Kat & Alfie Return Trailer
This trailer shows the return of Kat and Alfie Moon, dedicated viewers will already know that Kat was previously a Slater and used to run the Vic with her husband Alfie, with whom she had a controversial and eventful marriage. The trailer has a clever take on a urban western theme running throughout with Kat and Alfie playing the parts of putative enemy ‘cowboys’, this represents the power they once had within the ‘Square’ and the eventful marriage they have. It is immediately connoted, through the theme of the trailer that their marriage is currently in danger. It appears that the colour to the trailer has been drained slightly giving it a brown tinge, to increase the western theme because during the era that most Western films were set sepia photography was in vogue. Unlike the episodes within a Soap Opera, trailer do not have realism as their main achievement – they are created to promote storylines and increase viewing figures which is why they often have themes and more advanced camera shots and editing.
The episode starts with a parallel soundtrack featuring the sound of wind chimes which creates an eerie atmosphere, similar to the soundtrack used for ‘We Wish You A Merry Christmas’ in their Christmas trailer in 2009. The other sound evident is the wind; although it is represented as an ambient sound it is super-diegetic and digitally amplified to make it more obvious to the viewer. It is featured in the shot as a newspaper rolls by, in keeping with the urban western theme as it would have stereotypically been rolling hay in a western film (see picture one). The trees and curtains in The Vic window are also blowing to emphasise the wind, this is pathetic fallacy as it connotes the ‘storm’ to come and the characters return to the square are create an uproar in doing so. Fog is also blown across the shot which emphasises the wind, again making it obvious to the audience however, the fog also connotes dust from the fire blowing away, the Mitchells ownership is now gone and The Vic, the main forum, has new owners – it is a new ‘era’ and there is now a new ‘power’ in the square. The damage from the fire is still evident as The Vic. – which is in the centre of the shot, has blackened paintwork from ‘smoke-damage’ and boarded windows. This is in keeping with the realistic side of Soap Operas by using a realistic time change. The red of The Vic connoted love and warmth, parallel to the sentiment of the forum as the heart of community; it also has paradoxical value such as danger and blood, linked to previous storylines.
The shot then cuts to a mid-shot of a broken road sign swinging off the bridge. The sound of the sign swinging appears diegetic yet amplified to help create the dramatic effect of tension and is used to mimic what would be the swinging shutters on a western bar. The main colours of the shot are the off-white bridge which immediately connotes the ‘gritty’ ‘urban’ Soap life and the red and black, connoting the mystery of the characters return and the dangerous storylines they will bring with them.
There is a sense of desolation created in the trailer through abandoned high street, echoing the device used in Western films creating a sense of foreboding, warning of violent conflict to come.
As the music begins to build another diegetic sound is then added – footsteps, to match the action on screen, a tracking shot of someone’s feet walking through the market place (see picture two). The person is wearing black leather boots with a heel, an indexical sign the character is female. The boots are isolated from the blurred background making them stand out, heightening the tension and giving the character immediate power, linking both to the high status boots of the cowboy and to the jack boots of a Nazi. The black leather boots also connote manipulative female power.
The action then cuts to a scenario featuring the character Jane Beale, for this short section its helpful for the audience to have previous knowledge of the soap. Half of her face is shown to the left of the shot in the foreground, in the mid-ground are wooden blinds and in the background the outline of Kat walking down the street is evident; upon seeing Kat, Jane gasps, shuts the blinds and turn her said to the side. This order of events show that she knows who Kat is and is worried and confused about her return. This scenario represent Jane as vulnerable and intimidated a parallel to the on-going storyline of her being trapped in her ‘loveless’ marriage. Although darkness and shadows would normally connote power, by Jane shutting the blinds and leaving herself in the shadows it connotes that Kat is the powerful character – someone to be scared of, again developing the tension created. The shutting of the blinds also creates a divide between the two character’s showing that the return of Kat is unwelcome to the square.
The shot then cuts back to Kat out in the street, the background of the market place is out of focus connoting her isolation from the current community. She takes the stereotypical cowboy stance, feet spread shoulder width apart, and then her bags drops into the shot, the bag is leopard print connoting a strong, feisty and powerful female character reinforcing her predatory nature. A crane shot is then used to travel up her body showing her all black costume, short skirt and gold jewellery (see picture three). The camera finishes on a close-up of her face, revealing the character to the audience for the first time. Her facial expression shows a smug look, showing she is happy with her return. She is wearing large hooped earrings, has black dyed hair and red lipstick, dedicated viewers will know this is the stereotypical costume and make-up for this character but newer viewer will associate this ‘look’ with the working class community Eastenders represents and the strong female character that Kat is.
Other characters are then shown, for 2-3 seconds in mid-shots that keep with the urban western theme running throughout the trailer such as the shot of Patrick lifting his hat. The camera then cuts back to a mid-shot of Kat and a diegetic laugh from somewhere else within the market is heard. An over the shoulder shot is then used to show a mid-shot of Janine and Pat who are speaking happily until they realise the return of Kat and their expressions change to shock and disgust (see picture four). Pat is a strong female character, who like Kat, is wearing leopard print this is a representation of these strong female characters and also connotes Pat to be powerful and feisty. Janine has curly blonde hair and is wearing a lace dress, this connotes – parallel to her character, that she is a sneaky, seductive and manipulative character. Once again the camera cuts to a mid-shot of Kat and she flings off her cardigan to reveal a strappy black lace top, with a red top underneath. The costume is used because it is stereotypical to her character and class but also because of the connotations. The red connotes her passionate, dangerous character and also suggests that love will be a current storyline with this character; the black lace makes her appear powerful yet also feminine, introducing a theme of sexual tension which is later developed by the appearance of husband Alfie.
A shot of Ian peering through wooden blinds is then shown, along with the diegetic dialogue “flippin’ ‘eck!”. This phrase is a colloquial phrase, appropriate to the Soap Operas setting and working class community. Furthermore, it portrays his surprise at the return of this character. You can only see his eyes as he hides behind the blinds, an indexical sign that he is worried and fearful of her return – he knows things are about to change.
The camera then shows a close-up of Kat reaching into a black bag to take out a gold circle, following this a mid-shot is used to show her flicking the gold circle open, making it obvious to be a mirror. The sound of the mirror has been digitally editing to resemble the sound of someone loading a gun. It heightens the tension, showing the most important part, ‘show-down’ of the trailer is still to come.
Kat then speaks to her-self saying “where does a girl get a drink round here”, and the action cuts to a longshot of The Vic. as another character, Roxy, spots Kat and runs back in. A sound bridge is then used as a man voice says “I think you’re gonna need one”, Kat then turns around to reveal a male figure, all dressed in black standing in the shadows under a bridge. A close-up is then used to show Alfie walking forward to reveal who he is, he is also wearing a black hat to add mystery to his character. As this happens the parallel soundtrack climaxes and then stops leaving the only sound to be heard, the wind. A long-shot is then used to show the market, Kat legs are in the foreground of the shot, showing her standing in the stereotypical cowboy stance, the market stalls are in the mid-ground and Alfie in the background on top of this shot a male, non-diegetic voiceover is used to say “It’s all kicking off in the Square” (see picture five). This shot shows them in the stereotypical stance which would occur in a western film before a showdown, this develops the suspense as the viewers want to know if they will fight and why they are now being represented as enemies. This dialogue tells the audience that trouble is to come with these two characters, making them want to watch to find out. Alfie is also stood in the stereotypical cowboy stance showing he is also a strong, powerful character; he is dressed completely in black which emphasises his power and connotes to the audience that he could be a duplicitous character. The beginning of Eastenders theme tune is then used, slowed down, to match a quick montage of close-ups that flick from Kat to Alfie, getting closer until all you can see is their eyes. This heightens the tension and because within the trailer they are represented as enemies it connotes to the audience that their marriage is either over or in trouble – by the trailer being mainly based around Kat is hints that she is the character who has caused the trouble. A non-diegetic voiceover is then used to introduce the program and viewing times, matching this is a birdseye-view shot showing the pair stood a distance apart, staring directly at each other as if waiting for the fight to commence.
The western urban theme to the trailer hints at the storyline as it sets Kat and Alfie up as enemies yet dedicated viewers will know the pair are married, the audience then want to watch to find out what has happened and why they have returned. By making The Vic. the main forum shown within the trailer it also hints the pub will play a big part in their return – this attracts viewers as they know that this is the heart of ‘Walfords’ community. The main colour used for both their costumes in black, showing that they are a ‘dangerous’ and powerful couple and that their return will cause a stir amongst the residents of the square.
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