Evaluation Q1How did you use, develop or challenge codes and conventions of real media products?

Basic Codes and Conventions of Soap Operas

A British soap opera is always likely to consist the following conventions:

• A muilti-strand narrative dealing with personal and/or family relationships

• A well know theme tune played in every episode

• A central location such as a square (as in EastEnders)

• Based on a group of characters living n a particular place, which also shows regional identity

• Focuses on working class communities (in contrast to American soaps)

• Made to be realistic or at least aim for realism• Episodes end with a ‘cliff-hanger’ • Uses more diegetic audio rather than non-

diegetic • Catharsis (the viewers can relate to the

drama)

Soap ComparisonIn order to achieve a successful soap opera, I had to look at and study a real soap of the same melodrama sub-genre, which is Hollyoaks.

Camera Work

This shot from Hollyoaks is an over the shoulder mid close up shot of a character talking. This shot enables to show the character’s emotions and facial expression clearly while having a conversation. Only a little section of the other character is shown to ensure that the full focus and attention is on the character’s facial expression.

I used this similar shot of an over the shoulder mid close up shot in my trailer with a similar position of the characters. This is so that the facial expression of the character who is speaking can be seen clearly.

Camera Work

This is a mid panning shot showing some part of the subject in more detail such as the character walking beside the fence, whilst enabling for the audience to still see the location where the character is. This mid shot also allows room for hand gestures and a bit of movement.

I developed this mid shot of the character walking in the alley by having a still shot rather than a panning shot. This is because it focuses more on the character and on the fact that the character is alone in an alley, which suggest that there could be danger ahead. Also, the character’s body language indicates that she doesn’t feel comfortable and something is worrying her.

Camera Work

This is a two shot mid shot of two people having a conversation where both characters’ facial expressions can be seen at the same time. This allows the audience to follow this scene without getting distracted by the surrounding, and also to visualise the setting of the shot, like in this case, the characters are obviously in a living room.

I used this two shot mid shot to show the two characters talking which enables the audience to see both of their facial expressions. This shot also allows the setting to be seen easily.The colour red around them contrast with their clothes so that all the focus is on them. Additionally, red connotes intensity, romance and danger.

Camera Work

This close up shot of a character holding a paper focuses on the importance of the message that is written on the paper.

I developed this shot of a character holding his mobile phone by zooming in from a medium close up shot to a close up shot to emphasise the picture of the character and his girlfriend that is shown on the phone. Also, the way that he is holding his phone suggest how much he loves and cares about his girlfriend.

Camera Work

This shot is a medium close up which focuses on the character’s emotion and facial expression. This is also used so that her face can be seen easily and clearly. This is one of the most effective shots as melodramas are supposed to be very dramatic with exaggerated characters; meaning that the audience should be able to see this easily through a mid close up shot.

I used this similar shot of medium close up so that it the character’s emotion and facial expression can be easily seen. This shot clearly demonstrates that he is upset and worried.Additionally, the lighting used in this shot is slightly low-key to add an intense atmosphere.

Camera Work

This is a wide shot of two characters talking. This shot is used to establish the location they are at and also to set the atmosphere of the scene, i.e. in this shot, it seems like it’s a tense social situation.

I developed this wide shot by using a follow shot movement rather than a still shot. This is because it adds more tension to the shot and it allows the audience to see when the character kicks the bin, which shows the strong attitude of the character and it also suggests that he is problematic and he feels isolated as he is all alone.

Editing

In a soap opera trailer, short straight cut edits are commonly used. This particularly adds tension and makes the trailer more dramatic. Therefore I used short straight cut edits nearly all throughout my trailer.

Editing

In Hollyoaks trailer, a black fade in transition is used to move from one shot to another. This is effective as it adds drama to the trailer and story.

In my trailer, I also used a black fade transition but only towards the end. This is to emphasise a very dramatic and tragic scene that is going to happen.

Editing

I also slightly developed the fade in transition but using white rather than black. This is because in this shot the white fade in used while the camera is moving upwards could symbolise alert and death as white connotes heaven.

Sound

One of the most typical conventions of a soap trailer is having a non-diegetic sound playing in the background throughout the trailer. I used this convention by choosing to add a dramatic music that changes to more upbeat sound towards the end to build tension.

I’ve added a car crashing sound effect on this shot to make the shot more realistic yet dramatic

I’ve also added a ringing tone sound effect on this shot to again make it more realistic yet dramatic

Ancillary ProductsComparison of a Magazine Front Cover & a Billboard Poster

Magazine Front Cover

Masthead is within the top third of the

page

Main image occupies 1/3 of the

page

Big and bold main headline

3 main colour scheme

Barcode

Date & price

Images of secondary stories are included in boxes

Billboard Poster

Channel branding – expanding brand identity

Date & Time – to inform when audience can tune

in

Image of main characters

Title of soap - I slightly developed this by making it almost occupying 1/3 of the poster compared to

Skin’s poster

Title of the soap

Image of main characters – I used this and made sure all the characters

are positioned well with their roles in the drama

Date & Time – I used this to inform the audience when they can tune in

Channel branding – I used this for brand identity