The document analyzes several soap opera posters and advertisements. It discusses the image manipulation, taglines, logos, and use of social media synergy in the posters for EastEnders, Disarming Britain, and Thorn Lane. Specific techniques like filters, facial expressions, costumes, and color manipulation are examined. The document also concludes that it intends to repeat certain successful techniques like the gloomy vignette effect, use of synergy to social media, and stereotypical portrayals in its own soap opera trailer.

1. Soap Opera Genre –
Ancillary Product
Analysis
Name: Joe Dolan
Candidate Number: 2043
Center Name: St. Andrew’s Catholic School
Center Number: 64135
OCR Media Studies – A2 Level
Unit G324: Advanced Portfolio

2. Brand Identity Synergy with social media
Image Manipulation-

3. Eastenders
• Image Manipulation: Lucy Beale has been presented in a grainy format mixed with red and
white as though she is about to be dissolved away like sand or ashes. The filter used is old
and vintage and has been used to illustrate how she is simply from the past and her life has
been ended. Also another use of the shot type called the Eye Level shot of which help in
portraying the famous River Thames from setting the location of Eastenders but also how it is
from London. Also in the background it denotes an eroded, broken background of which
explains how everyone surrounding the death of the victim is also effected and feels
threatened by their surroundings. Also the use of the victims gradient explains how the faults
that are arising are more vulnerable to the outer world.
• Tagline: With the use of the commanding verbal code “Forever” it gives a shocking, sudden
impact on the audience as it will they will feel unable to escape the threat as it will leave the
singular word as it will be left in the audiences head and engraved. This word “forever” is
bold and stands out from the sentence as it makes it clear that this is an ongoing issue that
has overcome Walford and the people within it. The dull, grey font makes the oncoming
danger seem more important and foreshadows the fear that the people of Albert Square are
feeling. This change about to overcome the individuals is seen as permanent and cannot be
undone as the death is so important.
• Synergy: This gives the audience a chance to interact with the programme and help advertise
it through social media and linking the hashtag idea through media products such as twitter
or Facebook.
• Institution ident: This gives the audience the idea where they can find the programme and
therefore gives them information for oncoming episodes as well.

4. Institution
Logo
Image Manipulation
Tagline
Web Link

5. Disarming Britain
• Institution logo: This logo is illustrating ITV1 and gives the audience a chance
to search for the channel and look up other programmes on that channel, this
would help broaden their target audience.
• Image manipulation: This image has been made to look lower class and boring
and is set in a lower class house with colour manipulation of which illustrates a
simple, lower-class upbringing. Also the use of lighting captures the couples
sexual attraction and the individuals facial expressions being mature and
powering as he is stereotypically associated with looking down on a female
and making her feel comfortable. On the other hand the man peering through
the window seems to be inspecting the couple in a jealous way as though he
has had relations with one of these partners. He is in the shadows possibly
indicating that he is disregarded as a concern and is not threatening.
• Tagline: “You never know what’s around the corner” along with the time it is
been showing and therefore can imply that the episodes will move forward at
this time and will continue on.
• Web link: This gives the audience a chance to access the episode on another
day if they are not available for the release date. This gives the audience a
chance to catch up 24/7 and watch episodes they have missed out on. This
allows them to have a cross media convergence for the audience allowing
them to access different media work.

6. Thorn Lane
Social Media Synergy
Tagline
Date
Image

7. Thorn Lane- Example a2 piece
• Image Manipulation - Through the image it illustrates that they have used a black and white
effect and therefore could be trying to portray the past or a time in life of which is
indescribable. Another feature is the costume and that the suitable smart suits and the
females dress can denote how a wedding is about to occur and that they take their
appearance very seriously for an occasion like this. Facials expressions are very hard to
describe as the female is looking confused and oblivious to why she is dressing up whereas
the male is looking down from the camera and this could imply that he feels guilty or some
pain towards the even that has occurred. Also with the coloured images being toys and
smaller items it could imply that a child is involved in the middle of these two individuals and
is caught up in this event. Also the use of the red colour being hung up can connote blood of
which could suggest that incoming danger is imminent and is being held on by a clip.
• Synergy Social Media: The main synergy is with the social networks like Facebook and twitter
of which can imply an attraction to a younger audience as they are more likely to see this
through the social media.
• Synergy with BBC: This gives the audience the chance to hashtag and spread the word virally
so others can copy the trend and give off their view through word of mouth.
• Tagline: The denotation of the verbal code of the tagline is “Don’t stir your dirty laundry” is
the tagline and it suggests that stirring your dirty laundry could be seen as a bad decision and
events could occur if you were to do so. Also dirty laundry shouldn’t be stirred as it should be
clan before doing this action as it can cause diseases.

8. Conclusion
• I intend to ‘repeat’ (Steve Neale - 1980) the gloomy
vignette effect used in the EastEnders poster of which I feel
works well in illustrating the cruel nature of this magazine
and replicating this in my work would be successful. I would
use this because my trailer is also quite horrific and I feel
the darkness would build up the tension effectively.
• I will also use ‘repeat’ the use of synergy to social media
across my pages as I feel it would be useful in interlinking it
with these sites and spreading the word of my programme
more effectively.
• Lastly, I will use the stereotypical views that are portrayed
in the series disarming Britain as I feel it works effectively in
bringing forward the soap opera views.