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.
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.
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.
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.
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)
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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 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.
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.
