TAHIDI HIGH ON CITIZEN TV

TAHIDI HIGH ON CITIZEN TV-08-1538

Having watched this programme since its starting days, I have seen great improvements in the way they film the whole programme, the way they shoot some scenes which seem hard and it comes out well, its lighting system and the way they take different camera shots for different scenes. The producer is smart in the way he directs the actors, many of whom are high school students.

In most cases, every episode of this programme starts with a jingle which is like the sound trade mark of the programme. Then there is a long shot which is actually used to primarily establish the entire setting and to orient the audience to it. E.g., in one episode they bring the long shot of Omosh, an actor with the role of the school cleaner sweeping the pavement in front of the classroom block. This shot is intended to show the audience the entire environment on which the episode starts.
Then the camera man brings the medium shot of the same character, picking up a good part of him filling the screen (but not to its entirety), without showing too much of the physical environment. This is intended to show maybe how Omosh was dressing and a closer view of what he was doing. Then there is a close up view of him which shows him chewing. This close up shot was intended to show the face but may also include some of the upper body.

In another episode, there is the full shot of the students in the classroom whereby they were brought on the screen in its entirety. This was meant to show the students from head to toe and what they were doing. It gives the audience the closer view and also shows the interactive behavior of the students.
The lighting of the whole programme is also done well. E.g., while shooting in the classrooms, they seem to apply continuous-action lighting whereby you notice that the scene has low-key lighting. This means prominent shadows and relatively dark backgrounds. I believe in such multicamera production, the cameras look at the scene from different points of view, and people and cameras are always on the move.

The programme also shows good techniques of the camera movement. In one episode, there is the travel shot of Miss Morgan, who acts as the school principal moving left towards the swimming pool where O.J and Shish both acting as students are sleeping. The camera was set at a right angle to Miss Morgan and follows her movement. This helped the audience to see, through the camera lens pointed sharply to the left where Miss Morgan was moving. There is also tilt-up and tilt-down of Miss Morgan which helps the audience see how she was dressed.

In conclusion, the programme has a smooth flowing story line. The scenes are well lighted with different camera shots which helps the audience to capture the idea behind every scene. The producer and the director are well informed of the themes they want to bring out in this programme and they do it well. Characters are always prepared as everyone plays his/her role critically bringing out what was intended from him/her.