The document discusses the conventions commonly found in soap opera trailers. It analyzes several key elements that are typically featured, such as including a range of characters to represent the multi-strand narrative, using realistic costumes and props, emphasizing emotional facial expressions and body language without dialogue, incorporating a dramatic soundtrack and voiceover, focusing on relatable themes like relationships and illness, employing rapid editing with shots under a few seconds, and showcasing familiar location settings. All of these common elements are aimed at intriguing audiences and enticing them to watch the new soap opera program.

1. Conventions of a soap opera trailer
When researching into the conventions of a soap opera trailer I decided to observe
products similar to the text I will be producing.
In order to be able to do this I watched a trailer from 3 of the most popular soap operas:
EastEnders, Coronation Street and Emmerdale.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VKbgDzox4FM
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5vDuvkmOyXQ
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sWyB6Nqfhv8
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U8utOBfHCGo
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SGXX2ubwoIU
The main conventions I was looking for when watching these clips was:
-characters
-props
-facial expressions
-body language
-music/soundtrack/voice over
-length of shot
http://prezi.com/0kxwnqwimj_f/codes-and-conventions-of-a-soap-opera-trailer/

2. Analysis- characters
After observing the clips of similar texts I have come to the conclusion
that it is conventional for soap opera trailers to show a range of
different characters as a soap opera is based upon a multi-strand
narrative. The inclusion of a range of characters within the soap opera
trailer allows the audience to understand the characters in a snapshot
which could therefore go on to foreshadow the storyline; additionally
this allows the audience to create assumptions about the characters
and storylines.
Conventional character types found within TV soaps are:
This is similar to Prop's narrative theory
-a bad boy
-a matriarchal character
-a patriarchal character
-a business man
-rebellious teenager
-the womaniser
http://prezi.com/upg_rsrylzk3/typical-soap-opera-characters/

3. Costume and Props
Most of the costumes and props featured in soap operas are found in
everyday life and this should help create familiarity and verisimilitude for the
audience.
Some props commonly featured are:
-bottles of alcohol
-cigarettes
-mobile phones
-laptops
-money
-food
Some examples of costume are:
-jeans
-t-shirts
-dresses (smart and casual)
-suits
-coats

4. Facial expressions
As most of the events within a soap opera are based upon things that could happen in
real life so many of the facial expressions shown are very realistic.
For example facial expressions such as shock, upset (crying), guilt and laughter
sometimes appear to arise naturally from the set.
In soap opera productions facial expressions are often over dramatised to create
tension and excitement between characters. Additionally the characters need their
emotions to be expressive so the audience can understand the storyline without
having to hear dialogue. This is often used to portray guilt as the audience are
sometimes more aware of a character’s guilt or innocence than the other people on
set (usually due to either a close up or mid shot of the lone character.

5. Body language
In a similar way to facial expression, body language
can be used to portray emotion without dialogue.
In soap opera trailers it is conventional for two or
more characters to be seen in a single shot. For
example the use of shot reverse shot allows the
audience to see both character’s body language.
This is conventional of soap operas as it allows the
audience to see the reactions of both characters
therefore increasing the verisimilitude of the soap.
In a soap opera conventional body language would
be tense and straight (when arguing) and
additionally would be relaxed (with friends)
depending on the situation in which the character
is in.
In the soap opera trailer body language would be
important as the character’s body language could
connote and foreshadow a storyline to come in the
soap once its been aired.

6. Music/soundtrack/voiceover
It is conventional for soap opera trailers to include a soundtrack that fits the genre
of their production. The soundtrack is often chosen according to the themes
included in the trailer.
In most cases it is conventional for a soap opera trailer to contain a soundtrack
that creates drama and tension as this attracts the target audience and can
foreshadow events within the soap.
It is also conventional for the soap opera trailer to contain some form of voice over.
As a lot of soundtracks used include lyrics it is not always necessary for the trailer
to include dialogue. However I have noticed that a voiceover at the end of the
trailer is conventional. These are usually recorded in a male voice and inform the
audience on date, time and channel that the new soap opera will be shown on.

7. Themes
There are a range of themes used within soap operas and
the trailer needs to show the most appealing themes to the
target audience they have selected.
Some themes include:
Birth
Marriage
I found that the most conventional themes
death
within a soap opera were the themes that
Illness
best reflected real life.
divorce
This is in the hope that the audience will
hatred
be able to relate to the soap opera making
love
it more likely for it to be successful.
revenge
friendship
relationships

8. Length of shot and shot type
In soap opera trailers it is conventional for each shot to only remain for a shot to
remain on screen for maximum of a few seconds. The fast pace camera work
creates suspense and tension which is likely to intrigue the audience, making it
more likely that they watch the new soap.
Conventionally soap opera trailers use shot reverse shot, mid shots and close up
shots the most regularly. This is conventional of soap operas as the audience need
to feel familiar with the characters in order to relate. The use of these 3 shots
portrays the character’s facial expressions the best and therefore producers tend
to use these making them conventional of soap opera trailers.
In particular the use of these 3 shots in a trailer is important because the audience
need to be exposed to a proportion of the characters in order for them to want to
watch the production.
Lastly it is conventional for an establishing shot to be used in the trailer to give the
audience an idea of settings included in order for them to be able to relate.

9. Locations
As soap operas are usually based upon a real life setting. Many of the conventional
locations can be seen in every day life.
Prime locations could include:
-a pub
-cafe
-communal area e.g. Square or high street
- residents houses
-hair dressers/beauty parlour
-nurseries
-laundrette
-restaurant
The locations featured in the trailer are vitally important as the trailer needs to
promote the best areas within the soap in order to gain viewers. Usually the most
popular locations are chosen e.g. A pub as this is most likely to be recognisable to
a large target audience.

10. References
http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/place-london/
plain/A1087193
http://prezi.com/upg_rsrylzk3/typical-soap-opera-
characters/
http://prezi.com/0kxwnqwimj_f/codes-and-conventions-
of-a-soap-opera-trailer/