St. Paul’s Catholic College

Center Number: 64770

Candidate Number: 6616

Candidate Name: Lance Chirume

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

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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)

- Is this evident and how is this presented to the audience?

Research

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

Production Work

Director – Roles & Responsibilities? Producer – Roles & Responsibilities? Institution research – BBC Two

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Soap Opera Codes & Conventions

There are a lot of ‘strong women’ (Feasey) in soap

opera trailers and a good example of on is Kat from EastEnders.

She doesn’t take nonsense from

nobody which is evident in the trailer.

In the soap opera genre every soap has

their own unique soundtrack, a

soundtrack that denotes what type of soap opera it is. This is essential because

it helps the audience more aware of the

soap could also make them watch

the show.

Soap operas usually focus their story lines on real life

situation that people go through, that way

more people can actually relate to

what’s going on the in the episodes.

Establishing shot are a key convent in the genre of soap opera because they help

the audience to figure out what is going to happen next. For example in the

EastEnders trailer the establishing shot is of the Queen Vic and the long angle

long shot is a signifies that something is wrong because it shows the Queen Vic

burnt down.

Every soap has a ident. Its how the audience breaks

down what the soap is about. For

instance EastEnders’s ident is BBC and they aim to

‘inform’ and ‘educate’ (John

Reith).

Cliff hangers are a convent ion that is found frequently in soap opera trailer

because they add the feeling of mystery and are an ‘enigma code’ (Barthes) that something has gone

wrong.

Usually in the soap opera genre there is always a

multi stranded narrative. Many narratives happening

at the same time to affect the overall outcome. These

types of narrative are effective because viewers

can enjoy a variety of different scenes ‘personally identify’ (Katz) themselves

with the different situations.

Codes and Conventions of

the Soap Opera Genre

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2) The codes and conventions of the soap opera genre can be categorised by the ‘repeated’ (Steve Neale) elements of:

1. Love

2. Conflict

3. Secrets

4. Multi stranded narrative

5. Cliffhangers

6. Exploration Regional identity

EastEnders (1985 – Present)

Key information regarding this text:

BBC 1 and 3 exhibit Eastenders Eastenders regularly attracts 8 to 12 million views

kitchen sink Kitchen sink is usually aimed at the working British

citizens who spend time in the pub and explore social issues and political controversies

It is available to view on BBC iPlayer The show airs every weekday on BBC1 at either

7:30pm or 8:00pm, expect Wednesdays. It is repeated on BBC3 at 10pm.

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EastEnders aims to ‘inform, educate and entertain’ (John Reith)

The soap opera tries to appeal to a British audience so some of its content won’t be as interesting to other ‘ethnicities’ (Hartley)

Textual Analysis Task

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

According to Hartley’s Seven Subjectivities the target audience for EastEnders is:

Age 15 to 50

Gender Female but will still attract a male audience

Nationality

British

Trailer 1) Week of The Revelations EastEnders – EastEnders 2015 Trailer – BBC1

Who killed Lucy? Is the focus of this trailer.

Code&

Evidence Impact on the Audience

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Convention (Verbal, Non-Verbal, Technical)

(Katz, Maslow, Hartley)

RomanceNon verbal red lip stick denotes that Ian and Jane are a couple

Personal relationship (Katz) audience will form a bond a bond with Ian and Jane’s relationship and will want one just like that

Family relationships and/or conflict

Technical code of the whole family being shown at the cafe

The ‘Family’ (Hartley) is connected and close even in times of fear as the whole family was scared. A family would see this and ‘personally identify’ (Katz) themselves with the situation.

Focus on working class communities

Long shot of Ian and Jane’s café

(Katz) ‘Personal identification’ the audience will realize that they visit the same location that seen in the EastEnders show. Their café is place that is seen a lot in the actual show and the audience will realise this.

“Multi-Stranded Narrative”

There are many different locations in the trailer and different narratives are happening. The Beale’s in the fish and chip shop, Denise in the Vic and Abi is in the local shop.

A multi stranded narrative would appeal to an audience who want a form of “diversion” from the real world and get in the shoes of the characters situation. They will enjoy this because they can relate to their favourite character and escape from reality.

‘Disequilibrium’ (Todorov)

Dystopian (CGI) setting when the ghost of the girl is shown (non

Having a disequilibrium will make ‘caregivers’ (Maslow) worry about what is going to happen next, maybe their

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verbal). There are no light what so ever and all you can see the ghost of Lucy at the top the building looking down upon everyone. Even the music being played is very spooky and ‘signifies’ (Saussure) that something is wrong.

favourite character is in danger and they want them to get out of danger.

Trailer 2)

Hollyoaks Autumn 2014 Trailer

This trailer utilises the use of a multi stranded narrative, where various narrative are shown and examples of this is when John proposes to Steven, Dodger becoming a father and the wedding crash.

Code&

Convention

Evidence

(Verbal, Non-Verbal, Technical)

Impact on the Audience

(Katz, Maslow, Hartley)

RomanceThe diegetic dialogue of Dodger saying “I love you” connotes that the he is most definitely in with

The ‘male’ (Hartley) audience who view this are inspired to be as ambitious in their relationship their girlfriends. They will feel encourage to show love and affection to their partners just like

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is girl. He even confirms this by kissing his girlfriend a kiss on the lips. The non-verbal code of kiss is a way of him showing the love and affection he has for hi girl and he is willing to do anything for her.

Dodger did.

Family relationships and/or conflict

The verbal code “he loves us and going to start a new life” shows that she has a man who cares her and her family; he is willing to do anything for them. She to love him and is hopeful that their life will work out just fine. It is clear the she loves her child very dearly and she is seems comfortable with her toy but unaware what’s going on.

‘Caregivers’ (Maslow) will sympathies with this situation because they want they best for Carmel, especially the ‘female’ (Hartley) gender because are more likely to be in the same situation as her

Focus on working class

The technical code of the wide shot used to

This represents the working class in a good light and would attract ‘social climbers’

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communities capture the police officers and their cars.

(Maslow) who aspire to better their social class. Seeing the police men doing their job would inspire them and make them want to move on to the next class. For example if someone was unemployed and through watching the trailer they will be determined to find a job.

“Multi-Stranded Narrative”

There are many different settings and they gave different storylines. There is a wedding crash, a court case and a baby being born.

Having so many different storylines is essential become they will appeal to different audiences and creates a ‘diversion’ (Katz) from the real world and the current situation. It will also keep the viewers interest in watching the program.

‘Disequilibrium’ (Todorov)

The diegetic code of the dialogue “you need to go in there and tell the truth” denotes that John lied and he could potentially get into trouble if the truth doesn’t come out. An audience who watches Hollyoaks regularly will realise that the two partners are in love and care for each other

Couples who watch the show and have been in similar situations will ‘personally identify’ (Katz) and can relate to the situation the John and Steven are in.

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dearly.

Multi-stranded narrative

A Multi-stranded narrative can be defined as many narratives running at the same time, this is popular in television programs such as Eastenders and Hobby City

A 10 minute deconstructed EastEnders text below indicates where the following elements are present to the audience:

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

Code & Convention Evidence Impact on the audience

Multi-stranded narrative

The technical use of jump cuts in the in between different storylines is used and it keeps the audience interested in the trailer because there is so much to keep up with. For example Kush and Shabnam are talking about Kush’s birthday and in a another scene Patrick and Dean are talking about the issues that Dean has

A multi-stranded narrative makes sure that the audience is kept on the edge of their seats and constantly enjoy what’s going on, it also ‘informs’ (Katz) the audience on different situations that teenagers face.

Family relationships

The diegetic verbal code “can’t you

A ‘female’ (Hartley) watching will

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and/or conflict even begin to care!” was said by Shirley to her boyfriend Buster when they were arguing over what to do with their sons child. You could tell that she was unhappy and stressed with this and she is clearly a woman who cares for her family because she’s the only one trying to save it.

definitely admire what Shirley is trying to do and will hope she manages

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)?

The connotations of the Hollyoaks ident are that the programme is aimed towards both male and female audience and centres around the ‘battle of the sexes’

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

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Production Work

1) What is the role of a Producer?

They manage the production aspect when creating any type of moving image. For example they’re in charge of the pre-production, production and post-production stages and they and make sure that everything runs smoothly by creating an environment which will best suite the cast and crew. They also decide on the sequence of the scene in the moving images.

2) What is the role of a Director?

A director controls the artistic perspective of a moving image and they tell people what to do on and off camera, they’re responsible of making sure the moving images portrays the exact messages it was intended to portray. Usually they have some sort of vision with how the media text should look like and they have to tell the cast and crew members how to bring that vision to life.

3) Institution research –

My soap opera trailer will be exhibited on the BBC 2 channel

It’s a well recognised channel which natural targets older British viewers around the age of the age of 50.

On average BBC 2 pull in an estimated 1 million viewers

The channel was first launched on the 20th April 1964

BBC 2 strives to produce content that is smart, original and humorous at the same time.

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They mainly focus on programs that have truth behind them.

They aim to please a culture with diverse cultures and individuals.

According to John Reath BBC 2’ programs aim to ‘inform, educate and entertain’ audiences.

Some of the greatest shows on BBC 2 include ‘Top gear’ and ‘Dragons Den’

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