Eastenders Title Sequence

There are many conventions that work together in order to make the title sequence of Eastenders effective and memorable to the audience. Camera work/movements , Sound, Editing and Mise-en-scene are all very important factors of the title sequence. Viewers of Eastenders are able to voyeur in on characters lives which is shown in the title sequence through the use of a birds eye view (camera work). The ariel shot puts the audience in perspective and allow them to gain a full viewing point. The camera also spirals out throughout the title sequence which represents the narrative within the soap as many situations spiral out of control and become larger over time.

Picking the correct theme tune for Eastenders was a important decision for producers in 1985 when the soap opera was created. Although some viewers may feel the theme tune isn't correct for the genre of Eastenders, it has become very memorable to viewers and others who do not even watch the soap. The iconic drum roll at the start of the title sequence creates an intense image to the audience before watching the soap. The tune familaries the audience to the particular soap, and allows them to get into the mind fame of the world of Eastenders before it begins. Although the sound can be seen as intense at the start because of the drum roll, as it progresses the pace of the sound slows down creating a mellow atmosphere which represents the slow pace of some story lines within Eastenders.

Editing is used to create an effect during the title sequence of Eastenders, for example the title of the soap is shown at the end of sequence to stay fresh in the viewers mind before the soap begins, this may also be because the music has already established what the soap is without showing the title itself. The color of the title is dull and dismal which represents the overall mood of Eastenders.

Mise-en-scene is a vital element to the title sequence as it portrays everything you can see within the sequence. The river thames is shown as it is idenficiation of the location of the soap for example the east end of London. This shows a sense of realism and allows the audience to relate to the soap for example the millennium dome is shown on the title sequence which can influence them to watch the soap.Colors are enhanced on the title sequence for example the river thames is a bright blue color which can express the overall dullness of the rest of the title sequence, the dullness represents the reality of the soap as it generally expresses morbid and dark situations.

After analysing the title sequence of Eastenders I feel I now have a better understanding on the ommon conventions that make a soap sequence effective. As a group we now decided that we would now make own our pitch ideas for a new and upcoming soap. After making these pitches we would decide the most effective soap idea that we can focus and improve in order to fit all of our creative needs.