Cheruscopic brochure nov 2016

Nairobi, Kenya

© 2015 by Cheruscopic Productions. All rights reserved.

Scolly Cheruto [email protected] +254 724744295

Neil Schell [email protected] +254 701361351

We are a full service production company that can take your ideas from concept to world-class quality programming.

WHO ARE WE? Cheruscopic is a full TV and movie production house based in Nairobi, Kenya owned and operated by Scolly Cheruto and Neil Schell. Our specialties are creating scripted dramas, comedy and animation and following through with high quality productions that truly entertain. With star-high goals of getting African stories told to not only Africans but to all people in the world, Cheruscopic Productions has just begun it purposeful mission.

Scolly Cheruto, Producer Credits Lokoloko – Swahili comedy 39 Episodes Twisted – drama 13 Episodes

Scolly Cheruto, the founder of the company, has been working in the Kenyan TV industry for 10 years. She is a versatile actor, writer and producer who knows what audiences in Africa want and can deliver it. Her dedication and diligence has brought the company to prominence in East Africa in short order. And her creativity is a boundless stream that comes up with bright new ideas popular with Africans.

Neil Schell, Producer Credits Higher Learning – drama 52 episodes (director)NTV Zuku Saints – medical drama 26 episodes (director/producer)NTV Zuku Rush – drama 26 episodes (director/producer) nominated BEST TV Series MNET Maisha Magic Awards 2015 Lokoloko – Swahili comedy 39 episodes (producer) MNET Twisted – drama 13 episodes (director/producer)StrarTimes

Neil brings vast experience and accomplishments to Cheruscopic Productions. He oversees the quality of our productions and maintains a world-class standard of excellence. With 30 years of experience in the film and TV industry in the USA, Canada and now Kenya, Neil knows what it takes to thrill audiences and give them the quality of entertainment they deserve in African programming and movies. These superior standards are paving the way for Cheruscopic Productions to reach out to the entire African continent and beyond, fulfilling the mission of changing and shaping the world’s idea of what Africa is all about through the storytelling power of film and TV.


MACHISMO©

an animated series A 16 year old Kenyan boy named Mac gains superpowers when he stumbles across an alien “substance” stored in a national park. As he learns what these powers can do, he fights crime, saves people from life-threatening situations and adopts the name “Machismo”. Meanwhile, the alien owners of the “substance” are trying to get it back to destroy their rival planet. African proverbs guide Machismo with their wisdom in every episode ensuring that he wins the day! A full cast of cool, fun and some scary characters rounds out the stories with a new evil character in almost every episode that Machismo must defeat with skill or wit. Be prepared to see genies, mermaids and other African folklore in addition to the outer-space aliens!

Machismo episodes are 12 minutes in length in both Swahili and English targeting the child/youth markets. All stories are based in Africa and deal with real-life African situations and principles in some way. MACHISMO is a trademark owned by Cheruscopic Productions Ltd. Certification is pending. All works are copyrighted.


TITLE: MACHISMO LOCATION: Nairobi, Kenya PRODUCTION CO: Cheruscopic Productions FORMAT: Digital Hi Definition GENRE: Animation CREATORS: Neil Schell, Scolly Cheruto WRITER / DIRECTOR: Neil Schell EXECUTIVE PRODUCERS: Neil Schell, Scolly Cheruto PRODUCERS: Neil Schell, Scolly Cheruto EPISODES: 52 RUNNING TIME: 12 minutes CONTACT: [email protected] First Season Delivery (26 episodes): March 2016 Second Season Delivery (26 episodes): September 2016 Languagues: English version and Swahili version

Title available for Pre-license

MACHISMO


Title available for Pre-license or Co-production Oasis Synopsis:

'Oasis' is a South Africa-set conspiracy thriller centred on the mysterious disappearance of two Canadian and British dignitaries along the Kenya-Somalia border while on an anti-terrorism diplomatic mission with Kenyan peace activist Jai Emanuelle. The series follows Bella Emanuelle, a young Intelligence Officer who is on the trail to uncover the truth behind her father's assumed fatal plane crash five years ago. Alexander Emmanualle was touted to be the 'next Nelson Mandela'-- a world class diplomat and Africa Peace activist. But then tragedy struck when his privately chartered plane mysteriously disappeared over the Kenya-Somali border while accompanying Canadian and British government representatives on an anti-terrorism crusade tour. He had recently made moves to consolidate his financial assets and was making plans with his old Canadian college-mate to move his family abroad. Was it a simple career move or something more? Bella Emmanualle, his only child, is now part of 'Oasis Security', a high-tech first of its kind collaboration between Africa Union and Western Intelligence services. Under the mentorship of security agents from Canada and the European Union, Oasis works to investigate high profile crimes and thwart terrorist activities in the continent. In her own right, Bella is a highly competent professional, executing her often perilous duties with poise, efficiency and courage. But her paternal heritage is proving to be both her proverbial fortune and curse. As she continues to handle her assignments, she also gathers clues to her father’s death, obsessively pursuing his killer. The more information she acquires the less clear the picture is. One question develops in her mind that gives her unending frustration; Was her father killed by terrorists or was he a terrorist himself? Aiding Bella in her quest is security agent Jamey Maxwell of the South African Security Services--a disgraced former undercover agent who, after a recent scandalous assignment in the Middle East was put through an intensive clean-up and re-training in Pretoria. Jamey is sent back in the field to Oasis in Cape Town to redeem himself and to employ his superior knowledge of jihadist operations. He has his own secrets haunting him though, Jamey's past will soon catch up with him--this time will he stay or will he run as he has so many times in the past? Sharply evoking global politics, terrorist threats, race, class and culture clashes, 'Oasis' weaves a tangled web of blackmail, murder, passion, and more. It is jam-packed with outsized characters, shifting relationships, story twists and turns, reversals, betrayals, danger, daring rescues--as well as a tentative romance between our two main characters, both ill at ease with vulnerability and emotional trust. Red herrings abound and a breathtaking cliffhanger at the end of season one is bound to keep audiences guessing, interested, entertained and wanting more.

Pilot/Teaser available for viewing


TITLE: OASIS LOCATION: Cape Town/Nairobi PRODUCTION CO: Cheruscopic Productions FORMAT: Digital Hi Definition GENRE: High Concept Drama CREATORS: Neil Schell, Scolly Cheruto, Loyce Kareri WRITER: Loyce Kareri, Wanjiku Muhoho, Neil Schell DIRECTOR: Neil Schell EXECUTIVE PRODUCERS: Neil Schell, Scolly Cheruto PRODUCERS: Neil Schell, Scolly Cheruto, Wanjiku Muhoho EPISODES: 26 RUNNING TIME: 48 minutes CONTACT: [email protected] First Season Delivery (13 episodes): May 2016 Language: English


Oasis

Title available for Pre-license or Co-production Back to Shagz

SERIES SYNOPSIS A western-educated Kenyan couple have moved back to Kenya to rediscover their roots. The husband, Charles a barrister and solictor, thinks it’s a great idea and the wife, Lucy, up and coming fashion designer, just can’t get London out of her mind and spirit. He was born and raised in Kenya, went to university in London and never came back except to visit. She was born in the UK to Kenyan parents and grew up in the UK, visiting Kenya every few years to see relatives. Charles finds out from his parents that his uncle has passed on and left the house to the family and he and his Lucy are welcome to move in and take the land too. He loves the idea as he has been romanticizing about moving back to the land of his roots so he can grow beans and maize and raise goats and sheep. Lucy, on the other hand, longs to stay in London wtih The West End with its live theatre, shopping at Harrod’s and quick trips to Paris for the weekend. Lucy moves back to Kenya thinking its just a phase Charles is going through and once he gets the real taste of shags he’ll be begging her to go back to London. Charles thinks he has convinced Lucy that their natural heritage and culture is the key to healthy, happy and successful living and his desire to help those in shags live better lives by introducing them to some Western ideas will be beneficial to all. In shags they encounter some interesting characters – The local preacher Joseph who welcomes them to his fold and the village, comes and blesses the house upon their arrival. Charles would fall for it. Lucy , who has never been in a church, discredits him and purports he’s a sham who just wants tithes for his own use. The village Chief Ndege who sees the opportunity to extort as much money as he can out of this Western Kenyan couple, the business woman Esther who wants to be the next MP for the area that Charles keeps appealing to for reform and who Lucy likes to hang out with at her establishment – the only place within 100 km that has decent seats and it’s clean. Charles’s parents live next door and have a daily appearance always wanting to find out when they are going to have grand-kids running . They pretend to like Lucy but feel she is the reason they don’t have grand-kids and why Charles stayed away from home for so long. Conversely, Lucy’s parents come by now and then, and constantly comment on the “low-quality of life” and how they should move back. Each episode is characterized by the couple sorting out what is really going on in shags.



TITLE: BACK TO SHAGZ LOCATION: Nairobi PRODUCTION CO: Cheruscopic Productions FORMAT: Digital Hi Definition GENRE: Comedy CREATORS: Neil Schell WRITER: Neil Schell, Charles Ouda DIRECTOR: Neil Schell EXECUTIVE PRODUCERS: Neil Schell, Scolly Cheruto PRODUCERS: Neil Schell, Scolly Cheruto, EPISODES: 52+ RUNNING TIME: 24 minutes CONTACT: [email protected] First season delivery (13 episodes): February 2016


Back to Shagz

Title available for License or co-production

MONICA!Synopsis This is the story of Monica who lives in Kangemi a regular estate which is adjacent to Westlands a very posh estate. Monica wishes that she hailed from a rich background and hence has issues accepting who she is. Other than that her biggest weakness is being a pathological lier. Having just finished campus she is unable to find an internship. She is trapped into staying at home watching reality shows and fantasizing about being in high society. Soon she finds herself developing a bad habit of purchasing shoes and handbags on loan. Her high-society career graduates to a non-existent job at a multinational company on the eighth floor of international house. This lie is conceived when she goes to a networking event as her cousin’s date and meets the son of an MP, Bob. They’re attracted to each other, get to talking and bond quickly. She wants to appear important and lies believing she will never meet the Bob again. Monica meets up with Bob accidentally without warning and feels she has to continue lying to him to save face. There is no going back and Monica has to live the lie she created. The story arc over the thirteen episodes takes us through Monica’s character as a woman who is on a mission to be part of the rich crowd. She completely gives up on obtaining an internship and gets Bob to be her steady boyfriend. She then fakes college transcripts to show she studied abroad; she also fakes a recommendation letter from the multinational company and convinces Bob to get her a job at his father’s company. Cousin Chris becomes a big ally in all of Monica’s lies but he is not comfortable with playing along. Monica has a few secrets of his that she hangs over his head for leverage, things that if the MPs daughter that Chris is pursuing actively knew about she would not entertain him. On the other hand while Monica thinks she is playing Bob, Bob is also playing a game of his own on her. Soon enough he starts seeing another woman. This brings out to the surface a rather evil side of Monica. She goes to extreme lengths to remove the female threat from the picture. Against her mother’s wishes Monica moves in with Bob to sort of keep him under her thumb. While at his home, her past and her lies start catching up. Two of her friends from Kangemi come to visit unannounced. Monica ‘s lack of qualifications becomes evident when at the company a junior, who is overqualified, questions her competence. Monica ensures that the competition, the company junior, is fired. Monica is always looking over her shoulder ready to do whatever it takes so that no-one discovers her fraudulent life. Cousin Chris makes headway with Vivian, the MP’s daughter, and it becomes tricky when the four of them – Monica, Bob, Chris and Vivan - hang out together. Monica has a confusing web of lies that Cousin Chris can hardly keep up with. Things seem to be going well for Monica until Monica’s high school sweetheart shows up at the company as their newest employee.



TITLE: MONICA LOCATION: Nairobi PRODUCTION CO: Cheruscopic Productions FORMAT: Digital Hi Definition GENRE: Telenovella CREATOR: Scolly Cheruto WRITER: DIRECTOR: Neil Schell EXECUTIVE PRODUCERS: Neil Schell, Scolly Cheruto PRODUCERS: Neil Schell, Scolly Cheruto EPISODES: 52+ RUNNING TIME: 24 minutes CONTACT: [email protected] First Season Delivery (13 episodes): May 2016 Language: English/Swahili with English subtitles


MONICA!

Title available for License or Co-production

Chema and Babu

‘

'Chema na Babu' is a comedy show revolving around the life of Chema. Her world has become difficult. The people around her have turned into liars and are only focused on how they can make their own lives better. To counter all of this, Chema decides she has to take a more shrewd path in life, one that’s not entirely truthful. Her story is also characterized by her desire to feel better, look better, appear superior and get more for herself. This desire of hers start to trigger dreams. Chema is always dreaming, thinking, hoping for what isn't really there (these illusions make a big part of the story). Chema faces different challenges by wearing different looks. For example, she decides to fake a pregnancy to extort money from her ex-boyfriend and then pretends to be deaf and dumb to make more money for her house-help duties. Babu is Chema's ex-boyfriend whom she claims got her pregnant. The fun ensues when she continually uses this prank to get his money and mess up his new relationships. She’s on a payback mission! Throughout the seasons, Chema goes back to her ex-boyfriend's house. Babu is not left with any option but to agree to living with her under the same roof with no strings attached. This is where all the drama begins. NB Having shortly appeared on screen, this character of ‘Chema’ has been highly demanded by the viewers across Kenya. Her character is not only hilarious and funny and but is at the same time extremely likable. There is no doubt that this show will generate a lot of viewership ...and will within a short period become the top of its nature



TITLE: CHEMA & BABU LOCATION: Nairobi PRODUCTION CO: Cheruscopic Productions FORMAT: Digital Hi Definition GENRE: Comedy CREATOR: Scolly Cheruto WRITER: Scolly Cheruto DIRECTOR: EXECUTIVE PRODUCERS: Neil Schell, Scolly Cheruto PRODUCERS: Neil Schell, Scolly Cheruto EPISODES: 52+ RUNNING TIME: 24 minutes CONTACT: [email protected] First Season Delivery (13 episodes): Feb 2016 Language: Swahili


Chema and Babu



TITLE: CITIES OF AFRICA LOCATION: Major African Cities PRODUCTION CO: Cheruscopic Productions FORMAT: Digital Hi Definition GENRE: Format - Travel CREATOR: Neil Schell WRITER: Neil Schell DIRECTOR: Neil Schell EXECUTIVE PRODUCERS: Neil Schell, Scolly Cheruto PRODUCERS: Neil Schell, Scolly Cheruto EPISODES: 52 RUNNING TIME: 24 minutes CONTACT: [email protected] First Season Delivery (13 episodes): Sept. 2016 Language: English Target Audience: North Americans 40 - 70

A travel show on Africa with a twist. Unlike most any shows about Africa, this one will be about the Cities of Africa and will not talk about animals or slums or poverty (with the exception of Nairobi since it is the only city in Africa that has a national park right next to it). Highlights of what to do and see in these fascinating cities will be explored firsthand by the host who will be a “baby boomer” from

North America as implied by the pilot episode hosted by the creator, Neil Schell. Our show host will take you to the best restaurants and hotels, night clubs and museums and visit historical city sights. He will also show you around to affordable bed and breakfasts and taste the local beers, wines and delicacies. Overall, this is to be an informative travel show on the Cities of Africa that will educate and entice tourists to a region of the world that most people in North America know very little about. The first season will cover all of East Africa and it’s most interesting cities - Nairobi, Mombasa, Melindi, Kisumu, Kampala, Entebbe, Addis Ababa, Juba, Arusha, Dar es Salaam, Zanzibar, Kigali, and Bujumbura. There are four seasons planned - East Africa, North Africa, West Africa and South Africa. A total of 52 episodes.

Pilot episode available for viewing.

**An ideal program for sponsorship by a world-class airline such as Kenya Airways, Ethiopia Airlines or South African Airlines**

© 2015 by Cheruscopic Productions and Africa Physique. All rights reserved.

Africa Physique is a fitness and wellness inspired television program whose main aim is to make the masses aware of the benefits that come with living a fit and active lifestyle as well as eating clean and mindfully. The show is hosted by two expert fitness trainers, Shiv Singh and Sharon Allela. The plot of the show is in four parts: 1.Workout segment 3. Interview 2.Nutritional Advice 4.Outro segment Workout segment: This is the opening of the show. The hosts will show the audience different workouts for different muscle groups and how to schedule them for different days of the week for maximum efficiency. Each episode will be dedicated to a different type of workout so as to address the wide range of viewers with each workout being demonstrated. Nutritional Advice: This segment of the show will be dedicated to giving sound and professional nutritional advice for the general population as well as for a niche population, eg. pregnant and specifically ill audience members, to ensure that the workouts are paired with proper nutrition for the best results. Interview: In each episode, the hosts will get to invite an expert in the health, fitness and wellness industry to give advice on different issues wellness related, and also to motivate by shedding light on their success stories. Part of the interview questions will be geared towards addressing commonly asked questions in the field. Examples of experts to attend the show are Athletes, nutritionists, doctors, wellness coaches and sports coaches just to mention a few. Outro: At this point, the hosts get to summarize the show, give special mentions and a sneak peak into the next episode, then conclude.

TITLE: AFRICA PHYSIQUE LOCATION: Nairobi PRODUCTION CO: Cheruscopic Productions FORMAT: Digital Hi Definition GENRE: Format – Fitness/Health CREATOR: Shiv Singh WRITER: Shiv Singh/Sharon Allela DIRECTOR: Neil Schell EXECUTIVE PRODUCERS: Neil Schell, Scolly Cheruto PRODUCERS: Neil Schell, Scolly Cheruto, Shiv Singh EPISODES: 26 RUNNING TIME: 24 minutes CONTACT: [email protected] First Season Delivery (13 episodes): January 2016 Language: English Target Audience: Ages 18-70


© 2015 by TCF4 Productions. All rights reserved.


Completed Productions

LOKOLOKO – 39 episodes A Swahili comedy about an unlikely trio - a man, his wife and his girlfriend (available for licensing December 2015 – currently under license with Mnet)!

TWISTED – 13 episodes An urban drama about three young women making their way in modern Africa (Season 1 available for licensing May 2016 – currently under license with StarTimes)


Titles available for license

Documents

Cheruscopic brochure nov 2016