My Soap Opera Trailer

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Lssq2r7NiU&context=C420966eADvjVQa1PpcFNoG1j6VDF1Ve5ekllRofmTnWgKdrY7lUk=

My Ancillary Texts

How did you use new media technologies in the construction and research, planning and evaluation stages?

How did you use new media technologies in the construction and research, planning and evaluation stages?

1- Using the programme Paint was important during my evaluation stages as it allowed me to take screen grabs from the internet as well as images that showed the media technologies that i used throughout the construction and research, planning and evaluation stages of my media product. It was important to use Paint as i could put all the screen grabs and images together collectively rather than put them on separately onto my blog. By using Paint for the evaluation stages it allowed me to save the file as a Jpeg and upload it to my blog quickly and effectively. Paint also allowed me to show my prints screens of scenes from my soap opera trailer which illustrated certain effects i used such as 'directional angle' and 'radial effect'.

2- Blogger was essential throughout my construction and research, planning and evaluation stages as it allowed me to document my findings in one place. By using Blogger i could keep all my documents in one place and access them easily, as well as edit or adapt them effectively. It also allowed my fellow classmates a chance to comment on the work i was doing as well as the teachers tracking my collection of work. Blogger has helped me organise the research for my media product: for example, when researching other soap trailers i could copy and past the URL onto my blog. 

3- I used Facebook during my research as i could upload my video and get feedback from my friends and family; which was suitable as most of my Facebook friends are my target demographic. Facebook also gave us quick communication between group members so that we could plan for our soap trailer effectively.

4- I used Google as my search engine for the internet and it has helped me with all my research. I have researched conventions of the soap genre, costume ideas, real media products such as posters and magazine front covers which have influenced my planning. I used Google to find existing media products so that i could analyse them and develop the planning for my own soap trailer. 

5- We used a voice recorder to record the voice-over for our soap opera trailer as well as the voice-over for one of our evaluation stages. The voice recorder allowed use to record what we needed quickly and efficiently so then it could be transferred onto our products effectively by USB and import it into Final Cut Pro X.

6- We used a Panasonic HD C60 video camera to film the footage of our soap trailer. The camera was light and HD quality which was an advantage when filming and constructing my soap trailer. By using a tripod i was able to film conventional soap genre camera shot such as mid shots and shot reverse shots as well as taking more than one take. The tripod also allowed us to stick to the 180 degrees rule as well as the rule of thirds. By using a brand new video camera we were able to transfer the footage to the computers by a micro card which is more effective than the tapes in the Mini DV cameras that we used at AS level.

7- Adobe Photoshop is the software i used for the construction of my ancillary texts; soap opera poster and front cover magazine. By using the programme Adobe Photoshop it has allowed my media products to look professional and sophisticated as my skills of the tools on Photoshop have improved. For example, the magnetic lasso tool allowed me cut out my characters carefully and quickly so that they could be placed onto a transparent layer and then moved onto my poster and magazine front cover; this allowed me to manipulate my ancillary texts so that they were conventional to real media products. Furthermore, Adobe Photoshop aided me to create a realistic and professional looking magazine front cover as i was able to manipulate shapes, colours and text to the soap opera genre. 

8- Using a Digital Still Camera during the research and planning meant that we could take pictures of possible settings and characters to see what would look better. For example: we took many photographs of sign names which helped us come up with the name 'Conway' for our soap opera trailer. After gathering the images of possible locations we were then able to weigh the advantages and disadvantages as well as which places were more conventional of the soap genre. Using a Digital Still Camera was important during filming as it allowed us to document our filming which ensure our footage was our own.

9- By using mobiles phones during our planning it allowed our group members to keep in contact and communicate with one another so we created a successful plan for our soap trailer. We could also arrange meetings and sort out any queries and worries between the group. 

10- YouTube was important during my research and construction, planning and evaluation stages as it allowed me to research existing soap trailers, find the music for my soap opera trailer as well as uploading my final media product so that i could get feedback from the public. By researching existing trailers on YouTube it allowed me to see the convention of soap trailers as well as what appealed to the audience. 

11- Final Cut Pro X was the editing programme i used to construct my soap opera trailer. By using a relatively new editing software it took a while to get used to a new programme. Final Cut Pro X allowed us to try out video and audio effects and transitions on our soap opera trailer as there were many to choose from; this gave our trailer a sense of excitement and added to the fast pace which was ideal due to our demographic. It was easy to manipulate effects in Final Cut Pro X as you could transform, distort and change the balance of things quite simply. 

As i was unsure of what piece of music i wanted for my soap opera trailer, Final Cut Pro X allowed me to place three different types of music into audio bars so that i could listen to them and see which one suited my soap opera trailer the best. Furthermore, i also needed to find a piece of music that suited the demographic and appealed to the target audience. Final Cut Pro X helped me with the construction of my soap opera trailer as it allowed my trailer to look clean cut, exciting and professional. 

12&13- These two images show me using the video camera when filming my soap trailer.  

What have you learned from your audience feedback?

What have you learnt from your audience feedback?

Throughout the process of constructing my soap opera trailer i have created several different drafts; this gave me the opportunity to receive audience feedback for my media product. I created a questionnaire that was filled out by other a-level media students as well as uploading my soap opera trailer onto social networking site Facebook. This allowed people to watch my trailer and give me feedback and opinions, and from here i was able to analysis what i could do to improve my media product. 

I found from my feedback from Facebook that:

*my trailer fitted in with the soap genre

*It was exciting and was targeted at my demographic


However, some one stated that my trailer finished and there was still 4 minutes of blank footage. Therefore, i went back to my soap trailer on Final Cut Pro X and adjusted this problem so that it stops when my soap opera trailer is finished.

I found from my results from the questionnaire that:

*my music worked well with my trailer and suited the soap opera genre

*my transitions worked well to create a fast paced effect

*my editing was appropriate to my soap opera trailer

*i had used conventional soap opera characters

*i had included a variety of camera shots 

However, some of my feedback suggested that my trailer was too long and should be shortened down, i needed to make the story-line a bit clearer and i needed to turn up the volume of the voice-overs as they were very quiet. 


These were a few adjustments and changes after i had received feedback from my questionnaire: 


*I cut my soap trailer from 1 min 41 secs to 1 min which improved the pace of the trailer to make it more exciting and fast so that it appealed to my target audience. 
*I went back to my trailer on Final Cut Pro X and turned down the volume of the music and turned up the volume of my voice-overs so that they could be heard more clearly. 

I went back to my editing programme Final Cut Pro X and decided to add text to my soap opera trailer in order to make the story-line more clear. This screenshot shows a pregnant girl who is worrying about her unborn child. I added the words 'new choices' which connotes that she has a decision to either keep the baby or abort it; I feel that the text i added to my trailer makes the story-line a lot more clearer so that the audience understand exactly what is going on. Furthermore, the audience will therefore perhaps be able to relate to the character through the uses and gratifications theory as they may have gone through it them self therefore creating a sense of realism throughout my trailer.I chose to put the word 'new' with each of my text as i believe it promotes that the soap is new and coming soon. 

I looked back through my trailer and realised i was not promoting what channel my soap was going to be broadcasted on very well. Therefore, i decided that i would introduce my soap opera trailer with the channel logo 'BBC' at the bottom. This helps create continuity throughout my soap opera trailer as well as give the audience awareness of what channel my soap opera was going to be broadcast on. 

How effective is the combination of your main product and ancillary texts?

How effective is the combination of your main product and ancillary texts?

This is the link to my video explaining the combination of your main product and ancillary texts:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hw2l6S4aZjU&context=C4d7293dADvjVQa1PpcFNoG1j6VDF1VeG_0nFpybegBy-hnO7JtKE

In what ways does your media product use, develop or challenge forms and conventions of real media products?

In what ways does your media product use, develop or challenge forms and conventions of real media products?

1- My first image is taken from the first shot of my soap opera trailer and immediately introduces what channel my media product is to be broadcasted on. This is important to the audience as they need to remember what channel the programme is going to be on. Many real media products have the channel on their trailers and it was important that my trailer mirrored this as it was therefore using conventions from existing media products. For example: the audience recognise that EastEnders is on BBC one and Coronation Street is on ITV1; and i wanted them to associate my soap opera with BBC one so therefore, placed the logo on my teaser trailer. The logo 'BBC' is placed at the bottom of the trailer in the middle and fades out of my media product in roughly ten seconds; however, it re-appears at the end, this time with 'BBC one', in order to stay fresh in the minds of the audience. 

Also, as this is the first scene in my soap trailer it also introduces the music that compliments my soap opera trailer; as my music is associated with my soap trailer i'm hoping that it would create interpellation with my real media product much like the theme tune on EastEnders. 

2- This image is taken from the beginning of my soap opera trailer and is important as it represents the mise-en-scene throughout my media product. Mise-en-scene is important as it shows that conventions of a real media product needed to be used. For example: in the scene the girl is holding a suitcase and carrying a young child. The young child connotes that she is a young mother and the suitcase connotes that she has perhaps run away or is planing to start a new life. We chose this character and mise-en-scene as it has a stereotypical stigma attached to the young generation and as well as being a stereotypical character, she also mirrors existing characters in real media products. This scene is filmed outside of a train station which further develops the idea that the girl has run away or is starting a new life; furthermore, train stations are public places and are often featured in many soaps such as EastEnders. The use of mise-en-scene in my media product therefore uses conventions of real media products. 

3- This third image shows the beginning of the love triangle scene and pictures Rowen and Toni walking hand in hand along a path. By editing on Apple Mac PC's i had a wide range of video effects and transitions that i could use in my media product. On this particular long shot i used a radial effect which made the screen look like it is looking through a fish-eye camera lens. This effect was used as it made the soap opera trailer appear more exciting and fast paced, which was one of our conventions when compared to a real media product. As i was editing my soap opera trailer with a young demographic in mind i wanted the trailer to appeal to them in order to get them to watch the soap. Furthermore, this highlights the story-line of the scene which is stereotypical to the younger audience; the radial effect makes the shot blurry which connotes confusion. This could be mirroring the characters state of mind as they are confused as to whom they love. Overall, by using fast paced editing effects and stereotypical story-lines, i feel my media product uses and mirrors conventions from real media products.  

4- This image is of one of the title screens from my soap opera trailers. Overall, i have five title screens in my trailer and each individual one introduces a separate character. For example, in this title screen i have used the phrase 'new heartbreaks'; this represents the love triangle scene. Furthermore, the word 'new' emphasises that the soap is brand new as well as introducing that the characters and the story lines are new. Throughout my trailer I have 'new enemies', 'new life', 'new heartbreaks', 'new choices' and 'new beginnings'. These title screens introduce that the issues that are happening in my soap opera trailer are conventional of real media products and therefore, my trailer has a sense of realism and verisimilitude. 

Also, after each scene and title sequence i have used the transitions 'cross dissolve' and 'directional angle' from the editing programme 'Final Cut Pro X'. These transitions represent the change in story line and scene as well as moving the flow and pace along of the trailer. In real media products transitions are rarely used, but as i was aiming at a younger demographic i wanted to make my soap opera trailer appear exciting and edgy to engage a younger audience. Therefore, with editing my soap opera trailer i have challenged conventions of real media products. 

5- This is a screen shot of our love triangle scene between two young girls and a young boy. This scene is conventional of real media products as it deals with social issues such as sex and perhaps peer pressure;the audience is able to relate to these issues as they gain uses and gratifications and maybe have past memories. This scene is filmed outside a pub which is conventional of a real media product. The pub in soaps is often seen as a place to gather or gossip; just generally a place to socialise. Other conventional settings i used in my soap opera trailer are a train station and people's houses. 

6- This image is also from our love triangle scene but demonstrates some of the camera shots i have used throughout my footage. This camera shot is shot reverse shot and is extremely conventional of real media products as most soap opera rely on conversation. Shot reverse shots create a sense of realism and therefore appeal to the audience; also, shot reverse shots are similar to point of views shots so allows the audience to feel more involved with the soap. Filming a wide range a camera shots as well as camera movement I had to be careful of the 180 degrees rule, however, i think that the majority of my footage was successful at achieving this aim. 

7- This screen shot is of grandparents and a grandchild getting out of the car and looking around. I used characters that had an age range in my soap trailer so therefore it could appeal to all audiences. The grandparents are wearing stereotypical clothing for the older generation such as cardigans, glasses and scarves and the grandchild is wearing stereotypical clothing for young children. The grandparents represent a matriarchal character in my soap opera as the grandmother could be seen as quite motherly as well as a figure that people look up to. This is a conventional character of real media products; for example, Dorothy Cotton is the matriarchal character in EastEnders. Furthermore, the child conveys her attitude through her body language; she is standing as if she is agitated and therefore not happy. This connotes that she is not happy with the look of her new home and the audience may recognise that she will cause disruption in the soap opera. 

8-This image is from the final scene of my soap opera trailer. The final scene introduces the 'bad boy' type character in the soap programme; the audience recognise that he is bad as he is wearing stereotypical dark, baggy clothing, big jumpers and trainers. The audience is able to connote that something bad is going to happen due to the stereotypical stigma attached to teenage character. As this scene is the finale to my soap trailer it has the title screen 'new enemies' appear followed by the teenager looking directly at the camera. This direct action of the character makes the ending of the trailer very dramatic and suspenseful; leaving my soap opera trailer on a cliffhanger. I left it on a cliffhanger as it mirrored conventions of a real media product in order to re-create the same dramatic tone. Also, this part of the final scene has the voice-over running along on top of the footage. The voice-over is 'how would you survive a new life?'; this makes the audience almost fear the teenage boy and it appears as if he is out to cause trouble. 

9- This is a screen shot of my end sequence; although i used the convention in real media products of the typical BBC sequence i challenged it as i editied to blue rather than red. By using the colour blue i'm hoping to appeal to a different audience as my end sequence is unusual so therefore, will hopefully attract the attention of the younger demographic. My end sequence introduces the name of my soap opera 'Conway', it also tells the audience what channel it isgoing to be broadcasted on as well as the fact that it is 'coming soon'. This information is all enhanced by a male voiceover; i chose a male for the voiceover as it would sound more dramatic and dominant. also, stereotypically, females are supposed to answer to males so subconsciously, women are likely to be more attracted to my soap opera.  

Furthermore, my end sequence uses a font that i tried to recrate throughout my soap opera trailer. By using a synergic serif font throughout my trailer the audience will hopefully then associate that font with my soap opera 'Conway'. I tried to use a synergic font as this follows a convention of a real media product: for example, in EastEnders soap opera trailers the BBC uses their own indent font. This is then associated with all BBC media products so the font is recognisable across the world; this is what i tried to achieve in my trailer. Again, like a convention in EastEnders, my music throughout my film carries on into the end sequence by a sound bridge.

My Soap Magazine Front Cover

This is my magazine front cover. I used all the conventions from real media products such as a masthead, tagline, strapline, main story, smaller stories, dominant image, pugs, barcode, date, price and website address. I used characters from my soap opera that i did not use on my soap poster and i didn't want them to look the same. I mainly stuck to the primary colours of red, blue and yellow for my magazine front cover to make it more simplistic and appealling to the audience. I used pugs to draw the audience in such a winning a free holiday or the fact that the magazine is only 50p.