This is my production log which shows research i have completed prior to my production. I have analysed a number of soap operas and considered the many codes and conventions of what makes a successful soap opera.
Influencing policy (training slides from Fast Track Impact)
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Production log
1. 1
St. Paulâs Catholic College
Center Number: 64770
Candidate Number: 6622
Candidate Name: Jade Cook
A2 Media Studies
Unit G324: Advanced Portfolio in Media â
Production Log
Evidence of Planning & Research
2. 2
Aims and Objectives
ï· AO2 â Assess candidatesâ application of knowledge and
understanding in evaluating their own work, showing
how meanings and responses are created.
ï· AO3 â Assess candidatesâ ability to plan and construct
media products using appropriate technical and creative
skills.
ï· AO4 â Assess candidatesâ ability to undertake, apply and
present appropriate research.
Brief Chosen
Contents
Textual Analysis
ï· Eastenders
- Soap Opera Codes & Conventions
- Multi Strand Narrative
3. 3
ï· Coronation Street
â..the home, the family, domestic tribulations and the strong woman, and as
such, it has long been said to appeal to the female viewerâ
âMasculinity and Popular televisionâ â Rebecca Feasey (2007)
1) What are some of the Codes & Conventions of this genre?
Codes and
conventions of
soap operas
Typical storylinese.g.
love, conflict, secrets
Multi-stranded
narrative
Largely targets a
female audience, as
stereotypically
females like to gossip
Brand identity
(ident) such as a
theme tune
Can âpersonally
relateâ (Katz) and
âpersonally identifyâ
(Katz) to characters
and situations
Characters conform
to Proppâscharacter
roles
Often contains racial
stereotypes
âStrongâ women in
soaps
Stereotypical
characters
such as, Indian
family owning
a corner shop
Usually has
communal
locations such
as pubs, cafes
4. 4
2) Codes & Conventions of the SoapOpera Genre
The Soap Operagenre can be categorizedby the ârepeatedâ
(Steve Neale) elements of:
1. Love
2. Conflict
3. Secrets
4. Disasters e.g. fire, car crash
5. Death
Eastenders (1985 â Present)
Key informationregarding this text:
ï· BBC during prime time (7-11pm)
ï· Kitchen sinkrealism-familiar setting
ï· 20 millionviewers tuned into the 30th anniversary (on average
10-15 million)
Textual Analysis Task
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ye51O8WBVVM&feature=related -
5. 5
In your opinion, accordingto Hartleyâs Seven Subjectivities, whatis the
target audiencefor Eastenders?
Age 18-60
Gender Female (stereotypically)
Nationality British
Trailer 1) The Week of Revelations
What is the Focus of this trailer?
To build anticipation for the audience as it focuses on the murder of the character
Lucy Beale and leaves the audience in suspense.
Code
&
Convention
Evidence
(Verbal, Non-Verbal,
Technical)
Impact on the Audience
(Katz, Maslow, Hartley)
Romance
Janeâs red lipstick
(mise-en-scene)
May attract a male audience (Hartley) as red
lipstick is something associated with love
and passion
Family
relationships
and/or conflict
Beale family together in
the fish and chip shop
Links to Hartley (family) as the audience feel
a sense of family belonging and may be able
to âpersonally relateâ (Katz) to the characters
Focus on
working class
communities
At the end of the trailer,
all the characters
gather in the square
which shows a sense of
community
Links to Hartley (class) as the audience can
âpersonally relate/identifyâ (Katz) with the
characters
âMulti-Stranded
Narrativeâ
All characters involved
in one storyline
although they live
separate lives
Links to Katz, as the audience are âinformed
and educatedâ
âDisequilibriumâ
(Todorov)
Lucyâs death-hands
dragged down
windows, CGI used for
scary effect
Caregivers (Maslow) may sympathize with
the Beale family. This can also create a
diversion (Katz) for viewers as it creates an
escapism.
6. 6
Trailer 2) Hollyoaks End of The Line
What is the Focus of this trailer?
Focuses on a multi-stranded narrative as it shows fast paced cuts of different
characters involved in different situations
Code
&
Convention
Evidence
(Verbal, Non-Verbal,
Technical)
Impact on the Audience
(Katz, Maslow, Hartley)
Romance Woman asking man to
marry her
Viewers may form a âpersonal relationshipâ
(Katz) or may be able to âpersonally identifyâ
(Katz) themselves with the character
Family
relationships
and/or conflict
Man asks his partner to
marry him
Viewers may form a âpersonal relationshipâ
(Katz) or may be able to âpersonally identifyâ
(Katz) themselves with the character
Focus on
working class
communities
Fast paced cuts of all
the different characters
Caregivers (Maslow) may sympathize with
some of the characters as they focus on the
characterâs facial expressions and emotions
âMulti-Stranded
Narrativeâ
All characters are
involved in the same
storylines
Caregivers (Maslow) will feel sympathy
towards some of the characterâs and their
situations
âDisequilibriumâ
(Todorov)
Train crash,
Car pulled out of water
Caregivers (Maslow) will sympathize with
the characters as there scenes connote
disaster and upset
Multi-stranded narrative
A Multi-stranded narrative can be defined asâŠ..
Different storylines which link together to create a single storyline
7. 7
Code & Convention Evidence Impact on the audience
ï· Multi-stranded
narrative
All characters storylines
link together
Audience can âpersonally
identifyâ (Katz)
themselves with some of
the characterâs storylines
ï· Family
relationships
and/or conflict
Sisterâs Ronnie and Roxy
arguing
Viewers may be able to
âpersonally identifyâ
(Katz) themselves if they
have ever had arguments
with their siblings
ï· Focus on working
class communities
On the market, they all
know each other
Viewers can âpersonally
identifyâ (Katz)
ï· âDisequilibriumâ
(Todorov)
Closing down of surgery Caregivers (Maslow) may
sympathize with the
characters if they have
been in a similar situation
ï· Romance Kush getting married Audience may be able to
âpersonally identifyâ
(Katz) with the character
SoapOpera Codes & Conventions continued â Lesson3
Textual Analysis
According to Rebecca Feasey in âMasculinity and Popular televisionâ (2007), the Soap
Opera genre tends to focus on:
âThe home, the family, domestic tribulations and the strong woman and as such, it
has long been said to appeal to the female viewerâ
8. 8
1) â Do you agree?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F8_ApPT6isY (First 5 minutes)
âMulti-Stranded Narrativeâ Focuses on the loss of family from a fire
ï· Family
relationships
and/or conflict
Jason supporting his mum and her friend in the pub
ï· Focus on working
class communities
Working in the pub-a place where everyone can meet
as a community
Disequilibriumâ (Todorov) Death from the fire,
At the hospital,
Breaking the bad news to Simon
ï· Other Themes &
Issues represented:
Domestic tribulations of Carla and Leanne arguing in
the street
9. 9
SoapOpera Codes & Conventions continued â Lesson4
Textual Analysis
1) What is the purpose of a trailer?
To give the audience a glimpse of the soap opera to see if it appeals to them
2) What are the benefits of Multi-Platform promotion of a media text?
ï· Targets a wider audience
ï· Increase viewing figures and popularity
Ultimately, some form of Convergence is important when promoting a text to the
target audience.
Institution research â
ï· Originally targets the arts, culture, drama and some comedy
ï· Appealing to the audiences not already served by BBC1 or ITV
ï· Broadcasts more âhighbrowâ (intellectual) programs
ï· Appeals to an audience aged 35-54
ï· The channelâs ethos are programs that are surprising, celebratory, witty,
warm, adventurous, intelligent, playful, informative and authoritative