Magazine Ancillary Deconstruction

To be able to create my Hollyoaks magazine, I first had to understand the existing codes and conventions needed on a front cover. To be able to understand, I have deconstructed several existing magazines.
There are two types of Magazine we could make: ‘Classy’ or ‘Trashy’ I have deconstructed both so that I could understand the difference between the two, this would make it easier for when I needed to create my own Magazine Ancillary.

Hollyoaks Trailer

Planning Hollyoaks trailer - storyboard

Before on the previous post I posted images of the script we followed. To help us even more to create a realistic trailer I took screenshots of the existing trailer we were following conventions and codes of. This would ensure that our version of the trailer would be realistic and look ,such like the real version.

 

 

Planing Hollyoaks trailer - script

Below is a series of screenshots of the script that we followed when creating and filming our trailer.

Cast list:
Paul,
Mercedes,
Jacqui,
Rhys,
Riley

Camera shots abbreviated:
MCU-medium close up
POV-point of view
BCU-big close up
HA-high angle
LA-low angle
EST SHOT-establishing shot
OTS-over the shoulder

Hollyoaks Trailer Analysis

1:

• The music played throughtout the video sounds like a heartbeat - creates a sence of mystery and panic
• The etablishing shot is of Paul and Mercedes in a close up - Paul dominates the shot to show that he is in control of their relationship
• Mercedes in the shot (extreme close up) looks vulnerable and scared of Paul. She is hidden behind her hair and is looking down to the floor whereas Paul's body is turned towards Mercedes and his eyes of locked onto her - again to show the control.
• In the shot, Mercedes looks soft, and her face looks almost as if she has been crying which furthers the idea of being scared by Paul.
• The lighting in the shot is natural daylight, drawn in from the window behind the couple. The lighting almost appears harsh and further-mores the idea of Mercedes being scared and trapped by Paul.

2:

• This shot links to the next establishing shot of Mercedes and Jacqui in the kitchen (can tell through the use of yellow lighting and wall tiles/cuboards.) Mercedes states that she has never seen a man so possessed.
• Mercedes is now dominating the shot, making her look more dominate than her sister.
• The dark lighting used in this shot almost suggests that Mercedes is safe compared to when she was with Paul. This is challenging the conventions as usually dark lighting suggests danger more than security but through the use of diegetic speech, we understand that Mercedes feels safe here.

3:

• The next shot is a medium long shot of Jacqui and Reece. Through the use of conversation and diegetic sound we hear Reece say that 'the girl needs help' - referring to Mercedes.
• Through a jump edit, the shot quickly moves to Jacqui in a office, which we believe to be Pauls. The Mise-en-scene in this shot helps us to understand that it is an office, through the use of a desk, in-tray and closed blinds.
• Jacqui is seen rooting through draws in the desk in a extreme close up. The fact she is rooting suggests that she is not supposed to be there and has to hide.
• We see Jacqui pull away in shock which suggests she has found something.

4:

• This leads swiftly onto the next shot which is of Mercedes who has 5 missed calls from her sister. This suggests that it is urgent and she is in trouble.
• In an extreme close up, we then see Mercedes and Paul back together on the sofa. Paul is still dominating the shot and looks in control and demands still.
• Mercedes has her hands on Pauls face but she still looks scared of him as her face is still hidden in the shot.

5:

• The next shot is of Jacqui running through the hospital - can tell through the mise en scene, on the phone saying 'Mercy is in danger.'
• The clip then ends with Jacqui coming up a hall, and running to a door which is believed to be Pauls through the her facial expressions and previous shots.

6:

• The trailer sticks to one storyline throughout but we can tell the time changes through the use of locations.

Soap Opera - Sub Genres

6 types of sub-genres within soaps are:

• Scripted Reality
• Melodrama
• Realism
• Telenovelas
• Australian Soap
• American Fantasy

Me and my group created a PowerPoint on the sub-genre Melodrama. In the slide show we explain:

• Definition
• Examples of Soaps in that sub-genre
• History & Origins
• Typical Stereotypes
• Examples included clips + trailers
• The storylines

 Below is a chart I filled in based on other peoples presentations of the sub-genres.

Why are Soap Operas so popular?

• soaps are easy viewing for their fans due to the low level of concentration needed in comprehending each episode, as illustrated here; "..a person who has been a fan of a particular show hasn't seen the show for years, only to catch up for the missed years by watching only one or two episodes" (Brown 1994).

• Soap Operas story lines are of everyday life and everyday problems which means the audience is drawn to watch it as they can relate to it. Whereas American soaps such as Dallas and Dynasty are often thought of as a form of 'fantasy' by some viewers, British soaps, and indeed Australian soaps, are generally referred to as being, 'realistic' in that they focus on the domestic and personal, and on everyday concerns and problematic issues such as death, friendship, marriage, romance and divorce.

• The theme tune of a soap draws in the audience, The familiar theme tune played on the piano reminds us of London where EastEnders is set, and likewise the nostalgic sound of the cornet playing the Coronation Street theme reminds us of the famous brass bands we associate with the North of England.

• They are popular due to its continuity, regularity and familiarity. Soap opera has been labelled as a 'ritual pleasure' which offers reassurance in its familiarity and longevity, its predictable familiarity of life being the main force which pulls us in.

• As Soap Operas are shown on TV repetitively the audience gain a relationship with these characters and feel like they know them "When I sit down to watch, I belong to the family in a way...I can enter into all the characters because they're so familiar" (Ang 1985) this results in the audience caring for these characters and seeing the show as being real life. 

• As Soap Operas have realistic story lines it is clear that viewers use the behaviour of the character in order to justify there actions in a similar situation, meaning that through the problems we see on Soaps the audience are able to learn and sometimes take the same approach.

• The audience gain pleasure from identifying them self as a certain character, they see the character has a similar personality or traits to them so can relate to them. This point applies more to British and Australian soaps more than American soaps due to the realism.

• Soaps being solely based in one place geographically, and portraying the lives of the same characters in each episode, we can be assured of familiarity and continuity. Additionally, in certain soaps, the viewer is aware of where a character is, or what he or she is doing if absent from a particular episode.

• In the British soaps, script writers bring in humour to make it more pleasable to watch.

Origins and the History of Soap Operas

Where and when did Soap Operas originate? 
Soaps started on the radio in the 1930's called 'continuing dramas.'  The name 'Soap Opera' originates from the original dramatic serials broadcast on radio that had soap manufacturers and producers.

Who are they traditionally aimed at?
Most of these daytime dramas and soaps were aimed at entertaining the housewives in the 50's who would be at home. 

Why were they nick-named ‘Soaps’?
The companies selling washing powder would advertise their products at times when the dramas were on. They were sponsored by soap and detergent companies like Proctor and Gamble, Colgate-Palmolive and Lever brothers.

What is the longest running British Soap and when did it start?
Coronation Street was first aired in the 60's and is still present on British tv.

Basic Facts:

• British soaps are very different to American soaps; British soap is based on day-to-day life and American soaps are more melodramas and creating the ideal lifestyle
• Soap Operas are called “continuing dramas” because the episodes are not grouped into series, but run week-in week-out, all year round.
• Scenes are quite short in order to keep the audience entertained by the quick jump edits from scene to scene. Each individual scene tends to open with an establishing shot and end on a cliff hanger.
• In each episode there tends to be several stories running at the same time for a variety in the show. 

British Soaps:
Eastenders, Hollyoaks, Coronation Street, Neighbours, Waterloo Road, Casualty, Holby City, Emmerdale, Doctors, Brookside, Heartbeat, Crossroads