Trailer Analysis - Eastenders

Eastenders Trailer 2010 - Kat and Alfie's return.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8p4xlLezos0 - the trailer is located on this link.

To introduce Kat and Alfie's return to Eastenders, producers choose to make a short trailer that would be played on BBC1, in order to attract audiences. The soap may have interested old viewers into watching the soap again who used to like the previous characters. However this trailer can be seen as disadvantage to producers as existing viewers may not have seen the soap when they were characters, which would confuse them as viewers and make the trailer a waste of money. Although that can be seen as a issue, many of the viewers of Eastenders are religious viewers and would be aware who these characters are. The return of these two characters has been much anticipated as the press had been writing stories in the papers insisting they were returning, along with many gossip magazines. Once the trailer appeared on TV it was then aware to all audiences that they would be returning.

The trailer as made to introduce these characters along with creating suspense and tension. For example the trailer begins with an establishing shot of the Queen Vic which is an iconic feature of the soap. Suspense is then creating as we see a close up shot of feet walking along the path way, this interests the audience as they want to find out who the mystery character is. A tilt shot upwards is then used to finally reveal who the character is. Along with this closeups of existing
characters are shown, these characters are hiding and looking very specious at Kat which will leave many questions unanswered by audiences as they will be wondering why all these characters are afraid of Kat's return, this feature also explains that Kat will have stories and scenes with these characters when she returns.

No dialogue is used in the beginning of these trailer to create suspense, Kat then speaks out " Where can I get a drink around here". An over the shoulder shot is then used to introduce the next character Alfie, her husband. He then insists "your going to need one". The characters are then placed opposite each other within the frame which explains a sort of conflict between the two characters. The theme for this trailer is Western which we are able to identify by the costumes and the soundtrack played throughout the soap. To end this trailer a quick shot reverse shot is used between these characters which expresses the tension between these characters. A voice over is then used to explain that "Its all kicking off in Eastenders this week". This then explains to the viewers that these characters are entering the soap this week which can be seen as a form of advertising.

After conducing all the different research into a soap episode, sequence and trailer I can now edit my treatment and show it to the group. I do understand that another pitch and treatment may be better suited, which is why communication is vital working in a group.