This document analyzes conventions used in soap opera posters. It discusses several key conventions: - Taglines are used to attract audiences and convey the dramatic tone of upcoming episodes in a concise phrase. - Images depict dramatic scenes and are often manipulated using photo editing software to create intriguing atmospheres. - Logos reinforce the brand identity of the television channel to reassure viewers. - Dates encourage audiences to watch episodes at specific times. The conclusion states that to create an effective soap opera poster, it will repeat several professional conventions analyzed in exemplar posters, including using a tagline, dramatic main image, references to social media, and reinforcing the brand identity.

1. Soap Opera Genre –
Ancillary Product
Analysis
Name: Jon Villacci
Candidate Number:1248
Center Name: St. Andrew’s Catholic School
Center Number: 64135
OCR Media Studies – A2 Level
Unit G324: Advanced Portfolio

2. Tagline – The verbal code of the tagline is the important message
that the directors of the soap opera want to broadcast to their
fan base. The phrase is short and sweet to set the scene into the
readers minds of the bold changes to come to Walford. The
verbal code ‘change forever’ denotes the dramatic events which
will attract a wide audience of East Enders fans. The tagline act s
as the posters ‘point of call’ drawing in the attention on the text
which can be read rather than the image.
Image – The non-verbal code of the facial expression
on the character depicts the dramatic scenes that will
be taking place in the next episodes. The image is
edited to a black and white coloration to express a
dark, dystopian and mysterious atmosphere.
Synergy with social media – The link with social media
will allow the soap operas audience to broaden capturing
more weekly viewers.
Institution Logo – Reinforces the brand identity
of the BBC so that fans and mainstream TV
watchers can identify and recognize the certain
soap operas.
Brand Identity – The UK’s most well
known channel has a popular name and
is personally identifiable to any UK
member (Katz).

3. Image – The main images have all been altered and
completely manipulated with a photo editing
software. They have all been edited to look like
devils. The connotations behind this manipulation
could imply the mischievous
The images act as a ‘point of call’ center point for this
poster as they are in red which is eye catching and
draws the audiences attention towards it.
Institution Ident
The logo is here to re-enforce the channels
identity which will re-assure viewers so
they feel comfortable with viewing the
channel.
We will need to ‘repeat’ this institution
indent presence for our soap opera to
appear professional.
Tagline
The dramatic tagline attracts
soap opera fans to be enticed
into the this weeks episodes.
The verbal code ‘forever’
demonstrates to the fans the
impact of the events which
will hook viewers into tuning
into the soap.
Date – The date is one of the most
important conventions on the poster as it
entices the audience into viewing the
episodes in the correct time.

4. Student Exemplar Work – Textual Analysis
Magazine reviews – the use of reviews on the
poster makes their poster seem more
professional and appealing to soap opera
viewers. Within my poster I will ‘repeat’ (Neale
1980) this convention to gain a professional
outcome to my soap opera poster.
Masking images – They have managed to
blend the foreground and background layers
well. As well as adding a flame effect to the
background via the opacity tool on Photoshop.
Tagline – This convention allows the
audience to remember the soap with a
catchy, short sentence. Most professional
soap operas such as Holly oaks have a short
tagline in their poster. As this is a
professional convention, our group will
ensure that this convention is ‘repeated’. The
word ‘heat’ insinuates there is a mix of
drama which will be within the soap opera
intriguing the audiences.
Cross-media convergence/social
media links – the social links
allow the audience to interact
with the soap on a personal level
(‘Personal Identification’ - Katz)
through applications such as
twitter and Facebook.
Time – By adding the time of
the soap it makes it more
appealing and more likely that
audience members will watch
it as it shown at prime time
before the watershed.

5. Conclusion
Concluding on analyzing these professional and student exemplar soap opera posters, I
have come to the realization that I will need to repeat (Steve Neale 1980) certain
conventions within our groups poster to achieve a professional media product.
Certain aspects of the professional posters which I aim to repeat (Neale 1980) in my poster
will include a tagline, main image captivating the audiences manipulated using adobe
Photoshop CS6, cross media convergence as well as re-enforce the brand identity.