hence, in conclusion, i can allege that it is a television production that employs the use of comedy to reach an audience. Well, that is the concept of comedy in Papa every Thursday at 7:40pm

Pany