Textual analysis of 2 soap opera trailers

1. Soap Opera Genre –
Independent Textual
Analysis
Name: jude munday
Candidate Number: 3092
Center Name: St. Andrew’s Catholic School
Center Number:
OCR Media Studies – A2 Level
Unit G324: Advanced Portfolio

2. Trailer 1 – Hollyoaks Autumn 2016 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mGSxBX82AX0
Verbal Codes – Comment on the use of Dialogue, Voiceover, Sound Effects or Soundtrack
Diegetic
This trailer and many like it are littered with statements about emotions or moral situations, this is important as these
are what build the drama within the show. Therefore by having some statements such as “your daughter is a murderer”
it allows the audience to get a feel for some of the issues within the show, and so may be captivated and interested by
them.
Furthermore the appearance of one liners such as “Mercedes McQueen bitch” give the audience a better feel for the
characters and also make it all that more dramatic. To end on such a one liner it may emphasize a certain characters
role, and an important part of soap operas is for the audience to feel passionate about certain characters in different
ways as if they know them personally.
Non-diegetic
Soap opera trailers often use tense music as an example of non diegetic sound to appeal to the audience engaging them
by enhancing the drama within the show. It often helps to builds up to a certain episode where an event is going to
occur in which the previous episodes have been leading up to, where something will happen to a character. Therefore
the music is often fast paced with pauses and sound effects on specific moments to enhance the drama happening in
that cut.
This leads me on to talk about the sound effects which are often very strong such as the smashing of a bottle or the
explosion of something, which makes the soap seem much more dramatic. This is due to the fact the connotations of
such sound effects are that there is conflict or that something has gone wrong, which is attractive for the target
audience who peruse this almost over the top drama.

3. Technical Codes – Comment on the use of Camera Angles, Shot Types and Camera Movement
The trailers often are filled of fast pace cuts and transitions, this allows for there to be more drama filled into a shorter
space of time, as this is what the target audience seek. This fast felt pace means that the audience are engaged
throughout the trailer as there isn't a moment for them to loose attention. Most commonly, close up camera shots of
peoples faces often from a lower angle are used. This is because the show is a drama and so focuses strongly on the
different emotions of the characters which this type of camera shot captures well, highlighting any facial expressions or
reactions such as crying. Combined with this the movement of the camera is often tracking of someone or reveling of
someone and so combined with the close ups adds to the expression of characters emotions. This is important as we can
deduce that the cameras a very character focused, each shot reveals something about a character to help to build a
relationship with the audience or add to the drama.
Non-Verbal Codes – Comment on the use of Setting, Lighting, Costumes, Facial Expressions
and Characters
There is a wide range of characters shown within the trailer along with all having their own various characteristics and
ethical/ moral issues they are faced with. This is important as the show Hollyoaks is trying to appeal to all of its audience
members by creating a character or issue such as adultery that is relatable for each different people to relate to, may
this be through ethnicity, characteristics, sexuality or many more. There is one moment as pictured below where a
woman punches a man, which ultimately denoted that there will be tension within the show. Moreso, the lighting
within the trailer varies throughout, may this be a cut from scene of high-key lighting straight to one of very low-key
lighting the contrast is very apparent. This is important because the lighting often connotes the different emotions of
the characters but allow the feel of the scene as a whole and so by having a number of different scenes with different
lighting portrays to the audience the amount of drama they could see by watching the show.

4. Trailer 2. Emmerdale - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nzLjU-Ut3tA
Verbal Codes – Comment on the use of Dialogue, Voiceover, Sound Effects or Soundtrack
Diegetic
Within the trailer there is a variety of tones and pitches expressed through the diegetic sound, which is important as
is portrays the contrasting emotions of a number of characters within the show suggesting the show has dramatic
depth. For example someone may be screaming their words in one cut and then the next may be showing someone
lovingly whisper something.
Furthermore the opening moments of the trailer like many others don’t contain diegetic sound but instead reveal
something through mise-en-sence. However once this has passed the trailer is littered which short sentences or
conversations/arguments. This is important as it reveals the story to the audience so that they can get a feel for the
kind of drama and issues being represented.
Non diegetic
Most non diegetic sound effects and back ground noise is muted throughout the trailer, this not only allows the
audience to focus attention onto the diegetic sounds so they are drawn to the drama, but also emphasizes the
sound effects which are most important, for example a gun shot.
Non-Verbal Codes – Comment on the use of Setting, Lighting, Costumes, Facial
Expressions and Characters
Emmerdale is set in a rural town, however this doesn’t take away from the fact that most the scenes of the TV drama
are set inside homes or on the street around homes (an urban environment) just like many other soap operas. This is
important because soap operas are about drama in peoples lives, considering people spend most of their time
around their in and around their home in urban settings then to make the show and trailer relatable this must be
portrayed.
The various facial expressions shown throughout the trailer for example someone crying (squinting their eyes, with a
slight frown) to someone laughing (raising their cheeks and parting their mouth in a smile) shows the contrast in
drama. It also gives a short incite to the show and skips any emotive scenes showing us the most passionate ones so
that the show overall looks more appealing to someone seeking a dram.

5. Technical Codes – Comment on the use of Camera Angles, Shot Types and Camera
Movement
There are examples of when shot-reverse-shot is used within the trailer and this is used most importantly to allow
the audience to see the faces of both people in focus by switching between them. Because of this we can see the
facial expressions and emotions being expressed by both characters without loosing attention of another character,
which allows audience members to create a greater picture of what's occurring.
Additionally there are other shot types such as reverse over the shoulder shot which allow for multiple people to be
in focus of the camera. There is a great example below where both characters the faces are in focus with the male
protagonist in the foreground and female in the background, allowing the audience to get a feel for both characters
rather than just focusing on one, as often in soap operas there isn't one main character but instead multiple
personas to focus on as every character has their own story.

6. Evaluation of Textual Analysis –
Compare and Contrast
Trailer 1) – Areas of Strength and what you would ‘repeat’ (Steve Neale) or “exploit”
(Abercrombie – 1995)
When it comes to the creation of my own soap opera trailer, I would like to repeat the use
of the non-diegetic harsh sound effects, such as the breaking or smashing of something, as
these sounds are dramatic and harsh so therefore denote the amount of drama within the
show itself. Furthermore they also alert people to what is happening within the shot, and so
retain the attention of the audience.
Trailer 2) – Areas of Strength and what you would ‘repeat’ (Steve Neale) or “exploit”
(Abercrombie – 1995)
An important convention that I noticed from watching the Emmerdale trailer is the use of
the non-verbal codes such as facial expressions to express emotion and connote the level of
drama within that very scene. Because I will repeat this, it will allow me to portray a wide
range of emotion which will connote the issues at hand along with being supported by
technical codes such as specific camera angles, which will enhance the emotion within the
facial expression. As the target audience of soap operas seek dramatic diversity, this will be
key to winning over the opinion of the audience, combined with other conventions which
further highlight the different social issues, dramatic moments and emotions explored
throughout the trailer.