This document provides an analysis of two soap opera trailers. For the first trailer, the student summarizes the effective use of changing soundtracks and dialogue to shift the tone from happy to tense. They also note the use of lighting and costumes. For the second trailer, they comment on the setting, costumes, and camera angles, but find it less compelling than the first. Areas they would repeat include the first trailer's soundtracks and final fight scene. They would exploit transitions in their own trailer.

1. Soap Opera Genre –
Independent Textual
Analysis
Name: Zeyan Mirza
Candidate Number: 1178
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=-HXXOS-qySE
Verbal Codes – Comment on the use of Dialogue, Voiceover, Sound Effects or Soundtrack
The non diegetic soundtrack used in the first ten seconds of the trailer is often associated with Christmas and love is used as the non
diegetic soundtrack for the trailer this is because the trailer is advertising a Christmas/new year special. This soundtrack ‘signifies’ (De
Saussure) love and this links well with the theme of the trailer as two people are getting married. This soundtrack coupled with the
verbal code of the diegetic dialogue of the bride saying “I’ve never been so sure of anything in my life” connotes the love between the
two.
However after ten seconds the soundtrack changes and the theme of love changes to a theme of fear and despair and this is evident in
the change of the non diegetic soundtrack. The second soundtrack like the first has no lyrics, and is purely an instrumental, the
soundtrack builds up suspense and is very tense. This soundtrack coupled with the characters shouting other characters names makes
the viewer want to watch the episode being advertised and see what happens to their favorite characters and why their names are
being shouted.
Non-Verbal Codes – Comment on the use of Setting, Lighting, Costumes, Facial
Expressions and Characters
When the first soundtrack is present, the people on screen are all happy and seem to be enjoying themselves, however as soon as the
soundtrack changes so does the mood. The first scene when the new soundtrack comes on appears to be one of the male protagonists
trying to sexually assault the female protagonist. This represents a massive contrast to the previous scenes of two people preparing to
get married and helps highlight the ups and downs the episode will contain. The lighting in the first part of the trailer is bright and this
connotes happiness, however the lighting presented in the second part of the trailer is low key and this connotes despair and anger. The
costumes represented could perhaps highlights the popularity of the characters, the charchrters who viewers like are the ones that are
getting married, therefore are wearing a suit and a dress, however the character that may be deemed as the ‘villain’ (Propp) in this soap
opera has come to the wedding in his own clothes making him stand out more and denoting that he is different and perhaps showed up
uninvited.

3. Technical Codes – Comment on the use of Camera Angles, Shot Types and Camera
Movement and Editing
Many different camera angles were used throughout the trailer, one in particular when the male protagonists Mick Carter and Dean
Carter are seen fighting under water with a low angle shot. This is to connote the magnitude of the fight. OSS shots are used frequently
in the trailer as well as a birds eye shot at the end to help emphasize the fight taking place and highlight that they are the only two
people in the pond. Over the shoulder shots are used throughout the trailer, this could perhaps represent the fact that the charchrers
should be looking over their shoulders as something bad is going to happen. Transitions are also used in this trailer and this is especially
symbolic as the transition is used when the trailer suddenly changes from being happy and romantic to dark and evil. Prior to the
transition they are talking about the wedding and how in love they are and after the transition screaming is present as well as domestic
violence.

4. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y9V-L5Tewi0
Verbal Codes – Comment on the use of Dialogue, Voiceover, Sound Effects or Soundtrack
The same non diegetic soundtrack is used throughout the Hollyoaks trailer, shouting between characters is incorporated in the trailer to
attract an audience and make sure that they want to watch the episode. “If he does not show up at this wedding, there is going to be no
wedding, because there’s going to be a funeral” is shouted by the female protagonist, who is wearing a wedding dress, which will prompt
viewers to make sure that they do not miss the episode. The non diegetic soundtrack used is the same throughout and is fast paced,
perhaps showing the fast paced action in the trailer, as there is a lot going on. and this helps the viewer know what to expect when
watching the trailer. At the end of the trailer a voice over is used to clarify and sate the time of the episode the timing of the voiceover is
present with the port of call information.
Non-Verbal Codes – Comment on the use of Setting, Lighting, Costumes, Facial Expressions
and Character roles (Propp)
The trailer is set in numerous different places, perhaps denoting the numerous multi stranded narrative
themes that will occur in the episode if watched. It seems there is a wedding taking place so one of the
settings is the church as well as a jail. The lighting through the trailer is bright and towards the end
when the scene where a male is in jail comes on the lighting becomes low key. This reflects what life in
jail is like and giving the viewer an insight into what he has been going through. The costumes worn by
the characters are clothes that you would associate with middle class people and one of the female
protagonists is wearing a pink wedding dress representing that she is very girly, however the fact she is
saying its going to be his funeral if he doesn't show up connotes an anti stereotypical side of the female
gender, encouraging the viewer to watch to see what she does. Dean Carter is deemed as the “villain” in
the scenario due to his domestic violence issues and intentions to mess up his brother, Mick, the main
female protagonist and “hero's” wedding.

5. Technical Codes – Comment on the use of Camera Angles, Shot Types and Camera
Movement
Many different camera angles are used throughout this forty second trailer of Hollyoaks especially towards the end of the trailer when
thee male protagonists are talking about coming out of jail, at this moment over the shoulder shots, low angle shots, the use of eye line
match shows how angry he is that he is currently in jail. And the broken camera shots through the bars in jail connote how isolated he is
and why he may feel like he does. The broken camera shot consists of him with his hand in front and around the bars that he is behind.
There is a low angle shot of his feet as he is looking to step out of his jail cell and an over the shoulder shot of what appears to be his
lawyer or someone associated with getting him out of prison. The trailer ends with “I need to get out of here” this will almost ensure
people watch the next episode as they want too see what sacrifices he will make to get out.

6. Evaluation of Textual Analysis –
Compare and Contrast
Trailer 1) – Areas of Strength and what you would ‘repeat’ (Steve Neale) or “exploit”
(Abercrombie – 1995) There are many areas of the EastEnders trailer which I would look to ‘repeat’ (Steve Neale - 1980), I
particularly like way the non diegetic soundtrack changes during the trailer, it changes from a string song associated with love Christmas
and new year, 3 themes associated with the trailer and then changes to a more intense soundtrack to match the change in theme in the
trailer. The first part of the trailer was associated with love and family and the second despair and themes such as rape and fights. I would
also repeat the shouting in my trailer as this builds suspense and shows that lot of stuff is going to happen in the episode. The lasts scene
of the two main male protagonists will also ensure the episode gets views, the birds eye view used highlights that they are the only two
fighting. The fact that two main characters are arguing will ensure the episode is a success as people will want to see the outcome, so I will
look to include a big fight in my trailer to attract an audience. One thing I would look to “exploit” (Abercrombie – 1995) is the use of a
soundtrack with diegetic sound as the lyrics could be related to the topics in the trailer.
Trailer 2) – Areas of Strength and what you would ‘repeat’ (Steve Neale) or “exploit”
(Abercrombie – 1995)
In comparison to the EastEnders trailer I did not think the holly oaks trailer was very good, the soundtrack used was boring and the
content of the trailer didn’t seem as if it would entice an audience . The only thing I did like about the trailer was it s camera angles and
camera shots and this is what I would ‘repeat’ (Steve Neale - 1980) in my trailer. This trailer used excellent camera angles and got shots
which had a lasting impact on the viewer like the broken camera shot with the man behind bars. This made you want to watch the episode
to find out why he was behind bars. One aspect I would look to” exploit” (Abercrombie – 1995) is the trailers use of transitions, this trailer
did not have any effects when passing through transition and I think a high quality trailer should, therefore I will look to include this in my
trailer.