This document contains planning and research materials for a media studies project on producing a trailer for a new soap opera. It includes aims and objectives, research on soap opera codes and conventions using examples from EastEnders and Coronation Street, research on the purpose and promotion of trailers, and notes on roles of a director and producer. Deadlines for production elements like the edited trailer, promotional poster and magazine cover are also provided. The document demonstrates thorough planning and research on genres and institutions to inform the trailer production.

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St. Paul’s Catholic College
Center Number: 64700
Candidate Number: 6476
Candidate Name: Liam Quinn
A2 Media Studies
Unit G324: Advanced Portfolio in Media –
Production Log
Evidence of Planning & Research

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Aims and Objectives
 AO2 – Assess candidates’ application of knowledge and
understanding in evaluating their own work, showing
how meanings and responses are created.
 AO3 – Assess candidates’ ability to plan and construct
media products using appropriate technical and creative
skills.
 AO4 – Assess candidates’ ability to undertake, apply and
present appropriate research.
Brief Chosen
A 45 second – 1 minute 30 second trailer for a NEW Soap Opera
that will be exhibited on at 8:30pm (after Eastenders)
that will appeal to a Male and Female audience.
YOU SHOULD research when Eastenders is scheduled (Day –
Time)

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Contents
Textual Analysis
 Eastenders
- Soap Opera Codes & Conventions
- Multi Strand Narrative
 Coronation Street
“..the home, the family, domestic tribulations and the strong woman, and as
such, it has long been said to appeal to the female viewer”
‘Masculinity and Popular television’ – Rebecca Feasey (2007)
- Is this evident and how is this presented to the audience?
Research
 Purpose of a Trailer
 Multi-Platform promotion
 Textual Analysis – Coronation Street and Hollyoaks
Deadlines – Production Work
Filming Dates:
Edited Trailer – Complete:
Promotional Poster – Complete:
Promotional Magazine Cover – Complete:
Evaluation– Complete:
Production Work
 Director – Roles & Responsibilities?
 Producer – Roles & Responsibilities?
 Institution research – BBC Two

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SoapOpera Codes & Conventions – Lesson2
1) What are some of the Codes & Conventions of this genre?
Soap Opera
Cliffhangers to engage and
almost persuade the
audience to watch the next
episode, this is a great way
to attract larger audiences.
In this genre I would
expect the dramatic
events to make it more
interesting.
There should be many
events within the series
that would relate to the
viewers.
They are usually targeted
at middle-classed
housewives.
I would expect there to
be a large cast for all
soap operas. This gives
the soap opera a chance
to create multi-stranded
narratives
I would normally
expect the
characters to be of
a working class
Normally in soap
operas stories are
continued over
many episodes to
keep the audience
engaged

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2) Codes & Conventions of the SoapOpera Genre
The Soap Operagenre can be categorizedby the ‘repeated’
(Steve Neale ) elements of:
1. Romance
2. Family Relationships/conflicts
3. Focus on working class communities
4. Antagonism and conflict within the community
5. Realism and ideology
Eastenders (1985 – Present)
Key informationregarding this text:
 Exhibited on BBC1 and repeated on BBC3
 One of the UK’s highest ratedprograms (Averages 6millionper
episode).
 Set in the “kitchensink” setting of the fictional Walford, East
London.
Textual Analysis Task
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ye51O8WBVVM&feature=related -

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In your opinion, accordingto Hartley’s Seven Subjectivities, whatis the
target audiencefor Eastenders?
Age 16 and above
Gender Both male and female
Nationality British
Trailer 1)
What is the Focus of this trailer?
To entertain the audience
Code
&
Convention
Evidence
(Verbal, Non-Verbal,
Technical)
Impact on the Audience
(Katz, Maslow, Hartley)
Romance
In this trailer there
were no romance to be
seen because it had
focused entirely on the
death of a young girl. In
the trailer there were
many different actors
and actresses who
looked very shocked, a
main actor which is
Max was also presented
to be a little bit teary
which connotes sadness
and grieving.
Hartley’s seven subjective – Age – The
audience may have felt for the fact that Lucy
was a young person who is either in the
early 20s or late teen years which brings
sadness as she has died at a young age.
Family
relationships
and/or conflict
Verbal code of “you
killed Lucy” voiceover.
Katz – The Eastenders trailer helps to inform
the audience that something awful is
happening.
Focus on
working class
communities
The trailer is focused
around different
working communities
in the Eastenders like
the picture of Shirley in
the pub.
Katz diversion, the audience can relate to
the community and the reality of the
situation.

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“Multi-Stranded
Narrative”
There was a sense of
multi-stranded
narrative because there
are lots of flash cuts.
Maslow – Survivors – the audience can have
an understanding of what the trailer is about
from the different narrations.
‘Disequilibrium’
(Todorov)
There is a murder in
Albert Square and flash
cuts are used to portray
the victims that are
shocked with the death.
Hartley – It appeals to all audiences who
enjoy dramatic excitement in a soap opera
trailer.
Trailer 2)
What is the Focus of this trailer?
To inform the audience about the return of a character
Code
&
Convention
Evidence
(Verbal, Non-Verbal,
Technical)
Impact on the Audience
(Katz, Maslow, Hartley)
Romance
A character is
presented to be in a
wedding dress, which
causes Phil to give
lustful looks to her as if
he is shocked.
This could be female gaze as the character
that is presented to be in the wedding dress
looks attractive to the male audience.
Personal identification (Katz) is used to
relate to the female audience as they may
have experienced being in a wedding dress
which could bring back good memories for
them.
Family
relationships
and/or conflict
Phil and Sharon look at
each other in shook as
if they don’t believe it.
This could cause
conflict in the future.
Katz- personal relationship – Sharon has
been a star in Eastenders for many years and
has now appeared to come back to the soap
opera after taking a break. This would relate
to Kat personal relationship as the audience
may feel as if they had built a relationship
with her over the years and will know what
she is capable of.
Focus on
working class
communities
In the trailer you can
see people come out of
pubs and shops, which
presents this, is a
working class
community.
Katz – Diversion – Because the soap opera
seems real with all the shops and the huge
community it get actually pushes the
audience to immerse themselves into the
soap opera.

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“Multi-Stranded
Narrative”
There could be a multi-
stranded narrative as
everyone stares at
Sharon as if they have
past experience with
her.
Katz – Inform and educate – In the soap
opera there is a voice over “There is a storm
coming”. This voice over may connote that
this time round Sharon may be a angry
character
‘Disequilibrium’
(Todorov)
Everyone looks in
shock as Sharon. This
indicates that she may
be a big problem to
other characters.
Hartley – It can help entertain both genders.
Multi-stranded narrative
A Multi-stranded narrative can be defined as…..
Telling a story from more than one persons point of view. Telling multiple stories about
multiple characters in a open narrative episode for example.
Code & Convention Evidence Impact on the audience
 Multi-stranded
narrative
Flip from different
storylines
Give the audience
different stories to stay
engaged.
 Family
relationships
and/or conflict
Sister rushes to help
brother who had a crash.
Complex relationships.
Ensures the audience that
there is hope for Sharon.
 Focus on working
class communities
Pub – setting – Seems to
be one of the main areas
for the cast to hang out at
as it is a place to have fun
or get together.
Young Pregnancy is an
issue, which is presented
in Eastenders to create
dramatic affects.
Slang, which is
stereotypical behavior for
young adults and
teenagers.
This is a stereotype which
most viewers would
expect to happen. This is
also because some
viewers may relate to this
behavior (Katz –Personal
Identification) which will
engage and attract their
attention.
Disequilibrium’ (Todorov) Emergency appears in Cliffhanger engages

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most episodes Sharon on
the floor.
audience and makes it
interesting.
 Romance Phil is trying express his
love to Shirley.
Maslow – Survivors – The
viewers will now have
information to spread
which could increase their
popularity. This also could
relate to the Katz theory
with the whole personal
identification as the
viewers may have
experienced a time where
they have attempted to
impress someone.
SoapOpera Codes & Conventions continued – Lesson3
Textual Analysis
According to Rebecca Feasey in ‘Masculinity and Popular television’ (2007), the Soap
Opera genre tends to focus on:
The home, the family, domestic tribulations and the strong women’s, and as such, it
has long been said to appeal to the female viewer.
1) – Do you agree?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F8_ApPT6isY (First 5 minutes)
AARON CIBUYE THOMAS

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Code & Convention Evidence Impact on the audience
Rebecca Feasey (2007) Ideology:
1. Grown family as the episode starts.
2. Mothers are strong and demanding
3. Stereotype of mothers, washing up, teen girl confronts mother.
4. Young female character seems helpless and in a bad time and thanks shop
keeper. Funeral is mentioned Tragedy.
5. The word trust is mentioned and puts the older lady under pressure.
“Multi-Stranded Narrative” Transitions from different scenes. Grown family at
start, Mother and young daughter, shop keeper and
customers. The words funerals and crime scene were
also mentioned which could link to other stories.
 Family
relationships
and/or conflict
Conflict between brother and sister, “shut it”, Mother of
family is the controlling and anti-stereotyped to be the
alpha. Young female pleads for help in shop.
 Focus on working
class communities
Town Setting – Gossip, conflict.
“Beef” between the mother and children.
Disequilibrium’ (Todorov)
Conflict between some characters, makes it engaging
and amusing for the audience.
 Romance Young lady talks about her relationship problems.
 Other Themes &
Issues represented:
There is a stereotype seen in the trailer where the
mother of the family is seen washing dishes which
could be related to housewives.

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SoapOpera Codes & Conventions continued – Lesson4
Textual Analysis
1) What is the purpose of a trailer?
The purpose is to advertise and promote the film/series before it is released.
2) What are the benefits of Multi-Platform promotion of a media text?
 Larger audience which means more views
 Easier to access
Ultimately, some form of Convergence is important when promoting a text to the
target audience.
3)
Textual Analysis –
Multi stranded narrative –
Switches from a guy staring at lady, possibly a strange relationship.
Two people getting married, seems to be main story.
Character Dilemmas –
Marriage
Shot reverse shot between Steve’s mum and man, could be jealousy.
“The perfect date for a coronation street wedding”
The symbol of the characters having their symbol crossed could be a sign for hope
and possibly the fact that something could go wrong.

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http://www.channel4.com/programmes/hollyoaks/4od
The above link will take you to some of the latest episodes of Hollyoaks.
1. What are the connotations of the ident for the popular Channel Four Teen
Soap Opera Hollyoaks (1995 – Present)?
Teen conflict, possibly between boys and girls. Misandry and misogyny could be
presented. Journey of self discovery.
Next Page - Hollyoaks – “White Wedding Trailer” -
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bu2sW-r9Vb4
Black suits and roses
Dark black tears
“To love, honour and betray” voiceover
Shotgun wedding, they have to get married because the bride is pregnant. This is
because they feel it is the right thing.
Possibly from her own perspective
Bridge doesn’t look happy.
Low key lighting
It is irony that it says White Wedding when everyone is wearing black.
“Little Sister” lyrics – possibly something bad has happened to her little sister or
something could happen.
The wave from the guy with the glove on could connote “Goodbye to your life”. The
fact that he is wearing a glove could connote danger.
Production Work
1) What is the role of a Producer?
Oversee all aspects of the production across the 3 stages – Pre production,
production and post-production.Manage everyone and ensure everything is in
place for the text to look fit for purpose.
2) What is the role of a Director?
Oversee the creative aspect of the production.

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Direct people in front and behind the camera
3) Institution research –
YOU MUST research the institution that your trailer will be exhibited on.
Tips: Programming, Target audience, Audience figures, History of the channel.
 The aim for BBC two is to launch ambitions and factual programs.
 Their key is to appeal the viewer of ages 35-54 to reach out to a more
culturally diverse audience.
 The channels ethos are programs that are surprising, celebratory, witty,
warm, adventure, intelligent, playful, informative and authoritative.
 Week June 2nd 2014 – 8th June, BBC 2 reached a total of 3.2 million viewers.
 BBC Two was launched 20th April 1964.