Textual Analysis of Soap Opera Trailers

1. Soap Opera Genre –
Independent Textual Analysis
Name: Elizabeth Plumb
Candidate Number: 2049
Center Name: St. Andrew’s Catholic School
Center Number: 64135
OCR Media Studies – A2 Level
Unit G324: Advanced Portfolio

2. Trailer 1 – Eastenders - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QUqmm7RuYn8
Verbal Codes –
This trailer has no use of diegetic dialogue, which could have been used to create suspense for the audience watching it. The use of the
non diegetic sound track in the background, which is what seems to be a lullaby is used to emphasise the sense of horror and unknown
during the trailer. The voiceover seems to be humming the song which connotes the sense of danger. The use of the humming could
suggest that the girl is dead as she is not singing the words. The humming girl in the background is used throughout the clip to create
uncertainty and causes the audience to feel sympathetic towards the young girl as she seems lost or uneasy as it is thought that the girl
who is singing is dead. This also creates doubt for the audience as they are left on a cliffhanger as to why she is singing. The diegetic squeak
of the swing and the bashing of the gate during the trailer could connote the genre of the episodes, horror. The sound effects cause the
audience to think that they are caused by the dead girl, which causes uncertainty and uneasiness.
The soundtrack suddenly stops as the girl is shown. This abrupt ending surprises the audience connoting that nothing is as it seems.
The ambient sound in the trailer adds to the sense of horror in the scenes, the use of the wind blowing, the seat swinging, the bottle tops
pooing off and the use of the bell all connote the risk.
Non-Verbal Codes –
The trailer has many different settings, which could help ‘signify’ (De Saussure) the multi-stranded narrative convention of the soap.
It first starts with a derelict park which connotes loneliness and uncertainty for the audience. The scene then quickly cuts to a supermarket,
which seems to be normal, however the bottle tops are turning. This connotes that the ghost of the ‘revelations’ is around. The fish
mongers is then denoted to the audience which seems to be a normal scene, however handprints are shown connoting danger or death.
The whole cast then seem to be walking toward the smashing gate, which could connote the sense of the unknown for the audience as
they do not know what is happening. Including all the characters suggests to the audience that they all have connections or are suspects to
the girls death.
In each scene of the trailer the cast are wearing dark clothing which connotes death and pain. The lighting is also very dark and low key
connoting the horror sub-genre of the episodes. The cliffhanger is used because the audience then feel obliged to watch it as they are left
unknown as to what will happen next. This is also emphasised through the use of the facial expressions of the characters as they seem
scared and confused, similar to the audience.

3. Trailer 1 – Eastenders - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QUqmm7RuYn8
Technical Codes –
The use of the technical code of the tracking shot and broken frame of the male waking though the park could connote that he is trapped
and is not aware as to what is happening. This is then later emphasised through the close up of the first males face, Max Branning, as the
audience see his shocked and confused facial expression.
The second broken frame of the trailer is denoted by looking through at the person, almost connoting that the secret is hidden just like the
unknown of the trailer.
The close up of the expressions from the characters capture the shock and misunderstanding of the situation which seems to be the death
of the young girl, however the audience are still left wondering the true plot which entices them to therefore watch the series.
The tracking shots of each of the characters is used to capture the horror of the gate which is moving without force, suggesting that the
ghost of he dead girl is among them.
The fast dolly shot, which then zooms into a mid-close up, toward the girl which then stops as a close up is also used to shock the audience
which connotes the unknown as that was unexpected. The low angled shot of her could connote that she is now dominate over the
community.

5. Trailer 2 – Hollyoaks -
http://www.channel4.com/programmes/hollyoaks/videos/all/official-hollyoaks-trailer-
spring-2015
Verbal Codes –
The verbal code of the non-diegetic soundtrack for this trailer seems to start immediately, the fast paced music could connote the never
ending cycle of drama for the soap opera, the use of the fast paced sharp violin sound effect is used in the sound track of emphasise the
tension of the characters as snips of different scenes are shown. The trailer incorporates many different snippets from the episodes, these
are all separated by the technical code of the fading effect which gives the ides to the audience that nothing is resolved. Each clip in the
trailer has people talking, however they all seem to be arguing, which could connote the endless tension, antagonism and arguing in the
episodes which causes the audience to keep watching and feeding their need for scandal so commonly ‘repeated’ (Steve Neale) in the
genre.
The diegetic soundtrack does however seem to fade out when the confessions are shown from partners, which could be because the
audience then understand the emotion of the episodes. This connotes that the soap is not just about violence and anger however does
seem to capture love and happiness.
The use of the diegetic dialogue ‘keep this a secret’ and ‘I'm dying’ capture the audience to watch the series of the program as they are left
on a cliffhanger after each scene.
There is no non diegetic voiceover during the trailer which could be used to emphasise the diegetic dialogue of the characters.
Non-Verbal Codes –
The trailer has an endless amount of settings in each clip. However they all seem to be very enclosed spaces, which could be because the
soap is mainly about the community therefore they are always with one another. The lighting seems to change from high to low key
lighting which could reflect the mood and attitude of each clip. The high key lighting could connote the joy and happy locations which are
in houses and around people who the characters seem to enjoy as they hug and laugh with each other, however the low key lighting would
connote the despair and sadness in each clip.
The characters each have many different facial expressions however they are all seem to denote the shock and confusion of the ‘secret’
that was just told, which is not told to the audience therefore making them want to find out so they watch the series.
The costumes for each clip therefore changes in correlation of the lighting. This is because the darker clothing connotes the more sinister
and shocking scenes of the episodes, for example when the female is about to shoot someone.
However the lighter/brighter clothing connotes the surprising and cheerful parts of the episodes such as the exciting moment between 2
characters as they express their excitement through shouting each others name ‘Scott!’

6. Trailer 2 – Hollyoaks -
http://www.channel4.com/programmes/hollyoaks/videos/all/official-hollyoaks-trailer-
spring-2015
Technical Codes –
The camera shots of each of the clips shown are widely all close ups. This could be because of the facial expressions needed to be shown
for each of the characters. For example the excitement on characters face as they should each others name. However it could also be used
to express the sadness in the scene as the male admits that he is ‘dying’
The tracking shots of movement is used to connote the rush of the situation which is presented, this could be used to reflect the dialogue
of the characters as they shout of whisper at one another, ‘you dug up the wrong corpse’
A medium-close up shot is used which views a woman holding a gun, however this then changes to multiple close ups of the surrounding
characters which denotes the expressions of the characters. This is then shown as a close up of the woman, followed by a gunshot this
could connote the suspense and anticipation of the series which is to follow. This leaves the audience on a cliffhanger as they do not know
who gets shot nor if the woman fired the shot.
Each part of a scene is separate with a fading effect this creates a clear transition which connotes that each plot in the series is different
and does not link.

8. Evaluation of Textual Analysis –
Compare and Contrast
Trailer 1) – Areas of Strength and what you would ‘repeat’ (Steve Neale) or “exploit” (Abercrombie – 1995)
When producing my own trailer I will ‘repeat’ (Steve Neale) the tracking and broken frame shots because I feel that they capture the
attitude towards the trailer and upcoming episodes. Therefore the audience know what to expect however are still attracted to watch it.
I would also ‘repeat’ the genre of soundtrack (horror and suspense) this is because it instantly sets the genre for the episodes that are
upcoming. This causes the audience to be attracted to the trailer before seeing anything as the soundtrack sets the mood. The camera
angles also help to represent dominance and the inferiority of the characters which could be used in my trailer.
I however will not “exploit” (Abercrombie – 1995) the constant low key lighting, this is because the genre for this soap opera was
immediately introduced which may not attract audiences as they feel that they already know about the genre.
I will also not include the use of little to no dialogue, this is because the audience may then find it harder to understand or obtain
information from.
Trailer 2) – Areas of Strength and what you would ‘repeat’ (Steve Neale) or “exploit” (Abercrombie – 1995)
When producing my trailer for a brand new soap opera I will “exploit” (Abercrombie – 1995) the use of the dramatic non-diegetic
soundtrack because it attracts the audience to the trailer from the start. The trailer for this soap opera also started the music right from the
start which I will use and they also faded it in and out. They also used fading effects which add to an easy transition between clips. I feel
that this should be used in my trailer as it adds to a dramatic effect between each of the clips.
I however will not be repeating the amount of clips that have been used, this is because the audience could become confused as to what is
going on in the episodes as too much was revealed to the audience.
I will also not repeat the speed of each clip, I feel that there are too many clips and they are all very quick therefore the audience do not
get a proper idea as to what each plot line is about.