As a group we have decided to analyse trailers from our allocated soaps (Natalie M=Neighbours, Natalie N=Emmerdale and Coronation Street, Elena=Home and Away and Thegla=Hollyoaks). These soaps are from both the UK and abroad. We are hoping this will benefit us when we go on to deciding how we want our trailer to be. We hope to use these trailers as inspiration and as a guide as to how to make our trailer successful.
By Natalie Michael
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I decided to compare a recent trailer to an old trailer as the comparison would allow me to see how trailers have developed over time or whether there are aspects of them that have remained the same. Through comparing the trailers, I would also be able to see what the necessary conventions of trailers are.
New trailer (2009): http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/soaps/a176195/trailer-death-of-a-neighbour.html#article_continue
- Song played throughout – ‘Beloved’ by Wendy Matthews.This is a slow sad song which links to the trailer as the viewer guesses there will be a death of one of the characters, someone who was loved by all.
- The trailer begins with people hugging. It looks like they are saying goodbye to each other or using each other for support. The characters are crying and generally seem sad.
- The trailer then cuts to a rescue scene with police and ambulance. The audience know something bad has happened.
- Words appear on screen. For example; “the show we grew up with...will lose someone we love.”The words fade onto the screen with an image of a character looking sad. The words then fade out.Various letters remain on screen to form a new set of words.
- The trailer gives possibilities of 4 characters who could be the ones leaving. ‘Libby’, ‘Bridget’, ‘Toadie’ or ‘Paul’.
- “A moment you’ll never forget” appears on screen.Cuts to a character at a graveyard laying flowers. Powerful moment.
- Blank screen showing channel (5), time (5:30pm), sponsors (Ladbrokesbingo.com) and the website written in white – this stands out. This is a good way of advertising the soap.
Old Trailer: http://www.perfectblend-media.co.uk/troyuploads/1986-2.wmv
- 7pm tomorrow written on screen
- ‘Tomorrow on neighbours’ narrated
- Scene from show
- Narration – “but he’s fighting losing battle on both sides of the fence”
- Scene linking to narration – man looking through a hole in the fence at his neighbour.
- Words ‘7pm tomorrow’ remain on the bottom of the screen throughout the trailer.
- Monkey peering through curtain and window ends the trailer. The way the monkey looks through the curtain is how people look through their windows at their neighbours,
- Theme tune of neighbours played quietly in background throughout.
- ‘Neighbours 7’o clock tomorrow on 10” is narrated at the end of trailer.
Comparing trailers:
- Definite differences, 2009 trailer much more modern. Trailers are according to their time periods.
- Both trailers have non-diegetic music. 2009 trailer has a song matching the mood of the trailer, old trailer neighbours soundtrack.
- Old trailer – block letters on screen throughout. Very basic.
- 2009 trailer – words fade in and out
- 2009 trailer advertises the show more. It shows the channel, the sponsors and the time it is played.
By doing this, I have realised that trailers need to advertise when the show will be aired, at the end. I believe that the 2009 trailer did this in a better way. However, this may be because it is more modern and this is what we are used to when watching trailers. Trailers need to have scenes from the show and a soundtrack that fits in to the mood of the trailer. However, if the trailer is advertising a new soap, then I think the soundtrack for the opening credits will be more successful to use as it will allow the viewers to hear it and they will eventually begin to recognise it when hearing the trailer and then when hearing the show itself.
Written by Natalie Michael
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