In class we looked at the two original trailers for the soap dramas 'Eastenders' and 'Hollyoaks'. We looked at them to ascertain the key conventions that a soap trailer has however comparing the two trailers it can be seen that both trailers are quite different which is likely down to a range of factors including when the trailer was aired as well as who the trailer is aimed at also.
The first trailer for 'Eastenders' -
The camerawork is quite fast paced seen switching between a moving van with a name on it and a London bus which are both shot from different angles with every cut. The edits follow the classic Eastenders 'dramatic ending music' (non-diegetic) with each shot showing more and more of what the Moving van has written on it. The edits then slow down dramatically with a few second shot on the red bus then on a roundabout with the moving van going by, we get to see a clear shot of the soap's title 'Eastenders' here for several seconds along with its 'river Thames' logo and its opening theme tune. Making sure that the audience can clearly see the name of the new show and hear the theme tune helps it stick in their minds so they'll know when it starts if they hear the theme tune.
The bus establishes where the soap is set also as London is perhaps where the 'moving van' is going as we don't see the two vehicles pass in the trailer itself. The ending voice by the narrator is also received pronunciation as in the 80's this type of voice was what was expected in a lot of TV, especially in news and narration. The line the narrator delivers "The Eastenders are coming soon to BBC1" along with advertise the channel it also has a sort of double meaning that the van is going to he east-end and so are our television screens, "The Eastenders" also makes an audience curious by wondering who exactly are the characters.
The trailer itself is very short lasting less than 20 seconds. Although the length of the trailer may be due to how trailers typically were in the 80's it still seems very short. This may have been done to make audiences more curious and look to see the advert again, we as an audience are given such a small amount of detail about the soap it may make people more likely to tune in, they don't know what to expect besides that its set in the east-end of London, so therefore although it doesn't give much detail into the context or story, it entices a huge range of audiences as a particular target audience isn't stressed.
Although the lighting may be due to the camera's quality,the mid key lighting makes the soap appear more realistic and forebodes that the soap will be filled with a lot of drama and ark moments as well as happy ones, just like real life. A range of cars driving by and extras of average attire whom are also sen in an average neighborhood all show realistic aspects of the soap and a car following the moving van also around the roundabout also shows realism implying that its just a normal van.
Although I can see the techniques the Eastenders trailer has used, I don't think many features will transpire to our trailer as 12 seconds is not long enough for a trailer in my opinion and due to the time of which it was released we'll likely make a trailer with more modern aspects and focus on our target audience more. Although the ending narration is an idea which we will probably customize for our own trailer. I have also learn't from this trailer that the idea of 'realism' is very important in soap drama.
'Hollyoaks' First trailer-
The Hollyoaks (1995) trailer is vastly different to the 'Eastenders trailer' although it doesn't announce where the soap is set (besides England) it does announce that its target audience is young with the main cast which are shown in the trailer, something the Eastenders trailer doesn't do. The soap is portrayed as a lot more light hearted than that of the Eastenders trailer as seen where the cast 'attempt' to do a 'boring' trailer but think its stupid (a brake of the fourth wall as well as poking fun at older formal trailers.
The camera goes to a long shot and shows studio lights and filming equipment then switches to a playful argument among the 'cast' filled with sexual innuendo and a big focus on relationships. This clearly shows the soap's target audience are teens and young adults, the trailer makes it more appealing to this audience showing the casts rebellious side by not wanting to do a 'proper' trailer, this appeals to a younger audience as often teenagers are thought to be rebellious by misbehaving, underage drinking etc. The innuendo and happy relationships between the cast also promote the idea that the soap is 'light-hearted' and 'funny'. The trailer is also shown to be 'warm' and give a happy ambiance with the high key lighting, the brightness making the trailer seem 'less dull' then perhaps the Eastenders soap. The cast are meant to be seen in stylish and casual attire, making them again appeal to their age group and also appear attractive which again appeals to the audience.
The cast wanting to advertise in a more simplistic fashion also compliments the personality of teenagers wanting things to be more straight forward and simple in life. The characters personalities shine through in the trailer showing how they interact with each other, the title of the soap is addressed at the end and is also in a bright colourful font, again appeal to the target audience a non diegetic voice over is given at the end just after the characters' diegetic Eastender's trailer narrator and states simply "Hollyoaks starts 23rd of October channel 4. The soaps theme music is also played just as the 'real' trailer crumbles suggesting these are what the characters of Hollyoaks are really like and in the same way is recognizable too the ear as soon as its heard.
I think the Hollyoaks trailer applies much further to our soap then the Eastenders one with how it addresses its audience. I think the ideas i can take of from this trailer is perhaps not to make our trailer completely serious, adding some humour in also and also focus a lot on the characters of our soap and their relationships with each other and that characters are the most important thing to a soap. These trailers have also shown me how important the right music is and lighting makes a large difference to how a scene is portrayed and understood by the audience.
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