1. 1
St. Paul’s Catholic College
Center Number: 64770
Candidate Number: 6570
Candidate Name: Yunus Kasim
A2 Media Studies
Unit G324: Advanced Portfolio in Media –
Production Log
Evidence of Planning & Research
2. 2
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 at 8:30pm (after Eastenders)
that will appeal to a Male and Female audience.
YOU SHOULD research when Eastenders is scheduled (Day –
Time)
3. 3
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)
- Within a soap opera there are many problems that occur amongst family
members, as well as issues that arise in the communities. These issues can be
applicable to the audience, as they are able to relate to the issues that the
characters have to go through in everyday life. Likewise, the inclusion of ‘strong
women’ is essential as the demographic mostly consist of women.
Research
Purpose of a Trailer
Multi-Platform promotion
Textual Analysis – Coronation Street and Hollyoaks
Deadlines – Production Work
Filming Dates:
Edited Trailer – Complete:
Promotional Poster – Complete:
Promotional Magazine Cover – Complete:
Evaluation– Complete:
Production Work
Director – Roles & Responsibilities?
Producer – Roles & Responsibilities?
4. 4
Institution research – BBC Two
Institution Research – BBC TWO
BBC 2 looks to include a range of genres, so that it can be relatable
towards a collection of audiences.
It is distributed (live broadcast) freely within the UK, and shown
24hours every single day, and so it is convenient for every individual.
Looks to engage the audience as much as possible, by including the
most high quality footage.
Eastenders
(1985 –Present)
5. 5
Key informationregarding this text:
More than 11.9 million viewers on first episode
It is one of the most successful Soap Opera’s in the UK,
with 6million views each episode.
Its displayed on TV during weekdays apart from
Wednesday, and they show an omnibus on Sundays.
Textual Analysis Task
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ye51O8WBVVM&feature=related -
YOU MUST complete the Table below whilst watching the TWO promotional
trailers for the BBC Soap Opera Eastenders.
YOU SHOULDaim to identify key examples(Verbal, Non-Verbal, Technical)
from each trailer that demonstratesyour understanding.
Extension- YOU COULD apply relevantaudiencetheory to explain what
impact these key examples would haveon the target demographic.
In your opinion, accordingto Hartley’s Seven Subjectivities, whatis the
target audiencefor Eastenders?
Age: 35+
Gender: Middle aged women, but also applicable towards men.
Nationality: British
Trailer 1)
What is the Focus of this trailer?
The week of Revelations – Eastenders 2015 Trailer
________________________________________________________________________________________________________
6. 6
Code
&
Convention
Evidence
(Verbal, Non-Verbal,
Technical)
Impact on the Audience
(Katz, Maslow, Hartley)
Romance N/A N/A
Family
relationships
and/or conflict
- Has an effect
on Bill’s
family.
- All of the
community is
affected.
KATZ THEORY
Focus on
working class
communities
-Similar status between
people who work in a
pub or shops outside. It
is illustrated that the
community shares the
same difficulties, and
the coming together
connotes the strength of
the community as
they’ve lost a big part of
it (Lucy).
Maslow’s Hierarchy of
needs
“Multi-Stranded
Narrative”
N/A N/A
‘Disequilibrium’
(Todorov)
Shirly arguing because
she wasn’t allowed to
adopt.
Hartley’s seven
subjectivities
Trailer 2)
What is the Focus of this trailer?
Eastenders trailer: ‘World cup 2014’ What will unfold after the World Cup, as
Eastenders were unable to air on television during this period.
Code
&
Convention
Evidence
(Verbal, Non-Verbal,
Impact on the Audience
(Katz, Maslow, Hartley)
7. 7
Technical)
Romance N/A N/A
Family
relationships
and/or conflict
The conflict caused by
Shirley as well as
Sharon has an influence
on their surroundings,
this is expressed when
the football is about to
hit Masood, and
therefore it leaves a
sudden sense of
suspense for the
audience, and initially
encourages the viewers
to keep watching, even
after the long period of
The World Cup 2014.
N/A
Focus on
working class
communities
The trailer illustrates
that there are ‘strong
women’ included in a
soap opera. This is
clearly demonstrated
through Shirley and
Sharon playing football,
as they both look to be
the alpha women and
ultimately be in control.
Rebbeca Feasey (Strong Women)
“Multi-Stranded
Narrative”
N/A N/A
‘Disequilibrium’
(Todorov)
N/A N/A
Multi-stranded narrative
A multi – stranded narrative refers to when two or more secluded groups of
characters are in existence. Juxtaposition suggests that groups with their own
charcacters will be able to relate to one another.
YOU MUST deconstruct the 10-minute extract from Eastenders and identify where
the following elements are presented to the audience:
8. 8
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.
Code & Convention Evidence Impact on the audience
Multi-stranded
narrative
Adoption and purity.
Ramadan helping
Keep attention, intriguing
the audience
Family
relationships
and/or conflict
Adoption, daughter gets
dress
Relate to family
Focus on working
class communities
Helping the harmless
social needs
Inform, educate
Disequilibrium’ (Todorov) The party, Ramadan needs
more after
Make them interested
Romance Couple when gifts was
facing
Following relative
integration.
SoapOpera Codes & Conventions continued – Lesson3
Textual Analysis
According to Rebecca Feasey in ‘Masculinity and Popular television’ (2007), the Soap
Opera genre tends to focus on:
“… the home, the family, domestic tribulations and the strong women , and as such,
it has long been said to appeal to the female viewer”
1) – Do you agree?
Rebecca Feasey’s theory is precise as watching a selection of soap operas has
enabled me to see the different aspects that she suggests, ‘…the home, and the
family, domestic tribulations appeal to the female viewer’. For instance
Peggie throwing people out from the pub, or Zainab telling off her family.
These examples clearly indicates the dominance that females have within the
soap, and it can be generalised towards other soap operas (Hollyoaks/
Neighbors).
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F8_ApPT6isY (First 5 minutes)
9. 9
Next Page - 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.
Code & Convention Evidence Impact on the audience
Rebecca Feasey (2007) Ideology:
1. Lot’s of ‘strong women’ e.g. Nurse breaking News – Indian lady breaking news of
death.
2. Stereotyping of gender roles e.g. Watching TV whilst man was about doing tasks.
3. Impact of family deaths on the home.
-Two women in the bar, emasculating two men and putting them in their
place, and casting of the men was important as they were small, bold and
drinking a feminine drink.
-Cross cut between each scene showed women standing out to men. .eg.
Bethany bemoaning David for not completing his chores.
4. Mise – en - scene: Set within homes or involving families. The street is a
stereotypical of community.
10. 10
“Multi-Stranded Narrative”
Family
relationships
and/or conflict
- Sisters have an argument whilst having
dinner.
- Husband and wife involved with conflict.
- Friends arguing about football.
Focus on working
class communities
N/A
Disequilibrium’ (Todorov)
Deaths that lead to funerals.
Romance N/A
Other Themes &
Issues represented:
N/A
SoapOpera Codes & Conventions continued – Lesson4
Textual Analysis
1) What is the purpose of a trailer?
The purpose is to promote as well as advertise the film before it is released in
cinemas. Also, it is to inform the audience and therefore potential viewers.
2) What are the benefits of Multi-Platform promotion of a media text?
Integrated content across various platforms.
Encourage creative branding solutions.
Enables more audiences to access.
Gives the audience the ability to take in information from a media text
in their own manner.
Ultimately, some form of convergence is important when promoting a text to the
target audience.
11. 11
3)
Textual Analysis –
Next Page - YOU MUST make notes on the following areas when deconstructing this
sequence from Coronation Street:
Multi-stranded narrative
Character dilemmas
‘Personal Identification’ (Katz)
- Starts off with a narration, followed by a slow as well as tense non-digetic sound
that builds the scene up.
- The comments from friends and family members, connotes that the marriage is a
bad idea and foreshadows that it’s going to end in a disaster.
- Awomen states that he is “ a pathetic, vile little man…” this emphasises that he
has a bad reputation and therefore the community are judging that this will
influence there marriage.
- As the groom gets himself prepared, he looks nervous, as he maybe doubting his
decision to be with Shelly.(Character Dilemma)
- The lady who makes the cake expresses her feelings (she sighs), as she may think
that the wedding will not work out as a whole and is destined to suffer.
- The lady illustrates a side look towards her husband, and this could show wariness
about the marriage.
- Non-Digetic music – “Boy I’m lucky” (Dramatic Irony?)
- It ends with a final sequence illustrating Shelly staring, and looking very anxious
about the marriage rather than feeling excited(like a typical bride), as the non-
digetic sound dimmers down.
12. 12
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)?
Within the ident it denotates that there is a clear contrast between females
and males, and this is due to the separation of the two colors (pink and blue).
It concentrates on young individuals who have chaotic lives, just like a
normal teenager, this is known as a ‘teenage crisis’ and many issues arise
that can be related (Maslows theory) with the audience. The themes consist
of sexuality, domestic violence and teenage pregnancies.
The ident is unique and different, and this enables the audience to
distinguish and recognize that they are watching Hollyoaks and helps them
promote the brand, and eventually gain more viewers that will lead to a
successful soap. The ident is symbolic as it demonstrates that the overview of
what will occur within the show, and foreshadows to the audience that there
will be many tribulations that will occur but it is illustrated in the ident in a
very simplistic manner.
Next Page - 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
As shown within the trailer the non-digetic song presents a binary
opposition(Levi Strauss) to what is happening in the trailer, meaning that it does
not synchronise with the soap trailer. The song expresses and repeates the word
‘White’ throughout the trailer, however the mise en scene (clothes) shows that
they are wearing black and so completely opposite. Furthermore, the bride is
pregnant and so she is tired plus exhausted and therefore stating that it is not a
good day after all.
13. 13
Production Work
1) What is the role of a Producer?
Manage everyone and ensure everything is in place in order for the text to look fit
for its purpose. Pre – production, production, post – production.
2) What is the role of a Director?
Oversee the creative aspects of the production. Direct people in front and behind
the camera.
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.
The majority of the target audience is people aged 25-40 years of age.
The audience share is 8.4%
BBC 2 became the first channel in Europe to broadcast TV programs in colour
and this was during July 1,1967.
They usually include exhibited documentary, whilst other channels are
expressed differently.