How Coronation street has changed throughout 3 decades?

Coronation street is a British soap opera set in Weatherfield, a fictional town in Greater Manchester based on Salford in North West England. Created by Tony Warren, Coronation Street was first broadcast on 9 December 1960. It is produced at the Granada Studios in Manchester by Granada Television and shown in all ITV regions. Since first being aired, it has been one of the most financially lucrative programmes on commercial television, underpinning the success of its broadcaster ITV and its franchise Granada Television. On 17 September 2010, it became the world's longest-running TV soap opera currently in production"

Withen three decades coronation street has changed dramatically, with the use of different camera movements/shots, editing, sound and mise-en-scene. These devices were used to give a particular look,message, feeling and emotion to the audience. The specific years ill be analysing will be an episode from 1961, 1979 and 2011 which il explain the how the technical catogories have changed and why.

Opening scene( establishing shot) and
wide shot to show intimidation.

1961 - The opening credits to coronation street are dark, gloomey,miserable,black and white and dull. This connotes aload of different things, for example it suggest theres no glamour what so ever in this soap opera, the fact there are drap northern houses codifys the economic status. Also the musky and old apperance gives the impression that the area is not cared for, its back in time with the old pavements which seem to be unmantained. The camera shots and movents seem to have a few bumps on track which connotes they didnt have as advanced and experenced camera men or equipment ( to do with budget ensamble shots). The opening scene is in a bar/pub, which suggest were the episode is specifically set (nothern part). The characters in the opening shot are dressed smartly and sophisicated, which connotes they could be whealthyand important,also the bar/pub itself looks quite stylised. There are no uses of cutting or close ups as there are mainly medium/long shots, this suggest there are no specific or important characters, that everyone has the same importance in the soap. There are the uses of low angles which ironically reverses hiraci, as its a wider establishing shot it shows the "community sopport" which suggests whos the most intimidating person out of the two women arqueing. Also the fact they are all wearing similar clothes again shows no specific importance, they all look and dress the same so there for they are the same. Although there arnt uses of close ups there are the uses of screen time which connotes who are the important and main characters. There isnt any silence throughout of the episode, the scene is very noisey also the sound quality isnt as advanced as it is now obvioulsy which makes its difficult to understand.

1979 - At this time things were more advanced and technical, as its shown in colour, uses or different camera angles/shots and movements to connote and evoke certain feeling or atmosphere. There was the use of mise-en-scene, being costume to suggest the characters class, personality and style. For example the old man in this scene is in this scene is wearing pyjamas and a dressing gown which is sterotypical for that age group, aslo connotes vulnerability. Compared to the other character in the scene wich is a middle aged man, in black leather jacket, smoking in the old mans house which connotes he's rebelious or a villian character. Also the use of angles and head room to suggest character roles. The opening to this specific episode was a long and slow intro, with just the male character walking around suspecioulsy, theres is the use of tracking shot and complete silence. Also he's body language suggests his character as he (flungs things on the table) connotes he doesnt care, makes the audience not appeal to him, also the silence creates tension and suspense. The opening was more like a film, which adds realism to the soap. The old mans house seems very homely, due to the colours and furniture for example : picture frames on the walls could suggest hes a family man, or was. Also the types of furniture in the living room (wardrobes) which could suggest his class (house is to small) which makes the audience sympathise with the character. Close ups are used to obviously show emotion and reactions, to involve audience which also adds realism. ( specific episode I annalyesd from below)

The opening credits in 1979 compared to 2011 :

In 1978 the opening credits connote the class, style and econmic state of coronation street at this particular time. the opening credits are incredibly dull, grim, musty and boring. The shots are extremely static and show no movement or feeling at all. The shots immediately go into showing the rows of tight houses,lined up next to eachother which all look old and washed out with musky colours, also the houses are all identical which seems to be neverending. This connotes that the everyone is the same, there is no individuality that everyones "dull and boring" which isnt nesercarily true but this is what the credits suggests. It also shows the economic state, with the run down roof tops which shows class and status, with there being no sense of glamour, life or colour. In this case the colours are dirty, musky, dull, boring and miserable ( navy,dark green, grey,black,brown etc). Also the fact that there is no one in the credits accept for a cat suggests there is no life to the street, no lively, exciting good-feeling atmosphere.

2011 - Episodes from 1960 till now are complete opposites in every way, just by the opening credits immediately gives 2011 corronation street a whole different atmospher and outlook than before. Firstly the colour palet is bright, romantic and vibrant which connotes Coronation street is a "happy and welcoming" place which gives a positive feeling to the audience. Camera movements used are tilting, panning, crane shots to show a variety of different parts of the street at different angles. Editing such as CGI (the pegion, last shot) are used to connote the soap is more advanced and technical. Each shot had spefic things in and out of focus to suggest important probs/parts, also every shot had edited in sunlight to again make the whole credits look brighter and happier. This is used to connote Corrie is a welcoming and friendly place.There are people in the 2011 opening credits compared to there being none in the 1961 and 1979 to again show its a lively, sociable and busy place..

Codes and conventions of a soap opera listing their 4 technical categories:

Main conventions of soap operas:

·         Meeting places – usually pubs, cafes, bars etc.

·         Cliff-hangers and gossip.

·         Over dramatic and exaggerated acting/story lines and situations.

·         Cross cutting/establishing shots( bird’s eye view at opening credits)

·         Close ups – to show expression and emotions which creates tension.

·         Dilemmas.

·         Fights/punch ups/cat fights.

·         Village or neighbourhood.

·         Theme tune.

·         Affairs/murders/ tragedies etc.

·         Romance, love and secret relationships.

·         Focus on personal relationships and family life.

·         Lower middle to working class.

·         Shot reverse shot.

·         Specific character roles ( villain etc)

Eastenders: (based on the episode - The Vic Fire 9/9/10)

About – Eastenders is a British television soap opera, which first broadcast in the United Kingdom on BBC1 on 19 February 1985 which is still popular and continuing to today. Eastenders story lines examine the domestic and professional lives of the people who live and work in the fictional London Borough of Walford in the East End of London. The series centers on the residents of Albert Square. The series was originally screened as two half-hour episodes per week. Since August 2001, four episodes are broadcast each week on BBC One, with each episode being repeated on BBC Three at 22:00 and an omnibus edition screens on Sunday afternoons. The British television drama is used to tackling many controversial and taboo issues previously unseen on mainstream television in the UK.

Camera shots, angle, movement and composition:

There are many different varieties of different camera shots, angles and movements in soap operas which are used to give a specific impact or feeling, to create a certain atmosphere. The opening credits uses a establishing shot and a bird’s eye view shot which gradually zooms out to introduce the bigger picture of the view of London, which connotes the location of the soap being a city soap opera.  This specific episode’s first shot is a medium long wide establishing shot to let the audience know where this specific scene is set. Which in this case was in the pub which connotes there possibly could be some sort of drama or issue that will take place in and around the pub. Also the fact that this episode is where the queen Vic burns down and the opening shot is everyone having a good time in the pub. This makes the audience believe that nothing bad would be happening to the queen Vic, until it does which shocks and surprises the audience. There is also the use of over the shoulder shot, showing Stacey’s and Peggy’s conversation, which can clearly be seen by the people in the pub. The shot could connote that this is a conversation “jay” shouldn’t be seeing, which adds suspense to the scene. Close ups are constantly being used to show the characters emotion, as this shot shows Phil about to set the pub on fire. His facial expressions show he’s clearly distressed and drunk with a “look I’m about to do it” expression which adds excitement to the scene. The movement of the camera tracks the fire spreading over the pub to add excitement to the scene, as it shows how fast the fire is spreading.  The rule of thirds has also been used in a particular shot of the statue of queen Victoria as the pub is burning down.

Editing:

There aren’t as many uses of editing used in Eastenders as camera shots and movements but they are used well and effectively. The use of shot reverse shot which is used frequently in Eastenders to add and build tension and suspense, which shows the characters feelings, emotions and reactions. Camera effects have been used (CGI) to enhance the fire, to make it look more vicious and terrifying to over exaggerate the flames. This makes the audience even more nervous and tensed up by the viewers hoping and wanted Stacey to get out in time. CGI is also used at the opening credits, to make the soap look more realistic and professional. Continuity which is often used in Eastenders was very good and affective. The shots are smooth and make them flow and switch between one another. Continuity also is used a lot when characters move from one place to another. There is also the use of eye-line matching which makes it very clear that the two characters are having a conversation with each other. This again makes the scene run more smoothly and gives of a more realistic look and feeling.


Mise-en-scene: 

 There are many uses of mise-en-scene in Eastenders, which are used to connote the location, lifestyle, feelings and personalities of the cast. These categories are perceived by the costume, lighting, props, setting, and colour and make up. Each specific character has there own identity and style, which connotes what type of character they are. For example Peggy Mitchell is always dressed in bright bold colours (pink and red) which are usually smart and sophisticated. Her hair is always done up and make up is always worn. The character "Peggy" has specifically been dressed this way to connote her personality, which shows she’s a bold and dramatic person, with the use of bold and bright colours. Her outfits are always smart and feminine, which suggest she more wealthy and ladylike then others in the square, she takes pride in her looks. On the other hand, a new comer to the recent episodes "Zsa Zsa" is dressed in the specific clothes, hair and make-up to connote her personality and character. The fact she has bright blue highlights suggest she’s a "eccentric, out there" character, her clothing (leather jacket) suggest she’s got a punk/rocky and edgy style. She also looks like a rebellious character, who maybe tends to get up to no good.Props that's are used in Eastenders and specifically in this episode, is a empty bottle of alcohol that Phil's carrying around, which suggests he's drunk and obviously not himself. This then leads to Phil setting alight the queen Vic. The setting in this specific episode is in the Queen Vic, with a happy atmosphere as there's a wedding party taking place. This is also a convention of a typical soap, where something tragic always happens when something good is going on, which tends to be parties, weddings and any special occasion. This makes the audience be almost aware that something bad is going to happen, which makes the audience excited of what it could be. Lighting has specifically been used to set a specific atmosphere or mood in the scene. Especially in this still of drunken Phil going to attack Billy, the lighting here is very dark and grim to suggest this isn’t the best place to be. Whereas in another scene the lighting is very bright and vibrant, to set the intended atmosphere, which in this case it would be a happy and calm environment as there is a party going on in the vic. This is a strong contrast as downstairs everything’s bright and vibrant to connote happiness, whilst upstairs there’s the opposite atmosphere, with a dark and gloomy tone to connote danger or death.

Sound: There aren’t many uses of sound in soaps, especially in Eastenders, although the ones used are used well. When there are punch ups or fights there tends to be sound effects to exaggerate the “punches” etc to give a bigger impact and affect. There’s always the use of background music, which usually matches the specific mood or atmosphere. Which in this case incidental music is used where the only sound heard is the music being played in the queen Vic. Also music that tends to be played on the radio that we hear as the audience, are songs that are in the charts which gives the soap a sense of realism, which connotes the characters  are just like us, the audience.