The document outlines the planning and research for a student's media studies advanced portfolio project. It includes aims and objectives, chosen brief of creating a trailer for a new soap opera, research on soap opera codes and conventions by analyzing examples from EastEnders and Coronation Street, and notes on the roles of a director and producer. Research was also conducted on the target institution, BBC Two, noting its audience demographic and types of programming.

1. 1
St. Paul’s Catholic College
Center Number: 64770
Candidate Number: 6118
Candidate Name: Jordan Brace
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.

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)
- Is this evident and how is this presented to the audience?
Research
 Purpose of a Trailer- To attract an audience through codes and conventions
 Multi-Platform promotion- Promotion across multiple media types
 Textual Analysis – Coronation Street and Hollyoaks
Deadlines – Production Work
Filming Dates: 19/11/2014 & 26/11/2014
Edited Trailer – Complete:
Promotional Poster – Complete:13/2/2015
Promotional Magazine Cover – Complete:13/2/2015
Evaluation– Complete:16/3/2015
Production Work
 Director – Roles & Responsibilities? Oversee the creative aspects of the
production and direct people in front & behind the camera
 Producer – Roles & Responsibilities? Complete & oversee all aspects of
production across the 3 stages, manage everyone and ensure everything is in
place for the text to look fit for purpose
 Institution research – BBC Two

4. 4
SoapOpera Codes & Conventions – Lesson2
1) What are some of the Codes & Conventions of this genre?
I demonstratedwhat I already knew by completing this “Spider
Diagram” ofwhat I know about OR is expectedfrom this genre:
Soap Opera’s as
a genre
Popular genre
in general TV
Lots of variety for people
to choose from
Multi-stranded
narrative
Lots of main characters
Lots of drama and
problems occurring
frequently
Usually multiple
episodes a week
Cover modern issues
such as adultery and
teen pregnancy
Known as the kitchen
sink because everything
goes wrong
Good vs evil
Lots of
surprises/unsuspected
events

5. 5
2) Codes & Conventions of the SoapOpera Genre
The Soap Operagenre can be categorizedby the ‘repeated’
(Steve Neale 1980) elements of:
1. Romance
2. Family Relationships & or Conflict
3. Focus on working class communities
4. Antagonism & Conflict within the community
5. Multi-StrandedNarrative
Eastenders (1985 – Present)
Key informationregarding this text:
 BBC 1 & Repeated on BBC 3
 One of the UK’s Highest RatedPrograms 6millionviews per
episode
 Set in the “KitchenSink” setting of fictional Walford East London
Textual Analysis Task
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ye51O8WBVVM&feature=related -

6. 6
In your opinion, accordingto Hartley’s Seven Subjectivities, whatis the
target audiencefor Eastenders?
Age 15-60
Gender Male & Female but mainly female
Nationality British
Trailer 1)
What is the Focus of this trailer?
The Death of Lucy- An important character has been murdered but who was it?
Code
&
Convention
Evidence
(Verbal, Non-Verbal,
Technical)
Impact on the Audience
(Katz, Maslow, Hartley)
Romance
N/A Little romance due to focus on sadness
However romance is shown in relationship
with Max
Family
relationships
and/or conflict
Bereavement of a group Identify as they could have been in a similar
situation as most people have had someone
they care about pass away
Focus on
working class
communities
Tightly knit group
Mass suspicion
Identify due to similarities
Causing suspicion & distrust in the
community
“Multi-Stranded
Narrative”
All characters acting
suspicious
Cliffhanger to lead into next episode makes
viewers want to watch again
‘Disequilibrium’
(Todorov)
Death of Lucy Confusion and also excitement
Relate to characters as death is a major
problem for everyone at some point in life

7. 7
Trailer 2)
What is the Focus of this trailer?
A web of lies-Lies between characters lots of big secrets will be revealed
Code
&
Convention
Evidence
(Verbal, Non-Verbal,
Technical)
Impact on the Audience
(Katz, Maslow, Hartley)
Romance
“I love you” Caregivers (Maslow) understand their
situation and feel similar to them due to past
experiences
Family
relationships
and/or conflict
Lies between people Explorers (Maslow) want to find out what
really went on shot reverse shot to show
how characters don’t quite believe one
another a sign of tension?
Focus on
working class
communities
“Kids who’d have ‘em” Community- Building a bond with characters
A similar feeling for adults/parents as
children can be a hardship at times
“Multi-Stranded
Narrative”
Multiple Lies Inform & Educate/ Learn the truth.
Understand what has really gone on and be
informed
‘Disequilibrium’
(Todorov)
Lying Identify with reasons for lying. Hardships?
To protect someone else who knows what’s
really gone on. Lighting makes it look like
they have something to hide?
Multi-stranded narrative
A Multi-stranded narrative can be defined as…..
Telling multiple stories about multiple characters in an open narrative episode.
______________________________________________________________________________________________________

8. 8
I deconstructed the 10-minute extract from Eastenders and identified 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
Code & Convention Evidence Impact on the audience
 Multi-stranded
narrative
3 different storylines
straight away
Variation gripping
complex multiple
cliffhangers
 Family
relationships
and/or conflict
Someone on the floor hit
across the head
Worried
Concerned
Suspense
 Focus on working
class communities
Colloquial language
“Init”
Pub
Commoners
slang
Disequilibrium’ (Todorov) “Drinking yourself to
oblivion”
Sirens/Ambulance
PROBLEMS
 Romance “That night was one off” Adultery/Prostitution
Suggests she has
previously had relations
with him and leads into a
story of adultery
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 & the strong woman, and as such it has
long been said to appeal to the female viewer”
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________

9. 9
1) – Do you agree?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F8_ApPT6isY (First 5 minutes)
Next Page - I deconstructed 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.
I also tried to demonstrate my knowledge and understanding of the genre, and any
Codes & Conventions associated to the Soap Opera genre.
Code & Convention Evidence Impact on the audience
Rebecca Feasey (2007) Ideology:
1. Family together
Shows how family life is common and people can relate to it
2. Central framing of “strong female”
Against code and convention shows how women can also have power
3. Female cleaning-strong female
Again shows how women can also be dominant in society but still shows female
stereotypical ideology
4. Domestic tribulations- tight on money
Most people suffer with money troubles, shows the “kitchen sink” idea behind soap
operas
5.Mother figure offering support
Stereotypical of mothers to be nurturing and care for their children
“Multi-Stranded Narrative” Deirdre’s family
Second family
Female shop owner
 Family
relationships
and/or conflict
Mother figure- offering help
Deirdre-dominant female
 Focus on working
class communities
Working together through tough times
Tight on money
Disequilibrium’ (Todorov)
Do you want to eat outside!?
Keep your trap shut!
Karma?

10. 10
 Romance N/A
 Other Themes &
Issues represented:
Tragedy death/funeral
SoapOpera Codes & Conventions continued – Lesson4
Textual Analysis
1) What is the purpose of a trailer?
To promote & advertise the program before it is screened. The purpose is to inform
the audience and potential viewers
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________
2) What are the benefits of Multi-Platform promotion of a media text?
 Can reach a wider audience & large range of people
_______________________________________________________________________________________________
 Increases popularity
_______________________________________________________________________________________________
Ultimately, some form of Competition such as a chance to win tickets to see a
filming of the show is important when promoting a text to the target audience.

11. 11
3)
Textual Analysis –
Next Page – I made notes on the following areas when deconstructing this sequence
from Coronation Street:
 Multi-stranded narrative
 Character dilemmas
 ‘Personal Identification’ (Katz)
 The perfect date for a wedding- Friday 13th sarcasm
 My lucky day another hint of sarcasm due to being the 13th
 Concerned faces-not everyone wants the weeding to occur
 Emphasis on having good luck- sarcastic as things are bound to go wrong
 Personal identification to the acts of a general wedding- people can conform
with what SHOULD happen
 Being a bide or groom- a common occurrence for people to relate to
 Bride is constantly smiling- hoping for the best but maybe the opposite will
happen
 Groom isn’t? Maybe he knows something bad will happen
 Voice over implies something will go wrong hinting at events in the future
 Shot-reverse-shot as putting up decorations- the weeding looks beautiful like
a generic weeding
 Fingers crossed focus on luck
 Steve looks concerned maybe he thinks the wedding isn’t right?
 Enigma clues in the trailer leading to future problems in the series?
 Working class sticking to local community
 Others look at each other in doubt A bad feeling about what may happen
 Bright and colorful Focus on white? But this could be a sign of sarcasm

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)?
Symbolism of Boy vs Girl
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________
Younger people to watch 15-30 Characters in their mid 20’s Promiscuity Up to date
with modern fashion
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________
Covers modern issues such as homophobia and abortion which are becoming more
common place in our era
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________
Next Page - Hollyoaks – “White Wedding Trailer” -
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bu2sW-r9Vb4
2. I made 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
It’s a nice day for a white wedding-as tear runs
Black roses & suits- un happy compared to a regular wedding (Binary opposition)
Sadness, gothic/demonic, dark, dystopian, disturbing- Shows the sinster side of the
female character (Symbolism)
To love treasure & betray- previous betrayal? Or is a betrayal about to happen
Tears of sadness
Focus on pregnancy- unplanned or un ready to be a mother?
Doll dropped & smashed (Pregnancy connotations)
Shotgun, shotgun- shotgun wedding rushed-Do they really love one another?
(Disequilibrium-Todorov)
Pregnancy as a burden- does she really wants to have a child?
How she perceives the wedding? Is it a “nightmare” for her?
Broken baby-miscarriage: has they been any problems with the child?

13. 13
Production Work
1) What is the role of a Producer?
Complete & oversee all aspects of production across the 3 stages, manage everyone
and ensure everything is in place for the text to look fit for purpose
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________
2) What is the role of a Director?
Oversee the creative aspects of the production and direct people in front & behind
the camera
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________
3) Institution research –
Research the institution that your trailer will be exhibited on; BBC TWO
 Tends to show more high end, elite programs compared to BBC One
 A mixed-genre channel appealing to a broad adult scene
 Programs of depth & substance
 Range of knowledge building programs
 Distinctive comedy, drama & arts programs
 31,790 views weekly
 5.5% of total TV viewership making it the 3rd most popular channel to BBC
One and ITV
(www.barb.co.uk/)