This document provides an analysis of two soap opera trailers: one for EastEnders and one for Hollyoaks. For each trailer, the author analyzes the use of verbal codes like dialogue, voiceovers and sound effects. They also examine non-verbal codes such as facial expressions, costumes, lighting and characters. Technical codes involving camera angles, shot types and movement are discussed as well. Finally, the author evaluates the analyses and identifies techniques from the EastEnders trailer they would replicate in their own soap opera trailer, such as close-up shots, low key lighting, focus pulls and incidental music to build suspense. Voiceover is also mentioned but the author notes they would not use long verbal

1. Soap Opera Genre –
Independent Textual
Analysis
Name: Aaron Thomas
Candidate Number: 6508
Center Name: St. Paul’s Catholic College
Center Number: 64770
OCR Media Studies – A2 Level
Unit G324: Advanced Portfolio

2. Verbal Codes – Comment on the use of Dialogue, Voiceover, Sound Effects or Soundtrack
 Character Dialogue – “You’ll never know what happens behind closed doors” - which is presented in a non-diegetic form and is used to help the audience to
think about the different suspects who could be involved with the murder. Also, the dialogue adds dramatic irony to keep the audience intrigued.
• Incidental Music – This was made very dramatic and intensifying throughout the trailer to highlight some of the moods from the characters. For example, ‘Jane’
which is like a motherly figure to Lucy, tilts her head at the front door with sadness and despair. This can be supported through the way at that moment a close up
shot was took to analyze Jane’s reaction to the situation while the incidental music was playing.
• Sound Effect – In the trailer there was a very high pitched and piercing sound from when Ian is looking at the glass of water in despair to the point where the
same character is looking outside seeming speechless and with guilt. This is used to emphasize the horror of the disequilibrium (Todorov).
• Non Diegetic Dialogue– This is used shortly after the character dialogues and it helps to explain the ‘disequilibrium’ (Todorov).
Non-Verbal Codes – Comment on the use of Setting, Lighting, Costumes, Facial
Expressions and Characters
 Facial Expressions – There were a variety of facial expressions throughout the trailer. One that stood out the most in the trailer was the protagonist named ‘Ian’, near the end of the
trailer, this is because after the audience get to see his facial expression (where he looks devious and untrustworthy) there is a transition rather than another flash cut. This was used
to promote Lucy’s Father ‘Ian’ as a suspect as well, which intrigues the audience.
 Low key lighting – This is used to make the atmosphere appear dark. To elaborate further, the editing technique is used as dramatic symbolism and points out that something
mortifying has taken place in Albert Square.
 Characters – They are all presented as suspects with multi-strand narratives that all recognize the person murdered. For example, ‘Max’ is Lucy’s lover. What makes the
character's role dramatic is that he is also Lauren’s daughter’ whom is Lucy’s best-friend. He is shown as a suspect because Lucy ended the relationship and out of rage, he may
have killed Lucy.
 Setting – The trailer seems to be set in a Working class community, which is shown through there is a lot of multi-stranded narratives in the trailer. For example, there is a clip of
Shirley and Nick in the pub looking very shocked.
 Costumes – All the protagonists wear working class clothing to make the trailer look more authentic.
Technical Codes – Comment on the use of Camera Angles, Shot Types and Camera
Movement
 High Angle Shot – This was used at the last few seconds of the trailer outside the local pub. This was used to highlight the suspects involved with the murder and furthermore
this helps the audience to think about the possible murder suspects.
 Focus Pulls – this was used when Ian was staring at the glass of water at the very start of the trailer, (it initially began with a shallow depth of field focus and then the camera
simultaneously turns the object into a deep focus). This is used to help create a clear image for the audience to recognize.
 Close up shot - This was frequently used throughout the trailer to show detail and emotion from the protagonist.
 Eye level camera angle - During the shots there was a significant amount of characters portrayed in the trailer. The camera was focused on them on a straight and focused level.
 Fast-Cut – this was used to add a sense of suspense and build up climax. This was used all throughout the trailer. The fast cuts get faster and faster until it reached Ian looking
out the window, where a transition followed through instead of another fast-cut.
Eastenders – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5vDuvkmOyXQ

3. Verbal Codes – Comment on the use of Dialogue, Voiceover, Sound Effects or Soundtrack
 Incidental music – this is used throughout the trailer and gives the trailer a shocking sound used to build up climax.
 Dialogue – “I would like to thank Sienna, my beautiful Sienna, not only is she wonderful with children, and does a good job to keep the littlest warm, but she
supports me and my family” This dialogue from Sienna’s lover highlights her in a positive light but the trailer shows scenes of her being presented in a dark
way, especially the situation between the child that Sienna has captured in an abandoned house. This is used to add a major sense of irony. “I can lose
everything”, demonstrates a disequilibrium revolved around Sienna.
 Narration - At the start of the trailer it denotes, ‘ Friday the 13th is coming’ in all capitals and this is used to portray how exciting the series will be of
Hollyoaks. From this, a soundtrack starts which is supposed to be heart-rending yet captivating.
 Sound Bridge - this is used throughout the trailer to add dramatic effect. In a deeper analysis, the sound bridge is used to match the situation. The same sound
effect was played throughout the different scenes of the trailer. This was used to maintain suspense.
Non-Verbal Codes – Comment on the use of Setting, Lighting, Costumes, Facial Expressions and Characters
 Facial Expression – At the start of the scene it portrays Sienna to be very happy but as the scenes develop during the trailer her mood gets worse and worse until the point she
begins to steal someone else’s children yet looks devious while doing it.
 Costumes - The main character of the trailer wears a dark coat as she walks towards a spooky house which emphasizes how evil the antagonist is portrayed and that something
bad will potentially happen. Also in another multi strand narrative, Sienna is wearing a flower dress, and the connotations of this shows that she is friendly and a likable
character, but the irony is that she is the main antagonist in the trailer.
 Characters - it is clear that the multi-narratives of the trailer is set in a working class community because the characters are all local. To elaborate further, all the female
characters of the trailer all seem to know Sienna and are antagonized with her appearance. In fact all the female characters all despise her and the male characters almost fear
her. This can be demonstrated through the way at the final narrative, Sienna’s boyfriend looks shocked and the young child that has been captured by her (Tom Cunningham)
looks terrified with her appearance. This is used as a stereotype because it shows how women are more dominant than males. This reinforces Rebecca Feasey (2007) Soap genre
focus because the female viewer can relate to the antagonism of being feared and despised making the female viewer feel as strong and powerful as the specific character,
Sienna..
 Facial expression – Sienna looks away from the picture of ‘Tom Cunningham’ with shame and guilt which indicates that Sienna has a secret which involves the missing child.
 Movement – the way the antagonist slaps Sienna portrays that women are more dominant in the trailer.
Technical Codes – Comment on the use of Camera Angles, Shot Types and Camera
Movement
 Close up camera angle - there was a lot of close ups to portray Sienna’s emotions, some of which conveyed the way she was upset and angry.
 Establishing shot - this was used at the beginning of the trailer and it indicates to the audience that the characters are all from a working class society.
• Mid-shot - there is a shot that shows Sienna touching her friends’ pregnant stomach and she looks stuck in the moment. This indicates that she has a ‘soft spot’ for children. Later
in the trailer, the deeper meaning behind that ‘soft spot’ turns out to be an obsession as she is seen at the end of the scene walking away with two children whom are not hers.
 Transitions - I have noticed that instead of fast cuts, the trailer instead uses transitions which help to build up suspense which furthermore keeps the audience enticed to listen.
Hollyoaks - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vbr4pEzZOTo

4. Evaluation of Textual Analysis –
Compare and Contrast
Eastenders) – Areas of Strength and what you would ‘repeat’ (Steve Neale - 1980) and/or
‘exploit’ (Abercrombie – 1995)
• In this specific trailer, there is a lot of Close up shots that will be useful in my trailer to highlight emotions and facial expressions. It also uses low key lighting which will be essential
because it connotes a dark atmosphere and a twist to the trailer, which can be useful for my trailer because it has dark multi-narratives.
• Fast cut- this can be used to add climax and highlights the multi-strand narratives of the trailer.
• Focus Pulls - this was a very impressive technique that was used to create a clear image of the glass of water the protagonist, Ian was glaring into. I think this will prove useful
because it can help establish a prop using a change in focus. In my trailer, we could use a focus pull to establish the setting of the specific multi-narrative.
• Incidental Music – to build up suspense in the trailer which can help keep the audience appealed. I feel that in my trailer it will be useful to have slow and daunting music, relating to
a death or heartbreak. They lyrics that can be used for the trailer can be very ironic, thus lyrics explaining utopian themes but since our trailer is about the death of a girl presented at
the end of the trailer, that sense of irony can be most useful.
• Voiceover – this was used throughout the trailer and it can be useful in my own soap trailer because it can give the audience tiny details about what the trailer is actually about.
However, I will not use a long verbal code of dialogue because it can give key information about the topic of the trailer and I want to keep that a secret from the audience.
In respect of my own soap opera trailer, I think it will be useful to ‘repeat’ (Steve Neal) these techniques because it makes the trailer seem more dramatic. For example,
the incidental music and the fast cuts in particular are used, in order to not reveal the narrative as much but it is used to highlight the characters involved and connote the
way they are all antagonist's towards Lucy. The incidental music is then used to add dramatic tension to the situation. If I repeat and merge flash cuts and incidental
music together for my trailer then the trailer will be more effective.
Hollyoaks) – Areas of Strength and what you would ‘repeat’ (Steve Neale - 1980) and/or
‘exploit’ (Abercrombie – 1995)
 Establishing shot - This can be useful during the process of producing my trailer, this is because it can help the audience to realize where the key scenes will take place.
 Costumes - I will use props to demonstrate costumes which will prove a sense of significance for the theme of my trailer. For example if my trailer is about marriage, I may have a
male character dressed up with a blazer.
 Characters - This trailer made it clear who the antagonist of Hollyoaks is, which is beneficial because it allows the audience to recognize the good and bad characters. However, in
my trailer I plan to keep the antagonist of the trailer a secret because it builds more suspense and allows a sense of inquisitiveness on the audience.
• What I really enjoyed about the trailer was that the main antagonist is shot walking towards a spooky house in the night, with the wind blowing through her hair to add that dramatic
effect. Since the mid-shot was taken at the night, it adds that sense in which something horrible will happen at the specific house that Sienna is walking towards. This can be useful for
my trailer, although it will be difficult to take the shot at night because it can be hard to get everyone organized at night in comparison to the way I could organize the group in the day.
In respect of my own soap opera trailer, I am not keen to add diegetic dialogue in the trailer. I feel that this made the Hollyoaks trailer lack in effectiveness in
comparison to the Eastenders trailer, “I would like to thank Sienna, my beautiful Sienna, not only is she wonderful with children, and does a good job to keep the littlest
warm, but she supports me and my family”. However, what I will ‘repeat’ from the trailer is the way the antagonist of the trailer is clearly presented. For example, in the
Hollyoaks trailer ‘Sienna’, is violently abused (antagonist slaps her across the face) and, she is verbally abused, ‘evil cow’. I will repeat this technique because the
audience can understand the trailer a little more clearly, as well as the multi-strand narrative.