The document discusses codes and conventions used in soap operas and compares them to the student's media product. Some conventions highlighted include: 1) Using realistic storylines and locations to create a sense of realism for the audience. 2) Multiple parallel storylines and cliffhangers are used to keep audiences watching. 3) Shots like close-ups and over-the-shoulder shots help viewers connect with characters and create a sense of realism. 4) Establishing shots, location shooting, and mise-en-scene with everyday locations and objects help set the scene and make the world feel believable. The student analyzes how their product challenged or developed some conventions

1. Q1: How did you USE,
DEVELOP or CHALLENGE
codes and conventions of real
media products?

2. Soap opera
• A soap opera is usually called soap for short
and adopted this name as they were usually
shown with soap adverts due to them being
shown to stay at home housewives who were
expected to clean the house.
• Modern day examples of soaps are Hollyoaks,
Coronation Street, Emmerdale and
Eastenders.

3. Codes and conventions of my chosen
Ends on cliff-hanger so
genre
Realistic storylines
audience watches more Based around one
particular place
Soap operas
Vladimir Propp character roles
Create realism, for Multiple narratives
example placement of
objects

4. Codes and conventions of my chosen sub-genre.
Mise en scene –
Natural set in everyday
Multiple parallel storylines
lighting used locations.
Semi-
improvised
scripts to
Social realism
achieve
realistic
dialogue.
Mostly medium and
Episodes end on close up shots to
Location Shooting (not in a studio)
cliff-hanger. show facial
expression and
background.

5. Comparison to existing product
Kingley Grove
Hollyoaks
Both products have used a close up to show the emotion on a
characters face during a key scene, the close up also forces the
viewer’s attention to be orientated around the star’s face. They also
are both maintaining eye contact only slightly away from the centre
on the camera.

6. An establishing shot is a key feature of every form of visual media and that is why I
have included it in my trailer. The purpose of an establishing shot is to set the
scene for the audience right from the start. Therefore I have used this convention
as my trailer features an establishing shot.

7. Both trailers feature a over the shoulder shot allows the viewer to see things
from the perspective of a certain character. This allows the viewers connect
with the character as the shot allows the viewer to feel as if they were the
character and plays on the soap’s feature of escapism.

8. Both products feature location shooting, so it is actually shot at the
location instead of a set constructed in a studio. This makes the scene
more realistic and believable for the audience. Also the Mise-en-scene
represents everyday locations which the audience can relate with.

9. An extreme close up has been used in both products to point out something to the
viewer that is very key to the plot or scene. Extreme close ups are usually used to
present the emotion on a characters face, however as a group we decided to
challenge this convention and use our extreme close up in a phone screen.

10. This demonstrates the use of a low angle shot which follows conventions as
shown through the use of one in Hollyoaks. However they are used for two
different reasons. In Kingley Grove the low angle shot is used to show the
emotion on the star’s face as he looks down, however in Hollyoaks it is
being used to show the male star to be in a position of power over the
female star as he is being made to look higher up than her. Therefore my
use of the low angle shot could be seen to develop codes and conventions.

11. Both have used a two shot in order to show the emotion on the faces of both
characters. In both scenes the two shot is being used to show the intense
romantic stare between the characters. Therefore it would appear we have
used this code and convention of the two shot.

12. Close ups are used to show features in the scene in their entirety, as demonstrated
in my clip. This shows I have used codes on conventions of the close up shot.
Although they are focusing on different thing the close up in both scenes is being
used to provoke emotion.

13. The way I have used common codes and conventions for my billboard product is in the use of a logo to show
the viewer what channel they are from, although I have developed it in the sense of the position of the logo,
as shown the logo is usually in the right hand side, placed in the middle. Whereas I have placed the logo in
the bottom right hand corner as to not obstruct or pull away focus from the main image. In terms of the image
used, the Hollyoaks billboard features more characters and also features more female characters which could
be used to express female dominance. The Hollyoaks billboard also features more stars on it, which shows
character diversity, If I were to redo my billboard I would aim to put more emphasis on this, however I wanted
to avoid an overcrowded shot because I wanted one point of focus. It could be said that I have challenged this
element as I didn't want to over-complicate my shot.

14. This demonstrates the progression of my TV magazine front cover. I
aimed to use codes and conventions of real media products when
producing my front cover. I aimed to closely replicate the existing cover
which is pictured right. The reason I aim to closely replicate the
existing product is because it uses common codes and conventions
and will give my product a professional look if I follow them.