Final Casting

These are the final actors chosen for our characters with their head shots and the reasons as to why they have been chosen.

Rachel Mannings - Charley Boughen
Charley was born in Essex herself and has been brought up in the area so she knows just the sort of character we need her to play. She demonstrated the right attitude, is not shy, has the right look and also the willingness to cooperate throughout the piece. She can also drive, lives nearby and has allowed us to use her car for the trailer.

Harriet Collins - Joanna Hyde
Joanna, naturally, is an innocent looking person which makes her perfect for the character of Harriet. However, she also showed her ability to act flirty and slightly tempermental which fits with her character. Like Charley, Joanna also lives nearby and is available most days in the week.

Marcus Brooker - Bob Thurgood Phillips
Though Bob is not of a different ethnicity which would help us to reach the desired cultural diversity of our soap opera, and therefore verisimilitude, he is a co-operative student at our sixth form who we have worked with before in previous projects. He's reliable and fits the character of Marcus as he is polite, reserved and friendly. He is free most days of the week and lives close to our filming locations so will be easily available.

Ryan Parker - Stuart Thurgood Phillips
Stuart has a rugged look which suits Ryan's mechanic occupation. He demonstrated that he can act friendly and flirt allowing him to fit the 'lady's man' role perfectly. He also lives close to our location, is flexible and attends our sixth form and will easily be able to reach the locations. Though only 17, he can look older and

Jennifer Ward - Safia Hammoudi
Safia is a teacher at our school and so is close by to all the locations for filming. She is a friendly, charismatic person who is flexible and willing to do what is necessary for our soap opera. She is cooperative and is around the same age as Jennifer's character. Though she is originally from France, this will help us to create verisimilitude for the audience as she is also of a different ethnicity.

Barry Brooker - Robin Watts
Robin is also a teacher at our school and therefore can be close by for filming. He is a friendly, lively individual who has had previous acting experience, confident in front of the camera. He also is the same ethnicity to Bob and this would make Marcus' character's adoption more realistic for the audience. 


Charlie Collins - Angus Roy
Angus is a cooperative person and also a good actor for this role. He is charismatic and friendly, also suiting the farmer role with his appearance. Though he does not live close to our filming locations, he is also a teacher at our school and is flexible so that he can easily access the locations when we need him.

Simon Claude - Christopher Constable
Though only 17, Christopher fits the character of Simon well and looks older than his real age when dressed as a priest. He is a cooperative and friendly individual who goes to our sixth form and is close to the filming locations, available when we need him.

Edith Jones - Catherine Morrison
Though Catherine is not old, she fits the character of Edith as she is naturally a caring, wise and friendly person, therefore making it easy to play the role of Edith. She is also confident in front of the camera, lives close to the filming locations and is originally from Canada. Though her accent will not be heard in the trailer, in a full episode she would create verisimilitude with the audience with a variety of nationalities. She is available at any time and can also drive, making her a perfect actress for this role.

Throughout the audition and casting process, we struggled to find people willing to participate in our soap opera trailer that resembled the character profiles, including their age and ethnicity. Since we were aiming for such a variety of characters, it was difficult to find actors who were available when we needed them and able to get to the locations. We also needed trustworthy people and those who weren't shy in front of the camera. For example, we struggled to find an elderly actor for the character of Edith Jones. Therefore, we compromised. If we were to do this task again, we would have to reconsider our options and think about what would be realistic to achieve. However, if we were a real broadcasting company, we would find it a lot easier to gather the actors necessary.

Charlotte Morrison

Soap Opera Task Brief

The task set is to create a trailer for a brand new soap opera, along with a poster and a listings magazine cover featuring our soap opera. To help us with inspiration, we particularly looked at Emmerdale and EastEnders, using a rural setting but with characters of various ages and ethnicities. This would allow us to create a unique soap opera and, therefore, an individual and interesting trailer.

The purpose of our soap opera trailer is to advertise our new soap opera and inform the audience of when the soap will be broadcasted, what channel and what time. It also will introduce the characters to the audience and suggest potential story lines in order to interest the audience and engage them, encouraging them to watch the first episode.

Like the trailer, the poster will also be used to advertise our new soap opera and inform the audience of when, where and how the audience can watch it. Through the images and text on the poster, we will also be able to introduce the characters and the relationships between them as well as suggested story lines. This will grab the audience's attention and make them ask questions, encouraging them to watch the show.

Finally, the listings magazine cover will also advertise our soap opera to the audience and, like the poster, use a variety of eye catching images and text to grab the audience's attention, make them ask questions about the story lines and relationships of the characters are as well as informing them which channel, what time and which day to watch the first episode.

These three link together through their primary aims: to advertise the new soap opera to audience and inform them when it will be aired. We want them to have a lasting impact on the audience, making them ask questions about the soap opera by the various uses of images and text and make them want to watch the first soap opera episode.

To create these products, we will use a variety of programmes and technologies. For the soap opera trailer, we will be using Final Cut Express on the mac to enable us to create the most professional and effective trailer. For the poster and listings magazine cover, we will use a variety of computer programmes such as Microsoft Publisher, Photoshop and Paint which will allow us to overlap images.



Charlotte Morrison

The Importance of Location

Locations in soap operas are important in order to create verisimilitude for the audience, helping them to identify with the characters and feel more involved. By looking at the locations from other soap operas, this will enable to see reoccurring settings and decide which we should use for our own soap opera.


Emmerdale Locations - Charlotte Morrison (sorry for the scratchy images)


Hollyoaks Locations - Scott Collins

Publication 3 LOCATIONS

Coronation Street Locations - Emily Wallace

Costume Planning

Barry Brooker

As Barry is the owner of the pub he is always in smart casual. As wearing a suit to your pub everyday would be impractical and wearing completely casual clothes would look sloppy. Therefore Barry Brooker will be wearing dark jeans, to show his fun and relax side but a smart shirt on top to show he is professional. The shirt will be either red coloured to show he is an angry character (Shows the relationship between him and his son) or a black shirt to show he is closed off and simple. There is possibly something else behind the shadow.

Simon Claude

Simon is the local vicar. This will be easy to imitate as vicars wear mostly the same sort of costume. He will wear a plain black shirt with a conventional dog collar underneath.  To show we have thought about other religions we will not include a common cross necklace as it could be offensive to some viewers. As the vicar isn’t set in a church will we place jeans on him to show he is also a well-known local and he feels comfortable around his peers.

Charlie Collins

Is the main farmer figure in the soap opera. He is a hard worker and therefore will be wearing a conventional work man’s overall. We want to include some conventional colours. As farming etc. is related to browns and greens we have found a green and yellow overall set. They match things like harvesters and the machinery used on the farm. For accessories he will wear hard wearing work boots.

Ryan Parker

Ryan’s main outfit will also be a work mans overalls. Although they will be a different colour, either Red to show the anger he has kept inside or Black/ grey to show his hidden self and his dark thoughts. As an extra costume Ryan will wear conventional teenaged jeans, with name brands across them, a white t-shirt to show his inner good and a black leather jacket to convey his bad boy side.

Edith Jones

The old woman in the village, she will also be wearing conventional ‘old woman’ costume pieces. By putting Edith in a knitted jumper, it will show she is traditional. She will wear a long black or patterned skirt. Black would show how boring she is but if she includes a pattern it will convey her ‘wild’ side. This is undecided yet as we are unsure of her character. She will wear knitted gloves and some sort of hat. Her other accessories might include a Zimmer frame or a cane.

Jenifer Ward

As Jenifer ward is a middle aged woman, she will wear some young style3d clothes. By wearing stripy top it will show her fun and interesting side- a clue as to why she gets all the men in the village on her side. She will wear casual jeans that show her figure off nicely. With work type boots on her feet to show she knows what is practical although the shoes will be clean and fashionable to show she doesn’t often get stuck in and she enjoys looking good.

Harriet Collins

The child of the two farmers in the piece, she has to get stuck in a help out on the farm. Therefore she doesn’t wear conventional teenaged clothes. Instead she will wear dungarees although these can be seen as fashionable. This shows she still wants to be a kid even though she knows she has to help. She might wear a gilet as it will show she wants to keep warm and be practical. Her under top will be a bright coloured long sleeve, possible blue or green to show she’s close to nature but still fun.

Marcus Brooker

The gay character in the piece will wear similar things to his father (Barry Brooker). Smart jeans or possible chinos- to show his fashionable side. With a slogan t shirt that shows something girls might often. For instance a ‘The only way is Essex’ t shirt. Or he will wear a subtle pink shirt, showing his smart side as he has to help at the pub. As know one knows he is gay, he doesn’t wear anything that is conventional of a gay character.

Rachael Mannings

The ‘chav’ and new girl of the village. She wears over the top jewellery and looks under dressed. By wearing a short skirt it shows what type of girl she is. The skirt will be brown or black to show shes not a bright and fun character. She will wear a tight, revealing top that has a common slogan on it. To show she follows the crowd and simply likes what everyone else likes. She will wear either black or no tights and will wedges shoes as they are more practical than heels when driving, but still show her girlie side.

Emily Wallace

Final Costumes

Final costume

As our original costume research was not fully representational of the actual costumes used we decided to create  new research based on what the actors would actually wear. We made sure the actors had these clothes themselves or able to get them. We were also able to show this print out to the actors so they would know what to bring.


Emily Wallace

Props Research

Props are particularly important for creating a sense of verisimilitude, especially for soap operas as they tend to be set in a very realistic environment.

Each character has their own props that are associated with their personalities and lifestyle. For example, Ryan Parker the local mechanic will usually be seen carrying a spanner or some form of tool.

There are 11 confirmed props that will be used in the trailer of our soap opera, and 4 props that will potentially be used.

Confirmed Props

Bench: This prop is associated with Jennifer Ward, Mill Lane's pregnant resident. In the trailer, she is seen sitting on a bench at the Broomfield Mill and is watching Barry Brooker and Charlie Collins return from their hunt in the distance.

It is important that the bench is wooden and aged to reflect the rural countryside around her. Because this prop is not of any visual importance, it is essential that it blends into the scenery and does not stand out or draw attention to itself.

Broken Down Car: This prop is associated with Harriet Collins, daughter of farm owners Charlie and Sue Collins. In the trailer, she is seen standing beside it as local mechanic Ryan Parker attempts to repair the vehicle. The prop is used to gain Ryan's attention, and is symbolic of how destructive and broken down their relationship is.

Cleaning Cloth & Agent: This prop is associated with Barry Brooker and Marcus Brooker, and is used in the last scenes of the soap trailer. Barry angrily slams the props on the table before Marcus, which reflects Barry's thoughts of Marcus needing to get his act together.

Walking Stick: This prop is associated with Edith Jones, Mill Lane's eldest resident. In the trailer, she is seen clutching the walking stick by her side and leaning on it for support. This connotes the vulnerability and fragility of her age, and implies that she needs constant support.

This view of elderly people is very stereotypical, but generally realistic and true. The walking stick is used to exaggerate the contrast in age between Edith and the younger residents of Mill Lane to show that several generations live and coincide with each other in one location.

Newspaper/Magazine: This prop is associated with Marcus Brooker, adopted son of local pub owner Barry Brooker. This prop is particularly important as it expresses Marcus' interests and career aspirations, and introduces his personality and beliefs through the fact that he is reading a women's magazine. The implication that Marcus is homosexual is evident, and therefore informs the audience of what type of story lines our soap opera entails.

The magazine will be obviously a women's magazine, and will advertise on the front cover a story about the life of a hairdresser and why the reader should consider it as a career choice. Although there is no evidence that Marcus will be reading that particular article, the cover line will attract so much attention that the viewer's first impression would be that Marcus is intently reading about that story.

Pub Table & Chair: This prop is also associated with Marcus Brooker, but belongs to the pub in which Barry Brooker owns. Like the bench, the table and chair hold no significant visual importance, but add to the casual and laid back atmosphere of the Kings Arms pub and general rural lifestyle.

It is important that these props are wooden and old-fashioned to reflect the age and style of the pub. Because this prop is not of any visual importance, it is important it blends into the environment around it and does not stand out or draw attention to itself.

Rachel's Car: This prop belongs to Rachel Mannings, Mill Lane's newest resident. As Rachel is the character that creates conflict in Mill Lane, it is important her props hold connotations of danger, destruction and even death.

Rachel Mannings' is not a wealthy character and is considered to be of a lower social class than the other residents of 'Mill Lane'. This is portrayed through her vehicle, as it is very common and affordable as opposed to a more expensive car like a Lincoln or BMW. The colour of her car is black, and holds strong connotations of death and danger.

Sun Glasses: This prop also belongs to Rachel Mannings, and is considered a prop as opposed to costume. This is because during the trailer, she removes the glasses to reveal a particular facial expression, which in turn sends a message to the audience about the important role of her glasses.

The glasses are black and darkly shaded, making them difficult to see her eyes. Relating to the saying 'the eyes are the window to the soul', wearing sun glasses gives the audience the impression that she is intentionally hiding something, and creates a sense of mystery. The dark black shades also hold connotations of danger.

Toolkit/Spanner: This prop is associated with Ryan Parker, local mechanic of 'Mill Lane'. The spanner or toolkit he will possess in the trailer shows the audience that he is a mechanic as is very capable of fixing things, which is associated with the traditional male figure who would be in charge of house repairs and DIY. Therefore, the tools denote his masculinity.

Potential Props

Shooting Guns: These props are associated with Barry Brooker and Charlie Collins. When they return from their hunt in the trailer, they may or may not be possessing a shooting gun in their hands.

The reason this is a potential prop and is not confirmed is because we are filming in a public place, and if the guns look realistic, they could concern or upset members of the public and small children. One reason why we should confirm these props to be used in the trailer of our soap is because without them, there is no implication that the characters have been hunting.

Styrofoam Cup of Coffee/Tea: This prop is associated with either Edith Jones, Simon Claude or both of these characters. It will be used in the trailer when the couple are seen casually chattng over a garden wall.

The reason this is a potential prop and is not confirmed is because holding a cup of coffee or tea outdoors usually implies that the weather is cold. If we want to film in natural sunlight, this prop would contradict the lighting and give the impression that the weather is much colder than it looks. One reason why we should confirm this prop to be used in the trailer of our soap is because it creates a casual and laid-back atmosphere, which reflects the rural setting around them.

Mise-en-scene Research

mise

Scott Collins