My Personal Commentaries

HOLLYOAKS LATE NIGHT EPISODE 2009

This Hollyoaks episode is taken from a late night episode. I've chosen this specific clip as my soap opera is for the younger target audience similar to Hollyoaks and will be broadcast after Hollyoaks episodes in the evening on channel 4. My target audience will be more appealed to this type of episode than the Eastenders most likely.

  I am also using this clip as it supplies me with ideas for my trailer for the music. I've noticed how much music is used instead of speech, the music to me made a real impact on the whole scene. Barely any speaking was involved and in our trailer we wont be using much speech as we don't have much time. But choosing the correct music is vital if i want to make the same audience emotional response as this one. The story in itself tells a story and narrates the whole scene. It is also contrasting to the actual action which makes it more shocking. It is sad music that tells the audience "something bad will happen" before it actually does.

    I notice how we do not see the young girl dead, but the camera shows the bright sun in the sky as a symbol. This is a common metaphor for subjects like heaven, innocence and death. The show also used an older, fatherly, likable character for the end of the clip to show his reaction. I think this was a clever move as the audience like this specific character and instead of focusing on his young daughter we focus on how the family cope as well. This brings out a very important message with death, it doesn't just affect the person but the people who love the person. Especially choosing a character loved by the audience is a good idea. That is why in our soap we have created a couple that go by the name of the 'Howards' and the husband is loved by the audience, and we feel angry at Blanche (his wife) for treating him so badly. Most soaps tend to hurt the likable characters to get the audience involved, they have an opinion about it. It reflects the saying 'nice guys finish last'..sadly.

   Also, the kind of death reflects the target audience: student, lively, crazy and devilish. You wouldn't see this on Coronation Street as the target audience wouldn't relate to these type of activites.

  The camera angles are useful to learn from as they focus alot of reaction shocks. The close ups really make it feel like the scene is happening now, it gives the scene pace and adrenaline. Special effects are used greatly also, as after doing research i learnt that one of the characters didn't jump out the plane in real life. Jumping out of a plane is quick, but the scene has been slowed down with the music to tell the story. Then when the girl hits the floor it frightens the audience because the scene has come to a hault, there is a black out representing a moment where her life stops. The audience is also unable to see the her hit the ground, probably because this is unnessary and too graphic. Then the scene artistically fades from the sky at the death scene to a sky back at her home town blending the two moments together.

 CORONATION STREET

The imagery is simplistic but makes the soap appear warm and welcoming. It is similar to Eastenders and represents the area where the soap is being filmed. Showing the area where the soap will be filmed gives the audience an idea of what the show is about and what kind of atmosphere it will be. I have the impression that it is a good idea to use the area or town where the show is based as a good introduction. It is relevant and represents the show, so we will be using a similar structure to our trailor. I'm looking at the introductions of soaps even though we are doing a trailor because they both have something in common, first impressions. As our soap will be new, our trailor will be what the audience will first see of our show before the actual 1^st episode therefore we will need to give an honest representation but also an appealing one.

The music in my opinion is bland and boring, however that is my opinion as a teenaged audience. I can see why it would attract a certain audience, it is also catchy and sticks in the mind. It is also the trademark music for the show and has been the same over many years.

Overall I like the virtual tour that the introduction has as it is close up and the movement of the camera takes you around the town. This creates a feeling that you apart of the scenery, as if your walking along the town.

 EASTENDERS

The image is basic but attractive. It is an aerial shot of London, therefore representing not only the scenery of the show but the area around it. It is not only artistic but it also informs. I personally can see the boring side of it but i also can find it entertaining spotting my home countries landspots for example the river thames and the dome. It is a very British soap representation.

The music is punchy and can be recognized amongst anyone, even if you dont watch the show personally! There is a inconic beat pattern at the end and at the beginning that starts and ends the show with a bang. This noise is often used as the cliffhanger at the end of a show that leads into the theme tune.

"When EastEnders first appeared in 1985 it was such a great buzz walking down the street or being in a supermarket hearing people whistling or humming the theme"

The theme tune was so popular, it was turned into a song called "Anyone can fall in Love", recorded in 1986 by Eastenders cast member Anita Dobson who portrayed Angie Watts in the show.