Eastenders Extract

I have analysed an extract of Eastenders, I have mostly focus on the soap stereotypes and conventions, this will help me with my soap trailer as I have not watched soaps for several years, I have started to watch shows such as Hollyoaks and Eastenders occasionally, I have been looking at the stereotypes/camerawork in these, the extract was around 10 minutes long.

-          A common feature in Eastenders is the diagetic music in the café, they usually represent a change in scene, a non diagetic ‘train’ sound occurs then a cheery song plays in the café, usually a popular song at the date of the show being filmed.

-          Shot reverse shot is also a common camera shot within soaps as the majority of the content is conversations between characters; this was most prevalent with Bianca and Whitneys conversations.

-          Whitney and Bianca are discussing a continuous storyline which has been ongoing for around 2 months, however I was able to pick up on the storyline very quickly, this is key for soaps as some people drift in and out and don’t watch them every day, the family conflict is also stereotypical of their lower status.    

-          There is a wide array of ages in the Eastenders, from a 4 year old girl who did not meet the stereotypical character for her age, she was plotting the death of her grandmother for money with her father, however she did show some child like qualities when she saw a picture she drew for her father scrunched up into a ball, she was then seen crying later in the extract and her father lied to her about it. This scene also shows the 80 year old Dot, this is a great example of the age range within the show.

-          There was also no preference on race, with a a Muslim and Nigerian family being key to the show, this scenario is common in real East London, with many immigrants living in the city, this adds to the realism of the show, religious issues are also prominent with a current storyline being the gay marriage of a Muslim boy, however his parents are disowning him as he is against his religion.

-          Natuiralistic and simple editing is also a convention within the show, jump cuts were used frequently. Fades/ dissolves and transition would take away from the realism of a soap, this is why non-diagetic music is rarely used, however in soaps such as neighbors and Home & Away, non diagetic music is used. In my opinion, this takes away from the ambience and realism of the show. Naturalistic lighting is also common,  this also adds to the realism.