2/5 Production values. UK soaps are leaders in their indoor & outdoor sets. Today #Neighbours showed how you can follow a camera from Lassiters lobby to piano bar to spa. It gives a set realism and depth. Here's hoping #BoldAndBeautiful uses many handhelds on its new fixed sets.
3/5 Rehearsal. The US soaps have become so fast, actors are doing the best they can with the rush. Actors who used to COMMAND emotions now struggle to do more than read their lines. The US soaps would really do well to figure out slowing down a bit
4/5 Investing (buy low, sell high). #BTG #BeyondTheGates has started in a lower cost production area, done upfront investment in sets, and hired newer soap-unfamiliar cast members -- giving them time to grow. And it has paid off. The soap gets stronger weak by weak.
5/5 To this last point, it shows how legacy soaps are somewhat hobbled by their seasoned casts. Emmerdale, Corrie (too much), Hollyoaks manage this by regularly rotating out people; Eastenders does too but brings folsk back for impact (Bianca!). Wish US soaps could rotate more.