Great news that Nigeria has finally delved into the cocoon of quality television production with the advent the popular M-net series, TINSEL.I must confess that it is a laudable effort. With an array of carefully selected cast and crew, the production no doubt turned out to tower the usual standards we are used to. The production is clean, interesting and stimulating to the eyes.It has definitely caused a revolution proving that we can get our pictures, art direction,sound and lighting design right.
In terms of production quality it places us in the league of Egoli, Jacob's cross, The Agency and some other fascinating drama productions. One challenge I have though, how many Nigerians tune in to M-net see the much acclaimed television drama? It is interesting, but is it captivating? does it grab our attention by telling the true Nigerian story through eyes of a film production house? I beg to disagree!
First, Tinsel does not represent a typical production company because film houses are not structured in a formal enviroment.In which production houses do you have the main characters in suit doing formal business and passing files around all the time? Why tell the story of a production house in that fashion? To me Tinsel should have been modelled after a marketing communications company or an advertising agency.It doesn't cut the picture of a production house in anyway.
When I watch Tinsel I really don't get any sense of suspense, intrigue or adventure.The flow and plot of the drama looks a little laid back for me. At times the dialogue is drab, "clicheic" and uninspiring except for normal love stories.
I found the Reginald and Angela drama fun but the main plot lacks vision technique and artistic substance. Lighting good! Art department excellent...I was just wondering what happened to the creative use of shots to tell a captivating story? The story appears too linear for me,the frame do not connect to put me at the edge of seat,the camera movements doesn't create the right dramatic tension. I just can't believe the story because it doesn't sound original to me. There is more excitement and activity in a film company than what I see in Tinsel.Where are the everyday people,I don't even see emphasis on the creative department.Where are the director's, the art designers, the actors and the main people you find in that kind of outfit.
Where is the pre-production meeting,where is the drama within a drama and where is the exciting conflict that overrides the production of a film?I still maintain that we do not have that kind of culture being potrayed by Tinsel.The atmosphere is just too prim and proper.In a studio you would find far more interesting and fully rounded characters...characters with varying degrees of insanity and sanity, characters that would interest and keep you at the edge of you seat everytime you watch.
The writers most definitely have never shared in that kind of experience or maybe they should have done more research, studios don't look that way and things really happen in an unplugged situation.I am hoping that thing will change in the seasons to come, I hoping that the producer's and writers will consider telling a truthful and compelling story because history at the moment is being made.
