tahidi high -critique

TAHIDI HIGH –CRITIQUE BY JUDY K. MWENDWA 09-0805
Tahidi high is a drama which is aired on Citizen Television on Tuesdays at 7:35 pm. The show’s director is Catherine Wamunyu and the script writer is Naomi Kamau.
The program begins with a montage (instrumental music which is the show’s identity) during which the crew is introduced. After, there is a long short of a structure showing a class room.
The first episode begins in a class, a long shot of Miss Morgan. The next scene is in the field. An extreme long shot of Shish as she walks to Omosh and sends him some chips and sausage which is against the school rules. Omosh walks slowly, camera focusing on the legs, past Kelly who pretends to be sleeping (extreme close up shot at her face). A long shot of Miss Morgan coming from far. Omosh sees her from far and hides his burning cigarette in his pocket. sooner that later the cigarette starts to burn him an extreme close up of Omosh as he appears to be dancing with one hand in the pocket due to the burning cigarette. An extreme close-up of a black paper bag, Miss Morgan notices it and ask about the owner of the food, Omosh says it’s his and before long there is an extreme close-up of Shish who approaches Omosh to ask about her chips without seeing Miss Morgan. All of a sudden she notices Miss Morgan behind her. The show ends with extreme close up at shish showing her shock upon seeing Miss Morgan.
Episode 2
A wide shot of Oj and his friends Freddie and Melvin planning on how to get into Miss Morgan’s office and write their names on the list of people going for the trip since they hadn’t paid. Oj and Freddie convince Melvin as they wait outside. A long shot of Mr. Kilunda approaching as he finds the two outside the office and when asked what they are doing they respond “nothing” (loud enough for Melvin to hear and hide). Kilunda gets angry (extreme close up shot). Kilunda opens the office and Melvin hides at a corner. A close up of Freddie who plays a tick and calls Kilunda pretending to be Mr. Karimi and tells him to go to staff room immediately. Kilunda leaves without thinking twice and Melvin gets back to write his name, OJ’s and Freddie’s but in the wrong list. He is seen By Omosh through the window. A long shot of Mr. Kilunda coming in class with a list of people who had escaped from school then it dawns to Melvin that he had written the names on the wrong list. Oj and Freddie’s eyes on Melvin. Extreme close up on Melvin who is still on shock.
Episode three
Begins with a wide shot of Omosh questioning some students he had seen hiding some desks for sell. Omosh blackmails them and asks for the money. Another wide shot scene in class, Mr. Meiposi announces that the trip has been cancelled. There is mixed reactions from the students, they can’t just take it. Extreme close up on Shish and other students who are complaining. There is quick panning from a student to another. The scene is in the field where Omosh is given a suit by his workmate to attend a particular function then he leaves it on a tree to go and get something in the kitchen. A wide shot of Shish in class addressing the class on how they can go for trip without the knowledge of the authority. A long shot of a suit hanging on a tree. Oj notices a suit hanging on a tree and gives Tony to wear it to play as the teacher who’s taking students for a trip. An extreme long shot of a van approaching and without waste of time students hop in groups. Van passes past Mr. Meiposi as he notices the students inside. Extreme close up shot at Mr. Meiposi who’s in shock.
Episode four.
Begins with a long shot of Tanya on punishment. There is a wide shot of Freddie and Oj fighting over Tanya. Omosh stands starring while Tanya is wondering what to do. There is a smooth transition to a scene in class where Mr.Meiposi and Miss Morgan dramatize conflict. Later Miss Morgan continues with the lesson in counseling session about conflict resolution and violence.
Scene at staffroom where Mr. Ngatia and Mr. Meiposi change position since Mr. Kilunda is very disturbing and Mr. Meiposi tries to avoid Mr. Kilunda’s financial embarrassments.
A wide shot of Tanya and Melvin talking about her transfer to avoid conflicts between her, Oj and Freddie. A rather quick transition to the scene in Miss Morgan’s office where she advises Mr. Ngatia to help Omosh to stop smoking. A close up of Omosh eavesdropping then he enters inside looking angrily at Ngatia.
Episode five
Starts with a wide shot in the staffroom where Miss Morgan assigns Mr. Kilunda the duty to nominate three students to go for exchange program in US. Oj Shish and Freddie picture how it will be like if they go. A smooth transition to rather low sound conversation between Mr. Kilunda and Jonny about some bribe for him to be on the list. A medium shot of Becky, the head girl boast as she is sure that Miss Morgan would choose her be among the three students. Close up of Mr. Kilunda receiving money from the students. A wide shot of Freddie and Melvin plotting against so that Oj doesn’t get a chance to go and so they incriminate him by putting a cigarette in his pocket without his knowledge. Another scene in Miss Morgan’s office where Melvin accuses Oj of smoking. Extreme close up of Shish as she eavesdrops to their conversation.
Episode six
The scene is at the gym. A wide shot of the gym. The camera is tilted up, shows Melvin from his legs to his head, he is outside peeping inside the gym. There is a long shot of Maryanne who seems to be working out and Melvin decides to join her inside. A close up shot of Maryanne who is not happy about Melvin joining him in the gym. They exchange words and later agree to work out together. The camera is tilted up; Eddy and Julia are seen upstairs taking a drink. A few seconds later, Eddy collapses, a close up shot at Eddy whose mouth if filled with foam another close up shot of Julia who seems confused and calling for assistance. There is a smooth transition to Mr. Karimi’s Office where Maryanne and Melvin have rushed to report the incidence. Students are seen avoiding Julia because they think that she has bewitched Eddy. A smooth transition to the gym where Eddy confides in Melvin about his epilepsy since childhood. Close up shot of Melvin who seems to be amazed by the secret. The scene moves to the classroom, a long shot of Mr. Karimi who is writing on the board. A close up shot of Eddy who seems dizzy, he collapses again and the rest of the students are e now aware of his condition. A long shot of Melvin who approaches Julia to ask for forgiveness since he had accused her of bewitching Eddy.
Episode seven
The scene begins with a long shot of Mr. Kilunda who distracts Mr. Karimi’s class. The students become disoriented after Mr. Kilunda announces that there is going to be an exam soon after Mr. Karimi's lesson and for that reason, Mr. Karimi cuts short the class to give them time to revise. Extreme close up on the students faces as they seem disappointed. The scene is in class, there is a lot of panning left to right the exam is going on and Mr. Kilunda is patrolling and seems to be laughing about the answers given by the students. Kilunda is happy about the student's failure since he is going to get money for tuition. In class where tuition is going on. The school administration is unaware of this tuition. Mr. Tembo comes in and checks the book where the payment for the tuition is recorded and he summons Mr. Kilunda in his office. Extreme close up on Kilunda Who is confused and doesn’t know what to do.
Episode eight.
Begins with a long short of Mr. Kilunda singing Christmas songs holding Santa clause clothes. He gets a call and leaves immediately forgetting the clothes on the table. Oj sneaks in, the camera only focus on the legs and hands. Mrs. Morgan and Mr. Tembo in His office. Santa clause walks in and he is given gifts and money for the unfortunate kids. The rest of the students are doing décor and practice Christmas songs. A close up short of Omosh who is smoking, he sees Oj dressed in Santa clause clothes and tries to follow him. A long shot of Oj, the audience can see him from head to toe and a part of the background. He removes the clothes and walks away with the money. Mrs. Morgan and Mr. Tembo try to reach Kilunda in vain. A smooth transition to the hall where the students, Mrs. Morgan and Mr. Kilunda are waiting for Santa clause. Oj comes in dressed in Santa’s clothes. Mr. Kilunda removes the headgear from Oj’s head and every one is surprised.
Episode nine.
Begins with a long short of Shish who seems to be plotting something against Tanya. She seems envious because everyone seems to prefer Tanya to her. Zooming in of Oj, Eddy and Freddie who are seated talking about Mr. Kiunda's new girl friend. A long short of Mr. Kilunda who's coming towards the group but hides to overhear the gossip. A close up shot of Mr. Kilunda who is eavesdropping keenly. A medium shot of Mr. Kilunda, the audience can see him from head to toe standing behind the three, he coughs to announce his presence. Extreme close up of Oj who is astonished, at this point he murmurs 'teacher good good afternoon' extreme close up shot of Mr. Kilunda who appears like a balloon ready to explode.
Episode ten
The show is about Julia who seems disoriented not wanting to attend school and everyone is worried about her because she has not been seen at home for quite a long time.
There is a close up shot on the pills that Julia puts in Miss Morgan’s tea.
There is fast tempo music as Miss Morgan is about to sip her tea. A long shot of Mr. Kilunda who walks in just in time to tell her that her tea is drugged as Julia watches on. The show ends with a wide shot of Julia and Mrs. Miss Morgan as she shares her problems though she still has to do some punishment because she had broken school rules.
Lighting in this program is generally excellent and the audience is able to hear what the actors are saying. Just like in other productions Tahidi high uses different camera movements and shots. The audience can tell when a subject is being zoomed in or out.
Tahidi high is an excellent production, it has kept the audience glued to the screen and it has also received several awards.

EMAIL jk.mwendwa@yahoo.com