Soap Trailer Analysis

Eastenders Christmas Trailer 2008:



Mise-en-scene:
All lighting throughout the trailer was dark but with the Christmas spirit within the piece it seems to brighten up just before it turns dark and from colour to black and white when the storyline comes shinning through. All the scenes are interior, no scenes take place outside, every scene had Christmas props in which included Christmas dinner, Christmas hats, Christmas crackers and cards then it gets to the final scene of the Mitchell Christmas dinner, and then inside the local pub with lots of alcohol on show to the audience which helps show the viewers something is about to go wrong.

Sound:
All sound throughout the trailer was non diegetic. The music was happy Christmas music which created suspense as we the audience then knew there would be something bad around the corner. Then the music stopped and went silence which was juxtaposition. The voice over at the end of the clip made the storyline very clear to the audience which draws the audience in. After the voice over the classic jingle came back after the use of silence which again gave the audience time to think about the storyline before the eastenders jingle comes into place.

Narrative:
In this trailer the narrative was open. The storyline was given but not fully, the audience only found out half of the plot which leaves this as open as possible.
There is also forking paths used within this trailer as there is multiple stories and multiple lives within the square being shown at the beginning but towards the end it starts to get based around one story of one family.

Titling:
There was simple titles within the trailer which related to Christmas by using snow which makes the trailer Christmas before it has even started. BBC one first and then Eastenders at the end of the trailer.

Coronation Street Trailer:


Mise-en-scene:
Within this trailer all the lighting is bright and light which connotes innocence of the characters, unlike most trailers this trailer has scenes both in interior settings and exterior settings which makes the trailer different. All the props to do with the wedding are white and pink which shows that the male getting married is doing what the female wants which is also shown when the male sighs. A lot of the props including a decorative piece on the cake, a card and message on the back of the car all say good luck which has juxtaposition to the audience making them feel something will go wrong.

Sound:
Throughout the piece there is a song which is all about being lucky and about a wedding day. The song is upbeat with brass instruments in the background which builds suspense  by getting louder it then fades out but the brass still carry on playing and then  there is a voice over the top of the music saying "Friday the 13th the perfect date for a coronation street wedding coming soon on itv1 " and then wedding bells play in the background telling the audience that this will be a episode not to miss.

Narrative:
In this trailer the narrative was open. The storyline was given but not fully, the audience only found out half of the plot which leaves this as open as possible.
There is also forking paths used within this trailer as there is multiple stories and multiple lives within the street however all the families within this trailer are all related to one story, one event of one family.

Titling:
In this trailer there is little titling until  the end when there is the Corrie in a road street block and then "The nations street" underneath it and then Friday the 13th under that. Making the date that the episode is on clear to the audience.

DIFFERENT EPISODE
Throughout the piece there was a Christmas tune which was happy and merry. Which got interrupted by the sounds of the emergency rescue which shows juxtaposition. Which helps to show the storyline. The trailer ends with sirens which shows their is a unhappy ending to the story that will be coming up.

I looked and analysed two soap opera trailers in order to develop my knowledge on trailers and real soap operas. I wanted to gain more  knowledge in all areas in order to come up with my idea for my own soap. When producing my own soap I will now know what sort of music I will need to use etc and relate it all back to  my individual soap opera trailer. I have gained knowledge on Mise-en-scene, Sound, Narrative and titling. This will help me plan out, develop and make my soap opera trailer as I will learn the about all the key conventions of a soap opera. I will learn how soaps use key conventions and also go against conventions in order to make their soap different and unique.