Poster Ideas

This was just a rough idea of a soap poster we could use, for our actual soap. I found the image of the street sign on google images and then opened it up on 'photoshop'. I then altered some of the colours to make it stand out more and change the writing inside of it. Initially we were going to have the 'weeknights at 7.00' and 'channel 4' at the top, and then we realised that people would be concentratin more at the centre of the sign, therefore we put the titles in the actual sign itself. This is just a rough idea of the sort of pictures we could use.

The feedback that I got from my classmates was that the writing at the bottom of the sign post wasnt big enough therefore the target audience wouldnt be able to read it. The did like the way that it was set on a sign post however because it looked orginal. Also, they commented on the fact that there wasnt any pictures of any characters, therefore on my final piece I edited it.

Soap Details

Costumes:
Here is the link to the group blog for the 'Costumes' work. These are all the types of things that the characters will be wearing during the filming of our soap opera. We have carefully chosen things that represent either the character or their personality, and the attitudes they show in the soap. For example, the main protagonist character won't be wearing dark colours because this connotes darkness and evil, therefore she would be wearing lighter colours to promote a sense of vunerablity and innocence amoungst the audience. I looked on websites like Topshop and NewLook and got some clothing ideas. I had to be careful when deciding on the clothes however, because when it comes to filming the characters will have to be in similer clothes, therefore I had to make sure everyone had these specific items.

Magazine Ideas

For our magazine ideas, myself and Emmaline just drew some rough ideas on some paper. We both decided that it would be called 'Prime TV' as there is nothing already on the market called this. As you can see from the drawing, the lettering is big and bold so that it catches the audiences eye when it is sitting on a shelf in a store somewhere. Our magazine will include the main storyline for our soap, therefore contain two or more characters on the front page. This is good because as our soap is new, no one will know who the characters are therefore we have to make them look attractive and pleasing to the eye.
Another point we made whilst drawing up rough ideas for a magazine ront cover is that we need to make sure we include other soaps that would feature in the magazine. If we don't people may not want to buy the magazine due to the fact that they don't know what it's about, therefore if we include the older soaps and charcters, they are more likely to be interested into finding out what our new soap is about.

Location Scouting

http://edgea2.blogspot.com/2010/10/location-scouting.html

Here, we went to look at different houses and estates that would match the sort of houses we want in our soap opera. I drove us to Beaulieu Park to take some pictures of the bigger houses. Also, we took some pictures of my estate and my house, and our friends house and estate along Broomfield Road. Then we put it together in and explained about why we took the pictures we did.

Photographic Storyboard

http://edgea2.blogspot.com/2010/10/photogaphic-storyboard.html

Here is the link to our photographic storyboard. We took the pictures to just roughly explain what is going to be happening in our soap opera trailer. I took the pictures and then Emmaline wrote about what they show.

Soap Opera Poster Analysis

Soap Poster Analysis

Script#2

Script #2
Façade Manor

Scene #1
(Victor and Emma-Louise holding hands, and looking lovingly into each others eyes)
TRANSITION/ SCENE CHANGE
(Rochella and Victor are arguing)

ROCHELLA: Victor, I’m pregnant!!
VICTOR: I know you are, everyone knows you are!
ROCHELLA: (now crying) it’s your Vic.

Scene #2
(Emma-Louise is crying on Mrs Jarvis’ shoulder, whilst Mrs Jarvis’ tried her best to comfort her)

EMMA-LOUISE: He’s cheating on me!

TRANSITION/SCENE CHANGE
(Victor and Emma-Louise holding hands, and looking lovingly into each others eyes)

Scene #3
(Jessica and Patrick standing together, laughing lovingly at one another. Brad then walks up the garden path, and the couple wave at him. Brad then waves back)
TRANSITION/SCENE CHANGE
(Jessica arguing with Brad, after Brad has just tried to kiss her)

JESSICA: Just stop it Brad, I can’t deal with this and I’m with Patrick, you know that.
BRAD: I can’t stop Jess, I’m in love with you and I want nothing more than to be with you.

(Brad then tries to kiss Jessica again, but Jessica moves his hand from her face)
TRANSITITION/SCENE CHANGE
(Brad and Patrick are arguing about Jessica, and then Patrick punches Brad)

PATRICK: You were my best friend, more like a brother. I trusted you. You stay away, stay away from her!

TRANSITION/SCENE CHANGE
(Jessica and Patrick standing together, laughing lovingly at one another)

Scene #4
(Mr and Mrs Jarvis are standing by the car, looking content and happy with each other – Leo Brown is mowing their front lawn for them)
TRANSITION/SCENE CHANGE
(Mr Jarvis is arguing with Leo about the secret that he knows)

LEO: I want the money I’ve been promised.
MR JARVIS: I haven’t got it. You can’t blackmail us anymore.
LEO: Then your son….WILL find out.

TRANSITION/SCENE CHANGE
(Mr and Mrs Jarvis are standing by the car, looking content and happy with each other)

Scene #5
(Front door slams shut and the screen turns black, the Façade Manor signpost shows)

NARRATOR: Who knows what goes on behind closed doors, until you’re a part of it? Façade Manor, Monday nights at 10.00, only on E4.

Script#1

This is our first darft script. We wrote one roughly so that we could see what we needed to improve for our next rough script.

2nd Poster Analysis

2nd Analysis of Poster

Character Profiles

http://edgea2.blogspot.com/2010/09/character-profiles.html

This is my character profiles that I did for our group blog. It is just so that the characters are easier to recognise and I will be able to use it when I need to write about what is going on in our soap. I got this from the chart that I drew up of all the different characters and what their role in the soap is. This can also be found either on my group blog, or my indervidual blog.

I compared all of the characters too characters that are already in soaps. For example, Rochella Wembridge is compared to Kat Slater from Eastenders. This is due to her characteristics, and similer storylines. This is also good when it comes to summerising my soap trailer, because I will be able to see what is happening where and when.

Rough Plan for Soap Opera Trailer

http://edgea2.blogspot.com/2010/09/rough-plan-for-soap-opera-trailer.html

Here, we made a rough plan for our soap opera trailer. Emmaline took pictures of her sisters 'Bratz' dolls, and we made them look like they were acting for our trailer. As this is just a rough plan, we havent decided on the background settings, but we have thought of all of the different characters and actions.

Magazine Front Cover Analysis

Soap Magazine Front Cover Analysis

India Gothard - Rochella Wembridge

India Gothard

Age - 17

Character - Rochella Wembridge

Why we chose India - for the character of Rochella, we wanted someone with darker skin and long hair that has a typical Essex accent. We chose India because she has a small figure, shes pretty and she has darker skin that could be seen as 'fake tan' and she also has long hair. Rochella needed to be the local 'slut' so we needed someone that was very fashion consious and liked to look after herself, appearance wise. India wanted to play the 'seductive' and 'sexy' characters so both myself and Emmaline agreed that India would be the perfect person for this part. Also, because of her small figure it was easier to tell that she was pregnant, which gave the audience more of an idea as to the sort of character that she was playing.

Emmaline Gordon - Emma-Louise

Emmaline Gordon

Age - 17

Character - Emma Louise

Why we chose Emmaline - Emmaline volunteered to be Emma-Louise after one of our pervious actors decided they didnt want to play a part in our film. Emmaline was right for this part because of her light hair, accent and the way she presents herself. Emma-Louise is a innocent character who is being cheated on. Emmalines light hair, and punctual accent connotes innocence and clear. When looking for a charcter we always knew we wanted someone with light hair and an innocent accent therefore Emmaline fitted the part perfectly.

Target Audience Profile

Target Audience Profile

This is the target audience brief that myself and Emmaline did. It is all about what our target audience is going to be for our soap, and who we are mainly aiming it at. With this however, we have added examples of our characters to back up our ideas and suggestions. I contributed to this piece of work by finding out all of the different target audience profiles. (gender/age/race)

Target Audience Questionnaire Results

Target Audience Questionnaire Results

Target Audience Questionnaire

Target Audience Questionnaire

Soap Opera Brief

http://edgea2.blogspot.com/2010/09/soap-opera-brief.html

Here is a link to mine and Emmalines group blog, and our 'Soap Opera Brief'. We both contributed equally as we worte it together. We got our ideas from previous soaps and soap characters, but made them our own by changing them around.

Initial Ideas

Here, I have just written down all of the information about our soap episode so we can then start to come up with a soap brief. I have sorted out sub-titles (settings,target audience) so that our episodes are easier to plan. This way, a team brief is alot easier to create.

Here, I have created a spider diagram of all of the possible characters that will appear in our soap. We have thought about all of the different characters in soaps like; Eastenders, Coronation Street and have singled the most stereotypical characters out, that appear in every soap. I have also written how each character is going to be linked too one another, so that a storyline starts to appear.

Last Year Soap Opera Trailers

This is a trailer that the Year 13's produced last year.

AVENUE SPRINGS

SOUND -

The music in the trailer has a low tone and a mysterious effect to it. This could connote that the trailer is going to be a mystery and could be a 'dark' story. The alarm clock that goes off is extra diegetic but I noticed that the alarm was included in the piece of music. So, where they have chosen the music it links in well with when the alarm clock goes off. The music stays the same throughout the whole piece which is good, it gives the audience a sense of the unknown because the music is quite cold. The car noises when they slam the door shut is extra diegetic because its been made to look more extravagant than it normally would. This gives the audience the idea that something has happened in the car itself, because its being made to look like a big part in whatever is going on in the trailer. The voiceover at the end of the trailer is a boy, and its good because the title of what the trailer is for and when the programme is on, is explained. The girl at the end of the trailer has quite a posh voice and when she says 'is it done?' it seems as though she has had someone else do something for her. The music towards the end of the trailer fades with the rest of the clips so this shows that the trailer has finished.

MISE - EN - SCENE

The start of the trailer is in a dark room, and you can tell it is someones bedroom because its a stereotypical shot of a bedroom, with someone in the bed. When the figure walks in, he is wearing dakr clothes which connotes evil and the unknown. This also links with the dark room so that its harder for the audience to really notice him. When the car pulls up, it looks as though they are in the middle of nowhere because its surrounded by fields and trees. This could connote something myterious because there isnt a house, just loads of fields. The black bags are stereotypically seen as things for putting rubbish in, but due to the film industry they are also seen as something to cover a body up with so immediatly because of the black bag, and the body shaped figure, the audience could guess that something was not right and wonder as to why this person has a dead body in bing bags in his car. The mise-en-scene links in with the sound, because the girl at the end of the trailer speaks in a very posh accent. This could be seen as a bad thing, because usually people who speak in posh accents have money, so maybe she has payed someone to do her dirty work for her. The blue saxo connotes a slightly 'chavvy' opinion as stereotypically those cars are seen as common.

CAMERA ANGLES -

At the start of the trailer, there is a close up on the alarm. This has been used because the producers obviously want the audience to make note of the time and too remember it. There is a mid-shot of the person sleeping in the bed so that the audience get an idea as to what is going on. Then, there is a close up of a glass of water and some pills on what looks like a table. The close up could be used to make the audience aware of what was on the table, or too make them note that they were there. There is a low shot of the car door opening. This could be seen as bad because the person that was getting out of the car, was supirior to the audience as they were seen as bigger. There were a few mid-shots of the person that alks into the dark bedroom. Thisa gives the audience the sense 0f the unknown and also makes them aware that the person in the hoody has just walked into the bedroom. When the binbags are pulled out of the car with an obvious body inside, there are also close ups. This is so the audience can see what is going on, and realise that there is a body in the boot. Throughout the trailer there is never a close up of the actors faces. This could be because the producers dont want the audience knowing what is going on. At the end of the trailer the girl that speaks is shown, but not her face. You can only see the side of her so this makes the audience wonder who she is.

EDITING -

The editing has been made in a kind of 'spooky' way. The writing that appears now and again between the shots is good because it lets the audience have an understanding of what might go on. The black background and white writing links in well to the 'fade to black' transistions after every clip. This is good because it looks like someone is blinking, and it could connote how quickly everything is happening. The 'jaggedness' of the actual shots is good because nothing is clear, making the audience wonder what is happening. The editing at the end with the voice over is good because it leaves the audience wondering who is saying it, and it also makes them aware of the programme name and when it is on. The website address that appears at the very end of the trailer is also good because it allows the audience to follow up on some more information about the programme before it is actually on.

Analysis Of A Soap Trailer

Emmerdale - CHARITY RETURNS

Mise-En-Scene - The first scene is set in a very posh and expensive looking hotel room. It is very grand with a lot of space and ornimental looking additions. This could make the audience think that Charity now has some money behind her, to be able to afford to stay in something like that. The hotel room is set up with red rose petals and a big bed; this makes it looks classy and seductive as the colour red connotes warmth and elegance, and the rose petals give it a seductive feel as commonly rose petals are used in a sexual manner when they are spread accross a setting. Also, roses are expensive therefore again, this connotes 'money' to the audience. The lighting used in the scene is golden, therefore this emphasysis the expensivness. The second scene is outside and very dark, therefore this could connote how Charity's life has become because it was all about expenses and now shes standing in a country road, in the pouring rain. When there is a close up on Charity's eyes, the scenes switch therefore it could of all been a dream, and reality is that she has no money. The rain and the dark night emphasise this. Red lipstick also connotes a sexy tone, therefore the audience can get an idea of the sort of character that Charity is. The demographic groups that this trailer would be aimed at would be groups C, D and E because these are the people that are always going to be about to watch the trailer, and the television programme.

Camera Angles - The establishing shot is used when Charity is walking through the hotel room to give the audience an idea of the setting and where she is. The over the shoulder shot, of the man on the bed makes the audience question who he is and why he is there. Also, the use of the over the shoulder shot when Charity takes of her wig is good because we can see who she is in the mirror. Extreame close ups are used to convey Charity when she is putting on her red lipstick. Again, red is a sexual colour therefore the camera angles justify this to the audinence by showing her putting it on in a seductive manner. The extreame close up of her eyes and the water that is dripping out of the bath helps the scene follow into the next because it is like Charity is dreaming. When she opens her eyes, the dripping from the bath has turned into rain. The close up of the 'Emmerdale 2' sign lets the audience know what the trailer is about, and what programme it is reffering too. The low angle shot of Charity makes it looks as though she is insupirior and has gone from the first scene where she clearly had money, to the next scene when she nothing.

Sound - the seductive sound track thats playing throughout the trailer gives the audience the impression that the setting is sexy and seductive. It has a slow beat, showing class and rhythm. This is the sort of music you hear in films, when a women is trying to seduce a man or act sexy. The noise of the water spilling out of the bath links into the rain in the second scene. The rain and the wind are diegetic sounds to make the audience more aware of whats going on. The voice over is good because it allows people that are blind to still participateb in the trailer. The way the information for the viewers is expalined about when the programme is on and what time is good because again, disabled people will still be able to understand what the trailer is all about.

Narrative & Titiling - Throughout the whole trailer, there is only three characters. Charity is the main one. The narrative is conventional because it has all of the stereotypical things that are involved in a soap opera. The ITV1 logo appears so that the audience know what channel the programme will be shown on, and all of the relevant information comes up at the end alongside the voice over.

Analysis Of Soap Trailers

Coronation Street - THE SEIGE

Mise-En-Scene - as the scene is set in a dark and gloomy factory, the audience would be able to sense that something about the storyline isnt right. The fact the setting is dark and gloomy connotes danger and evil therefore already the audience will wonder what is going on. The fact that Hayley is wearing a light jumper connotes that her character is innocent. The audience should realise that shes vunerable because of the colour of her jumper. The colour clothing Carla is wearing is slightly darker than Hayleys, therefore the audience could differentiate the way Hayley is an innocent character, however Carla's character isn t so pure. Compared with the dark clothing Tony is wearing however, compared to him Carla is innocent to the audience; whereas Tony connotes evil and darkness. The facial expressions from both Carla and Hayley could make the audience realise they are scared, whereas Tony is calm and collected to this could show the audience that he is up to something. The impact of this to the audience is that they want to find out more because of the nature of the trailer.

Sound - The high pitched sound at the start of the trailer, which later turns into a fast beating music track could make the audience aware that something is happening. All three of the characters speak, however Hayley and Carla sound worries, upset and scared. Tony however is calmed and collected. This impacts the audience because not only are Hayley and Carla women, but the are vunerable and in a horrible situation because they are tied up. At the end of the trailer, the information to the viewers is told on a voice over by a narrator. This is good because people that are blind, can still benefit from the trailer because they can hear it.

Narrative & Titiling - Throughout the whole of the trailer, the ITV1 logo appears on the screen all the time so the audience can see what channel the programme will show on. The black screens will the writing make the audience hooked on the trailer, because it draws there attention in because of the fact that they have to read it. The titles appear at the end of the trailer, along with a screen shot of the Corrie Logo, and then it states all of the relevant information about showing times to the audience. This is so the audience can see when the programme the trailer is showing is on. This helps because then more people are likely to watch.

Camera Angles - The close up of the characters used at the start helps the audience identify what characters are in the scene, and who the storyline is about. The over the shoulder shot used when Tony is either speaking to Carla or Hayley helps the audience understand a bit more about the situation. Also, it allows the audience to see the reaction from what Tony is saying, from both women. The close up of Carla shows the audience that she is clearly worried and scared. When all of the characters appear on the screen, a shot reverse shot is used to show the audience the full situation. Establishing shots are used throughout so that the audience can see all of the characters and all of the storyline.

Analysis Of Soap Trailers

Eastenders - IS PEGGY UNDER HIS CONTROL?

Mise-En-Scene - As the trailer is a wedding theme, that is what the storyline would have to be themed as. Peggy is wearing a white dress therefore this connotes vunerablitly and innosence because of the colour of the dress. Archie however, connotes darkness and unreliabilty to the audience because of what he is wearing. Black always gives off a sense of the 'unknown' therefore this is why the Eastenders producers might of put him in this colour. The robots and the arms that come out make Peggy look scared, therefore this connotes how she doesnt really understand what is going on. The whole scene is of a typical wedding because Peggy is walking down an isle. This could connote to the audience how its a wedding, but the way Peggy's face turns silver and more mechanical could dennote the fact that something is going wrong. The dark background connotes darkness and gloom, therefore this could be the outcome of the wedding. Therefore, this is what makes the audience more intised to watch the soap because they want to know what is going on. This trailer is aimed at the demographic groupings B-D. This is because the programme is aimed at the people that will likely to be around at the showing times. Young adults, teenages are adults that work 9-5 in ordinary jobs, or school students that will be at home and available to watch the soap.

Camera Angle - At the start of the trailer, the close up of Peggy sitting at her dressing table was used so that the audience can see what she was doing. When the audience see her in her wedding outfit, they realise that thats whats going on. A high angle shot is used when Peggy walks down the isle because it makes her look insupirior, whereas when Archie is in shot they use a low angle shot because it makes the audience see Archie as a more superior character too Peggy. An over the shoulder shot is used when Peggy is looking into the mirror; therefore this is used so that the audience can see Archie in the mirror standing over Peggy's shoulder. This could mean how Archie is like a 'chip' on her shoulder. The close up shots of Archie's hands throughout the trailer makes the audience wonder why his hands have anything to do with the trailer. The distinguishing shot is used throughout the whole scene again so that the audience can see the whole scene of the trailer. This helps them understand exactly what is going on, despite the other shots used. At the end of trailer, theres an extreme close up of Peggy's eye which has changed into a robotic eye, therefore using this shot the audience can see that something is up.

Narrative & Titiling - Throughout the trailer, the only storyline is about Peggy & Archie's wedding, however in the scene there is two different narratives that are happening. The first is the Mitchell's wedding, and the second is how controlling Peggy is. This makes the audience want to find out more because of the two different nattatives. The only two characters that appear in the whole trailer are Archie and Peggy, therefore the audience will be able to realise that the storyline is big because they've made a trailer for it, and it include those two characters. The start of the trailer shows the BB1 logo, therefore the audience know which channel the programme will appear on. At the end, the date and time at which the programme will appear will show, therefore the audience get all the vital information about the programme that they need.

Sound - the high pitches charms that are playing at the start of the trailer connotes innocense but leaves the audience feeling warey. The high pitched noise is good, but it could mean that something bigger is going to happen. As the camera shows Archie, there is an 'eary' noise heard. This could make the audience feel unsure about Archie's character, and make them wonder as to what is going to happen. The mechanical noises heard could make the audience assume that Peggy is turning into a robot, under Archies power. The narration over the trailer and music asks the audience a question. This is good because it always leaves the audience wondering what the answer and intentions of the question was. At the end of the trailer, the famous Eastenders theme tune appears, this is just so the audience make sure they know the programme is Eastenders, and also adds some ore to the trailer. Non-diegetic sounds are used to make things stand out more to the audience. The way the robot arms sound, makes sure the audience are aware of whats happening. The diegetic sound is the music that is added from the start. This is always good for trailers because the audience can tell a lot about a storyline from what sort of music that is played. The music also links into what genre the trailer is about.

Soap Opera Trailer Showings

Advert Breaks
For this, I sat and watched some television ad breaks. I watched one advert break for Big Brother on channel 4 and another add break for Emmerdale. I didn't really see alot of soap opera trailers so I noted down the trailers that I did see;

Big Brother Advert Breaks
x1 programme about sex trafficers
x1 big brothers big mouth
x1 big brothers little brother
x1 channel 4 documentaries
x1 how to look good naked

Emmerdale Advert Breaks
x1 the bill
x2 itv2 programmes

From what I have found out, the trailer showings are shown at this time because its typically, when the soaps target audience's are sitting down and watching the television. To find out when exactly people watch televison and soaps, you could create a questionnaire to back this idea up.

These adverts would be aimed at the demographic groups B-E because these are the people that are most likely going to watch them. For example, they were all on around 7.30pm therefore most of the people in the demographic groups explained would watch these programmes and adverts, therefore this is why the companies want to advertise at that certain time.

The Purpose Of A Trailer

The purpose of a film or television trailer is to advertise and show clips of the media product so that the specific target audiences generate an interest in a storyline, therefore going back to watch the film or televsion programme when it is scheduled to be on.

This, then helps boost viewer ratings for specific media pieces, making them either popular or not so popular.

When a soap, like Eastenders has a big storyline or plot, they often make trailers so that target audiences can get a glimpse of what to expect in the actual programme. This then draws the audience into the storyline so that they want to watch more.

Also, trailers are a prime oppurtunity to introduce new characters, the return of old characters or storylines to an audience, therefore depending on how big the storyline is, depends on how many times the same trailer is shown.

Below is a trailer that I have found from Eastenders. It shows the return of Kat and Alfie Moon, therefore there is a big storyline, so they have made a trailer for it. Kat and Alfie left together but the audience always knew that they would be back. This is a good way of advertising the fact that they are back because its more likely going to make the target audience watch it. This is how Eastenders increase viewer ratings. This then will lead to a big storyline and then another trailer for that storyline will be produced.

National Viewing Figures 2009

Here i have found the viewing figures of torrestrail television in 2009. These are all the channels that you get on a normal television without having sky. As you can see, the average number of people a day watching BBC1 or BBC2 is 30,000. The average number of hours spend per week, per person for all of these channels is 31 hours and 8 minutes. The most popular channels are BBC1 and ITV1, and these are the main channels that the main soaps appear on. Eastenders is on BBC1 and Coronation Street and Emmerdale appear on ITV1. These are the most popular soaps that are shown today, therefore it shows that many people watch them as these are the most popular two channels.

Soap Opera Trailer Target Audiences

Who would watch the soap trailers at the times you have witnessed them on television?

At the time soap operas are on, many people will be either eating dinner or sitting down for the evening after a busy day. Soap operas are aimed at young adults - adults, therefore parents, business men/women or young teens. This is because typically, the soaps are aimed at these age groups rather that children. They are shown on the televison at this time because of the huge audiences. Soap opera trailers are normally on from 6pm onwards. This again, is because of the sort of audience that is going to be watching television at this time. Parents would be just sitting down after putting their kids to bed, and people that work all day or are at school/college might be home and ready to eat dinner. Therefore, there is a massive audience for soap trailers because they are always inbetween either well rated programmes or the soaps themeselves. This means that a huge audience would be watching, therefore making it guaranteed that people will see the soap opera trailer.

Who are the soap trailers target audience?

The soap trailers target audience are young adult+ because of the time of day that soaps are on, and the stroylines shown in the trailers for soaps. Also, they would be targeted at the people who watch soaps therefore showing the trailers either inbeetween the soap itself, or having it after a highly rated televison programme. The trailers would need to draw the target audience in therefore they would need to understand what the trailer is about. For example; if something big is happening in one of the soap operas like 'Peggy and Archies Wedding', a trailer would be made to tell the audience what is going to be happening. Trailers arent very long therefore there isnt any time for any explanation, so the trailers would be targeted are people that always watch the soaps so that they know who the characters are, and what is going to be happening in the storyline.

What programmes are the trailers shown inbetween or before/after?

Usually if it was a soap trailer, it would only be on the channel that that soap is appearing on. For example; you wouldnt find and Eastenders trailer appearing on ITV1.

Normally, the soap trailers begin when the audience are at its best so from about 6pm. They would then be shown two or three times in a night, either inbetween the soap opera or a programme, or before or after in the advert break. If it is a big storyline, sometimes the trailers could be shown three or four times. The usual programmes are the soaps because thats when you have the biggest audience. You wouldn't see an advert for a soap appear on the break of a children programme because it would only have a selected audience that would see it, and obviously the trailer wouldnt specifically be aimed at children.

Would the timing and programmes that they are shown in effect their target audience?

Normally, the trailers are ahown when all of the soaps are on, therefore they wouldnt effect their target audience because most people would be watching the tele then. It would only effect its target audience if a trailer for a soap was shown early in the morning or in the afternoon because people that watch soaps, may not be at home so thats why they show them early evening, because they are more likely to have a bigger audience.

Soap Opera Research

ANIMAL ANTICS - SOAP OPERA RESEARCH

For our research we had to film a short clip expressing everything that we found out about soap operas. My group decided to make it fun, rather than just a boring film with people talking. Therefore, I filmed all my animals in different situations and then with the help of my group we put it together using a voice over, and some lines from famous soaps such as; Eastenders, Coronation Street and Hollyoaks. I contributed by actually filming the animals, and then researching on the internet to find the different voiceovers, from the popular soaps.

Analysis Of Soap Opera Episode

Analysis of Soap Opera Episode Handout

History Of Soap

"'Soap Opera' first came onto the scene in the 1930's from the USA. It was used to describe radio series that were sponsered by the massive company at the time that sold soap powder, hense 'soap'. The 'opera' part came from the genres and themes of the dilemas and melodramatic situations in the opera itself. In the 1950's, these radio series made it to television therefore grew and grew to world wide popularity.

'Corination Street' is the longest running television soap in all the world, but it is prefated by a radio soap called 'The Archers'. After glossier productions such as 'Dallas' in America, soap suddenly become more and more popular again in the 1980's. This then caused the the likes of 'Brookside' and the success of Australian soaps like ' Neighbours' and 'Home and Away'. The Aussie soaps were aimed at teenagers and young adults, because of the suitable plots and storylines. After the success of the Australlian soaps, British producers decided to follow the theme of 'teen/young adult' audience therefore 'Hollyoaks' became more and more popular over time.

In 2009, Soaps are at a high and are more popular than ever!"

http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/h2g2/A1087193

I found this information on the website listed above, however have re-written it to suit how I would interpurate it. From this information however, I have listed the main points that I think are the most important about the history of soap.

• 'Soap Opera' first began in the 1930's and origonated from the United States of America, and started off as a small radio series.
• Soap' became the name described to call these serial dramas because at the time, the target audience was women, therefore a big name soap company sponsored the radio series. ('Opera' then came at a later date when critics decided that the series revolved around things that happen on a day-to-day basis. i.e relationships, divorce, fraud).
• In the 1950's the radio series made it onto television, and from that point, 'Soap Opera' popularity grew and grew.
• Corination Street is the longest running soap ever, which deals with real life situations.
• After Australia git the big time with soaps such as Neighbours, British producers decided to target soaps at teen/young adults, so soaps like Hollyoakes and Biker Grove became more and more popular.
• In 2009, soaps are the most watched, and most popular thing on television.

Coronation Street is the longest running soap, reaching their 50th anniversary this year. Here, I have found the first ever closing titles of the soap that were produced in 1960, to the present closing titles made in 2011. I have chosen to add these too this piece of work because I think it shows the History of Coronation Street and how the production and equipment have changed in time. As Coronation Street is the longest running soap, I thought the change between 1960 and 2011 would be seen more dramatically. This is the link for the 1960 Closing Titles and the 2011 Titles.

Conventions Of A Soap Opera

A British soap opera always features the following conventions:

• the storylines are continuous throughout the year such as family issues, relationship issues and other day-to-day things that happen. Below is a picture of the Barlow Family, who are always shown having a difficult family life.

• A soap always has a well known theme tune, that sticks with the programme and is played at the start and the end. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cZYa_KfLTtM: this is a link to YouTube where an example of the Eastenders theme tune is played.
  


• soap operas have many characters, however they use only a few over a period of time. Below is a picture of he Corination Street cast in 2009. Not all of them are used on every episode, however they are all used over the year.

• the soaps are always set around the same place. For example, Emmerdale is always set around the Village.

• British soaps feature normal working class people, with ordinary lives. Whereas in America, they feature rich and more fantasy inspired people. Below is an example of a family from Hollyoakes compared with a few of the cast from the American soap 90210.

• every soap has a christmas or holiday special episode where something tragic always happens. Below is a picture from the Corination Street Christmas episode in 2010 when the tram crashed down through the viaduct. This storyline followed on for about a month after the first episode.

Mind Maps - Soap Operas

Here I have made two mind maps to show all that I know about soap operas. The first mind map shows all the specific things I know about soaps;

• Target Audience
• Typical Settings
• Typical Characters
• Typical Places Found In A Soap

The next mind map I created was about just specific soaps, and I wrote down everything I knew about them. This has helped me realise the conventions of a soap opera and how they are all similer. It also helped me with my 'Conventions of a soap opera' work that is also on my blog.