Australian Soaps (Melodramas)

What Is It?• A soap set in Australia which storylines and characters are exaggerated.

How are they different to British Soap Operas?• In Australian soaps, such as Neighbours, the non-diegetic music can be a lot more tropical to fit in with the “summer” theme. •The colours in the background and costume are a lot more bright and vibrant than you would find in a British Soap Opera.• Characters tend to wear more everyday clothes (Summer) than you see in British Soaps such as Hollyoaks.

Differences in costume, set and cast members.

Some Examples Of Australian Soap Melodramas;

•Nathaniel Buzolic began on ‘Home and Away’, also getting a role in ‘Out of the blue’, and now has a role on the CW show ‘The Vampire Diaries’. (Playing a British vampire)

•Phoebe Tonkin also began on Home and Away, later gained a starring role in ‘The Secret Circle’ and has a main role which will appear in the next season of TVD.

Kylie Minogue & Jason Donovan

• Kylie was cast in the soap opera Neighbours in 1986 as Charlene Mitchell• A romance was created between her character and the character played by Jason Donovan, which culminated in a wedding in 1987 that attracted an audience of 20 million British viewers.

•They became famous after their on screen marriage.

Neighbours• Set in a fictional suburb of Melbourne called

‘Erinsborough’.• It is mainly based around the residents of Ramsay Street.• The show was originally going to be named Erinsfield,

but they decided on Erinsborough as it’s a loose anagram of Neighbours.

• The school and Ramsay Street were the first set used by the characters and seen by the audience.

• Later developments of the town weren’t featured on-screen until 1986.

• In 2010, ahead of the 25th anniversary in March 2011, the set had a makeover; Most sets were revamped and there were some new ones added.

Stereotypes

• http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-16832730

“Australia is more forward-thinking than the UK when it comes to portraying ethnic minorities in soaps.” An Asian-Australian actor has claimed.

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WtTKr9tjljc – Neighbours 25th Anniversary 2011 (opening)

In Neighbours, their rugby team is called the ‘Eastside Dingoes’.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=osbTrEhWwK8

In one episode, to characters from Neighbours take a trip to London. This episodes includes a LOT of British stereotypes.• The union jack opening the clip.•(black) Taxis everywhere.•London landmarks (London bridge, Big Ben)•Going to London you just happen to run into two famous people in one day.•British accents.•British busses.

Unfortunately..