This document provides an analysis of two soap opera trailers from EastEnders and Hollyoaks. For the EastEnders trailer, the analysis notes the emotional soundtrack, lack of dialogue, and Peggy Mitchell's white costume signifying the end of her suffering. Special effects, voiceovers, and lighting are discussed for the Hollyoaks trailer to create mystery and drama. The document concludes by stating elements from each trailer that would be repeated or exploited in the author's own soap opera trailer, such as soundtracks, visual effects, and shot reverse shots.

1. Soap Opera Genre –
Independent Textual
Analysis
Name: Jonathan Villacci
Candidate Number:1248
Center Name: St. Andrew’s Catholic School
Center Number:64135
OCR Media Studies – A2 Level
Unit G324: Advanced Portfolio

2. Trailer 1 – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fVkCtQb7XSI
EastEnders
Verbal Codes –Emotional, depressing Non-diegetic sound track over the top of a medium close up shot of Peggy
Mitchell, the lyrics quote the line “the last goodbye I swear” which helps to insinuate the passing of a famous soap
opera star. The soundtrack portrays connotations of sorrow and loss, by adding in a soundtrack it can really change
the mood and overall tonality of the trailers viewing experience. When our group come to editing our final trailer we
will be taking the choice of music seriously to repeat (Steve Neale 1980) a similar after effect such as this one.
There is no dialogue in this trailer which could suggest the lack of life in this trailer signifying Peggy's death. The
soundtrack to the trailer is in a slow tempo and in a minor tonality which helps to portray the melancholy situation
that is about to take place. The fact there is no dialogue could exaggerate the solidarity emotions which will be
running through the atmosphere of the soap opera in the upcoming events trailered on the trailer. The ending bares
a diegetic voiceover notifying the audience on when this news will be released with the TV series.
Non-Verbal Codes –The mixture between lighting demonstrates the two sides of the outcome of Peggy's
death. For example the low key lighting is present when her facial expression changes to a more scared face which
could foreshadow the dangers to come in the future of the series enticing the audience. The main character in this
trailer (Peggy Mitchell) is seen wearing an a total white costume and with white hair. The colour white signifies
purity and the end of suffering which is linked well to the situation of her death as it demonstrates the end of her
suffering with the pain of her disease. The fact that she is wearing white shows her importance and glow to the soap
opera series and personal identifies (Katz) with the audience as they feel they would have lost an important person
in their age generation.
Technical Codes – The surrounding bystanders walking around Peggy are shown in fast motion. The fast motion
characters moving around her demonstrate her loss in time and her not being the same as she used to be. The close
up shot on Peggy's face denotes the fear and emotion in leaving her friends and family behind. At this point the
audience who have grown up with Peggy Mitchell in their generation feel a personal connection and empathize with
the situation. In some scene shots she is being tracked and centered in the frame representing her importance to
the TV show and her death baring as a loss of the center-beam (structure) in the program.

3. Screenshots form the trailer

4. Trailer 2 – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bAE0V4ExSWo
Hollyoaks
Verbal Codes –Non diegetic special FX sounds of explosions exaggerate the action scenes to create a more
gripping and mysterious atmosphere. I wish to repeat (Neale 1980) this verbal code in my trailer as it will intrigue
audiences more to watch the action within my soap opera. Diegetic voiceovers such as "are you the hospital killer
?”create suspense within the scene, as the actor voiceovers this allows for more action scenes to pack the trailer
with enticing teasers for the audience to watch. The voiceover removes direct dialogue from the actors creating a
sinister and ominous feel to the scene, majority of soap opera target audiences are intrigued by mystery plot twists
and action in soap operas. Some diegetic dialogue is used so that the character is filmed saying the most important
factual information, for example the line “you where all over each other” connotes topics such as adultery which is
relatable to a percentage of the audience and can personally identify with them (Katz). The non diegetic soundtrack
includes sharp and punchy stabbed chords to insinuate the action packed drama which can be life changing within
the TV series. Secondly music is also tonally ambiguous which means that the key is hard to hear creating a
mysterious atmosphere within the trailer.
Non-Verbal Codes –The low key lighting aids to the dramatic suspense which TV soap opera dramas tend to
give off. The facial expressions of Trevor demonstrate shock and mystery, in this trailer he is seen having an affair
with his wife when he is discovered the close up shot on his face demonstrates the drama of the scene. In my groups
trailer this technique of low key lighting will definitely be repeated s it is an efficient way to emphasize drama.
Trevor’s red shirt may symbolize the evil and heartless act of heart break he has caused on his wife by having an
affair. This evil suggestion relates to Propp's character ‘villain’ role where the villain tries to interfere with the
‘Hero’s’ moral intentions. The special FX visuals near the end of the trailer synchronize with the end explosion, the
explosion is the base to the end writing which helps to symbolize the explosive drama which will occur in this
seasons episodes. The settings vary at each point in the trailer incorporating snippets from upcoming episodes pre
to release. However these settings such as the living room where the affair is taken place holds props such as dark
coloured flowers which signify (de Saussure) the lack of real love between their original partners, dark colours often
symbolize immoral situations and depression hence leading to a lust in another person.

5. Trailer 2 – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bAE0V4ExSWo
Hollyoaks
Technical Codes – The close up shot of the car ignition symbolizes the stereotypical car accidents which are
popular in most TV drama soap operas. The ignition of the car could also symbolize the ‘ignition/start’ of the
potential dramatic events that will begin to unfold.
The use of shot reverse shot between both the cancer patient and her friend connotes the emotion in facial
expression. This specific scene may personally relate (Katz) to the soap opera audience as it is a common emotion
that effects a wide majority of the TV audience. The camera is seen to film shot reverse shots which demonstrate
the emotions portrayed by the characters exaggerating the drama of the sequence towards the audience viewing.
There is one particular shot reverse shot showing the two lovers at different angles in the set this may be signifying
that they are no longer metaphorically ‘on the same level’ and are no longer in love as they were.
Shot at a low
angle
Shot closer up at
a higher angle

6. Screenshots form the trailer

7. Evaluation of Textual Analysis –
Compare and Contrast
Trailer 1) – Areas of Strength and what you would ‘repeat’ (Steve Neale) or “exploit”
(Abercrombie – 1995) - “Television producers set out to exploit genre conventions... It... makes
sound economic sense. ”
In trailer 1 I would like to repeat (Neale 1980) and incorporate the melancholy non diegetic soundtrack which helps to
add to the dramatic scenes. This feature is by far the most important as music is a huge role in setting an atmosphere
into a certain mood. As seen in the EastEnders trailer the non diegetic soundtrack changed the tonality of the
atmosphere setting the scene. I will be ‘exploiting’ (Abercrombie) the idea of no dialogue as I feel that our trailer will
need to be more mysterious to draw a mass audience hooked and teased into watching our soap opera trailer to what
of professional ones. If I use dialogue the audience may get confused and not obtain the right information which our
soap opera trailer will radiate.
Trailer 2) – Areas of Strength and what you would ‘repeat’ (Steve Neale) or “exploit”
(Abercrombie – 1995) - “Television producers set out to exploit genre conventions... It... makes
sound economic sense.”
Trailer 2 in my opinion held more action. Some technical features such as facial close ups and shot reverse shots helped
to convey the drama in the story being told. Another feature that I would like to repeat is the use of special FX visuals
which are added near the end of the trailer. The visuals have a huge impact on shocking the audience and adding a
punch of drama to the scene. Visual FX is a definite repeat (Neale 1980) I wish to incorporate in to my soap opera
trailer. From viewing the Hollyoaks trailer I have realized the mass effect in promoting drama that shot reverse shots
have. I will be ‘exploiting’ these shot types as I feel they professionally create suspense in a scene, we will have to
exploit this to re-create a professional media product similar to this soap opera trailer.