By Mark Allan Karanja
Anything brought on screen, be it a movie, a soapie, a sitcom, even an advert, is a collaborative effort between several different parties. The content development team that comes up with the concept, the writer who maps out the vision, the director that interprets it and the actors that deliver the vision. But there is one key part of the mix that might easily be overlooked or is taken for granted - the director of photography (DOP). That is the cameraman in layman lingo. This is the person that is charged with the responsibility dissecting the scenes - not only from an artistic perspective- but also a technical one.
They assess the benefit of a shot, a frame or even the difference between one angle and another. Those heart clenching moments in a movie or a show which we can hardly breathe are made that much more special by these geniuses who capture that all elusive shot that embodies the essence of the scene.
Enter Benson Kamau, artist extraordinaire. As he puts it, “my responsibility is to create an image that might not be in the actor’s mind while still keeping it real”. Benson has been a part of the Spielworks family for a while now, having been a part of the award winning soap opera LIES THAT BIND and is now making magic on the recently concluded first season of SUMU LA PENZI.
“ I like the unexpected, the ‘not so obvious’ shot or angle”, he says of his process. It is the balance of angles and lighting that makes a shot so breathtaking. Setting the temperature of the scene using light, making it either cold or warm further enhances the overall feel of the scene. As he explains it, it is not a set process, but rather a spur of the moment thing, much like having an epiphany with every scene that is shot. “ Not many know what I am doing until the scene is complete, cut and finally ready to be presented.
One thing you have to keep in mind is most of what you see on screen is not reality. It is created. From textures to seasons to time of the day ie day or night. It is all a facade. And behind such a facade is a genius like Benson. Certainly every DOP has their own formula, but one thing is certain of Benson Kamau, his formula works. How else would he be a part of two award winning shows and countless Movies, including those under the AMOF project, also produced by Spielworks? He calls the shots.
Check out his amazing work on SUMU LA PENZI on AFRICA MAGIC Swahili, and LIES THAT BIND on AFRICA MAGIC Entertainment. Don’t forget to vote for the Kalasha Awards by clicking here.
Keep it Spielworks Media.