Ancillary Product 1 - Poster Textual Analysis

1. Soap Opera Genre –
Ancillary Product
Analysis
Name: George Barnstable
Candidate Number: 3010
Center Name: St. Andrew’s Catholic School
Center Number: 64135
OCR Media Studies – A2 Level
Unit G324: Advanced Portfolio

2. Tagline – The tagline is short and mysterious. The use of
punctuation creates a pause as the reader reads the
tagline. The verbal code “Forever” demonstrates that
things will never be the same. Lastly, the importance of the
verbal code location “Walford” is that it connotes to the
viewer of the place in the show, EastEnders where the
action is occurring.
Main Image – The main image within this is very
simple and plain. There is a grainy filter placed on
the whole image to create a ghostly atmosphere.
The image doesn’t give away much to the reader,
once again creating a mysterious scenario.
Synergy with social media – The use of the verbal code “#EastEnders” allows viewers to connect with the
TV Drama through social media sites such as Twitter, where the Hashtag was popularized. This therefore
engages the audience by allowing them to contribute and voice their opinion. It is also a good example of
brand identity, therefore making the reader more likely to understand what show it is, if they had not seen
EastEnders before.
Institution Logo – the effectiveness of the BCC One
logo is that it allows the audience to believe the
poster is authentic and also lets the reader
understand where to find the series. It is also a good
example of Brand Identity.

3. Main Image – this image has clearly been
edited and manipulated. The flame effect
on each character determines that there
is some ‘hot’ news that will ‘change
Hollyoaks forever’.
Institution Logo – The Channel 4 logo is effective
in stating the authenticity of the poster as well
as directing readers of where to view the show.
The tagline also informs the audience about the
start of the series, therefore they have
everything they need simply by this poster.
Tagline – The verbal code ‘forever’
denotes how the change is final and it
will never revert back to normal.
Additionally, the verbal code ‘change’
suggests nothing is going to be the same
again. The use of this language creates
suspense and tension and wants the
audience wanting more.

4. Title – The title is bold, central
and eye capturing. It is
presented in a silver font with
a shine in the centre. The
importance of it being dead in
the middle of the page is that
it will be the first thing that
readers see and therefore will
become a recognisable series.
Main image – The main
image denotes each
character in front of a road
full of cars, denoting the
location of the filming. This
creates a good identity of the
location where filming
occurs.
Tagline – The tagline “No
one is safe” is in a smaller,
more dark font compared to
the title. The verbal code of
‘No one is safe’ connotes
how each character is in
danger which therefore
causes suspense and
tension.
Social media – The poster
also denotes how the show is
socially active which allows
the audience to connect with
it online and voice their
opinions about the series.
Brand identity – The
effectiveness of the BBC Two
logo placed at the bottom left of
the poster is that it informs the
readers where the show is
available and also what time to
watch it when it is partnered
with the verbal code “Weekdays
at 8:30”
Critical reviews – The 4 star
reviews located at the top of
the poster inform the audience
of how good the series is. T also
tells new readers who have
never watched the show that it
is a good watch and therefore
they are more likely to watch it
because of its good reviews.

5. Conclusion
• In my Soap Opera promotional poster I would like to ‘repeat’ (Steve Neale
– 1980) the use of social media. This is because social media is increasingly
important in promoting posters and content. The use of social media also
allows the audience to voice their opinion and connect with one and
other.
• I would also like to ‘repeat’ the position and effect used on the title and
tagline in the poster. This is because this will be the first thing that the
audience see and therefore creates recognisability. The dark effect on the
tagline also creates a mysterious atmosphere.
• Lastly, I would like to ‘repeat’ I would use the addition of brand identity in
my poster, positioned at the bottom of the page. This is important
because it informs the reader about where to view the series. I would
partner this with the date and time the series begins.