Soap OperaTextual Analysis

Name: Connie CroninCandidate Number: 5887Center Name: St. Paul’s Catholic CollegeCenter Number: 64770

OCR Media Studies – A2 Level

Unit G324: Advanced Portfolio

Trailer 1 – Eastenders http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z1v_2Xf7Xss

Verbal Codes

Dialogue – There is no dialogue within the trailer, which could connote the characters shock to see Sharon. Soundtrack – The Rolling Stones track, ‘Just a Shot Away’ is playing throughout the trailer. The storm is a metaphor for Sharon and the lyrics also connote this, ‘Oh, a storm is threatening, My very life today’ connotes Sharon's arrival as threatening to other characters and how they should keep their distance from her as she can have a bad effect on your life; ‘If I don’t get some shelter. Oh yeah, I’m going to fade away’ connotes the ‘strong woman’ (Rebecca Feasey 2007) which is usually represented in the genre and would appeal to the target female audience.Voiceover – There is a non-diegetic voiceover at the end of the trailer ‘there’s one heck of a storm coming , Sharon’s back’ and using the storm as a metaphor for Sharon, this connotes that Sharon is going to bring some sort of ‘disequilibrium’ (Todorov) to the show. Sound Effects – There are diegetic sound effects such as windows smashing, loud wind, general crashing and breaking sounds that occur as the tornado (Sharon) gets closer to the square, which connote the trouble and ‘disequilibrium’ she is about to bring to the show, which is certainly a successful marketing strategy for new and existing fans of the show.

Non – Verbal Codes

Setting – The trailer is set in a working class community Walford, Albert square which is portrayed as being in East London. The appearance of the square is destructive with everything knocked over, and paper blowing around in the wind which connotes the disequilibrium that Sharon will bring to the show.Lighting – The lighting is low key, which connotes how this is synchronous to the non-diegetic voice over insinuating something bad is going to happen because of Sharon's arrival. Costumes – The costumes are what you would primarily expect from the working class; they are both casual and informal. But it is made clear who is middle class as they are wearing morning formal suits and driving an expensive car. Sharon is wearing a wedding dress, which could connote that she may be getting married to someone in the square, or is she running away from a wedding? This keeps the audience guessing and makes them more inclined to tune in to find out, especially the ‘social climber’ (Maslow) demographic.

Trailer 1 – Eastendershttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z1v_2Xf7Xss

Technical Codes

Camera Angles – There are a lot of high angle and low angle shots throughout the trailer when cutting to different characters, which connotes their authority in the Square such as when Phil's car pulls into the Square we see this from a low angle to ‘signify’ (De Saussure) his power and authority within the square. But when Sharon appears from the sky, she is shown from a eye line level shot to show that she is equal to everyone else in the Square . Camera Shots – Throughout the trailer there is a use of long shot, mid shots and extreme close ups. The long shots are used to establish the setting and connote how Sharon is bringing a disequilibrium to the show, and also to show Sharon as she descends from the sky which can also denote her as being some sort of angel or a character with God like presence in the Square. The mid shots allow the audience to see the characters body language and whether they are scared of what is coming from the sky or not. The extreme close ups are of characters faces such as Phil, Lucy and Jack allows the audience to see their facial expression and gives them an indication as to whether they are pleased about Sharon's arrival or not, it also connotes that these are the characters who’s lives Sharon will mainly affect. Editing – A lot of fast paced cuts are used to jump from characters expressions at the end of the trailer, which helps to build up suspense for the audience. It also gives the audience an indication as to who’s lives Sharon is going to effect by returning to the show.

Trailer 2 – Coronation Streethttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J_zY0sqYolg

Verbal Codes

Dialogue – There is diegetic dialogue throughout the trailer that connotes the theme, ‘find him, find him…please’ and ‘did you kill Frank?’ which also connotes that the killer has not yet been unmasked which builds suspense with the audience and adds mystery to the upcoming programme to make them want to tune in till they find out. Soundtrack – There is a subtle non-diegetic high pitched soundtrack throughout the trailer that helps to build suspense and tension for the audience. Although it doesn’t now increase in pitch or volume at any point so it does not indicate anything to the audience and show that everyone could have been equally involved. Voiceover – There is a non-diegetic voiceover at the end of the trailer ‘the killer will be unmasked’ which connotes a ‘new equilibrium’ (Todorov) is going to happen within the programme. It also makes the audience feel inclined to tune in. Sound Effects – There are no sound effect - diegetic or non-diegetic - throughout the trailer.

Non – Verbal Codes

Setting – There are a number of settings throughout the trailer including peoples houses which connotes that the potential people involved in the killing are just normal people living their everyday lives. Also there is a police questioning room that connotes that they may have found a killer, or could be a false lead for the audience so the producers can shock them when the killer is revealed. Lighting – The lighting throughout the trailer is low key which goes with the theme of death, murder and mystery and keeps the theme quite intense and more gripping for the audience. Costumes – All the characters featured in the advert dress are all dressed in dark clothing, blacks and greys. This denotes the darkness of the storyline and also connotes that any of them could be involved but this is also deceived as them mourning for the character Frank.

Trailer 2 – Coronation Street http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J_zY0sqYolg

Technical Codes

Camera angles – All the camera angles throughout the trailer are eye line level, which connotes that the characters shown are equal to one another and are portrayed to the audience and gives the audience no indication as to who killed Frank, and leaves the audience in suspense and mystery. Camera shots – There is use of extreme close up, mid shots, a long shot and an establishing shot. Extreme close ups are used to show the characters expression when being asked about Frank to show the audience the characters reaction. There is one long shot of a silhouette in an alley way, which is used to plant a seed in the audiences head as to who the killer may be, or is the killer going to attack again and this could be the victim? The establishing shot is used to show part of a persons legs and feet and building in the background, could this be the killer. Editing – The trailer is full of fast paced cuts, from character to character, to build suspense for the audience especially as the trailer goes on they get faster to build even more tension.

Elements of Success within the Trailers

Trailer one – I felt Eastenders soundtrack and the lyrics in the music matched perfectly to what was going in the trailer, denoting the disequilibrium is going to come. I would love to replicate this in my trailer as I think it adds to the build up of the trailer and how powerful it comes across to the audience. I also want to replicate the use of extreme close ups as I feel it gives the audience a great indication to the characters emotions towards what is going on. Although I didn’t like the cheesy element to the advert I felt it made the soap look cheap and unrealistic. Furthermore, my trailer will in black and white with a red filter to show the significance of a character that may cause a disequilibrium (Todorov) within the soap.Trailer two – I would want to replicate the non-diegetic voiceover at the end of the trailer in my own soap opera advert that leaves the audience wanting to tune in to find out what is going to happen. Also replicating the silhouette long shot would be challenging in my own advert and the use of this would be a good way to leave the audience with a sense of mystery. The Coronation advert had diegetic dialogue throughout which I do not wish to replicate in my advert as just a soundtrack would create more of a suspense around the new character.