The document discusses several key elements and conventions of soap operas including: - They are set in a particular place and focus on family life and personal relationships between a group of characters. - Storylines revolve around romance and secret relationships and tend to focus on working-class communities. - They have multi-stranded narratives told from several viewpoints with storylines that continue across episodes.

1. Amy
Jones
Codes &
Conventions

2. Soap Operas
- They are set in a particular place. E.g. Coronation Street is set in
Weatherfield.
- They generally focus on family life and personal relationships.
- They are based on a group of characters living in a particular place.
- Most storylines revolve around romance, love and secret relationships.
- Tend to focus on working-class communities.
- Storylines are on everyday situations and relationships.
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- They have multi-stranded narratives; this is where a story is told from several
view points.
- The Storylines continue throughout all of the episodes.
- The storylines are aired on the same date as real life, however, they are not
completely related to the outside world; what happens in the real world doesn’t
affect any of the characters in the soap.

3. - The lighting used reflects the mood of the storyline. E.g. lack of lighting
equals drama.
- Includes a wide range of camera angles and movements.
- Soap operas tend to be sponsored this is where they get some of the funding
by product placement which keeps the soap opera running.
- They have unlikely narratives that would appear in a community they live in or
the same village. E.g. Emmerdale.
- They create realism with the use of clocks set around the right time and the
use of diegetic sound. E.g . The tram passing in Coronation Street.
- The soaps always include stereotypical characters. E.g. Hero and Villain.
- Types of Soap Operas include; Scripted Reality (Made In Chelsea, The Only
Way Is Essex) Melodrama, Australian Melodrama & Social Realism (Coronation
Street, Emmerdale, Hollyoaks, Eastenders)
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4. Soap Opera Trailer
- Soap Opera Trailer’s are created to promote the programme, this is done to
encourage possible audiences to watch it especially if it’s a brand new show
or just that they have never heard of it.
- Just like the soap opera’s themselves, a wide range of camera angles and
movements are used.
- Generally contain the information within 40ish seconds or a long trailer can
be up to 1minute 30seconds.
- The theme song has been created specifically for that programme, also the
non-diegetic sound used throughout (soundtrack) is related in some aspects
to the programme; lyrics may relate to the storyline or the soundtrack in
minor/major key might reflect the mood of the scene.
- Parallel narratives are included to keep the audience interested.

5. - The trailer always includes either on the title card at the beginning or end of
the trailer a sponsor who helps with funding for the programme. E.g. Nikon
sponsors ‘Hollyoaks’.
- Diegetic sound, e.g. dialogue and non-diegetic sound, e.g. theme song, are
used throughout the programme, mainly diegetic sound which creates realism.
- The beats of the soundtrack used tend to match the edits of the trailer.
- On the title card at the end, details are displayed so audiences can find out
about the programme or share it with friends through, Twitter using a Hashtag
or Facebook using a website link.
- The trailer includes the most dramatic and interesting scenes of the
programme to draw audiences in.

6. Soap Opera Front Cover
- Masthead at the top of the page, this creates the brand’s identity which
audiences would become familiar with.
- Strapline which includes features or advertisements.
- Features of other soaps.
- Barcode.
- An issue number, the date the magazine is out and the price.
- Main Cover Star(s).
- A colour scheme; ‘trashy’ magazines have a chaotic look with several colours
or a ‘classy’ magazine with a simple colour scheme of two or three colours.
- Main star(s) eyes usually in the second fifth of the front cover.
- More than one image included of other soaps of feature buttons or a grey box.

7. Soap Opera Billboard Poster
- Date and time of the soap opera’s release so audiences know.
- A sharp and snappy slogan to draw in the audience, so they will watch the
soap opera to see what it could possibly mean.
- Ways of getting the audience talking about the programme and sharing it
with their friends. E.g. A Hashtag to use on Twitter.
- Simple layout as audiences may only catch a glimpse of it if they are on
transport.
- The channel’s logo is included so audience know what channel the soap
opera will be aired on.
- Bright and noticeable, range of colours used.
- One main image of main characters from the particular storylines used that
week/series etc.
- Price giveaways, competitions, quizzes, quotes from celebrities etc.
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