Soap Trailer Analysis No. 3

Coronation Street, 28.02.09



This is a trailer for Becky and Steve's wedding day on Coronation Street, taken from www.youtube.com

Non Diegetic music is used throughout the trailer to create a sense of irony; the song used is "My Lucky Day" for a wedding episode set for Friday 13th. The non diegetic voice over at the end adds to this irony when it states "Friday 13th; the perfect day for a Coronation Street wedding.." The music makes use of a 'big band' which sounds very jolly and gives the a hopeful feel, which contrasts the voice over. The voice over also states the date the episode will be aired and the channel it is on. As well as this, the ITV logo is prominent on the screen throughout.

The storyline the trailer is based around is that of a wedding, quite a typical soap opera storyline. The characters shown in the trailer are those whom the episode will center mainly around, which gives the audience a hint at what will happen and who it will involve or affect. A linear narrative is used, because it shows the storyline go from A to B although an ending is obviously not shown. It also vaguely resembles a narrative because many different parts are shown, almost as if they are all separate but they in fact linked by the forth coming wedding.

Other than the ITV logo at the bottom of the screen, titling is not used until the very end of the trailer, where the name of the soap opera, the date and their sponsor is shown, with the familiar background from the programs title sequence. This reiterates what soap opera the trailer is for, as well as gaining publicity and recognition for the sponsor.

A variety of camera angles are used throughout the trailer; the very first shot is an over the shoulder shot, which shows exactly what the character is seeing. This helps the audience feel instantly that they are involved in the program. Close ups are used to show all the little details that go into a wedding, like laying the tables and icing the cakes, which provides a sense of normality, and puts the viewer at ease. Mid shots are used to show the various characters getting ready and is a good way of showing how they're feeling because as well as seeing their facial expression, their body language can be seen too. A close up of the figures on the cake is used, perhaps to contrast the fact that you never see the real couple together, and this can be seen as foreshadowing what is to come. A zoom is used on a sign on the cake saying "Good Luck" which implies that luck is needed, and that something will go wrong during the wedding. This is also implied because constantly throughout the trailer, signs of luck are made, or written.

The costumes throughout the trailer are all formal attire, as is expected at a wedding. The brides dress, however, is not the traditional white, and is pink instead. This can be seen as connoting that not all is as innocent as it seems. It can also be seen as a signifying problems because pink is made up of white and red - red is a colour often associated with death, and so by wearing pink, it is a slight hint that something goes wrong. The room the bride is getting ready in is entirely in white or other very pale colours, which gives a sense of purity and naivity, which makes the viewer feel worried on her behalf, because the signs are all there to indicate that it isnt her 'lucky day'.