This is the final questionnaire I created to help me gather important information about the target audiences of soap operas:
Target Audience Quesionnaire
Here is a link to the working questionnaire:
http://freeonlinesurveys.com/rendersurvey.asp?sid=5h43rjkcjrh25zz785232
Wednesday, 21 July 2010
Preliminary Target Audience Questionnaire
I am going to be taking out a questionnaire to help me identify the target audience for soap operas and what potential audiences find interesting in soaps, and new things that they are looking for. This will greatly help me when it comes to creating my final product as I will be able to make what the audiences are looking for. I will be able to see what demographic group we should be considering and thinking about how we are going to reach this group.
Here is a draft of the questions I will include on my questionnaire:
1. What is your gender?
2. What age are you?
3. What is your occupation?
4. What is your favourite soap opera?
5. What attracts you most to soap operas?
6. Do soap opera trailers influence your viewing of soaps?
7. What got you first interested in soaps?
8. What time do you most watch soaps?
9. What story lines in soaps interest you most?
10. What would you look for in a new soap?
Here is a draft of the questions I will include on my questionnaire:
1. What is your gender?
2. What age are you?
3. What is your occupation?
4. What is your favourite soap opera?
5. What attracts you most to soap operas?
6. Do soap opera trailers influence your viewing of soaps?
7. What got you first interested in soaps?
8. What time do you most watch soaps?
9. What story lines in soaps interest you most?
10. What would you look for in a new soap?
Sunday, 18 July 2010
Conventions of Soap Opera Trailers
I will make a list of the conventions found in most soap opera trailers as it will be helpful to me when it comes to creating our own soap opera trailer.
- Either several story lines shown in the trailer or the trailer is based on a special episode such as a character leaving. For example the trailers currently being shown for Eastenders are focused on Peggy leaving whereas the trailers for neighbours show the different story lines.
Peggy's leaving trailer for Eastenders
- Important characters to the episode being advertised are shown
- Fast paced editing and transitions to maximise the time used to advertise and to make the trailer more hard hitting
- Usually fairly short, approx. 30 seconds
- Contain information about the episode being advertised such as the time of broadcast. For example this trailer for Coronation Street has information at the end.
- Sometimes voice overs are used to add drama. For example this trailer for Hollyoaks has a voice over towards the end.
- They do not give away too much about the episode to make the viewer want to watch and find out what happens
These conventions found in trailers can be similar to those found in the actual soap episodes. For example the scenes in an episode are quite short and the transitions are fast paced, one story is only focused on for a minute or so before the episode moves on. This is like how a trailer will often show the different story lines in a short space and are often quite fast paced.
Voice overs are not used in episodes of soaps as they are used in the trailers to give information or create drama by saying something ambiguous that does not give too much away. These voice overs are not needed in the actual episodes as the drama or story is revealed.
As the trailer cannot give too much away regarding the story lines, the episodes will resolve the signs encoded in the trailer to the audience to make the stories clear to follow.
- Either several story lines shown in the trailer or the trailer is based on a special episode such as a character leaving. For example the trailers currently being shown for Eastenders are focused on Peggy leaving whereas the trailers for neighbours show the different story lines.
Peggy's leaving trailer for Eastenders
- Important characters to the episode being advertised are shown
- Fast paced editing and transitions to maximise the time used to advertise and to make the trailer more hard hitting
- Usually fairly short, approx. 30 seconds
- Contain information about the episode being advertised such as the time of broadcast. For example this trailer for Coronation Street has information at the end.
- Sometimes voice overs are used to add drama. For example this trailer for Hollyoaks has a voice over towards the end.
- They do not give away too much about the episode to make the viewer want to watch and find out what happens
These conventions found in trailers can be similar to those found in the actual soap episodes. For example the scenes in an episode are quite short and the transitions are fast paced, one story is only focused on for a minute or so before the episode moves on. This is like how a trailer will often show the different story lines in a short space and are often quite fast paced.
Voice overs are not used in episodes of soaps as they are used in the trailers to give information or create drama by saying something ambiguous that does not give too much away. These voice overs are not needed in the actual episodes as the drama or story is revealed.
As the trailer cannot give too much away regarding the story lines, the episodes will resolve the signs encoded in the trailer to the audience to make the stories clear to follow.
Saturday, 17 July 2010
Previous Media Student Trailer Analysis
Camera Angles:
The trailer starts with a two shot of the two female characters. This is a good show to show the audience the relationship between the two characters. It gives connotations of love.
We can then see a panning shot in the woods which quickly scans over the alcohol. This shows the implications of what happened here. It has negative connotations, as the bottles are empty and scattered around.
A close up on the caller ID on the mobile phone shows that this name is important and relevant. It draws attention to the persons name and poses the question to the audience as to who this person is. The close up gives mysterious connotations.
There is then a dutch angle spinning around with trees in shot. This makes the audience associate this scene with the scene nearer the beginning with the alcohol bottles. Making this link, it would seem that the spinning around to due to be under the influence of alcohol, and the shot connotes confusion and being lost as it is an open space such as the woods.
We can then see someone pouring a liquid out of a container on the floor, the audience would presume this is a flammable liquid due to the container. The lighting also helps to connote this as it is very dark. This is then followed by a close up of a lighter which confirms audience suspicion that the liquid was flammable. A close up the lighters connotes danger and creates suspense.
The last shot of the trailer is a wide shot of the male character, by using a wide shot the audience can see all the empty space around him which connotes that he is feeling isolated and alone.
Editing:
This trailer makes use of titles. The titles act as a narration to the story. As they are broken up sentences, for example 'how can one person...', tension is built within in the audience as there is a clip between each title, making them want to know what the next title will say. There is also a title at the end of the trailer which gives all the information to the audience regarding broadcasting time and channel. As these titles appear, the music fades to put the focus on the title.
Sound:
There is non diegetic sound behind this trailer. This music starts off quite romantic and floaty at the beginning to add to the connotations of love. The music then quickly changes mood, and becomes more sinister as it breaks down. This is fitting for what is happening in the trailer as the mood changes and the scenes become more eerie. It also helps to create tensions and build suspense. Towards the end the music breaks down in further to signify the trailer ending, and possibly give the connotation that someones life will be ending, due to the fire.
Mise en Scene:
During the scene with the liquid being poured and the lighter, the lighting is very poor and dull. This dark effect gives a very negative connotation and raises the tension. The setting looks very dark and dingy also, which adds to the effect.
During the scene in the woods, the props used, the bottle, denote alcohol abuse and connote anti social behaviour. This will make the audience wonder who has been here and why.
Friday, 16 July 2010
Soap Opera Trailer Analysis - Emmerdale
Soap Trailer 1
Like most soap opera trailers the narrative in this trailer is episodic, we see lots of different stories and different characters but they are all somehow linked. This is a good way to advertise as the audience get a good insight into whats going to happen in the episode without giving away too much, this gets the audiences attention and potenially will increase the audience size by having an interesting trailer.
I think this trailer makes use of Hall's Reception Theory because there are several codes put in, this is the encoding part of the theory. For example the phone keys being pressed and the credit card. The audience then has to decode these signs and work out what they mean. This is a good way to engage the audience and make them think about the different scenes in the trailer.
As I believe this trailer can be applied to Halls Reception Theory, I also believe this trailer is aimed at an active audience. This is because I think the producer would want the audience to feel involved in the piece of media. I do not think that the hypodermic needle theory could be applied to this piece as it would be hard to aim it at a passive audience as it is quite intricate and complex with lots of interlocking storylines.
This trailer is very fast paced and the scene only last a few seconds before moving onto another scene. This fast paced editing helps to build tension and create suspense. It will also help to draw in an audience as they will watch the trailer and then want to watch the episode to resolve the problems set in the trailer. The non diegetic music in the trailer helps add to this effect. It is very low in tone and slow in tempo which gives eerie and mysterious connotations.
Like most soap opera trailers the narrative in this trailer is episodic, we see lots of different stories and different characters but they are all somehow linked. This is a good way to advertise as the audience get a good insight into whats going to happen in the episode without giving away too much, this gets the audiences attention and potenially will increase the audience size by having an interesting trailer.
I think this trailer makes use of Hall's Reception Theory because there are several codes put in, this is the encoding part of the theory. For example the phone keys being pressed and the credit card. The audience then has to decode these signs and work out what they mean. This is a good way to engage the audience and make them think about the different scenes in the trailer.
As I believe this trailer can be applied to Halls Reception Theory, I also believe this trailer is aimed at an active audience. This is because I think the producer would want the audience to feel involved in the piece of media. I do not think that the hypodermic needle theory could be applied to this piece as it would be hard to aim it at a passive audience as it is quite intricate and complex with lots of interlocking storylines.
This trailer is very fast paced and the scene only last a few seconds before moving onto another scene. This fast paced editing helps to build tension and create suspense. It will also help to draw in an audience as they will watch the trailer and then want to watch the episode to resolve the problems set in the trailer. The non diegetic music in the trailer helps add to this effect. It is very low in tone and slow in tempo which gives eerie and mysterious connotations.
Soap Opera Trailer Analysis - Coronation Street
Soap Trailer
This trailer makes use of episodic narrative meaning there are lots of different storylines going on but they all link in some way. This is very common to soap trailers as soaps themselves typically have a metanarrative.
There is a title slide at the end of the trailer to give the audience important information about the episode advertised such as when it will broadcasted.
I think that the Uses and Gratifications theory could be applied to this trailer as it would require the audience to absorb the stories that are shown. It is not something that you could just sit back and take in as there are lots of different stories and it is up to the audience to piece them together. Also because the theory says people are looking to watch media texts to find personal identity, and by seeing this trailer a person may find a character that they can reate to and this may make them want to watch.
The trailer is very fast paced, each clip only lasting from 1 – 3 seconds. This fast paced editing helps to create tensions and build suspense. This is a good technique for attracting attention as the audience will be drawn in and they will want to carry on watching. This tension is emphasised by the non diegetic music in the background of the trailer, which is very upbeat and fast. The tempo of the music adds to the speed of the trailer and is very fitting for the fast transactions. All of these factors help to build tension and draw in the audience.
This trailer makes use of episodic narrative meaning there are lots of different storylines going on but they all link in some way. This is very common to soap trailers as soaps themselves typically have a metanarrative.
There is a title slide at the end of the trailer to give the audience important information about the episode advertised such as when it will broadcasted.
I think that the Uses and Gratifications theory could be applied to this trailer as it would require the audience to absorb the stories that are shown. It is not something that you could just sit back and take in as there are lots of different stories and it is up to the audience to piece them together. Also because the theory says people are looking to watch media texts to find personal identity, and by seeing this trailer a person may find a character that they can reate to and this may make them want to watch.
The trailer is very fast paced, each clip only lasting from 1 – 3 seconds. This fast paced editing helps to create tensions and build suspense. This is a good technique for attracting attention as the audience will be drawn in and they will want to carry on watching. This tension is emphasised by the non diegetic music in the background of the trailer, which is very upbeat and fast. The tempo of the music adds to the speed of the trailer and is very fitting for the fast transactions. All of these factors help to build tension and draw in the audience.
Soap Opera Trailer Target Audiences
From observing the times trailers are shown I can see who the target audiences of the trailers are.
A soap opera trailer shown in the morning would be aimed at stay at home mums and dads, or the unemployed. Trailers shown at this times are usually advertising the evenings episode, or occasionally a big storyline. To appeal to this audience it is important to include story lines in the trailer that can be related to. For example showing family life to appeal to a stay at home mum.
Soap opera trailers shown in the evening are targeted at a much wider audience. This is the time when most people will be at home and relaxing while watching TV so it is a perfect time to advertise Soaps. For example it is likely families will be sitting down for dinner with the TV on so it is important to appeal to this audience.
Some soaps have a 'What happens next...' clip on the end of each episode, for example Neighbours. This is to appeal to the current target audience and keep them watching.
Soaps themselves are typically aimed at young adults, adults, parents and elderly audiences. It is therefore important to show trailers at times when these people are likely to be watching, such as in the evening. As soaps are not typically aimed at young children it is unlikely to see a trailer during children's TV showing times such as CBBC.
The main target audience of soap operas is also mainly female. This means the trailers should appeal mainly to females to get the most out of the target audience. However, males also watch soaps so the trailers must have some elements that appeal to both sexes.
To appeal to the target audience of a soap it is important to consider what time these audiences will be watching TV and show advertisements at this time.
A soap opera trailer shown in the morning would be aimed at stay at home mums and dads, or the unemployed. Trailers shown at this times are usually advertising the evenings episode, or occasionally a big storyline. To appeal to this audience it is important to include story lines in the trailer that can be related to. For example showing family life to appeal to a stay at home mum.
Soap opera trailers shown in the evening are targeted at a much wider audience. This is the time when most people will be at home and relaxing while watching TV so it is a perfect time to advertise Soaps. For example it is likely families will be sitting down for dinner with the TV on so it is important to appeal to this audience.
Some soaps have a 'What happens next...' clip on the end of each episode, for example Neighbours. This is to appeal to the current target audience and keep them watching.
Soaps themselves are typically aimed at young adults, adults, parents and elderly audiences. It is therefore important to show trailers at times when these people are likely to be watching, such as in the evening. As soaps are not typically aimed at young children it is unlikely to see a trailer during children's TV showing times such as CBBC.
The main target audience of soap operas is also mainly female. This means the trailers should appeal mainly to females to get the most out of the target audience. However, males also watch soaps so the trailers must have some elements that appeal to both sexes.
To appeal to the target audience of a soap it is important to consider what time these audiences will be watching TV and show advertisements at this time.
Soap Opera Trailer Showings
I looked out for soap opera trailers on the TV so I could get an idea of the times they are played and the types of audiences they are aimed at.
I observed the following:
Tuesday 17th August, 3PM - Neighbours trailer, advertising the next episode
Wednesday 25th August, 8PM and 9PM- Eastenders trailers, advertising September episode when Peggy leaves
Tuesday 31st August, 10 30AM - Coronation Street trailer, advertising the evenings episode.
From observing these trailer showings it is clear the purpose of the trailers are mainly to gain attention for up coming episodes. By showing an advert for an episode showing on the same day, the information is fresh in the audiences mind so they remember to watch.
I observed the following:
Tuesday 17th August, 3PM - Neighbours trailer, advertising the next episode
Wednesday 25th August, 8PM and 9PM- Eastenders trailers, advertising September episode when Peggy leaves
Tuesday 31st August, 10 30AM - Coronation Street trailer, advertising the evenings episode.
From observing these trailer showings it is clear the purpose of the trailers are mainly to gain attention for up coming episodes. By showing an advert for an episode showing on the same day, the information is fresh in the audiences mind so they remember to watch.
Thursday, 15 July 2010
The Purpose of a Trailer
Trailers are a form of commercial advertisement for a piece of media. Trailers aim to draw in an audience by being captivating as well as giving the audience important information about the advertised media such as broadcasting dates and main plots.
With TV programs such as Soap Operas, it is important to draw the audience in. This is because Soap Operas are a type of media that has been running for a very long time and usually 3 - 4 times a week. This means it can become very easy for the audience to loose interest in the series. By using exciting and insightful soap trailers the audience can re-engage in the soap.
For example if an individual was starting to feel a soap was repetitive, a good way to re-gain their attention would be through a new story advertised via a soap trailer.
Soap trailers will often consist of short clips displaying the different stories involved in an episode. They will show the different characters in the episode and give some idea what is going to happen. They shouldn't however reveal too much to gain the audiences suspense and make them want to watch to find out what is going to happen.
Using trailers is also a good way to obtain new audiences, by advertising new story lines new audiences are likely to want to find out more about the soap and therefore potentially watch it.
With TV programs such as Soap Operas, it is important to draw the audience in. This is because Soap Operas are a type of media that has been running for a very long time and usually 3 - 4 times a week. This means it can become very easy for the audience to loose interest in the series. By using exciting and insightful soap trailers the audience can re-engage in the soap.
For example if an individual was starting to feel a soap was repetitive, a good way to re-gain their attention would be through a new story advertised via a soap trailer.
Soap trailers will often consist of short clips displaying the different stories involved in an episode. They will show the different characters in the episode and give some idea what is going to happen. They shouldn't however reveal too much to gain the audiences suspense and make them want to watch to find out what is going to happen.
Using trailers is also a good way to obtain new audiences, by advertising new story lines new audiences are likely to want to find out more about the soap and therefore potentially watch it.
Wednesday, 14 July 2010
Soap Opera Trailer Analysis - Hollyoaks
Trailer 1
I have done an analysis of this trailer for the soap opera 'Hollyoaks' making notes on camera work, editing, sound and mise - en scene. This will help me when it comes to making my production piece as I can find out what soap trailers are typically made up of.
I have done an analysis of this trailer for the soap opera 'Hollyoaks' making notes on camera work, editing, sound and mise - en scene. This will help me when it comes to making my production piece as I can find out what soap trailers are typically made up of.
Monday, 12 July 2010
Soap Opera Research Project
We have created this presentation to show the basics of Soap Operas. We have shown some demonstrations of the generic conventions included in most episodes of soaps.
History of Soap Operas
Soap operas started as serialised drama on radio stations in the US in the 1930's. They were given the name 'Soap Operas' by newspapers because the shows were often sponsored by companies which made household products such as washing powder, soap and cleaning products. The genre has continued to expand globally and dominates mainstream TV schedules.
As the first soaps which started out in America on the radio were so popular, such as 'Ma Perkins', were so popular, it was decided to televise these shows.
Although soaps took off extremely well they did not have the same impact in Britain. The first radio soap was not aired in Britain until after the second world war.
An example of an early British soap would be The Grove Family which started in 1954 and ended in 1957.
There is a big contrast between running time of this soap compared to one such as Coronation street which began in 1960 and still runs to this day.
I gathered this information by looking on websites including:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/h2g2/A1087193
http://soap-operas.lovetoknow.com/History_of_Soap_Operas
As the first soaps which started out in America on the radio were so popular, such as 'Ma Perkins', were so popular, it was decided to televise these shows.
Although soaps took off extremely well they did not have the same impact in Britain. The first radio soap was not aired in Britain until after the second world war.
An example of an early British soap would be The Grove Family which started in 1954 and ended in 1957.
There is a big contrast between running time of this soap compared to one such as Coronation street which began in 1960 and still runs to this day.
I gathered this information by looking on websites including:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/h2g2/A1087193
http://soap-operas.lovetoknow.com/History_of_Soap_Operas
Conventions of Soap Operas
Although there are many different soap operas such as Eastenders, Coronation Street, Emmerdale and Hollyoaks, they will all have things in common. These things that the different soaps have in common are the generic conventions of soaps. These often include:
- a serial narrative told throughout a number of episodes
- they happen in real time
- special episodes for real events such as Christmas
Such as this clip from the Eastenders Christmas episode.
- each episode starts with a hook and ends with a cliffhanger, the cliffhanger will often be tense and full of suspense
Such as this cliffhanger in Eastenders where Phil Mitchell get shows.
- they will focus on family conflict and romance
- primary shocker story leading to a meta narrative
- stories that relate to issues such as domestic violence, adultery and underage pregnancy
Such as this scene from Hollyoaks where the two girls are talking about pregnancy.
- they are cheap to produce and have huge audiences
- diegetic music is used to create irony
- they are regional eg. eastenders in London
- each scene is very short, approx. 2 minutes
- characters can be brought back who have a bad past in the soap
- 3 - 5 story lines per episode
- a range of diversity in characters allows the audience to find someone to relate too
- British soaps are very focused on a neighbourhood, specifically a pub
- Simplistic camera work to make it more realistic
- they have a well known theme tune and intro sequence
- characters will often be in a dilemma and make the wrong choice
- a serial narrative told throughout a number of episodes
- they happen in real time
- special episodes for real events such as Christmas
Such as this clip from the Eastenders Christmas episode.
- each episode starts with a hook and ends with a cliffhanger, the cliffhanger will often be tense and full of suspense
Such as this cliffhanger in Eastenders where Phil Mitchell get shows.
- they will focus on family conflict and romance
- primary shocker story leading to a meta narrative
- stories that relate to issues such as domestic violence, adultery and underage pregnancy
Such as this scene from Hollyoaks where the two girls are talking about pregnancy.
- they are cheap to produce and have huge audiences
- diegetic music is used to create irony
- they are regional eg. eastenders in London
- each scene is very short, approx. 2 minutes
- characters can be brought back who have a bad past in the soap
- 3 - 5 story lines per episode
- a range of diversity in characters allows the audience to find someone to relate too
- British soaps are very focused on a neighbourhood, specifically a pub
- Simplistic camera work to make it more realistic
- they have a well known theme tune and intro sequence
- characters will often be in a dilemma and make the wrong choice
Tuesday, 6 July 2010
Soap Opera Mind Mapping
I created mind maps to help me see the generic conventions of soap operas. I wrote down all the ideas and thing I currently knew about soap operas. This will help me when it comes to creating our piece as I can look back and see what conventions I need to include.
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