Evaluation Task 1

I was tasked to choose 9 images to represent 9 areas of forms and conventions and briefly write about each one:

1. Title

The titile we created is a very simple title and is used to formally and clearly present the name of our soap opera trailer. The basic font, complimented by the boldness of the text makes it clear to the audience to the name of soap opera without giving anything away as the next extreme long shot establishes the setting/location.

2. Setting

This establishing shot from our trailer immediately establishes the setting of our soap opera The Street which is located within a small fictional street in the heart of North London. The road itself consists of a single side of terraced houses which gives the sense of a working class community; which is typical within soap operas. The main road to the right also gives the idea that this soap is set in an urban enviroment, also a convention of many soaps is to be set in these kind of enviroments.

3. Costume

The costume worn by actor Ashley Loblack (Left) represents the image of a black youth shown specifically with the bandana/balaclava around his neck and also the wolly hat; sometimes black youths are portrayed in the media as being somewhat hell raisers, however in our soap we aim to challenge this and one of the ways we did this was by placing Ashley with his friend in the soap, actor Phillip Constantinou (right), who is wearing a polo shirt and jumper. This all helps show the diversity of the community within our soap opera trailer of The Street.

4. Props

We used automobiles within the soap opera trailer as the most significant and important props, the van helps represent a working class community and blue collar jobs within The Street and the car is very important in the trailer; transporting the suprise member of the cast and taking part in many of the shots withihn our trailer.

5. Cinematography

The medium shot shown here of the character Benjamin (played by myself, Jack Fairbank) helps show the media technique of rule of thirds. We can clearly see Benjamin's face only on the left hand side (first third) of the frame which helps gain the audiences attention and communicate the idea of a converstaion. The shot also shows enough of the character to establish his body language but most importantly his facial expressions which are key in communitcating emotion to the audience within soap opears.

6. Narrative

This is a key shot from our trailer, as it establishes all three main characters into the same narrative through a medium over the shoulder shot. This is the scene in which the character Michelle returns to her family, we use this as a cliffhanger for our trailer, which is typically used in soap and could even be said to be a convention of soap operas as its key in keeping the audience hooked and wanting more.

7. Introduction of Characters

The introduction of the character Michelle is a lengthy and longed out proess within the trailer to add a real sense of mystery and antcipation to The Street; shown in these long shots, of the car she is in and from behind her which are two of many shots within the trailer which do not give away her identity. We hope this echoes throughout our audience too as it is key in giving an importance to our characters.

8. Genre

Conventions of the soap opera genre include using issues within other media text such as newspaper and portray them within a narrative. For example Benjamin is on the verge of hitting Hayley, domestic abuse is a prevalent issue within the media and is also very controversial thus appropriate and typical for the soap opera genre.