A2 Coursework Evaluation

By Amelia Lancaster

Q1. How did you USE, DEVELOP or CHALLENGE codes and conventions of real media products?

Soap Conventions

Mise en scene:The costumes of the characters reflect their identity, mood and characteristics. The location and setting of the soap identify the type of characters. Little makeup is used to create the realism of normal all day everyday.

Storylines:The storylines in soap operas swap and change throughout the episode to keep the audience entertained. Sometimes they link between each other to create more drama.

Camera Shots:Typical shots include1. Medium close up2. Two shots3. Over the shoulder

3. Establishing shot4. Extreme close up

Use of colour:The background colour mostly reflects the mood, for example if there is a sad/upsetting scene the background will be light quite dark. The colour of the characters clothes are important too, for example if a woman was wearing red the audience would immediately associate her with the themes love, sex and danger.

Realism:In social realism soap opera the importance of using realistic storylines and characters is extremely significant as audience need to be able to relate to them in order for them to be successful.

Q1. Using form and conventions

For our soap trailer we used a plain font not a serine font so the logo is easy for the audience to read and memorable enough for them to recognise it. Simple black and white is used so it doesn't look too glamorous, reflecting the mood and feeling of the soap. The colour black represents death and depression whilst white connotes innocence and virginity representing the difference in the personality of the characters.

Our logo is similar to Coronation Street as we took inspiration from this soap to create our own. Again, this logo has a black and white colour scheme but in the style of a street sign.

The font used almost looks like the font used on motorway signs representing the soap as “in the city” and urban, creating a modern image for our soap is pivotal as it attracts a younger audience therefore appealing to a wider spread of people.

Most soap operas are named after the place they are set, for example Coronation Street, Hollyoaks and The Only Way Is Essex. So we decided to use the name “The North” as our soap is set in Manchester. The background of the billboard reflects where the characters come from and illustrates they are part of a working class background.

Q1. Using form and conventions

Q1. Using form and conventions

Within soap operas location is extremely important as it relates to the characters lifestyle, social class, and background. It also helps to portray any necessary messages and ideas. As our soap is set and named after Manchester it seemed appropriate to film in the centre of the town in order for it to seem plausible. Piccadilly Gardens, the top floor of a car park, a darken alleyway and a cafe in town all seemed suitable locations where the characters would be seen in. The first and last give the impression of normality where characters would go to socialise. But the middle two are locations where danger is apparent, and there is a situation going on.

Once again this helps to give realism to the story and further helps the audience understand the background story and lives of our characters. This helps them to relate to our soap which uses similar conventions to Coronation Street and Hollyoaks.

Q1. Using form and conventions: Storylines

Troubled RelationshipAfter doing some research I found that a relationship in trouble due to an affair appeals to audiences as it relates to normal life and can also help people to conquer their problems.

AntagonistA male villain character is also apparent in many soaps as the audience crave a narrative resolution and usually want the antagonist to be defeated.

Q1. Using form and conventions: Storylines

We also used title cards within the soap to conform to typical soap opera conventions. Title cards give the audience an insight into what is happening in the storylines and breaks up the scenes neatly. Using two different storylines within the trailer keeps the audience entertained yet doesn’t confuse them.