Amy Jones

Codes & Conventions

Soap Operas

- They are set in a particular place. E.g. Coronation Street is set in Weatherfield.- They generally focus on family life and personal relationships.- They are based on a group of characters living in a particular place. - Most storylines revolve around romance, love and secret relationships.- Tend to focus on working-class communities.- Storylines are on everyday situations and relationships.- Soap - They have multi-stranded narratives; this is where a story is told from several view points.- The Storylines continue throughout all of the episodes.- The storylines are aired on the same date as real life, however, they are not completely related to the outside world; what happens in the real world doesn’t affect any of the characters in the soap.

- The lighting used reflects the mood of the storyline. E.g. lack of lighting equals drama.- Includes a wide range of camera angles and movements.- Soap operas tend to be sponsored this is where they get some of the funding by product placement which keeps the soap opera running.- They have unlikely narratives that would appear in a community they live in or the same village. E.g. Emmerdale.- They create realism with the use of clocks set around the right time and the use of diegetic sound. E.g . The tram passing in Coronation Street.- The soaps always include stereotypical characters. E.g. Hero and Villain.- Types of Soap Operas include; Scripted Reality (Made In Chelsea, The Only Way Is Essex) Melodrama, Australian Melodrama & Social Realism (Coronation Street, Emmerdale, Hollyoaks, Eastenders) -

Soap Opera Trailer

- Soap Opera Trailer’s are created to promote the programme, this is done to encourage possible audiences to watch it especially if it’s a brand new show or just that they have never heard of it.- Just like the soap opera’s themselves, a wide range of camera angles and movements are used.- Generally contain the information within 40ish seconds or a long trailer can be up to 1minute 30seconds.- The theme song has been created specifically for that programme, also the non-diegetic sound used throughout (soundtrack) is related in some aspects to the programme; lyrics may relate to the storyline or the soundtrack in minor/major key might reflect the mood of the scene.- Parallel narratives are included to keep the audience interested.

- The trailer always includes either on the title card at the beginning or end of the trailer a sponsor who helps with funding for the programme. E.g. Nikon sponsors ‘Hollyoaks’.- Diegetic sound, e.g. dialogue and non-diegetic sound, e.g. theme song, are used throughout the programme, mainly diegetic sound which creates realism.- The beats of the soundtrack used tend to match the edits of the trailer.- On the title card at the end, details are displayed so audiences can find out about the programme or share it with friends through, Twitter using a Hashtag or Facebook using a website link. - The trailer includes the most dramatic and interesting scenes of the programme to draw audiences in.

Soap Opera Front Cover

- Masthead at the top of the page, this creates the brand’s identity which audiences would become familiar with.- Strapline which includes features or advertisements.- Features of other soaps.- Barcode.- An issue number, the date the magazine is out and the price.- Main Cover Star(s).- A colour scheme; ‘trashy’ magazines have a chaotic look with several colours or a ‘classy’ magazine with a simple colour scheme of two or three colours.- Main star(s) eyes usually in the second fifth of the front cover.- More than one image included of other soaps of feature buttons or a grey box.

Soap Opera Billboard Poster

- Date and time of the soap opera’s release so audiences know.- A sharp and snappy slogan to draw in the audience, so they will watch the soap opera to see what it could possibly mean. - Ways of getting the audience talking about the programme and sharing it with their friends. E.g. A Hashtag to use on Twitter.- Simple layout as audiences may only catch a glimpse of it if they are on transport.- The channel’s logo is included so audience know what channel the soap opera will be aired on.- Bright and noticeable, range of colours used.- One main image of main characters from the particular storylines used that week/series etc.- Price giveaways, competitions, quizzes, quotes from celebrities etc.-