08-1458 MOTHER-IN-LAW

Mother-In-Law, a Kenyan programme that is normally aired on Sundays at 7.30 pm to 8.00 pm is of a drama genre. It is a programme that involves conflict among Mwamba’s family members as they all try to unify their various differences. The actors are seasoned and very comfortable with their roles while the characters they play turn the 30-minute episode into chunks of televised bliss.

The programme usually starts with a long shot of the houses belonging to Mrs. Alison and Mr. Mwamba. This orients the audience to knowing where exactly the characters are acting from.

In the episode aired on the 3^rd of October 2010, Tina, Alison’s eldest child decides to elope and live wither long-term boyfriend Rasta, who works in Alison’s Office. After the long shot of Alison’s house, a medium shot of Alison’s two children is established. The two are negotiating on how to plead with Tina so that she can come back home. This picture is then cut to bring up Alison’s.

This programme has got various cuts which are well done as they are not so many and the cutting is consistent with the mood, rhythm, pace and psychological approach of the program as a whole. Other cuts in this episode include that from Mwamba to Charity to Mustapha and to Rasta as they carry out their various conversations.

Music is also used at some point in this episode. In most sections, music is used as a bridge to create transitions. The music lasts only a few notes and it is used to indicate the breaks between segments of the program. E.g. when there is silence in Alison’s house and Charity’s house has to be shown; music is played as the change from Alison’s to Charity’s house is carried out.

In this episode, good use of different sounds is noted. E.g. when Tina asks who is knocking at her door, Charity responds that it is her. We are not able to see Charity as the door acts as a barrier between her and the focal point of the audience’s orientation. This is sound behind obstructions. The general sounding system is well established. The conversations between the various actors are clear and the music played does not overshadow the actor’s conversations.

The lighting system is also well established. Since most of the acting is carried out in the house, good choice of lighting is established. The lighting does not contrast with the décor of Alison’s house. Since the décor is bright- coloured, the light has well been adjusted to avoid too much brightness or glowing of the character’s pictures.

The message of the programme also brings out a reality of what happens in many modern families today. In this particular episode, Tina’s eloping to live with her boyfriend Rasta, whom is seen as poor by Alison and the family, portrays what many ladies and gentlemen opt for when their parents disapprove off their choices of their life partners. This brings out a moral lesson to the parents and youth that they should always come to a consensus and also, parents should not judge the choice of their children’s partners by their look or their accounts status.