1. Evaluation Question 1
In what ways does your media
product use, develop or challenge
forms and conventions of real
media products?
2. Trailer
Before creating my film trailer I did lots of research by searching
on youtube for different soap trailers. I looked at trailers for
Eastenders‟, Coronation Street, Emmerdale and Hollyoaks and
from these trailers I was able to make notes on the music,
camera angles, lighting, positioning and
sound which was very helpful.
If I hadn‟t had researched these qualities I
would have had very little understanding of
how to create a soap trailer.
3. Trailer
I did many different camera shots and angles to ensure that my soap looked well
cut and as if it could really be in the television industry.
A good example of a camera angle I used was the
shot where I focused on the wheel.
I also liked the shot where I focused
on Ellie‟s feet stepping out of the
car and gradually tilted the camera
so it was eventually showing all of her
and the audience could finally see
who it was.
4. Trailer
I also liked the shot I used of Ellie hammering in the
tent peg. I thought this was an effective camera as
the audience can only see her hand hammering in
the peg of the tent but not her face. I zoomed out at
the end of the clip to show it was Sarah and not Ellie.
The shot I have where Sarah is
walking towards me is effective
because I have another shot
of Sarah walking in the same
direction but from a different
angle.
5. Trailer
I also like the image I have of the attacker‟s feet
in the footage I have made. I think it is effective
as it doesn‟t show who it is or we he looks like.
I believe this makes it look more creepy and
sinister.
The 360 degree turn is also effective I think
because it looks as if Sarah is in trouble and
lost. It also gives the impression that
someone is out there.
Additionally, the camera shot where Ellie is
asleep and her eyes suddenly open when
she hears Sarah‟s scream is very effective.
6. Trailer
Comparing my soap trailer to professional soap trailers such as Eastenders’ and
Hollyoaks trailers I realise they are similar in many ways:
• They all have catchy, distinctive music throughout the trailer.
• They all have a voiceover at the end to tell the audience when the episode is
on.
• I have used an array of different camera angles
• My transitions are the same as the ones in the Eastenders‟ trailer I researched.
However there are also some differences:
• I chose not to have speech in my trailer as I thought it would be effective this
way.
7. Magazine
To create an effective magazine front cover for my soap trailer I researched
images of magazine front covers on google. The first thing I noticed was that
although each magazine had a different name e.g. “TV mag”, “TV SOAP”, “tv
choice” and “What‟s on TV”, they all had it inside a red box in the top left hand
corner of the page. I decided I would use this in my own
front page but would call it “TV 24/7 to make it different.
I also noticed that red and yellow
are very popular
colours to use.
8. Magazine
I used a blue background as most magazines I researched had a bright blue
background so I thought it would look more realistic and professional if I did the
same.
The majority of magazines I looked at including the two I discussed on my blog
have two soap characters on the front, usually with one standing slightly in front
of the other so I did this on my magazine making Sarah stand in front of Ellie
which I believe is a very effective position.
Much like my researched magazines, I
chose bold, powerful fonts to capture the
audience‟s attention.
9. Poster
As I have never made a soap magazine before I decided it would be important
to research into what one should include. The posters I found of television
programmes showed characters from the programmes grouped together and
wearing clothes they would typically wear in the episodes. They all have powerful
titles displaying the names of their programmes and in the posters I researched,
„the simple life‟ was the only poster which had additional writing on it.
I realised that the
poster had to be very
simple but very
effective. It is important
that it isn‟t crowded
like the magazine
front cover.
10. Poster
Using other magazines helped me to create
my final poster. I used the idea of having
my characters posing with serious expressions
create an impact.
I also edited the contrast and saturations on
the photograph like the poster advertising
„Torchwood‟ had done. I believe this made
it look eye catching and appealing.
Like the posters I researched, I made the name
of the poster look bold and a main focus of
the magazine.
I included when the times and channel that
the soap is on like „The Simple Life‟ had in
Their poster.
