This document defines the Australian soap opera sub-genre and provides examples and characteristics. Australian soaps feature exaggerated storylines and characters set in warm-toned locales. Examples given are Neighbours, Home and Away, Prisoner, and Sons and Daughters. Key codes and conventions of the sub-genre include stories focused on family and relationships set in a particular place that are shown on TV. Romance and secret relationships are common storylines.

1. NAMES: TOM AND KIERAN SUB-GENRE: AUSTRALIAN SOAPS
A soap set in Australia which storylines and
characters are exaggerated
In Australian soaps, the non-diegetic music
can be a lot more tropical to fit in with the
‘summer’ theme
Is the definition clear & easy to understand?
The colours in the background are more
warmer toned than British Soap Operas
Characters tend to wear more everyday
clothing rather than posh clothes like you’d see
in Hollyoaks
Neighbours
Home & Away
Examples of Soaps in this sub-genre: Prisoner
Sons & Daughters
The Sullivans
Set in a particular place
Shown on TV
Focus on family life and personal relationships
Based on a group of characters living in a
Clear examples of Codes & Conventions: particular place
Romance, love and secret relationship are in
most storylines.
Focus on working-class communities.
Everyday situations and relationships
LIGHTING:
- Natural lighting
CAMERA / EDITS:
Lighting:
- Two shots are often used, especially in
Editing:
scenes with couples
Mise en Scene:
- Extreme Close Ups are used to add drama
Sound:
SOUND:
- None diegetic slaps
- Diegetic glasses smashing, screams
Set in fictional suburb of Melbourne called
‘Erinsborough’
It is mainly based around the residents of
Ramsay Street
The show was originally going to be named
Erinsfield but they changed the name to
Any extra information? ‘Erinsborough’ because it was a loose
anagram of ‘Neighbours’
The school and Ramsay Street were the first
set used by the characters and seen by the
audience
Later developments of the town weren't
featured on-screen until 1986