Soap opera sub-genre notes

Scripted reality

Target audience average age is 14-30 years old Male/Female.

The cast is similar to target audience.
Has a sense of realism due to improvisation, but it is mostly scripted.
All characters are extremely similar to each other e.g. Made in /Chelsea, all characters are
extremely rich and good looking
Typical themes are friendship, affairs, fallouts romance and hard decisions.
Usually run for 40 minutes.

American fantasy

Themes include money, family disputes and property.

Usually set in wealthy areas.
Extreme middle class lifestyle.
Females in the show are usually bitchy and tend to have cat fights. The men are usually
fighting over the females.
Heavy make-up.

Soap/Drama hybrid

Target audience in both male and female.

Heavy use of gossip.
Themes are mystery, thriller and drama.
Typically set in domestic environments, use dark and natural lighting.
Money, family and love storylines.

Social realism

Targets working class adults

Focuses on giving the audience a true indication of what life really is e.g. working class jobs
and money issues.
Realistic settings and locations.
25 minute run time.
Episodes are continuous and arent filmed in series.
Typical characters consist of old ladies, gay male, vulnerable child, villain and a troubled
mother.

Melodrama

Targets mature adults.

Themes of love, betrayal, suffering, sacrifice and redemption.
Exaggerated use of emotions and drama in the acting.