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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

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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 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)

- This is evident and is presented to the audience through the strong female character.

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

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Institution research – BBC Two

Soap Opera Codes & Conventions – Lesson 2 1) What are some of the Codes & Conventions of this genre? I demonstrated what I already knew by completing this “Spider Diagram” of what I know about OR is expected from 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

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2) Codes & Conventions of the Soap Opera Genre The Soap Opera genre can be categorized by 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-Stranded Narrative

Eastenders (1985 – Present)

Key information regarding this text:

BBC 1 & Repeated on BBC 3

One of the UK’s Highest Rated Programs 6 million views per episode

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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In your opinion, according to Hartley’s Seven Subjectivities, what is the target audience for 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

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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.

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______________________________________________________________________________________________________ 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

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

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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?

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Romance

N/A

Other Themes & Issues represented:

Tragedy death/funeral

Soap Opera Codes & Conventions continued – Lesson 4 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.

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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

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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)? 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?

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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/)