2. Soaps often have special episodes for Soap operas
Soap operas include events in the real world. E.g. always include
multiple main characters Christmas, New Years Eve. This is to conflict and
in order to allow create the sense of realism and also disequilibrium
multiple parallel build suspense as these special between
narratives and episodes usually demonstrate characters to
convergence to keep the powerful storylines and outcomes that create tension
audience interested and happen on these days to keep the and reflect real
attract their attention. audience wanting to watch more. life conflicts.
Every soap contains an opening
Soap episodes often Lighting is generally
theme tune during the title card
begin with a ‘hook’ basic and features day
which sets the scene for the soap
where one or more of lighting. However, in
and makes it instantly memorable.
the narratives from a some soaps such as The
However, soap operas rarely
previous episode are Only Way Is Essex, the
contain music throughout the soap
continued. This will lighting used is a lot
unless there is a particular piece of
usually end with a ‘cliff- brighter and flatters the
music used for dramatic purposes,
hanger’ to create characters to make them
which generally has repetitive
suspense and tension look appealing unlike in
beats and a harmonic drone
within the soap. soaps like Coronation
throughout.
Street.

3. Social Realism soaps Plots are open-ended and an Editing in Social
include storylines that episode usually consists of three Realism soaps is very
are based on real life or four storylines which means that subtle featuring natural
and everyday issues there is no set narrative as social transitions between
such as family realism soaps are continuous. The scenes. There has to
arguments, crimes and episodes usually end with a cliff- be an element of
affairs. This is so the hanger to build suspense and continuity in Realism
audience can relate to attract the audiences attention so soaps.
them and. they continue to watch the soap.
Examples of Social
Camera work is kept Characters in Realism soaps have
Realism soaps:
simple and avoids any an accent and dialogue that matches
tricks to help create a the location of the soap. This is to
realistic product. The build on the regional identity of the
camera acts as a casual soap to make it more recognizable
observer, as if to watch to the audience and fits in with
the events of the Social Realism conventions.
episode.
Stereotypes are portrayed
Lighting used is very basic and features within Realism soaps to set
day lighting. This is to replicate sunlight the location of the show. E.g.
or lamps in a characters homes. Emmerdale featuring the
rolling hills.

4. My media products are based on the Social Realism soap Eastenders as the mise en
scene, lighting, editing and camera work is very similar to this soap. Additionally, the
storylines in both Eastenders and my soap trailer reflect real life and everyday
issues so the audience can relate to them and gain an emotional attachment towards
the soap, which is conventional of Social Realism soaps.
This is my first draft of my title This is the title card for a
card for my soap. Christmas special of Eastenders.
I called my soap opera ‘Northern Quarter’ as it was shot in Manchester and suggests
the regional identity of the soap, just like Eastenders implies it is set in the East end
of London.
Key: Green = used conventions. Orange = developed conventions. Red = challenged
conventions.

5. shot Reverse shot
The shot reverse shot is conventional of all Social Realism soaps as the camera
is acting as the forth wall and therefore reminding the viewers that they are
watching the characters real life narratives, rather than contributing to it.
Moreover, the use of outdoor shots featured in all Realism soaps helps to
demonstrate the dull natural lighting used to create a realistic picture. Realistic,
casual costumes are featured on the characters to imply the day to day problems
these characters have so the audience can relate to it.
shot Reverse shot
Coronation street.

6. Medium close up. Close up.
I have used the convention of I have also used close up shots
medium close ups as they are which are a dominant
presented in all Social Realism soaps. conventional feature in Realism
They allow the audience to see the soaps as they provide insight
emotions and body language of the into the characters emotions
characters as they focus more on the and thoughts which helps to
subject and less of the setting. engage the audience.
Coronation Street. Emmerdale.

7. Point of View shot. Ground level shot.
I have developed conventions by I have challenged conventions with a
incorporating a point of view shot with ground level a ground level shot as
an over the shoulder shot. This allows the focus in Social Realism soaps is
the audience to feel part of the soap usually the characters faces to
without breaking the forth wall. Also, demonstrate emotions, not their feet.
they provide the audience with the main However, Eastenders do use a ground
focus to imply the narrative. level shot in an episode.
Emmerdale. Eastenders.

8. Two shot.
I have used conventions by adding two
These are two shots which are more
shots in my parody. These two shots are
loosely framed to show the setting of
both tightly frames so the focus is on the
the scene as well as the facial
characters and not their surroundings. The
expressions. This helps the viewer to
natural day lighting sued helps add to the
gain a clearer insight of the mise en
realism, along with casual costumes and
scene portrayed, e.g. a café or home.
facial features to suit the narratives.
Coronation Street. Eastenders.

9. Shocked face Slap
Shocked faces are also conventional of Slap scenes are conventional of Social
Realism soaps and allow the audience Realism soaps as they show the
to see the characters reaction to a audience a dramatic emotion which
certain action/narrative. This makes attracts their attention. However, the
the soap more interesting to the characters reaction is not as over the
audience and the natural make up top as the reaction of slap scenes are
presented on the characters adds to in Scripted Realities, which adds to the
the realism. realism of the soaps.

10. Depth of field.
In my soap Northern Quarter, there
are lots of deep focuses which allows
the audience to see clearly into the
distance of the surroundings which
helps set the scene. This challenges
conventions with Social Realism
soaps as they usually provide shallow
focuses as the want the closest
element to the camera to be the main
focus. However, Realism soaps do
also include focus pulls from shallow
focus to deep focus sometimes.
The straight cuts and simple editing is conventional to create realism and imply
smooth transitions between scenes. Although Social Realism soaps rarely use
music in the soaps, it is conventional to have a soundtrack to a trailer. This
catches the audiences attentions and depending on what mood the soap wants
to portray, major or minor keys with repetitive melodic drones help to create
the feeling of urgency and anxiety.

11. The location of my soap Northern
Quarter is in Manchester and this is
demonstrated through the use of
outdoor shots. This is conventional of
Social Realism soaps as the majority
of these soaps are set outside. This
is to emphasize the realism of the
soaps as natural day lighting is used.
This is where I have used
conventions for my Realism parody
so the audience can associate the
dull day lighting and setting with the Social Realism soaps usually contain
everyday issues portrayed in the normal named characters such as
narratives. Emily and Josh. However, I have
developed conventions as there is
I used the same logo as BBC One as sometimes one or two characters
the simplistic plain font creates brand with abstract names such as Charity
identity. The BBC One logo appears in Emmerdale and Diesel in Northern
after all BBC One trailers, e.g. Quarter. This allows certain
Eastenders and the title of the soap characters to stick in the viewers
and the showing time is presented on minds and contrasts with the ordinary
a title card after the trailers, where day to day feel of Social Realism
as in my trailer it is presented at the soaps.
start.

12. I based my soap magazine front cover on the
‘Classy’ style of magazine ‘TV & Satellite week.’
The simple colour scheme of using 3 dominant
colours used throughout helps to make the product
look professional. The colours also stick in the
audiences minds and helps them to instantly
recognize the magazine type and make it memorable.
The caption
under the
dominant photo
anchors the
image in both
magazines and
helps the reader
to understand
what soap it is
The mast head is in a simplistic and gives a small
font which matches the TV & insight into the
Satellite week magazine. The storylines and
plain white text and the drop emotions
shadow effect helps the text to portrayed. The
stand out on the dark stand out quote
background and image to attract also helps to
the readers attention. emphasize this.

13. The main stars use eye contact One way I challenged conventions
with the camera to directly was by using Enter Shikari’s ‘Hello
address and engage the tyrannosaurus meet tyrannicide’ as
audience. This allows the my background music track. This
audience to clearly see the challenged conventions because the
characters serious facial genre is drum & bass and metalcore,
expressions and get a clearer which aren't stereotypical music
view of the storyline. choices for Social Realism soaps. I
chose this because the repetitive
beat goes well with my clean cut
edits and the melodic drone
The features are all placed throughout creates an eerie
around the dominant image with atmosphere and suspense which is
their soap names and captions. the mood I wanted to get across in
They all have the dark red my soap trailer. Here is the YouTube
colour around them which is link for the song:
conventional of TV & Satellite
week and also allows them to http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A
stand out against the ms0VGceOXI
background.