What realy attracted me to this prog is its name.They say a label does wonders in selling products and i must admit this made it.As the name suggests you expect to have characters who have godly manners but then have this other side of them that is more or less dark. Pastor Jethro is to be seen as an authority figure that gives guidance to his flock but he missuses church funds and offering. He also takes advantage of those in need like Julia and Abel.
Besides the name the characters do their best to brand the prog. Most of them are big time kenyan tv stars and so is not difficult for them to pull out their acts. Mona's beutiful voice in the songs and the beautiful arrangement of the music is also a plus to demigods. However the prog tends to overuse english. That street boys and girls speak fluent english to me beats logic. The producers defend this saying that the target audience goes beyond kenya. Yes but that can be catared for by subtitles.just use street language which brings out the street factor so well and add subtitles for those who do not understand. otherwise he prog is nice the storyline is superb and is a step to better local content.
Ann.
Tuesday 7 June 2011
Sunday 15 May 2011
money factor in production
About two years back there were hardly any kenyan produced dramas on our local television today they are so many.The blame then was on lack of money. Producers seem to have got more money now or learned to work with the little they have. To me though money is far from being the problem.There are so many programmes that are done on low budget yet they are better than those much money is spent on. Compare Machachari and Changing times for example. In the chart awards Chaguo la teeniz the two were nominated in three similar catrgories. Amazingly Machachari scooped all the awards leaving the changing times team high and dry.
Machachari is basically done on low budget,considering the simple locations it is shot.The basic location is the slums and they mainly use swahili and sheng which pefectly suits them. Their costumes comprise simple pairs of shorts and not so elegant clothes for the case of the rich like Almasi. The kids also act out their parts so naturally you woulnd't believe they are working on written scripts.Sometimes however their is exegeration on themes and characters which they use to create sense of humour.
Changing Times on the other hand is evidetnly done on heavy budget. What with the elegance in costumes and locations, flashy cars and makeup. Yet it fails to strike.The actors fake accents to something close to american and end up sounding so pathetic. The likes of Elizabeth and Sherry wake up early in the morning wearing full make up. Not even Angelina Jolie does this incase you want to say it is classy. Then this american swag is everywhere even Sheriffa and her family who are supposed to be Swahili's have it from dreaa code to accent.So thay have so much money which they throw to beautiful but unprofessional actors and poor scriptwriters who tarnish the image of a rather beautiful storyline. The graphics,camera work and editing techniques are however so good and improve the image of the prog. All is not los though, changing times could be the best local programme if they concentrated on professionalism firs then consider elegance as a plus.
This makes money as far as possible from being kenyan production's problem.
Ann.
Machachari is basically done on low budget,considering the simple locations it is shot.The basic location is the slums and they mainly use swahili and sheng which pefectly suits them. Their costumes comprise simple pairs of shorts and not so elegant clothes for the case of the rich like Almasi. The kids also act out their parts so naturally you woulnd't believe they are working on written scripts.Sometimes however their is exegeration on themes and characters which they use to create sense of humour.
Changing Times on the other hand is evidetnly done on heavy budget. What with the elegance in costumes and locations, flashy cars and makeup. Yet it fails to strike.The actors fake accents to something close to american and end up sounding so pathetic. The likes of Elizabeth and Sherry wake up early in the morning wearing full make up. Not even Angelina Jolie does this incase you want to say it is classy. Then this american swag is everywhere even Sheriffa and her family who are supposed to be Swahili's have it from dreaa code to accent.So thay have so much money which they throw to beautiful but unprofessional actors and poor scriptwriters who tarnish the image of a rather beautiful storyline. The graphics,camera work and editing techniques are however so good and improve the image of the prog. All is not los though, changing times could be the best local programme if they concentrated on professionalism firs then consider elegance as a plus.
This makes money as far as possible from being kenyan production's problem.
Ann.
Thursday 5 May 2011
YES, THIS IS KENYAN COMEDY.
I believe you share the same thought with me that, comedy is a very important ingredient towards a better and health. As you know, life has both dark and light moments. Comedy takes the light moments when everyone is happy and enjoying him/herself. Comedy in kenya can be traced back to the dawn of kenyans. Kenya been a multi-cultural state has had every community coming up with a way of entertaining their members during celebrations-light moments. The contemporary kenyan comedy has taken another direction(the western style). Yes, The Churchil Live is here with us, we all enjoy it. This program which is aired by NTV television station, involves the host(Daniel Ndambuki aka King'ang'i) and several other comedians who make fun of our daily undertakings.There jokes and the mode of presentation keeps us glued infront of our television sets every week during the show. The Bull's Eye is another comic program which come every friday in between NTV news. It tries to bring out the funny side of mainly politicians' daily undertakings. The issues that are mainly pointed out are moral in nature but they are brought in a satirical mode aimed at making the parties involved change their ways and at the same time entertaining the viewers.Other stations, for example, Citizen tv has also adopted this. This is a clear indication that our kenyan comedy is growing .It may not be like the American comedy but we are really going somewhere in terms of comic entertainment. Long live kenyan comedy. Kyalo.
I believe you share the same thought with me that, comedy is a very important ingredient towards a better and health. As you know, life has both dark and light moments. Comedy takes the light moments when everyone is happy and enjoying him/herself. Comedy in kenya can be traced back to the dawn of kenyans. Kenya been a multi-cultural state has had every community coming up with a way of entertaining their members during celebrations-light moments. The contemporary kenyan comedy has taken another direction(the western style). Yes, The Churchil Live is here with us, we all enjoy it. This program which is aired by NTV television station, involves the host(Daniel Ndambuki aka King'ang'i) and several other comedians who make fun of our daily undertakings.There jokes and the mode of presentation keeps us glued infront of our television sets every week during the show. The Bull's Eye is another comic program which come every friday in between NTV news. It tries to bring out the funny side of mainly politicians' daily undertakings. The issues that are mainly pointed out are moral in nature but they are brought in a satirical mode aimed at making the parties involved change their ways and at the same time entertaining the viewers.Other stations, for example, Citizen tv has also adopted this. This is a clear indication that our kenyan comedy is growing .It may not be like the American comedy but we are really going somewhere in terms of comic entertainment. Long live kenyan comedy. Kyalo.
Thursday 21 April 2011
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
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
Monday 18 April 2011
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 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
Saturday 9 April 2011
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
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
Monday 21 March 2011
Vioja Mahakamani
Vioja Mahakamani is an entertainment program which runs on KBC on Wednesdays at 7:45Pm (prime time),when every viewer is still stuck to their screens.It focuses on interpreting the Kenyan civil and criminal law system. Vioja has been on air for the last three decades. The actors use different accents of well known vernaculars to maintain the comical grip. . It happening in a courtroom, every practice of a courtroom is clearly adhered to. There is a magistrate; there are secretaries and a clerk.
This is a kiswahili comedy set in a court whereby the lawbreakers are ignorant of the law and are put on their defense as justice has to be served.
As the name suggests, this program feature recurring characters placed in humorous situations for example Olexanda, Makokha, Tobias Lijodi, Ondiek Nyuka-Kwota and the magistrate. The characters perfectly fit into their shoes and this would be because they are veterans in the industry.
The Vioja Mahakamani programme is related to real-life situations and the judgements to the accused are also based on “Kenya Legal Law,". Vioja Mahakamani was introduced to educate the public on Kenya’s laws on various issues. The laws quoted in the programme are real and are applied in our law courts.
The target audience for this programme is purely the middle class living in urban areas and rural areas too.
The programme according to me is stereotypical, in that Olexanda is a Maasai who is so ignorant and would not mind grazing his animals in city centre. Ondiek is a Luo who has self pride and must tell the court that he has three wives one in Kileleshwa, another one in Karen and so on. This tells us how the Kenyan people view others stereotypically.
The camera angles used are the basic ones Close ups, mid shots and long shots because of the setting in the courtroom.
The producer of the programme has maintained his way of producing because basically nothing has changed since time immemorial.
Mary
This is a kiswahili comedy set in a court whereby the lawbreakers are ignorant of the law and are put on their defense as justice has to be served.
As the name suggests, this program feature recurring characters placed in humorous situations for example Olexanda, Makokha, Tobias Lijodi, Ondiek Nyuka-Kwota and the magistrate. The characters perfectly fit into their shoes and this would be because they are veterans in the industry.
The Vioja Mahakamani programme is related to real-life situations and the judgements to the accused are also based on “Kenya Legal Law,". Vioja Mahakamani was introduced to educate the public on Kenya’s laws on various issues. The laws quoted in the programme are real and are applied in our law courts.
The target audience for this programme is purely the middle class living in urban areas and rural areas too.
The programme according to me is stereotypical, in that Olexanda is a Maasai who is so ignorant and would not mind grazing his animals in city centre. Ondiek is a Luo who has self pride and must tell the court that he has three wives one in Kileleshwa, another one in Karen and so on. This tells us how the Kenyan people view others stereotypically.
The camera angles used are the basic ones Close ups, mid shots and long shots because of the setting in the courtroom.
The producer of the programme has maintained his way of producing because basically nothing has changed since time immemorial.
Mary
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