St. Paul’s Catholic College

Center Number: 64770

Candidate Number: 6570

Candidate Name: Yunus Kasim

A2 Media Studies

Unit G324: Advanced Portfolio in Media –

Production Log

Evidence of Planning & Research

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Aims and Objectives

AO2 – Assess candidates’ application of knowledge and understanding in evaluating their own work, showing how meanings and responses are created.

AO3 – Assess candidates’ ability to plan and construct media products using appropriate technical and creative skills.

AO4 – Assess candidates’ ability to undertake, apply and present appropriate research.

Brief Chosen

A 45 second – 1 minute 30 second trailer for a NEW Soap Opera

that will be exhibited on at 8:30pm (after Eastenders) that will appeal to a Male and Female audience.

YOU SHOULD research when Eastenders is scheduled (Day – Time)

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Contents

Textual Analysis

Eastenders

- Soap Opera Codes & Conventions- Multi Strand Narrative

Coronation Street

“..the home, the family, domestic tribulations and the strong woman, and as such, it has long been said to appeal to the female viewer”

‘Masculinity and Popular television’ – Rebecca Feasey (2007)

- Within a soap opera there are many problems that occur amongst family members, as well as issues that arise in the communities. These issues can be applicable to the audience, as they are able to relate to the issues that the characters have to go through in everyday life. Likewise, the inclusion of ‘strong women’ is essential as the demographic mostly consist of women.

Research

Purpose of a Trailer Multi-Platform promotion Textual Analysis – Coronation Street and Hollyoaks

Deadlines – Production Work

Filming Dates:

Edited Trailer – Complete:

Promotional Poster – Complete:

Promotional Magazine Cover – Complete:

Evaluation – Complete:

Production Work

Director – Roles & Responsibilities? Producer – Roles & Responsibilities?

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Institution research – BBC Two

Institution Research – BBC TWO

BBC 2 looks to include a range of genres, so that it can be relatable towards a collection of audiences.

It is distributed (live broadcast) freely within the UK, and shown 24hours every single day, and so it is convenient for every individual.

Looks to engage the audience as much as possible, by including the most high quality footage.

Eastenders (1985 –Present)

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Key information regarding this text:

More than 11.9 million viewers on first episode

It is one of the most successful Soap Opera’s in the UK, with 6million views each episode.

Its displayed on TV during weekdays apart from Wednesday, and they show an omnibus on Sundays.

Textual Analysis Task

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ye51O8WBVVM&feature=related -

YOU MUST complete the Table below whilst watching the TWO promotional trailers for the BBC Soap Opera Eastenders.

YOU SHOULD aim to identify key examples (Verbal, Non-Verbal, Technical) from each trailer that demonstrates your understanding.

Extension - YOU COULD apply relevant audience theory to explain what impact these key examples would have on the target demographic.

In your opinion, according to Hartley’s Seven Subjectivities, what is the target audience for Eastenders?

Age: 35+

Gender: Middle aged women, but also applicable towards men.

Nationality: British

Trailer 1)

What is the Focus of this trailer?The week of Revelations – Eastenders 2015 Trailer

________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Code Evidence Impact on the Audience

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&Convention (Verbal, Non-Verbal,

Technical)(Katz, Maslow, Hartley)

Romance N/A N/A

Family relationships and/or conflict

- Has an effect on Bill’s family.

- All of the community is affected.

KATZ THEORY

Focus on working class communities

-Similar status between people who work in a pub or shops outside. It is illustrated that the community shares the same difficulties, and the coming together connotes the strength of the community as they’ve lost a big part of it (Lucy).

Maslow’s Hierarchy of needs

“Multi-Stranded Narrative”

N/A N/A

‘Disequilibrium’ (Todorov)

Shirly arguing because she wasn’t allowed to adopt.

Hartley’s seven subjectivities

Trailer 2)

What is the Focus of this trailer?Eastenders trailer: ‘World cup 2014’ What will unfold after the World Cup, as Eastenders were unable to air on television during this period.

Code&

Convention

Evidence

(Verbal, Non-Verbal, Technical)

Impact on the Audience

(Katz, Maslow, Hartley)

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Romance N/A N/A

Family relationships and/or conflict

The conflict caused by Shirley as well as Sharon has an influence on their surroundings, this is expressed when the football is about to hit Masood, and therefore it leaves a sudden sense of suspense for the audience, and initially encourages the viewers to keep watching, even after the long period of The World Cup 2014.

N/A

Focus on working class communities

The trailer illustrates that there are ‘strong women’ included in a soap opera. This is clearly demonstrated through Shirley and Sharon playing football, as they both look to be the alpha women and ultimately be in control.

Rebbeca Feasey (Strong Women)

“Multi-Stranded Narrative”

N/A N/A

‘Disequilibrium’ (Todorov)

N/A N/A

Multi-stranded narrative

A multi – stranded narrative refers to when two or more secluded groups of characters are in existence. Juxtaposition suggests that groups with their own charcacters will be able to relate to one another.

YOU MUST deconstruct the 10-minute extract from Eastenders and identify where the following elements are presented to the audience:

Multi-stranded narrative

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Family relationships and/or conflict Focus on working class communities ‘Disequilibrium’ (Todorov) Romance

YOU SHOULD write down x1-2 examples for EACH of the elements above that are presented.

Code & Convention Evidence Impact on the audience Multi-stranded

narrativeAdoption and purity.Ramadan helping

Keep attention, intriguing the audience

Family relationships and/or conflict

Adoption, daughter gets dress

Relate to family

Focus on working class communities

Helping the harmless social needs

Inform, educate

Disequilibrium’ (Todorov) The party, Ramadan needs more after

Make them interested

Romance Couple when gifts was facing

Following relative integration.

Soap Opera Codes & Conventions continued – Lesson 3Textual Analysis

According to Rebecca Feasey in ‘Masculinity and Popular television’ (2007), the Soap Opera genre tends to focus on:

“… the home, the family, domestic tribulations and the strong women , and as such, it has long been said to appeal to the female viewer”

1) – Do you agree?

Rebecca Feasey’s theory is precise as watching a selection of soap operas has enabled me to see the different aspects that she suggests, ‘…the home, and the family, domestic tribulations appeal to the female viewer’. For instance Peggie throwing people out from the pub, or Zainab telling off her family. These examples clearly indicates the dominance that females have within the soap, and it can be generalised towards other soap operas (Hollyoaks/ Neighbors).

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F8_ApPT6isY (First 5 minutes)

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Next Page - YOU MUST deconstruct the opening 5 minutes of a sequence from the popular ITV Soap Opera Coronation Street (1960 – Present) to identify examples of where this ideology is presented to the target audience.

YOU SHOULD also try and identify, to demonstrate your knowledge and understanding of the genre, any Codes & Conventions associated to the Soap Opera genre.

Code & Convention Evidence Impact on the audience

Rebecca Feasey (2007) Ideology:

1. Lot’s of ‘strong women’ e.g. Nurse breaking News – Indian lady breaking news of death.

2. Stereotyping of gender roles e.g. Watching TV whilst man was about doing tasks.

3. Impact of family deaths on the home.

-Two women in the bar, emasculating two men and putting them in their place, and casting of the men was important as they were small, bold and drinking a feminine drink.-Cross cut between each scene showed women standing out to men. .eg. Bethany bemoaning David for not completing his chores.

4. Mise – en - scene: Set within homes or involving families. The street is a stereotypical of community.

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“Multi-Stranded Narrative”

Family relationships and/or conflict

- Sisters have an argument whilst having dinner.

- Husband and wife involved with conflict.- Friends arguing about football.

Focus on working class communities

N/A

Disequilibrium’ (Todorov)Deaths that lead to funerals.

Romance N/A

Other Themes & Issues represented:

N/A

Soap Opera Codes & Conventions continued – Lesson 4Textual Analysis

1) What is the purpose of a trailer?

The purpose is to promote as well as advertise the film before it is released in cinemas. Also, it is to inform the audience and therefore potential viewers.

2) What are the benefits of Multi-Platform promotion of a media text?

Integrated content across various platforms. Encourage creative branding solutions. Enables more audiences to access. Gives the audience the ability to take in information from a media text

in their own manner.

Ultimately, some form of convergence is important when promoting a text to the target audience.

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3)

Textual Analysis –

Next Page - YOU MUST make notes on the following areas when deconstructing this sequence from Coronation Street:

Multi-stranded narrative Character dilemmas ‘Personal Identification’ (Katz)

- Starts off with a narration, followed by a slow as well as tense non-digetic sound that builds the scene up.

- The comments from friends and family members, connotes that the marriage is a bad idea and foreshadows that it’s going to end in a disaster.

- Awomen states that he is “ a pathetic, vile little man…” this emphasises that he has a bad reputation and therefore the community are judging that this will influence there marriage.

- As the groom gets himself prepared, he looks nervous, as he maybe doubting his decision to be with Shelly.(Character Dilemma)

- The lady who makes the cake expresses her feelings (she sighs), as she may think that the wedding will not work out as a whole and is destined to suffer.

- The lady illustrates a side look towards her husband, and this could show wariness about the marriage.

- Non-Digetic music – “Boy I’m lucky” (Dramatic Irony?)

- It ends with a final sequence illustrating Shelly staring, and looking very anxious about the marriage rather than feeling excited(like a typical bride), as the non-digetic sound dimmers down.

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http://www.channel4.com/programmes/hollyoaks/4od

The above link will take you to some of the latest episodes of Hollyoaks.

1. What are the connotations of the ident for the popular Channel Four Teen Soap Opera Hollyoaks (1995 – Present)?

Within the ident it denotates that there is a clear contrast between females and males, and this is due to the separation of the two colors (pink and blue). It concentrates on young individuals who have chaotic lives, just like a normal teenager, this is known as a ‘teenage crisis’ and many issues arise that can be related (Maslows theory) with the audience. The themes consist of sexuality, domestic violence and teenage pregnancies.

The ident is unique and different, and this enables the audience to distinguish and recognize that they are watching Hollyoaks and helps them promote the brand, and eventually gain more viewers that will lead to a successful soap. The ident is symbolic as it demonstrates that the overview of what will occur within the show, and foreshadows to the audience that there will be many tribulations that will occur but it is illustrated in the ident in a very simplistic manner.

Next Page - Hollyoaks – “White Wedding Trailer” - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bu2sW-r9Vb4

2. YOU MUST make notes on the following areas when deconstructing this sequence from Hollyoaks:

Binary opposition of the non-diegetic music Symbolism of the non-verbal code of the tear Representation of Pregnancy Any other examples that would impact the audience

As shown within the trailer the non-digetic song presents a binary opposition(Levi Strauss) to what is happening in the trailer, meaning that it does not synchronise with the soap trailer. The song expresses and repeates the word ‘White’ throughout the trailer, however the mise en scene (clothes) shows that they are wearing black and so completely opposite. Furthermore, the bride is pregnant and so she is tired plus exhausted and therefore stating that it is not a good day after all.

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Production Work

1) What is the role of a Producer?

Manage everyone and ensure everything is in place in order for the text to look fit for its purpose. Pre – production, production, post – production.

2) What is the role of a Director?

Oversee the creative aspects of the production. Direct people in front and behind the camera.

3) Institution research –

YOU MUST research the institution that your trailer will be exhibited on.

Tips: Programming, Target audience, Audience figures, History of the channel.

The majority of the target audience is people aged 25-40 years of age.

The audience share is 8.4%

BBC 2 became the first channel in Europe to broadcast TV programs in colour and this was during July 1,1967.

They usually include exhibited documentary, whilst other channels are expressed differently.

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