1. How did you USE, DEVELOP or CHALLENGE codes
and conventions of real media products?

2.  Formy research, I looked at sub-
genres of SOAP opera's to follow
the conventions of social realism
and make sure I didn't create a
hybrid SOAP by crossing into any
other SOAP opera codes and
conventions.

3.  A tele-novella is a dramatic programming popular in Latin
America, Portugal, and Spain. Most tele-novellas have a narrative
arc that lasts under a year.
 There are repeated social messages in their story lines, and as a
result have a very strong convention with the topics included in
their story lines.
 Themes conventionally include urban
violence, homosexuality, and racism.
 Examples are Betty La Fea and Canaveral de Pasiones - A soap
featuring more woman than men, giving ideologies of a lifestyle
that viewers can strive to achieve. Features a lot sex.
 Extreme close ups of breasts Sound bridging to allow drama to
carry into an establishing shot using panning. Simple jump shots
are used show two different narratives.
 Mexican, upbeat jazzy groove soundtrack. Reverse image; edits.
Reaction shots and point of view shots.

4.  Real people who talk naturally but are put in
situations which are pre-planned by the
producers for our entertainment. They are
not professional actors of actresses. IE. The
Only Way is Essex & Made In Chelsea.

6.  Scripted reality SOAP operas are normally in big
cities, with a good social night life; bars and
clubs. Expensive clothing gives a status of
wealth. Props are within these adornments.
 Lighting matches moods. High key lighting is
often used, to insinuate glamour and riches, not
a trait of realism.
 Close ups shots are often used, to see body
language expressed. These are relevant because
the main story lines repeated in scripted reality
soaps are affairs, break ups, jealousy, sex, family
problems, fights and love.

7.  Melodrama SOAP operas are plot driven, characterized by
exaggerated emotions, stereotypical characters, and raging
conflicts.
 Examples would be:
 Hollyoaks
 Days of our Lives
 Downtown Abbey
 Home and Away
 They contain stereotypical characters. The village antagonist an
evil bad character, the hero and the village tart.
 Incidental non-diegetic music is used at the beginning of each
episode to create the atmosphere until the characters start
speaking. Melodramas give the audience a cathartic escape.
Catharsis story lines - By watching people go through similar
emotions and situations as we do, we feel better about
ourselves. The purging of emotions, and escapism story lines.

8.  Set in Australia, these SOAPs are a hybrid of melodrama
SOAPs and realism SOAPs, and only normally produce 2.5
hours~ worth of viewing footage per week. Examples include:
 Neighbours
 Home and Away
 Typically recorded on stereotypical Australian locations such
as beaches, or schools and cafes. They bridge most footage
that doesn’t have any dialogue in with non-diegetic
music, but emphasise diegetic sounds to make it realistic.
There is also a dramatised narrative. Almost every episode
uses cliff hangers.

9.  Topics such as adultery, nudity, racism, drug
use, and homosexuality
 Characters included in these SOAPs are:
 Patriarch
 Rebel
 Underdog
 The Girl Next Door
 The Villain
 The House wife
 The couple

10.  Social Realism SOAPs focus on everyday
characters and situations, frequently in
working class environments. Examples are
Coronation Street and Waterloo Road.
 They are filmed normally using low lighting
conditions, in common casual
settings, utilising a social hub, be it a
bar, pub, or cafe, or sometimes an
educational facility. The drama constantly
revolves around these locations.

11.  Social realism SOAPs have a strong tendency
conform to its audience dominating
ideologies. However some might go against
these to create drama and shock, but these
run a risk of damaging the SOAPs reputation
and possibly endanger the actors
reputation, as illustrated by Eastenders
storyline about “baby Lexi”.
 Click here for more detail on how viewers are
influenced strongly by ideological storylines.

13.  Fear and intimidation is a common tool of
oppression used in Waterloo Road for
bullying, and in the finale the thugs utilised a
car park’s height to threaten their target.
 The add extra tension and danger to the
shot, we used a toy knife to push Tom over
the side of the car park.

14.  Click here to view
the youtube video
illustrating the toy
knife.
 Click here to view
the youtube video
illustrating how
Tom was never in
any danger.

15.  As our group consisted of teenagers 17-18
years old, and constructing a social realism
SOAP opera trailer, the closest style model we
could relate to was Waterloo Road –
Consisting of a high percentage of students.

16.  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=
PZHJFqnk5qQ