TV Drama opening sequence analysis

Soap Operas: Hollyoaks analysis

In the opening titles of the soap opera Hollyoaks, the music plays a vital role in conveying the meaning to the audience. One of key elements used to help convey the drama is the choice in music, the music is lively and upbeat. There is a synth motif which is played and repeated throughout the opening title, the choice of using a synth opposed to orchestra instruments could infer that they are trying to relate to a younger audience as synths are more commonly link with modern pop music. In a slight contrast to this overdriven guitars are played, this could in fact attract a whole different target audience. In the opening titles the characters help to convey the meaning of drama via the use of Mise-en- scene. Firstly the costumes which are worn expresses a sheer amount about the characters personalities however this could mainly be down to stereotypes. One of the characters is denoted wearing a suit, this could connote that he is a smart and sophisticated individual meanwhile another character is denoted wearing a casual jeans and t-shirt. The broad range of costume use conveys that the drama includes a wide range of characters which in depth could attract different target audiences as the audience expect a varied amount of storylines. Next of all, the opening titles uses editing to help convey a lot about the drama. Throughout the opening titles, there is a repetitive use of jump cuts between shots, this could connote that the drama contains a lot of action which is usually of a pacey nature. The complete title sequence is in fact a montage, the montage is effective as it use fast/shot phrases. The effectiveness of the montage is aided by the theme tune of the drama, the theme tune fits in well with the pace of the editing hence enforcing a better convey of ideas towards the audience. The use of the camera is also highly effective in terms of conveying the meaning, there is quite noticeably the use jump zooms within each shot. Characters are seen making an action from a long shot view then all of a sudden the camera zooms in and focuses into a shot of the character posing in a extreme close-up.

How does the production elements convey meaning to the audience in the title sequence of Merlin?
In the Title sequence of the fictional Drama Merlin, the meaning is conveyed to the audience in various different ways . One of the ways in which the meaning is conveyed is through the use of sound. At the very beginning of the title sequence there is the use of a wild-track, the wild-track has the function of imitating the background noise from when the cameras were rolling. The Wild-track is usually recorded when the cameras aren`t rolling and later on this sound will be synchronized with film or opening titles in this case. The choice to use a wild-track in the lead up to presenting the character of Merlin, conveys a strong sense of enigma to the audience. The powerful rustling and howling of the wind with the addition of brutal waves connotes a great deal to the audience. It suggest to the audience that Merlin could defy against the most dangerous of challenges even when faced with monumental implications. Soon after this the title of the program is shown, in the background there is the sound of a sword being withdrawn. The use of sound effects can convey a lot to the audience and in this case it could be seen as a conventional signpost. The sword is a conventional prop in this fictional TV sub-genre, the sword implies such ideas as upcoming fight scenes and knights in armour. The opening titles then proceed to play the drama`s theme-tune/score, the heroic sounding strings section creates powerful emphasis which connotes a great deal about the drama. It suggests such plot ideas as the heroic knights rising up against the evil and the characters progressing significantly as the series progresses. The Mise-en-Scene also plays a vital role in conveying the meaning to the audience, the use of costume alerts the audience as the costumes shown in the opening titles are both conventional and stereotypical of knights. The shots denote knights in shining armour valiantly fighting against rebel soldiers hence why the costumes could be seen as stereotypical and conventional. As well as the costume aspect of Mise-en-Scene, the use of props in the opening titles also convey a great deal to the audience, the use of such props as flags with coats if arms on and swords also inherit the convention and stereotypical tag as these two props are profoundly used with in this genre. The editing is another of the main ways in which the meaning is conveyed to the audience, in the opening titles of Merlin there is a fair usage of computer generated imagery (CGI) the use of CGI helps to create items or shots which would be impossible otherwise. There has been the vivid use of a montage in the opening titles, the sharp changing shots seem layered at points which suggests the usage of a program such a Adobe After effects. All of the prior statements can be concluded by the suggestion that the editing provides strong continuity which supplements the other production elements, second to this they provide an engaging aspect to the opening titles which in-turn could possible attract a variation of audiences.

The use of a narrator provides somewhat of a cut into the story of Merlin, it provides the audience with a hint of about the character of Merlin and what he may do. Narration is the overall regulation and distribution of knowledge therefore determines how and when the audience acquires knowledge - that is how the audience is able to know what he or she comes to know in a narrative.