By: Mark Allan Karanja
Not many people take to account the level of choreography that goes into producing a show from script to the finished product that we so enjoy as aired on our television screens. Every movement, how every single dialogue is delivered, every emotion, every shot of the camera, as a genius behind it that has seen the finished product before it is even shot. Think of it as a sophisticated form of puppetry. Enter Carol Odongo, thespian,writer and director.
Carol is the director behind the masterpiece that is SUMU LA PENZI. With all the challenges, she thoroughly enjoys what she does, and admittedly, she does it excellently. “The experience can’t be quantified in words. It is everything from exciting to challenging to fun”, She says. Anyone who has been to a filming set knows that no two days are the same. There is a wide spectra of emotions that goes with the massive creative undertaking.
Carol, who cut her teeth on stage directing, admits to there being a massive difference between stage and television directing. “Television is a tad challenging as you have to achieve a whole lot in a short period of time. Whereas you have weeks, even months to help prepare actors, you have minutes to do the same for television”. She has mastered the art of getting the best out of the actors in just a few minutes, from the crucial setup to making them appear natural on screen. “This is a bit challenging with new actors who might not know how it goes, but once they catch on, it is exciting to watch as they blossom into effective entertainers”’.
As the director, she is one of the few people who truly understands what the show SUMU LA PENZI is all about. “The ladies are all after the same thing, albeit in different ways. Mariam is after money for love, which leads her to Okwonkwo, a man who turns her world upside down. While Eva is in search of love but ends up getting money as she entwines herself with Martin, a man who is clearly not right for her”. She surmises that it is a story of consequences thanks to the choices that the ladies make, something that is quite relatable, not only to the Kenyan but to the African audience as a whole. “It is a great template for societal reflections. We all think we are in control of what we do until we see these characters face up to the consequences of their actions and choices. I believe that many of us can identify with the characters”.
Carol Odongo has been a part of the Spielworks Media family for a long time, having directed the famed “BLOCK D” comedy series, which is yet another Spielworks original. “When I ventured into directing for screen, no one was willing to give me a chance because of my stage background. But Dorothy Ghettube, the Executive producer, took a chance on me”, and the rest, as they say, is history. She admits to having suffered from a bit of self-doubt as everyone has painted screen directing as a whole different ball game. “It was pleasant to learn that the principles of stage directing also applied to screen as well. The essence of the scene remains the same and so do the basics of acting for the performers. The only difference is, while on stage, the audience is live, hence the need to over gesticulate, on screen, the audience is camera. The actors are brought to the viewer. It is very voyeuristic and does not need the grandness that the stage demands”.
She is a woman with a passion, making it in a male dominated field and making magic with grace and poise. Catch SUMU LA PENZI on Africa Magic Swahili to enjoy more of this dynamic lady’s incredible work.