The document summarizes feedback received on a soap opera trailer created by the author's group. The feedback was overall positive, with comments praising the editing techniques, engaging story centered around a school setting, upbeat soundtrack that matched the pace of cuts, and convincing acting. However, one critic noted the trailer's codes and conventions were similar to other soap operas. Most agreed the strongest theme was teenage pregnancy and using cartoons to convey characters' thoughts was a unique approach.

1. Q3) What have you learnt from audience feedback?
For the construction of my evaluation, I collected different
types of feedback, both qualitative and quantitative to
identify the success that my group and myself have achieved
in the soap opera trailer. I gathered quantitative feedback
through the use of Survey Monkey, which produced accurate
statistics. Also, through the use of a 360 review in the form
of a YouTube video, I was able to collate qualitative
feedback, which led to in-depth responses.
The initial reactions from the audience feedback were all
positive. The trailer was “made in a very good standard”
which may be due to the editing techniques that were
incorporated into the trailer. This comment is very effective
in terms of knowing whether our trailer was a success or not
as it suggests that it was made in a good-enough standard
that can be compared to other existing soaps. Furthermore,
one of the audience members said, “I like how it was set in a
school as I’m a student myself”. This means that the success
of a soap opera also depends on the location. Since the
audience member was a student, he was more engaged in
the trailer as he can relate to the events involved within the
school, as well as ‘personally identify’ (Katz) with the
students within the school. Another responses I collated said
that trailer was “engaging and entertaining” and it attracted
both adults and children through the use of cartoons. Even
though the main target audience for our trailer was
teenagers between the age of 12 and 19, it is good to know
that adults would also be attracted to the trailer. Niall, who
also provided feedback, liked the artistic style of the trailer
through the use of the “characters who looked like they were
painted, and it flipped over like a book”. Our group went for
the comic-like theme by incorporating the cartoons, and we
emphasised the comic aspect through the application of the
cube spin video transitioning effect so the comments
received from Niall suggest that our comic aspect was a

2. success, even though it is not a traditional convention that is
present in most trailers.
A common response concerning the diegetic and non-
diegetic sound of the trailer is that the pace of the music
synchronised well with the trailer. The tempo was faster
than the majority of other existing soaps, and we partnered
the pace of the music through the use of the jump cuts that
changes into a different scene at a similar pace as the
soundtrack. In addition, 90% of the participants from Survey
Monkey responded that the tempo of the music harmonised
well with the trailer. Furthermore, one of the audience
members thought, “the soundtrack fitted the mood of the
trailer”. This connotes that the decision to use the
soundtrack ‘Darwin – Lose Her’ was successful was our
group aimed to reduce the tension within the trailer through
the use of this slightly upbeat tune. In addition, it was
mentioned that the uses of diegetic sound by the head
teacher saying “welcome to the academy” in the first scene
was effective as it establishes the setting as well as ‘inform’
(Katz) the audience that the title of the soap is also the name
of the school. Our group edited the soundtrack as well as any
diegetic sounds from the characters through the use of de-
noiser, de-clicker and de-hummer for more high quality
sounds. This was acknowledged by an audience member as
she liked how “clear” the sounds within the trailer were.
Regarding the actors used, one of the audience members felt
that the actors were “convincing” in terms of how they
played their roles. For example, the main female character is
supposedly the ‘outsider’ of a social group and the audience
member was able to acknowledge this. Also another
response was that the actors “were professional” and even
led to her believing the scene was real. The way the actors
conducted themselves in their role allows the audience to
‘personally identify’ (Katz) with the characters.

3. The strongest theme that was identified within the trailer
was teenage pregnancy. The audience all commonly said
that teen pregnancy is a relevant issue in today’s society.
This was important, especially for ‘caregivers’ (Maslow) as
the audience can sympathise with the characters situation.
One audience member particularly liked the use of an
extreme close-up, as we were able to show the facial
expression of the character in that situation. This again
allows the audience to see what the character is feeling in
that moment in time, therefore allowing them to
‘sympathise’ (Maslow) with the individual. Moreover, the
close-up used for the character stealing the money was
praised as it successfully added tension and drama into the
scene. Furthermore, an audience member liked the idea of
the over the shoulder shot for the mirror scene as the
camera angle allowed the audience to view the characters
facial expression from the mirror which was thought to be
“creative and cool” before saying that it was his favourite
shot in the trailer.
A weakness identified by one of the audience members is
that the codes and conventions in our trailer were similar to
other existing soaps, which means the trailer was not
authentic. However another feedback that I collated
suggested that it was authentic and “is of an official
standard, a really high standard”. Even though our trailer
was similar to Waterloo Road as it was also based in a school
setting, my group aimed to be original through the use of the
cartoons. I feel that we were successful in this manner as,
from the research I composed, cartoons are not present in
any other soap operas.
The main target audience for our trailer is a young
demographic, specifically 12 to 19 year olds, however the
responses from the audience feedback say other wise since
there were mixed responses as they thought the

4. demographic for the trailer were 18-24 year olds and 16-20
year olds. Even though these are not our primary target
audience, in my opinion it is still beneficial to hear that the
trailer would appeal to an older audience. Although, an
audience member also suggested that the target audience
were students due to the actors that were used and the
setting of the trailer.
Finally, as one of the audience members have said, usually,
soap operas rely on the actors’ ability to portray their
emotions. However we were able convey the inner thoughts
as well as the emotions of the characters through the use of
cartoon images and the speech bubbles. By freezing the
scene for a second on the cartoon image, the audience is
allowed to connect with the characters, as they are able to
see the facial expressions. “The cartoon aspect was vey
unique”, as said by one of the audience members, especially
when using it to highlight the pregnancy stick scene. This is
because checking to see whether the pregnancy test is
positive or negative is usually an intense event, therefore we
tried to reduce the tension and instead emphasise the issue
through conveying it in a cartoon form.