This document outlines a student's media studies production log for a trailer of a new soap opera. It includes the student's aims, research on soap opera codes and conventions, and textual analysis of existing soaps. Research examined the purpose of trailers and promotion across platforms. The student analyzed clips of EastEnders and Coronation Street to identify narrative techniques, character types, and how they appeal to audiences. Deadlines were set for producing the trailer, poster, magazine cover, and evaluation.

1. 1
St. Paul’s Catholic College
Center Number: 64770
Candidate Number: 6827
Candidate Name: Hannah Grace D’Souza
A2 Media Studies
Unit G324: Advanced Portfolio in Media –
Production Log
Evidence of Planning & Research

2. 2
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)

3. 3
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

4. 4
SoapOpera Codes & Conventions – Lesson2
1) What are some of the Codes & Conventions of this genre?
YOU MUST demonstrate what youalready know by completing a
“Spider Diagram” ofwhat you know about OR expect from this genre:
SOAP
OPERAS
There should be
many events within
the series that
would relate to the
viewers. Along with
a multi-stranded
narrative.
In this genre I
would expect the
dramatic events to
make it more
interesting.
They are
usually
targeted at
middle-
classed
housewives.
Cliffhangers to engage
and almost persuade
the audience to watch
the next episode, this is
a great way to attract
larger audiences.
Characters roles would
stereotypically be a
villain (Propp), ‘alpha
female’, couple in love,
teenage ‘badboy’
Issues within the
narrative could be
teen pregnancy,
murders, money
problems,
relationship
problems etc.
The setting is
usually middle-
class, with prime
locations such as
the pub, a shop,
hospitals and
neighbourhoods.

5. 5
2) Codes & Conventions of the SoapOpera Genre
The Soap Operagenre can be categorizedby the ‘repeated’
(Steve Neale ) elements of:
1. Romance
2. Family relationships and/or conflict
3. Focus on working class community
4. Antagonism and conflict within the community
5. Setting usually identifies regional identity
Eastenders (1985 – Present)
Key informationregarding this text:
 Exhibited on BBC1 and repeated on BBC Three
 One of the UK’s highest rating programmes
 Set in the ‘Kitchen Sink’ setting of fictional Warford, East London
Textual Analysis Task
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ye51O8WBVVM&feature=related -
YOU MUST complete the Table below whilst watching the TWO promotional
trailers for the BBC Soap Opera Eastenders.
YOU SHOULDaim to identify key examples(Verbal, Non-Verbal, Technical)
from each trailer that demonstratesyour understanding.

6. 6
Extension- YOU COULD apply relevantaudiencetheory to explain what
impact these key examples would haveon the target demographic.
In your opinion, accordingto Hartley’s Seven Subjectivities, whatis the
target audiencefor Eastenders?
Age 16
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 No romance in trailer N/A
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.
“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.

7. 7
Trailer 2)
What is the Focus of this trailer?
To inform the audience of a characters return to the series.
Code
&
Convention
Evidence
(Verbal, Non-Verbal,
Technical)
Impact on the Audience
(Katz, Maslow, Hartley)
Romance
The character
presented in a wedding
dress causes Phil to
give lustful looks to her
as if he is shocked.
The audience may be able to build a
personal relationship (Katz) with the
characters relationship problems.
Family
relationships
and/or conflict
Phil and Sharon look at
eachother in shook as if
they don’t believe it.
This could cause
conflict in the future.
N/A
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.
The audience will be able to personally
identify (Katz) with the audience as the
target audience are also mainly working
class people.
“Multi-Stranded
Narrative”
There could be a multi-
stranded narrative as
everyone stares at
Sharon as if they have
past experience with
her.
N/A
‘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, males
and females.
Multi-stranded narrative
A Multi-stranded narrative can be defined as…..
1) Telling a story from more than one persons point of view.
2) Telling multiple stories about multiple characters in an open narrative episode for
example.

8. 8
YOU MUST deconstruct the 10-minute extract from Eastenders and identify where
the following elements are presented to the audience:
 Multi-stranded narrative
 Family relationships and/or conflict
 Focus on working class communities
 ‘Disequilibrium’ (Todorov)
 Romance
YOU SHOULD write down x1-2 examples for EACH of the elements above that are
presented.
Code & Convention Evidence Impact on the audience
 Multi-stranded
narrative
Cuts to 2 other characters
and then another 2
characters in the first
minute.
Keeps them more
interested.
 Family
relationships
and/or conflict
‘That night was a one off
it’s not going to happen
again.’ Shirley and her son
Helps them relate to social
issues.
 Focus on working
class communities
Shirley and Phil in the
pub- Queen Victoria
They can identify with
them.
Disequilibrium’ (Todorov) Sharon bleeding/ her
stories about her shady
past
Keeps them entertaines
 Romance Between Shirley and Phil.
“Do you remember the
first time you fell in love.”
N/A
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 woman, and as such, it
has been said to appeal to the female viewer?”

9. 9
1) – Do you agree?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F8_ApPT6isY (First 5 minutes)
Next Page - YOU MUST deconstruct the opening 5 minutes of a sequence from the
popular ITV Soap Opera Coronation Street (1960 – Present) to identify examples of
where this ideology is presented to the target audience.
YOU SHOULD also try and identify, to demonstrate your knowledge and
understanding of the genre, any Codes & Conventions associated to the Soap Opera
genre
Code & Convention Evidence Impact on the audience
Rebecca Feasey (2007) Ideology:
1. The opening scene is set in the home as the characters making tea, cleaning the
house, male characters looking to older female for guidance. This is one of the typical
settings of the
2. The code and convention “Sit down and have a cup of tea” in Soap Operas as
characters believe a cup of tea will resolve all problems. In terms of Hartleys
subjectivities, British, working class audiences are most likely to find a relation.
3. Manager of pub is female – This connotes Rebecca Feasey’s ideology of a strong
independent female. The sentence, “alright that is enough” comes in contrast with the
emotional female who is etrememly happy and expressive.
4. Also, binary opposition (Levi Strauss) to representation of females: “I thought he
was the one…I put everything into that relationship”. This makes the ‘Caregivers’
(Maslow) feel sympathetic towards the characters.

10. 10
“Multi-Stranded Narrative” Characters in the local shop
 Family
relationships
and/or conflict
Two sisters fighting over a man. Survivors (Maslow) will
hope that the sisters resolve their problems.
 Focus on working
class communities
The pub. Audience maybe able to personally identify with
the surroundings (Katz) as they too maybe working class.
Disequilibrium’ (Todorov) The conflict between the sisters. Audience hope
everything will be resolved between them.
 Romance Young female character cries about her past relationship.
Caregivers (Maslow) as the audience feel sorry for the
female because they may be able to personally identify
with her.
 Other Themes &
Issues represented:
None in scene
SoapOpera Codes & Conventions continued – Lesson4
Textual Analysis
1) What is the purpose of a trailer?
A short promotional film composed of clips showing highlights of a movie due for
release in the near future.
2) What are the benefits of Multi-Platform promotion of a media text?
 Reach a wider audience range
 Easier for the audience to access
Ultimately, some form of Convergence is important when promoting a text to the
target audience.

11. 11
3)
Textual Analysis –
Next Page - YOU MUST make notes on the following areas when deconstructing this
sequence from Coronation Street:
 Multi-stranded narrative
 Character dilemmas
 ‘Personal Identification’ (Katz)
Multi-stranded narratives-
-The actual wedding.
-Marriage (celebration) of Steve and Becky.
-Steves and Becky’s perspectives
-Different emotions expressed in the trailer.
-Some people in the neighbourhood appear to be unhappy.
-Becky appears excited whilst Steve appears nervous (Bionary Opposition: Levi
Strauss)
Dilemmas-
-“I’m Lucky” – the song lyrics create a sense of irony as a problem could occur.
-Voiceover: “The perfect date for a Coronation Street wedding” – Sarcastic as there
aren’t ‘perfect days’ in soap operas
-Young man in the street looks annoyed
-Lady’s ‘sigh.’
-Friday the 13th.
-Groom not happy.
The symbol of the characters having their symbol crossed could be a sign for hope
and possibly the fact that something could go wrong.
Personal idenfication (Katz)
-The stresses of the wedding turning out perfect.
-Men relate to Steve.
-Women relate to Becky and the clothes she wears and it being the ‘happiest day of
their life’.
-Going to a wedding in general.

12. 12
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)?
Relationships, friendships, love.
Teen problems, promiscuity.
Boys vs girls, finding themselves.
Next Page - Hollyoaks – “White Wedding Trailer” -
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bu2sW-r9Vb4
2. YOU MUST make notes on the following areas when deconstructing this
sequence from Hollyoaks:
 Binary opposition of the non-diegetic music
 Symbolism of the non-verbal code of the tear
 Representation of Pregnancy
 Any other examples that would impact the audience
‘Tear’ connotes unhappiness. It could also indicate her being scared. Black tear
indicates depression she might be facing. Audience could personally identify with
the ‘tragedy’ she’s going through of a ‘shotgun wedding.’
‘White wedding’ consists of non-diegetic music which is ironic. Furthermore, the
black clothing connotes mystery and death which could signify the death of the
bride. Disequilibrium of the close up of the mascara running down the brides face.
‘Shot gun wedding’ infers their marriage because she’s pregnant.
‘Hey little sister, what have you done?’ This non-diegetic music connotes guilt. -The
shocked expressions on the choirs faces shows that pregnancy was an unexpected
turn of events.

13. 13
Production Work
1) What is the role of a Producer?
Oversee all aspects of the production across the three stages: Pre- production,
production ad post-production.
Manage everyone and ensure everything is in place in order for the text to look fit
for purpose.
2) What is the role of a Director?
-Oversee the creative aspecrs of the production.
-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.