The document provides an analysis of two trailers for soap opera television shows. It summarizes the use of verbal codes like dialogue, sound effects and soundtrack. It also analyzes the non-verbal codes of setting, lighting, costumes and characters' facial expressions. Finally, it comments on the technical codes of camera angles, shot types and camera movement used in the trailers. The document then evaluates the strengths of each trailer, noting aspects that would be useful to repeat for a new soap opera trailer. It finds similarities in the dark and dramatic themes of the trailers, and how they balance revealing details and leaving suspense.

1. Soap Opera Genre –
Independent Textual
Analysis
Name: Eleanor Mason
Candidate Number: 6692
Center Name: St. Paul’s Catholic College
Center Number: 64770
OCR Media Studies – A2 Level
Unit G324: Advanced Portfolio

2. Trailer 1 – Skins | Series 5 | Coming Soon
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ToKa4dTAqE4
Verbal Codes – Comment on the use of Dialogue, Voiceover, Sound Effects or Soundtrack
Throughout the trailer there is little dialogue in terms of the characters speaking although at the very end of the trailer the voiceover says “Skins the brand new
series coming on E4” which ‘informs’ (Katz) the audience on this series and the trailer gives the audience a little taste of what is to come in the coming series of the
show. The soundtrack of this trailer is a song by Arcade Fire, this is quite dark and quite rocky song that gradually gets quicker as the trailer goes on, this type of
music is more alternative than the usual soundtrack in trailers which also denotes the demographic of the audience that would watch this type of series such as the
younger adults and late teens who are more indie and alternative; throughout the trailer the song also speeds up which connotes the urgency as they all start
falling quicker as if their decisions are catching up on them and it could all end badly as eventually they are going to get to the bottom. Also, in the song used in the
trailer the lyrics “now I’m ready to start” are repeated which ‘signifies’ (DeSaussure) that these characters might be reborn into society maybe as they go from
childhood to adults and the responsibility the take on as they are “ready to start” their new role in society as a grown up in making these important decisions. In the
trailer there are also the sound effects of the characters falling through the emptiness, there is the sound of the characters putting on their clothes and the wind of
them falling through the air this connotes and emphasises how the characters are by themselves in finding out who they really are and they’ve got to rely on
themselves and that there won’t be anyone else that is going to help them with what they learn in life.
Non-Verbal Codes – Comment on the use of Setting, Lighting, Costumes, Facial Expressions and Characters
The non-verbal codes of the characters wearing nothing at the beginning connotes that these characters are being reborn into society, it could also their innocence
maybe as children and as they gradually put clothes on they get more tainted but they are growing into adults; this could also connote that they are ‘getting ready’
to become adults as they are ‘getting ready’ by putting their clothes on. Also by the characters starting off naked in the beginning of the trailer this also links in with
the whole name of the show ‘Skins’ as all the characters are in their natural form. This means that the target demographic can ‘personally identify’ (Katz) with the
characters due to the target audience being around 16-25 years old (Hartly) they are also making that jump from childhood to adulthood which makes this
storyline and trailer more relatable for the audience. The facial expressions of the characters denote a range of emotions such as shocked, scared and maybe a bit
frightened as they make this change in society and also because they are falling into nothing, connoting that they are afraid of not knowing what is going to happen
to them now or in the future and of growing up. Also through the use of high key lighting of the characters and the low key lighting in the surroundings it
emphasises the characters and the unknowing of what out there. Towards the end of the trailer there is one of the female characters holding a doll whilst falling
through the air and as the tempo of the song gets faster and the characters start falling quicker she drops the doll and it smashes on the floor this could ‘signify’
(DeSaussure) and symbolise the outcome for the characters if they do not let go of their childhood and grow up in order to survive in the real world. Through the
use of the costumes and the characters putting makeup on this therefore reinforces the ‘female gaze’ (Diana Saco) and ‘male gaze’ (Laura Mulvey) that the
audience show as these characters are attractive and they way that they dress is relatable to the audience as they will be of similar ages.
Technical Codes – Comment on the use of Camera Angles, Shot Types and Camera Movement
The use of jump shots denote the characters and their facial features/expressions as they go from being naked to being dressed, they also use long shots to show
this as well, by using these shots it allows the audience to form a ‘personal relationship’ (Katz) with the characters as they can see what they are going through get
to know each individual character. This aspect of the trailer may also alert the ‘caregivers’ (Maslow) as the audience can see that the characters are scared and
unnerved which may trigger the emotive side and get the audience to feel for the characters and what they are going through. As the music gets faster the camera
turns to a handi-cam movement as the screen goes quick shaky as the characters start falling faster, this connotes that something bad could happen to the
characters as shown in their facial expressions and their body language. Throughout this trailer they use low and high angle in order to denote the characters and
them falling down into the emptiness, and to show how confused they are but not knowing where they are and what's happening.

3. Trailer 2 – Will Vs Dodger: Official Hollyoaks Trailer
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8WsS98O4oBQ
Verbal Codes – Comment on the use of Dialogue, Voiceover, Sound Effects or Soundtrack
The beginning of the trailer starts off with dystopian and incidental non-diegetic music that continues throughout the trailer and is synchronous with the shots and
action in the clip. Whilst the character Will is giving his speech about how his family are going through rough times with Dodgers fiancé dying and both Dodgers
and Wills mother dying, it then cuts to scenes that have previously been shown in episodes of the said characters dying whilst the non-diegetic sound carries on in
the trailer which is synchronous with the action that is happening the the clip; this clip also appeals to the ‘caregivers’ (Maslow) who sympathise with the family
and want everything to work out for them. Then in Wills speech at the funeral the diegetic sound of “good luck to anyone who thinks they can come between the
Savages” in which he says in a very monotone voice as if he isn’t just protective of the family but doesn’t really feel any emotions whilst saying this even though he
is at his mums funeral, it could potentially be that he has mental health issues, and it seems as though he cannot let anyone else become apart of the family and
will do something drastic like kill some which is also reinforces as the trailer then cuts to a woman who is crying hysterically and has blood down her face
connoting that Will is the person who done that to her and is making her scared and afraid. It also shows Dodger shouting at Will “leave her alone” which suggests
that Will has done something to harm someone thus also reinforcing the fact that Will is dangerous and isn’t stable. Also, the non-diegetic sound of the soundtrack
also sounds like a ticking clock which connotes that the characters, such as Dodger, are running out of time maybe to save someone or even themselves as
towards the end of the trailer all of the family seem to be held hostage in this house with Will as their captor and he says “so Dodger, who’s next” whilst Dodger is
struggling to untie himself this is also synchronous with the ticking clock where the clock stop and then the screen cuts out, leaving the audience in suspense.
Non-Verbal Codes – Comment on the use of Setting, Lighting, Costumes, Facial Expressions and Characters
The non-verbal code of everyone wearing black at the start of the trailer suggests that this family are at a funeral which is reinforced by the diegetic sound of Will
saying “we’ve been through some really bad times recently” which shows that this family are in a very vulnerable state as they have all lost someone who is close
to them, however Wills facial expression through this trailer stays very neutral where he doesn’t seem to be upset about losing his mother or any other person
who was close to him as his eyes look as though he doesn’t care, this is then reinforces by the clip of Will carrying his mothers dead body but Will is looking very
unconcerned and not a tiny bit sad, also throughout the trailer you can see in his eyes that he doesn’t look with it or very sane, the only time he looks like he is
very upset is when it shows Mayas death and when he asks his Dodger “who’s next?” whilst his family are tied up. The colours in the trailer also seem to be very
muted and toned down to make the trailer look dystopian and eerie as this trailer is about how Will has gone mental and has tied up his family, it also shows what
Will has done in the past which could show what he is capable of doing not only to others but to his family. Finally, the setting of the old building which seems to
be where Will is holding his family also adds to the dystopian feel in this trailer as it looks as though it is in a rural area where not many people around which also
denotes the fact that the whole theme of this trailer is about the mental health of Will and what horrible things he is capable of.
Technical Codes – Comment on the use of Camera Angles, Shot Types and Camera Movement
The technical codes of establishing shot of the family wearing all black as it looks like they are at a funeral this denotes already the ‘disequilibrium’ (Todorov) that is the
current theme throughout the trailer as there are clips that show people dying and there isn’t anything positive in this trailer. Then the camera shows some close ups of
the characters at the funeral where the audience can see their facial expressions where they look upset, this will create a ‘personal relationship’ (Katz) between the
audience and the characters as the ‘caregivers’ (Maslow) will feel sympathy towards the characters and their situation as the audience will feel sympathy for the
characters as they all look very down and distraught over the death of this woman. There are also a lot of cuts in this trailer which show clips of where the character is
talking about which gives the effect of a flashback but in a quicker and less edited way, the cuts also shows the character looking back at what happened and gives the
viewers some context behind what Will and the others are talking about which will also make the audience more captivated in what is happening as they will understand
whether they have watched the TV show or not . There are also a lot of close ups to show each characters facial expressions during the funeral and throughout the trailer.

4. Evaluation of Textual Analysis –
Compare and Contrast
Trailer 1) – Areas of Strength and what you would ‘repeat’ (Steve Neale)
From the ‘Skins’ trailer I would ‘repeat’ (Steve Neale) the whole feel of the trailer where it is dark with small parts of
lightness to highlight certain aspects of the trailer and what I want the audience to focus on and get a feel for what is to
come in this soap opera. Another aspect that I would like to ‘repeat’ (Neale) in my trailer is the dramatic use of the
soundtrack which is at the forefront of the trailer and the lyrics and beat of the song tie in to what the audience can see
visually. Finally, a good area that I would like to use in my trailer would be the symbolism used in the trailer as it makes
the audience think more about what they have seen rather than being a passive audience they are more animated about
the soap opera that I will make.
Trailer 2) – Areas of Strength and what you would ‘repeat’ (Steve Neale)
From the trailer of Will and Dodger I would ‘repeat’ (Neale) the technical codes of the camerawork and editing such as the
shot-reverse-shot and the fast paced cuts which adds to the dramatic effect of the trailer because the whole theme is
around Will who seems to have got a problem and is killing people. Another aspect that I would ‘repeat’ (Neale) is the
parts where the scene cuts to parts where the producers show what has previously happened and gives the context to the
trailer which also helps the audience to understand what is going on but also again adds to the dramatic effect which
entices the audience and makes them want to watch the episodes that hold this storyline.
Comparison between trailer 1) and 2)
Both of these trailers are very similar in the way that they both have a theme of emptiness and a little bit of thriller to
them as trailer 1 is showing the characters falling through blackness which is very daunting and scary and trailer 2 looks at
a family where one of the members has gone mental and is holding the family hostage. This more down and depressing
storyline is also a typical convention used in soap operas which is something that I am looking the ‘repeat’ (Neale) in my
trailer. I liked the fact that both of these trailers have different and varying amounts of dialogue in the trailer as trailer 1
has very little only at the very end of the trailer where as in trailer 2 had lots of dialogue where the trailer looked more like
actual snippets of the episode for the soap opera, this means that I can merge both of these trailers to product one that
has a medium amount of dialogue so the audience can get an idea of what it is about but still leaves enough room for the
trailer to not give too much away.