1. What defines a soap opera? Soap Tv drama It is set in one location every week. It has a common and well known opening sequence with the same tune. Tv dramas such as desperate housewives changes there opening sequence each season. They use more exciting billboards ect because they are only out once a year.

2. Soap opera conventions They are often set in a small settingeg Eastenders square. Camera shots are very basic and point of view andhigh shots are rarely used. Lighting is basic and in some cases they use filters to create a more duller feel. This is so the audience believe its real. The soap runs on tv, week in week out. It features continuous storylines (narratives) that normally deal with family issues. Non diagetic music is rarely used except for the opening sequence. This is to create realism. SOAP OPERA Has the same theme tune or opening sequence to when it first started. There is more than one narrative in each episode. As one is resolved another one is underway. Scenes are very short as they don't want to bore the audience because camera shots are very similar. British soaps aim to be realistic to make the audience feel like they can relate to the characters.