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St. Paul’s Catholic College

Center Number: 64770

Candidate Number: 5899

Candidate Name: Thamina Chowdhury

A2 Media Studies

Unit G324: Advanced Portfolio in Media –

Production Log

Evidence of Planning & Research

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Aims and Objectives

AO2 – Assess candidates’ application of knowledge and understanding in evaluating their own work, showing how meanings and responses are created.

AO3 – Assess candidates’ ability to plan and construct media products using appropriate technical and creative skills.

AO4 – Assess candidates’ ability to undertake, apply and present appropriate research.

Brief Chosen

A 45 second – 1 minute 30 second trailer for a NEW Soap Opera that will be exhibited on BBC 3 at 8:30pm (after Eastenders) that will appeal to a Male and Female audience.

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Contents

Textual Analysis

Eastenders - Soap Opera Codes & Conventions - Multi Strand Narrative

Coronation Street

“..the home, the family, domestic tribulations and the strong woman, and as such, it has long been said to appeal to the female viewer”

‘Masculinity and Popular television’ – Rebecca Feasey (2007)

- Is this evident and how is this presented to the audience?

Research

Purpose of a Trailer Multi-Platform promotion Textual Analysis – Coronation Street and Hollyoaks

Deadlines – Production Work Filming Dates: 22nd and 23rd October Edited Trailer – Complete: Promotional Poster – Complete: Promotional Magazine Cover – Complete: Evaluation – Complete:

Production Work

Director Producer Institution research – BBC Three

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Soap Opera Codes & Conventions – Lesson 2 1) What are some of the Codes & Conventions of this genre? You MUST demonstrate what you already know by completing a “Spider Diagram” of what you know about OR expect from this genre:

Characters Antagonists Protagonists Family members Friends Stereotypical Different dialects and

idiolects(this can include working class)

A vulnerable male or female character

There is always a hero and there is always an antagonist who is the main character

There can sometimes be a weak male or female character

There are also many groups of people who are similar ages.

It is based on a group of characters living in a particular place. There is also a focus on working-class communities

There is a focus on family life and personal relationships

Personal identity

(Todorovs theory) Disequilibrium This can include the themes of: Adultery, violence, murder, betrayal, crime and tragedy

There are usually people with contrasting personalities. This creates a twist in the soap opera, therefore intriguing to the audience.

Setting Is it a small or big

community? Small town or big town Shops, cafes and houses Realistic location Is it the type of location

that suits the initial planning for the set of the soap opera

Drama

It is a small community

Codes and conventions of the Soap Opera genre

Variety of different characters

Dramatic storylines

Target audience Most of the target audiences for

soap operas are females however it can relate to (Katz) personal identity and can be intriguing to a male audience.

Another typical feature noticed is there is always a variety of different

Mis-en-scene Features of this, contrast with everyday items in real life.

There is usually a multi stranded narrative

Soap operas usually have sponsors – they are normally funded by a product placement or advertisement company

All of these codes and conventions of the soap opera genre, create realism, with the use of diegetic sound, non-diegetic sound, dialogue and other essential camera shots and angles.

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2) Codes & Conventions of the Soap Opera Genre The Soap Opera genre can be categorized by the ‘repeated’ (Steve Neale) elements of:

1. Romance

2. Family relationships and conflict

3. Focus on working class communities

4. Cliff Hangers

5. Multi-stranded narrative

6. Realism

Eastenders (1985 – Present)

Key information regarding this text:

Exhibited on BBC1 and repeated on BBC Three

One of the UK’s highest rated programs (8mil per week)

Set in the ‘kitchen sink’ setting of fictional Walford, East London Textual Analysis Task http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ye51O8WBVVM&feature=related -

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You MUST complete the Table below whilst watching the TWO promotional trailers for the BBC Soap Opera Eastenders. You SHOULD aim to identify key examples (Verbal, Non-Verbal, Technical) from each trailer that demonstrates your understanding. You COULD apply relevant audience theory to explain what impact these key examples would have on the target demographic. In your opinion, according to Hartley’s Seven Subjectivities, what is the target audience for Eastenders?

Age

15+

Gender

Mainly targeted at females

Nationality

British

Trailer 1) What is the Focus of this trailer? Love triangle between Stacey, Max and Bradley.

Code &

Convention

Evidence

(Verbal, Non-Verbal, Technical)

Impact on the Audience

(Katz, Maslow, Hartley)

Romance

Verbal code ‘love you’ Non-verbal code of Max and Stacey kissing. There is a two shot used and they both have a very loving expression their face.

Personal identification with Love – these are people in a relationship.

Family relationships and/or conflict

-Tanya and bradely are suspicious: “boyfriend?” and “filthy little secret!” -There is also a tense non-diegetic sound which supports the scene, building on the tension.

Caregivers (Maslow): they are sympathizing with Bradely and Tanya.

Survivors (Maslow): they feel that there is hope that the situation may be resolved and Max and Stacey’s secret does not get around the community which would create a bigger issue between them and their loved ones.

Focus on

The focus is particularly on one

This particularly shows the working class, the age and the gender of the characters.

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working class communities

aspect which is setting: this is the market, their homes and the town where everyone is living a normal life earning and living with their partners. There is a particular focus also on the colloquial language, and the strong informal register. Also there is a strong idiolect which show that they are London people.

It also relates to Hartley: this is because many different variety of audience can relate to this in certain ways, for example adults can relate to this particular focus as the female gender can relate to the status and working class of the female characters. Adults and other British national people can relate to the scenes, due to the realistic aura of the characters behavior and personality.

“Multi-Stranded Narrative”

Max and Stacey have the affair, and with their other partners it is cheating and they do not know this. The verbal code in this aspect are the

‘Disequilibrium’ (Todorov)

There is much guilt and this can be seen through their facial expressions and that they have a guilty conscience. This is because of issues such as their relationship discontinuing. There is cheating and unfaithfulness

Caregivers (Maslow): the audience may feel sympathy towards Bradley, this is purely because he is shown as a friendly, caring and kind person and he has been taken for granted.

Trailer 2) What is the Focus of this trailer? This trailer particularly focuses on many of Max’s negatively influenced choices and encounters, as well as other characters in the trailer, Tanya, Bradely and Jack who is also in the trailer. The many themes that are included in this trailer has been depicted of, death, betrayal, unftaithfullness and guilt.

Code &

Convention

Evidence

(Verbal, Non-Verbal, Technical)

Impact on the Audience

(Katz, Maslow, Hartley)

Romance

Stacey is portrayed as a character who is

This relates to Hartley, (gender) because it appeals to the young male gender as she

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promiscuous and seductive to Max, this is because of her costume, it is short and revealing. This also portrays temptation. This is also encouraged by the lipstick color she is wearing to appear bright and seductive and at the same time appearing to be dangerous because of the red color.

appears to be seductive with the uniform she is wearing.

Family relationships and/or conflict

In the background there is a strong voiceover which says ‘he’s made his bed’ connoting he’s made the choices he has for a reason, there is an enigma created when the voiceover continued, ‘’ but will be lay in it?’’ denoting that will he keep his decision the way it is or will he change that. This intrigues the audience. The relationships are portrayed through the non-verbal code as dark low-key lighting and this creates tension and a mysterious aura.

This relates closely to the theory (Katz) as the trailer portrays elements of life that need to be considered and appreciated and not taking things for granted. This relates to

Informing and Education of (Katz).

Focus on working class communities

At the beginning of the trailer, Bradley is wearing a security guard uniform depicting his status in the community. The men in the trailer are dressed in suits and smart clothing this shows their working class status.

This relates to Hartley as it links with

Gender, age and nationality. This appeals to many of the variety and nationalities of people, particularly British people as it portrays their middle class status in the community.

“Multi-Stranded Narrative”

The narrative is in Max’s point of view and this is because of the focus from camera shots and angles that it is what he is seeing. As he is the one who

This narrative point of view particularly relates to Katz – diversion and entertainment, because it Is showing the situation from different perspectives.

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meets, Stacey, Bradley Jack and Tanya.

‘Disequilibrium’ (Todorov)

There is a non-diegetic voiceover, this says ‘’judgment day’’ this portrays the making of a decision and its consequences of the decisions that have been made. There are song lyrics which include ‘’ramblers and gamblers’’ this relates to the story that is being showed in the trailer, connoting that If Max should have made the decisions he did to risk his relationship with his son and his wife Tanya. There is also a focus on a close up shot when Stacey is pressing ‘’LG’’ which is lower ground, it portrays that Max is going further down because of the mistakes he made and this relates to hell and death.

This relates closely to Diversion, which is Katz. This creates a sense of tension and enigma because of the excitement created from all of the suspense portrayed to the audience from the characters.

Multi-stranded narrative A Multi-stranded narrative can be defined as…..

Telling a story from another person’s point of view. Or two stories of two different people that intervene It is also the telling of many (multiple) stories about many

characters in an open narrative episode or trailer. You MUST deconstruct the 10-minute extract from Eastenders and identify where the following elements are presented to the audience:

Multi-stranded narrative Family relationships and/or conflict Focus on working class communities ‘Disequilibrium’ (Todorov) Romance

You SHOULD write down x1-2 examples for EACH of the elements above that are presented.

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Code & Convention Evidence Impact on the audience

Multi-stranded narrative

There is a variety of people who are going home from a night out together. This is viewed through the different character’s perspective and there is many different events occurring, and the police being involved.

This has a big impact on the audience, as there is a bit community with many different nationalities and ethnicities that appear in the trailer.

Family relationships and/or conflict

There are different camera angles and shots including shot-reverse-shot which shows the violent racism with the police. There is also a couple who are walking outside at night.

Caregivers (Maslow) because the audience may feel sympathy towards the couple as there may not be respect and honesty in their relationship.

Focus on working class communities

There is a strong focus on the working class community and this is identified through the community seen as very big and there are lots of different people.

The setting that is used is at a pub, which is the ‘Queen Victoria’ which instantly gives a sense of establishment and praise as this is a place for people to get together and socialize, for people to get away from the outside world, their normal working lives and issues in their personal lives.

Disequilibrium’ (Todorov)

There are technical codes such as a close up shot of a woman who is a mother waking up in another person’s bed. (This is Kat Slater). There is also another verbal code, which includes the dialogue used; it denotes a very deep meaning. For example ‘watch him like a hawk’

The impact It has on the audience is that the audience may feel as though the woman Kat has no respect or faith in her marriage and does not show any faithfulness to her husband who is portrayed as a caring person, who cares and loves her. She believes that he is wrong and this shows to the audience that she does not trust her husband, because she feels the need to have her husband watched. But in contrast, the husband had returned home late, this

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makes the audience think that they may just be another person involved in the issue.

Romance

The dialogue, which is part of verbal codes, is used to portray meaning. ‘‘There is only one woman for me’’

This romantic, loving and affectionate line depicts how much he is interested in the woman and he feels that she is the only one for him. This is the dialogue that he is using, just by using this essential verbal code it has created a lot of meaning and has a big impact on the audience.

Soap Opera Codes & Conventions continued – Lesson 3 Textual Analysis According to Rebecca Feasey in ‘Masculinity and Popular television’ (2007), the Soap Opera genre tends to focus on: The family, the home and the everyday life tribulations, it portrays a very strong and confident woman and this encourages and strongly appeals to female viewers.

1) – Do you agree? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F8_ApPT6isY (First 5 minutes)

You MUST deconstruct the opening 5 minutes of a sequence from the popular ITV Soap Opera Coronation Street (1960 – Present) to identify examples of where this ideology is presented to the target audience. You SHOULD also try and identify, to demonstrate your knowledge and understanding of the genre, any Codes & Conventions associated to the Soap Opera genre.

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Code & Convention Evidence Impact on the audience Rebecca Feasey (2007) Ideology: The representation of the men asking the women for advice and guidance show the men’s weakness and present the women as stronger characters. This portrayal of masculinity on the extract from coronation street is essential because these representations not only offer a reflection of the cultural realities of men which are presented on TV. This is purely related to the Femme Fatale. There is also a strong focus on the sisters arguing over a man which they found out they were both together with. Here there is a binary opposite as it contrasts Rebecca Feasey’s ideology as one of the sisters said “I put everything into this relationship” which instantly goes against the ideology as she is upset and sobbing. Due to this emotional scene, the audience act as caregivers and feel sympathy for the character because her sister does not understand the situation. There is also another femme fatale which has been noticed as the mother of the daughter is requesting the sisters to ‘calm down’ this takes the role of a leader, as men are usually more dominant.

Multi-stranded narrative

The characters (two sisters) arguing about a man. They are using different narratives and this is taking place inside the pub and the house. Technical codes used here are the cut shots of the different characters.

The impact on the audience is that they have a sense of tension between the sisters; this indicates to the audience that they may always be arguing frequently, and this relates to real life situations. Relates to Hartley – nation.

Family relationships and/or conflict

There are verbal codes that are included, for example the dialogue ‘’you wouldn’t know the truth if it bit you In the backside’’ Another verbal code is ‘alright that’s enough’ this dialogue uses dominant perspective.

This denotes how there is a very strong comparison between the sisters as one of them is more dominant and intimidating, due to the dialogue she is using and the other sister is very upset. This relates to Maslow.

Focus on working class communities

There is a significant focus on the working class people, such as the women working in the pub. There is also a focus of a view of the city community, this helps to identify all individuals.

This closely relates to Maslow – Social climbers.

Disequilibrium’ (Todorov) The disequilibrium In this This relates specially to

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trailer is the sisters finding out they are with the same man.

Katz, as some audience members can relate to the situations happening for example sister’s issue. This allows the audience to become far more involved with the narrative as they can relate to the characters and how they are feeling.

Romance

The sisters arguing over a man shows romance however it is portrayed in a negative way.

Katz relates to Diversion, the audiences can escape and relate to the situation happening in the drama.

Soap Opera Codes & Conventions continued – Lesson 4 Textual Analysis

1) What is the purpose of a trailer? The purpose of the trailer is to promote the drama and entice interests and needs of the target audience. The submerging elements of the drama will intrigue the viewer’s allowing them to watch more of the drama as it is entertaining and entices both male and female gender audiences.

2) What are the benefits of Multi-Platform promotion of a media text?

Institutions can promote further in a variety of ways to reach a big variety of audiences, and it allows the media to be accessed anywhere and at anytime.

Convergence (the coming together of media texts form two different platforms.

By being broadcasted (television, film or moving image) the viewer’s then interpret it and then encouraged to view it.

Logos are shown, for social networking sites such as twitter and Facebook at

the end of the trailer to allow audience to access their products in different ways

It also gives more exposure and viewers can access it through different

devices to view it for example, YouTube clips on the internet and on their phones and ipads due to the miniaturization of technology.

Ultimately, some form of Convergence is important when promoting a text to the target audience.

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3)

Textual Analysis –

You MUST make notes on the following areas when deconstructing this sequence from Coronation Street:

Multi-stranded narrative Character dilemmas ‘Personal Identification’ (Katz)

Multi stranded narrative

People getting ready for their wedding. There is a woman who is getting married. Facial expression of the cake maker show that she is not happy that the two

people are marrying each other; however, the audience are trying to question why that may be.

The groom appears nervous and not happy, this demonstrates he either does not want to get married or that he is just nervous about his big day as stereotypically some men can be.

This is an example of a binary opposition as the bride is happy while the groom is the total opposite.

Character Dilemmas

Non-verbal code when the characters are staring this creates tension Another non-verbal code is when there is a contrast of the bride’s smile

which portrays her nervousness and happiness whereas the groom looks in the mirror and does not look happy.

The date of Friday the 13th is very ironic and contrasts with the use of a verbal code, dialogue “lucky”

Personal Identification

It is a wedding day, and many members of the audience can relate to the preparation of this big day.

There are also mixed feelings and emotions from all the characters for this wedding event.

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http://www.channel4.com/programmes/hollyoaks/4od

The above link will take you to some of the latest episodes of Hollyoaks.

1. What are the connotations of the Ident for the popular Channel Four Teen

Soap Opera Hollyoaks (1995 – Present)? The connotations of Hollyoaks include the representation of the young female and male gender. The pink color of part of the text denotes the feminine elements and the blue connotes dominance and masculinity. By using this representation, it indicates to the audience that this programme focuses on the young generation of teenagers and young adults, issues including their friendship, relationships and school life as well as the occasional sexual tension that is involved in the character’s everyday life. The use of the pink letters in the first part of the name depicts a stronger formality of the feminine representation, likewise with the blue after the pink, it denotes the idea that the male characters could possibly be weaker in some respect. In addition, the word Hollyoaks shows the joining of different communities as well as portraying some sort of danger and real life elements. Hollyoaks – “White Wedding Trailer” - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bu2sW-r9Vb4

2. You MUST make notes on the following areas when deconstructing this sequence from Hollyoaks:

Binary opposition of the non-diegetic music Symbolism of the non-verbal code of the tear Representation of Pregnancy Any other examples that would impact the audience

Binary opposition of the non-diegetic music

The use of the verbal code, the non-diegetic soundtrack, its lyrics ‘white wedding’ is contradicted as everyone and everything in the trailer is in black, and it is the opposite to what a wedding is really meant to look like, as black represents danger and darkness whereas a ‘white wedding’ really is meant to present happiness on the day two hearts become one.

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Non-verbal code of tear The tear from the bride is represented as a tear of guilt, sadness and sorrow

instead of a tear of happiness, so this also contradicts with what a wedding is actually meant to be like, as everyone is meant to be happy and crying tears of joy with happiness but instead, there is a good contrast as the black tear represents the characters sorrow.

The portrayal of her pregnancy shows her guilt and that she is traumatized as she is getting married. This closely relates to Katz – personal identification as many people can relate to the character’s situation.

Representation of pregnancy The representation of the pregnancy is portrayed through a woman standing

by the stalls dropping a doll and when it falls, it breaks which symbolizes children and innocence, this also depicts pregnancy.

The presentation of some of the people who are present at the wedding look like they are pretending to hide the truth that they know and putting on a fake smile for her as it’s her wedding, but it shows that It is not the smile of happiness and joy but rather a fake smile which represents dislike. Also one of the men who wave at the bride, shows the significance of the glove he is wearing and the fake smile he gives, and then his facial expression changes. This connotes that he is hiding something or something dangerous will happen as he is wearing a glove which denotes the idea that he may want to hide something.

Production Work

1) What is the role of a Producer?

The role of the producer is to oversea the preproduction, production and postproduction process.

2) What is the role of a Director? The director overseas the creative elements of the production process and

directs the people whilst filming

3) Institution research – You MUST research the institution that your trailer will be exhibited on. Tips: Programming, Target audience, Audience figures, History of the channel.

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The target audience for BBC three is people aged16-35 year olds, because there is a variety of different programs with different genres, such as family guy who is targeted towards teenagers and Eastenders is targeted to teenagers and young adults.

They have an annual service budget of 89.5 million

The channel runs from 19:00 – to 04:00 am

BBC was first known as BBC choice – BBC wanted to rebrand their two digital channels

Genre of shops include comedy, drama, soap and they also play repeats from BBC1

Reaches over11 million viewers in a week