The document provides a textual analysis of two soap opera trailers - one for EastEnders and one for Hollyoaks. For each trailer, the analysis examines the verbal codes (dialogue, music), non-verbal codes (costumes, facial expressions, settings), and technical codes (camerawork, editing). Key strengths highlighted for the EastEnders trailer include its use of relevant non-diegetic music and the symbolic meaning conveyed through Sharon's wedding dress costume. For the Hollyoaks trailer, strengths called out are its use of a diegetic sound bed that hints at a secret from the characters, relevant diegetic dialogue, and ominous text at the beginning. The document discusses elements from each trailer that the author would like

1. Soap Opera Genre –
Independent Textual
Analysis
Name: Joseph Gibbs
Candidate Number: 6409
Center Name: St. Paul’s Catholic College
Center Number: 64770
OCR Media Studies – A2 Level
Unit G324: Advanced Portfolio

2. Trailer 1 – EastEnders - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z1v_2Xf7Xss
Verbal Codes
In the EastEnders trailer, a non-diegetic soundtrack is used. The song used is ‘Gimme Shelter’ by The Rolling Stones,
which ties in with the technical code of the CGI, portraying Sharon as a storm, as connoted by the lyric “oh a storm is
threatening my very life today” in the song. This establishes that Sharon could cause trouble for the characters and
perhaps be a ‘villian’ (Propp) in some aspects. This connotes that Sharon is perhaps a source of trouble and that the
other residents of Albert Square should take “shelter” from the “hurricane” she is. There is also synchronous
diegetic sound from the hurricane itself as it rips through the setting. It is loud, low-pitched and also includes the
sound of thunder, which stereotypically creates a miserable atmosphere, and this therefore connotes that Sharon
returning might not be a good thing for all of the characters. Additionally, there is a non-diegetic voiceover at the
end of the trailer, which denotes that “Sharon’s back”. The tone of voice used, however, does not seem happy or
overjoyed, it seems quite sinister, as if she’ll bring trouble with her rather than happiness.
Non-Verbal Codes
Props are used throughout the trailer to create the effect that danger or trouble is coming. The Queen Victoria sign
is shown swinging back and forth in the wind at the very beginning of the trailer, in an establishing shot. This
immediately connotes to the viewer that something in Albert Square is not quite right and that, quite literally, a
storm is brewing. Also, the facial expressions of some of the characters highlight their surprise at Sharon returning,
for example, Phil Mitchell is seen with his mouth wide open as he’s sat in his car while Sharon descends from the
storm. This connotes that he is extremely shocked and it could cause trouble for him, so this will help the audience
believe that they must tune in to see how Phil reacts in the actual show when she returns. Furthermore, the non-
verbal code of costume is used heavily within this clip to create effects. Sharon is seen wearing a wedding dress,
which stereotypically connotes a time of happiness and joy, but instead she is seen with a storm following her, which
is a ‘binary opposite’ (Levi Strauss) with the costume. The colour of white, as seen in the wedding dress,
stereotypically connotes innocence, which is a ‘binary opposite’ also in comparison with the song lyrics as
referenced above, therefore this colour could be perceived to have polysemic meanings in the trailer.

3. Technical Codes –
Throughout the trailer, fast paced cuts are used to connote potential danger for the characters. This connotes that
Sharon could be the one bringing this danger or ‘disequilibrium’ (Todorov) for the characters. Additionally, there are
zooms on many of the characters, for example Phil and Billy, as they look towards the storm. These are both shown
in a high angle shot, which connotes that they are weak and inferior in this situation, enhancing how they cannot do
anything to stop the storm happening, and that Sharon is back whether they like it or not. This further emphasizes
how she could be bringing a sense of trouble for them when she returns. The use of CGI in the form of the storm
helps to connote an image that stereotypically means trouble and brings an element of danger, so the fact that this
storm is in Albert Square connotes that the protagonists could, metaphorically speaking, have a storm coming, in the
form of Sharon who will create havoc.
Trailer 1 – EastEnders - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z1v_2Xf7Xss

4. Trailer 2 – Hollyoaks - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vbr4pEzZOTo
Verbal Codes
In the trailer, a diegetic sound bridge from one of the characters, Darren, is used appropriately to connote the
characteristics of Sienna and and her behaviour. “Not only is she good with the children” is spoken, just as we see a
young boy, Tom, trying to break through a wall where he is presumably trapped. Additionally, she is portrayed as a
‘villain’ (Propp) through her own diegetic dialogue – “what makes you so sure they’re gonna find you alive?”. This is
a threat against Tom, which connotes how dangerous she can be. This links in with the non-verbal code of Tom’s
facial expression – he looks scared, which ‘signifies’ (De Saussure) that he is in danger and is not being held there out
of his own will. This adds a sense of irony to the sound bridge used at the beginning from Darren, because she
evidently is not “good with the children” if she is making threats to them. Furthermore, the non-diegetic soundtrack
used is very dramatic and tense, with it being fast-paced and quite loud. This contrasts with the compliments Darren
is paying to Sienna in the diegetic sound bridge at the beginning, including saying “I am totally blown away at the
fact that one day soon, she’ll be my wife”.
Non-Verbal Codes
In the trailer from Hollyoaks, there is non-verbal text used at the very beginning, in the form of “Friday the 13th is
coming…”. This connotes that something very unlucky is about to occur as it stereotypically would on Friday 13th,
and this will entice the audience to watch because they will expect something dramatic to be shown. Additionally,
the use of props helps to enforce Sienna’s behaviour, as she picks up a ‘Missing’ poster about Tom, who is seen
shouting at her afterwards. This connotes that she has kidnapped him and is hiding him from his own family.
However, at the start, Sienna is denoted as wearing a light top with flowers on, that would typically connote
innocence, so it is a ‘binary opposite’ (Levi Strauss) to what we would expect from a stereotypical ‘villain’. The use of
setting where Tom is being held captive connotes further that he is not there out of choice. It is dark and does not
look very homely at all, and the fact that he is trying to break out of it connotes that Sienna is a ‘villain’ in this
instance.

5. Technical Codes
At the beginning of the trailer from Hollyoaks, there is an oblique angle shot of Sienna and Darren as he
takes her hand. This stereotypically connotes affection between the two characters, before we see an eye-
line match, where the camera cuts to Sienna as Darren is looking at and talking about her. This is a contrast
with what the next shot denotes, which is Tom trying to create a hole in a brick wall, conveying that he is
being held captive, suggesting that it is Sienna’s fault. The non-diegetic voiceover continues as the scene
fades to black, before fading into Tom trying to break through the brick wall where he is confined. The use of
the eye-line match followed by the fade to Tom connotes that Sienna is hiding something from Darren that
the audience knows about. Also, near the end, there are fast paced cuts as Nancy confronts Sienna, calling
her a “liar” as Sienna denies what Nancy is saying. The fast paced cuts help to connote the tension between
the two characters, indicating that they have not always got along. However, Sienna is conveying qualities of
a stereotypical victim, whilst Nancy’s accusations of her being a “liar” contradict with this.
Trailer 2 – Hollyoaks - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vbr4pEzZOTo

6. Evaluation of Textual Analysis –
Compare and Contrast
Trailer 1) – Areas of Strength and what you would ‘repeat’ (Steve Neale - 1980) and/or ‘exploit’ (Abercrombie – 1995)
- Use of non-diegetic music throughout. The music used in this EastEnders trailer is extremely relevant to the other verbal and non-
verbal codes used, so it only further connotes the idea of danger and trouble within the trailer. I would like to ‘repeat’ this in my own
trailer because it’s important to help connote something in the trailer that will entice the audience back in to watch the show.
- The relevance of costume. Sharon’s wedding dress costume was a ‘binary opposite’ to the rest of the trailer and therefore carried
some strong connotations, because if she is there in her wedding dress rather than actually getting married, something must have
gone wrong. I would like to ‘repeat’ (Steve Neale, 1980) the irony of using a wedding dress costume for a character who is otherwise
connoted as being trouble for the other protagonists.
- Camerawork such as zooming. The EastEnders trailer effectively used zooming to demonstrate the facial expressions of the characters
as they reacted to seeing Sharon come down from the storm. I would definitely like to ‘exploit’ (Abercrombie, 1995) the relevance of
the camerawork in my own trailer, because it is important in order to connote particular things about the protagonists and
antagonists.
Trailer 2) – Areas of Strength and what you would ‘repeat’ (Steve Neale - 1980) and/or ‘exploit’ (Abercrombie – 1995)
- In the Hollyoaks trailer, I would like to repeat the use of a diegetic sound bed. This allows the dialogue to say something whilst the
non-verbal codes display something else instead, which the rest of the characters do not know about yet. This is something I would
like to ‘repeat’ because it creates a ‘binary opposite’ between the verbal and non-verbal codes, letting the audience in on a secret that
the protagonists do not know about in the narrative.
- The use of diegetic dialogue was something I liked within the Hollyoaks trailer, because it was relevant to the topic and again furthered
the viewer’s knowledge of the storyline so far, whilst also enticing them in to watch the next dramatic episode.
- Non-verbal text at the beginning of the trailer. The Hollyoaks trailer used the phrase “Friday the 13th is coming…”, which connotes that
something very bad and unlucky will happen based on the stereotype associated with that date. It instantly gets the audience
interested and will ensure that they watch the next episode to see exactly what drama will happen.