In what ways doesyour media product

use, develop or challengeforms and conventions of real media products?

Soap Opera Conventions…

Multiple main characters

Multiple storylines

Over the shoulder shots

POV shots Extreme close ups

Shot on a set

Camera as fourth wall

Not much make up/ casual clothes

Blue filters over camera lens – dull and realistic atmosphere

Regular conflict and disequilibrium

¾ of storylines shown in trailers

In my soap trailer research, I looked at Made in Chelsea as the genre of my soap is the same as Made in Chelsea’s (realistic soap opera – Doccu-soap that creates a constructed reality). This is where the camera follows the lives of a group of real people and make a narrative out of there every day lives.

Some conventions for this genre include:• No scripts• Large cast that know each other, friends, that live in the

same area• No characters• No costume• No storylines • People with different characteristics• Unique people/lifestyles

USE – The composition of the three-shot in my trailer is the same as in Made in Chelsea as is the gender of the characters and the fact that it is two girls giving their male friend advice.

Develop - The scene differs as the shot in Made in Chelsea is a low angle shot, mine is from eye level to give this represents the audience being sat in the same room as the characters.

Challenge – The storyline, of Gary being scared to tell his homophobic brother that he’s gay, is unconventional for the genre of my soap. I think it works as the audience could relate to the situation.

USE - The over the shoulder shot of the two best friends talking is conventional for soaps and is why I included this shot in my trailer.

Develop – The scene is different as the locations in the shots aren’t the same. Both are conventional for soaps, as they are realistic places where people have conversations.

Challenge - The relationships between the two different sets of friends is different as, my soap, Roche is seeing Paris’ boyfriend behind her best friends back. This is a common storyline but as it keeps the audience tuning into to see whether the cheat is caught.

USE - Dates are frequently used in real life soaps as the cover the popular topic of romance and is why I used this two shot it in my trailer.

Develop - The timing of the date differs as it isn’t an evening date, its more informal during the day. This could represent the casualness in the couples relationship.

Challenge - The scenes differ as the audience knows that Spencer is two-timing his girlfriend which can create “bad-guy” stereotypes for Spencer.

USE – Lads having bets and forfeits is common for this genre and is also included in my trailer as it adds humour to make the show entertaining.

Develop – The narrative varies as the reason for Downton having to wear a dress isn’t made clear to the audience as it’s a trailer trying to persuade people to watch and find out why.

Challenge – The fact that Downton has to wear a dress is quite an unconventional forfeit. This again adds humour and could represent the how different the humour that the characters are.

USE – Title cards are conventional in trailers, especially new shows, as it informs viewers on what the shows about and its topics.

Develop – My title card sequence differs as the words aren’t spoken/heard as the appear. No voice over. This brings more focus on the images of the trailer, demanding the viewers full attention.

Challenge – My title cards challenge the convention as they are edited consecutively, but aren’t that fast paced. This is so the words are clear to read.

The mise en scene, in particular the costume of Gary, challenges conventions as Gary is dressed as a stereotypical gay man, yet his own brother doesn’t knows he is gay.

This adds an element of humour and connotes a lack of intelligence that the characters have which is conventional for the genre, but also develops a relationship with the audience as they know what the rest of the cast don’t.

Having a homosexual character is conventional for the genre as TOWIE has Harry and Made in Chelsea has Ollie.

We also used mainly natural lighting to give a realistic feel to the soap.

Other soaps such as Coronation Street and Eastenders place coloured lens’ over the cameras to give a gritty, dull look to the cinematography which represents the overall feelings of those soaps.

However, we used high key lighting in the scene with Gary, Paris and Roche as it is a use of pathetic fallacy as connotes that good will come of Gary telling his brother that he is gay.

The clips of Roche and Paris doing their make up and getting ready to go out is a conventional scene for this kind of soap as it shows the vanity of the characters and what they value in their lives.

The fast cuts with the fast beat of the soundtrack make the simple actions much more effective as they increase the pace of the trailer to make it more enticing and entertaining.

Cast…

We gave our characters unique names that are stereotypical for the genre and the lifestyles that are lived.

Paris, Roche, Spencer, Downton, Charlton and Gary aren’t your typical names and therefore match the genre well.

We also matched the personalities of each person with the stereotypical characteristics that are seen in similar shows such as Made in Chelsea and The Only Way Is Essex.

Character Profiles…PARIS

• Fashion designer• In a relationship with Spencer• Best friends with Roche and Gary

SPENCER• Boxer

• In a relationship with Paris • Secretly seeing Roche

• Similar to Mark out of TOWIE

ROCHE

• Model• Secretly seeing Spencer• Best friends with Paris and

Gary

Character Profiles…GARY• Gay but in denial, can’t cope• Scared to tell homophobic brother – Charlton• Best friends with Paris and Roche• Similar to ‘Harry’ out of TOWIE

CHARLTON• Homophobe

• Gary’s brother• Best friends with Downton and Spencer

DOWNTON

• Joker• Best friends with Spencer and Charlton• Was going out with Paris• Similar to Jamie out of Made In Chelsea