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.