MORE THAN A SUPERSTAR-TPF 2010

TUSKER PROJECT FAME 2010 CRITIQUE
INTRODUCTION
Tusker Project Fame is a reality show that airs everyday on Citizen Television with the climax being Saturday (eviction shows) and Sunday (probation shows). Tusker Project Fame is produced by Endemol Africa and sponsored by East Africa Breweries brand Tusker. This show goes on for eight weeks whereby, the contestants spend time at the academy being coached on how to improve their music careers including voice, instrument and dance and performing skills. The winner at the end of the season walks away with 5millio shillings, a recording contract from South Africa-based Gallo records and a laptop just to mention a few.
This season, we have Southern Sudan joining Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania and Rwanda. A total of 18 contestants were introduced into the show, but only 15 of them made it into the academy. They comprise Uganda’s Davis Ntare, Rachel Namubiru and Thomas Madooba and Rwanda has Elizabeth Gaga, Gilbert Gabiro and Atete Gaëlle. Representing Tanzania is Aneth Kushaba, Leah Mwambogela and Peter Msechu. For Kenya we have Stephen Nyabwa, Prudence Kibaya, Juvenalis Ochieng’ and Amileena Mwenesi. Finally representing Southern Sudan is Kuonck Deng (K-Denk) and Paleki Obur in, who were both excited for their country to be recognized and involved in this year’s reality show.
The judges this season are the very mean but indispensable Judge Ian, Judge Juliana a Ugandan Songstress and Judge Hermes a record producer. The faculty or teacher of the academy are principal Hellen Mtawali, a Daystar university lecture, Voice coach Kavutha Mwanzia, Dance choreographer Sarakasi's Edu, and Producer Robert Kimanzi (R-Kay) and the head of the band being Aaron Rimbui, a keyboard guru. We have two hosts who were in the third season Kenya’s Sheila ‘Nikki’ Mwanyigha alongside Uganda’s Dr. Michael Egwang famously known as ‘Mich.’

CAMERA ANGLES
In Tusker Project Fame, there are several camera angles used. The close-up angle is mostly used when the judges are commenting on the performances of the contestants. It is also synonymous when either of the hosts, Mich or Sheila is sitted next to a contestant and asking them personal questions. Backstage, this shot is also used to capture the emotions of the contestants before going on stage for their performances. When the contestants are entering the stage, a long shot is used to show the entire body. When the contestants are performing in a band for instance when Palek was performing with Msechu and Ameleena being her background vocalists, a long shot is used to show her performance as well as her back-ups. The long shot is also used when the contestants have all performed and are required to go on stage to know who is on probation.

Tracking is also used in this show. The camera is mounted to a train-like device and it travels forward, backward, from side to side, diagonally, or in a circle. Tracking in this show is used when a contestant is performing to capture their movement around the stage. This ensures that the audience does not miss any detail of the performance. In this show however, I am a little concerned with the tracking technique used. In every show, the cameramen controlling the camera on the track are always captured by the other cameras. It is almost a norm. This needs to be addressed.

There is evidence of cameras mounted on cranes used in Tusker Project Fame and they capture the aerial view of the entire audience and the judges. Panning, zooming and tilting are also observed which enhance the different sides of the performance in a distinctive way.

EDITING
The Saturday and Sunday shows are live and so there is little editing done on. When the contestants are put on probation, they are featured asking for votes. Here, we are shown what mistake put them on probation alongside them asking for votes. Split screen enables us to see the contestant asking for votes and their blunder. When Gabiro was lobbing for votes on the November 14th, the camera person did not frame him well. It made Gabiro appear like he was going to falloff the stage. I think, the editor should have used a better caption other than that one with a bad shot because the audience will concentrate on that mistake other than listen to Gabiro’s petition.

SOUND
The sound effects used in this show are very appropriate. For instance, we have panic sound effects when the judges are announcing the contestants on probation. There is a programme jingle “More than a Superstar” that introduces the programme and played
whenever there is a break.

The type of microphones used in this show is dynamic microphones. The pick up pattern of the microphone used by the hosts, contestants and judges is unidirectional. This is evident because when the hosts are having a dialogue, they have to point the microphone in the respondent’s direction.

LIGHTING
The lighting done is of good quality as the entire dome is well lit making the setting appropriate for live performances. The dome is usually lit with jell of different colors which creates different moods depending on the genre of the song being performed. The background screen keeps changing to create a good contrast between the contestant or the host and the background.

EPISODE 1
SATURDAY 23RD OCTOBER (EVICTION SHOW)
In the previous show, Gabiro, Gaelle, Prudence, Juveh and K-Denk were put on probation for their poor performance. In this show therefore, one or two contestants will leave the academy. This will be the first contestants to be evicted from the academy in Tusker Project Fame 4. Who will it or they be?

The show begins with the contestants who are on probation repeating their performances. After K-Denk’s performance, the crowd goes wild with cheering. An aerial shot is used to capture the audiences’ emotions. A spotlight is used when K-Denk is listening to the judges’ comment on his performance. Though K-Denk cannot sing, he has a certain aura that keeps the audience falling for him. One would actually think the audience will vote for him. However, instead the audience saves the sweet and beautiful Gaelle, Juveh is saved by the faculty and the contestants save Gabiro. This is how K-Denk and Prudence are evicted. A close-up shot to take Prudence and K-Denk’s emotions upon their eviction.
After their eviction, we are taken back to the life of Prudence and K-Denk in the house. Here, there is evidence of editing skills where we only the most fascinating moments of the two are played back.

EPISODE 2
SUNDAY 24TH OCTOBER
The theme today is reggae. The contestants are all dressed in Rasta colours. Gaelle does a lovely rendition on her song and her performance stands out. During her performance, there is a close-up of her and we are able to see that she is enjoying the song. After her performance, the crowd goes wild jubilation due to her grand performance and there is an aerial shot of the audiences some giving a standing ovation while others are holding up banners with her name on them.

A long shot is used when the contestants are asked to take centre stage. The camera man then zooms in to show the anxiety on the contestants’ faces. The cameraman pans left and right from one contestant to another and one can almost feel their hearts beating. The contestants who are put on probation are three Kenyans Amelina, Juvenalis, Steve and Gabiro who is beginning to frequent this list.

EPISODE 3
SATURDAY 30TH OCTOBER (EVICTION SHOW)
The show starts off with Sheila and Mitch introducing the show, judges and contestants and welcoming the contestants. Three of the contestants on probation are Kenyan Amelina, Juvenalis, Steve and one Rwandese Gabiro.

The sound is good and the lighting is just precise to create a reggae mood. There is a long shot as each contestant comes down to perform giving us a good view of their entire attire. The cameraman later gives a close-up shot of the performer to enable us to see if they are feeling the song. Tracking is used on Steve who makes good use of the stage.

The deciding moment has come. A wide shot is used as the contestants are coming to take centre stage. The dome is quiet and a sound effect that creates a tense mood is playing softly in the background. Gabiro is saved by the contestants; Steve South B’s finest is saved by East Africa and Gabiro by the contestants. Juvenalis is not lucky enough and he has to leave the academy. A close-up of him is done to get his emotions. He appears calm and collected. Maybe he saw it coming.





EPISODE 4
SUNDAY 31ST OCTOBER (PROBATION SHOW)
This is Duets Sunday and the contestants are paired according to their vocal ranges. Steve is paired with Palek, because of their love affair though I feel Steve and Rachel is a better match, Gaelle is paired with Msechu, Davis and Aneth, Davis and Gaga and the other pair is Gabiro and Leah .

As the contestants are performing in pairs, a medium shot is used because it captures them from waist-up and gives the details of their facial expressions as they sing to each other. For instance, when Steve and Palek are performing, this shot is used to show the passion in their singing because they love each other.

Tracking is used to show the movement of the two contestants on stage and the cameraman zooms in farther to show the emotions the contestants are expressing when doing the song. The camera man also uses tilting up and down motion to get a full view of the contestants’ gestures.

A medium shot is used to capture all the judges and a close-up when each of them is giving their comments. A hitch occurs when Ian is about to give his comments. His microphone is faulty and he has to borrow Judge Juliana’s. When Judge Ian gives negative comments on Leah and Gabiro’s performance, the crowd gets disorderly. The cameraman uses an aerial shot to take the audiences’ reactions and later zooms in to get back to Judge Ian.

EPISODE 5
SATURDAY 6th NOVEMBER (EVICTION SHOW)
Yet another eviction show is here with us. The previous show saw Leah, Gaga and Palek, Aneth on probation. The sound and lighting in this show are of good quality. As Gaga is performing, a wide shot of her is taken and the cameraman decides to zoom in to get the facial expression. However, he does this too suddenly and it results to the formation of a blurred image. Another hitch in this is lack of input. Sheila is introducing the show but what we see on the screen is the Tusker logo.

The contestants repeat their performances. East Africa votes to keep Palek since she is among the favorites and the faculty decides save Gaelle. The contestants choose Gaga over Leah. Leah from Tanzania is the fifth contestant to leave the academy. This is an emotional eviction show as the other contestants bid her goodbye.

EPISODE 6
SUNDAY 7TH NOVEMBER (PROBATION SHOW)
The show begins with Sheila introducing the contestants and Mitch in the backstage introducing the judges. A close –shot of both of them is taken. The contestants who are on probation are Gabiro, Aneth, Gaga and Gaelle

An aerial view of the entire dome is taken and one is able to see the audiences’ expectation. Racheal gives an incredible performance. She receives a heartening round of applause. The cameraman seems to have been carried away by the performance as well and delays in capturing the audience. Therefore, he suddenly decides to pan resulting to distortion of the image. Black and white lines appear on the screen.

The probation list is ready and we can almost predict that Gabiro and Gaelle are in it. True to my words, they are there together with Gaga and Gaelle.

EPISODE 7
SATURDAY NOVEMBER 13 (EVICTION SHOW)
Once again, another contestant has to go home, surprisingly, this time round, it is a double eviction. The contestants who are on probation are Gabiro, Aneth, Gaga and Gaelle and they repeat their performances. During their performances, the cameraman zooms in to show the judges’ disappointment in their performances and pans are used to move from one judge to another and from the judges to the faculty .According to the judges, all the performances are poor and the teachers are equally disappointed and challenge the contestants to do better. When Principal Mtawali announces the decision of the faculty not to save anyone, cameo lighting is used. Here, the spotlight is on her whereas a close-up shot is used to capture the seriousness on her facial expression. The background around the principle which is the audience is not lit.

East Africa saves Gaelle, the contestants eliminate Gaga and Aneth because they see them as competition. They decide to save Gabiro. Gaga and Aneth are evicted.


EPISODE 8
SUNDAY 14TH NOVERMBER (PROBATION SHOW)
The theme this Saturday is African; the judges, faculty, hosts and contestants are all dressed in African regalia. There was clear sound throughout the show, microphones and all other effects were well executed. The lighting is set to create an African mood.

The show is introduced by the hosts as usual and a medium shot of both of them is taken. An aerial shot is taken to give an overview of the entire dome. After the performances the contestants take centre stage to listen to the results a medium shot is used and then the cameraman zooms in to capture the facial expressions of the contestants. The contestants who are put on probation are Gabiro, Anette, Gaga and Gaelle. A close-up shot of Judge Ian is taken as he challenges the viewers to vote for talent and not looks.

EPISODE 9
SATURDAY 20TH NOVEMBER (EVICTION SHOW)
The contestants put on probation the previous week are Gabiro, Gaelle, Amileena and Palek. One of them will leave the academy. The show begins with a close-up shot of the hosts Sheila and Dr. Mitch introducing the contestants, faculty and welcoming the audience. An aerial shot is used to capture the entire audience in the dome. They contestants go ahead to repeat the performances that put them on probation.

Before the contestants on probation start their performances, all the contestants give a performance. Tracking is used to get the movement of Steve and Msechu as they dance across the stage. When Palek is performing, there is a wide shot of her so as to capture her back-ups as well. Cameo lighting is used; the spotlight is on Palek as her back-ups (background) are not lit. A hitch occurs, when Gaelle is talking to Sheila back-stage, she has not been framed well and there is little headroom for her almost cutting her head. As the dialogue goes on, there is panning from Sheila to Gaelle whenever either is talking and a close-up shot. When the contestants on probation are called on stage, a long-shot is used to enable the viewer to see the full figure of the contestants. Panning is used to move from one contestant to another.

Good framing of Nancy Mbugua from Prize Water House Coopers when she comes to give Sheila the contestant that has been saved by East Africa, a close-up is used on both of them to show the seriousness of the moment. Sound effects and the lighting darkens to are create a somber mood.
Palek is saved by the faculty, Amileena is saved by East Africa and Gaelle has more votes than Gabiro from East Africa’s votes. Gabiro leaves the academy. An extreme close-up is used on him to show his facial expression of happiness of having been able to make it that far.




EPISODE 10
SUNDAY 21ST NOVEMBER (PROBATION SHOW)
The show begins on a different note this time. All the contestants are on stage set to perform a couple of songs. Mild lighting is used to create a calm mood. Sound is generally good, good levels are depicted. A long-shot is used to get their full figures of the contestants on stage. A close-up is done as Davis is leading the song and panning used to move from him to his fellow contestants on stage. There is a very creative shot used in this show. The background of this show is several CD’s merged together. When Amileena is singing, the camera man takes a shot between two CD’s.

When Rachel is performing, the camera man takes a close-up shot of Judge Juliana whispering something to Judge Ian. After Rachel’s performance (she is performing Judge Juliana’s song) the camera man fails to capture Judge Juliana giving a standing ovation on time and only gets her shot after she sits down.

As the contestants all go to centre stage to be told who is on probation, a wide long shot is used to capture their full figures. The contestants put on probation are Steve, Palek, Msechu and Gaelle. With only two weeks to mark the end of the show, it is hard to predict who is going to win the grand prize.