In the clip 'hotel Babylon', the representational issue of ethnicity is
displayed in many ways through the 4 main micro features which build up a scene
or an entire clip. Camera shots, movements and angles, Mise-en-scene, sound and
editing.
The clip begins with a focus shot supported with a close up of a man who is
dressed in a blue formal suit with a shirt and tie, immediately signifying that
he has some kind of authority and power, moving on there is a jump cut of two
policemen telling the man that they are here so 'no one can escape', once again
signifying that the policemen are in a higher authority. The lighting of where
the two policemen are is bright, showing that it's daytime and something
must've been happening during the daytime. The Mise en scene of that certain
scene was that the outfit of the policemen was an actual policemen suit, making
it look real and believable. The location of this particular scene looks like
to be somewhere in a basement of the hotel. With the dialogue, synchronous
sound is supported and played in the background which immediately set tension
to the audience. There is a clear binary opposite of class and race.
The audience is introduced a completely different scene, a jump cut and
continuous editing is used in order to set the scene. A mid shot followed by a
zoom in of a women working in the reception area. The location is recognised
with the Mise-en-scene. The props and the smartly dressed employers like Ben
makes audience have a display of this location being a hotel lobby/reception.
The women in the white suit by the reception desk, is wearing make-up and has
very well groomed hair portrays to the audience that she must be important. The
bright lighting is setting the scene to make the location look natural.
A man enters the scene in a casual suit; alongside there are two other
people behind also in a smart suit and tie. This emphasises their power and
their profession and role. The long shot
is used following a track, this camera movement highlights that they may be
important, also they are positioned in an important way. Behind John Boyack there
are two officers standing on either side. This illustrates to the audience that
John Boyack has more power than then and is highlighted as the leader. The over
the shoulder shot reverse shot signifies the conversation they both are having.
The dialogue 'good morning sir' signifies that the woman is in her role and
profession even though she knows what is going to happen. The 180 degrees rule
is applied in this scene to establish the continuity of the scene.
In the next scene, the women in a white suit send Ben down to warn Jackie
that the immigration officers have arrived. The non-diegetic sound is at a fast
tempo instantly creating some sort of tension in which then the audience can
identify that something serious is about to happen. It’s a pre-warning for the
audience, making the scene more dramatic and convincing. The high angle of
Jackie in the immigration office connotes that she is in less authority as she
is been placed at the back, however she is wearing a suit with make-up showing
that she has the same equal importance as any other higher status employee, for
instance; the woman at the reception desk.
In the next scene, we are introduced to the illegal immigrant workers who are
suddenly disturbed by Jackie who talks to them in another language, warning
them to hide. This portrays that she cares for them. She is represented as a
leader with high authority. Hand held camera and an eyeline match shot is used,
emphasising the situation more and making the audience feel like they are part
of this issue. The mise-en-scene in this scene is that the location is the kitchen;
the audience can recognise the location by the props and the outfits which are
featured in the scene. Examples of props that have been featured are knifes, vegetables,
and pans. The audience can easily recognise that there are chefs due to the outfit
worn. The hand held shot of everyone running proves the realism of the
situation, making the audience part of it. A long shot is supported when the
immigrants are running towards the closet/store room. The depth of field shot of
the collapsible door displays that the workers look like they are in prison or
represented as animals that are trapped. Jackie is an Asian who thinks quickly matching
the stereotypical role of Asian people being smart. The door closing with a
close up of a half broken sign ‘Staff only’ on the door proves that the workers
belong to the hotel. Jackie then counts all the workers in the store room and
straight cuts is used to highlight all the immigrants worried and panicked
faces, making the audience have sympathy towards them.
A pan and a mid-shot convey the tension in that room of the entire group of
immigrants. The diegetic sound of the immigrants sighing signifies that there
is trouble.
When Jackie realises that there is someone missing, the dialogue ‘Ibriham’
depicts the tense and gives an effect of suspense. The name ‘Ibriham’ portrays
a religious name of the guy being caught which links to him being innocent.
The high angle of the woman fainting conveys that she is weak. Other workers
who are black, Asian and European help her. Black/African cleaner steps forward
helping the lady, this process that all ethnicities are coming together, also beating
the stereotypical role of Africans/black people as they are always viewed to
the world as gangsters and criminals. The lighting of this scene is dark, elaborating
the negativity and tension of the immigrant checks and hoping no one gets
caught. The dialogue ‘I wasn’t always a cleaner’ strongly beats the stereotypical
role of Africans proving that not all ethnicities do same things.
However in this problematic clip, there are stereotypical roles of different
ethnicities and their roles. Black people are cleaners, Europeans are maids and
chefs, and alongside Asian being chefs.
Parallel Editing is used to show the idea of the tensions and suspense. When
Ibriham is captured, beforehand a long shot is used to portray what he is
doing. When he tries to run, he trips over which connotes to the audience that
he is weak and trapped. The low angle of the white men conveys that they are in
a strong authority, dominance and power which math the stereotypical of a white
person being in lead and powerful, and making the rest of the ethnicities not
as powerful as them. A pan movement going down shows a Henry Hoover unattended,
proving that the black guy is captured.
Jackie comes out to save Ibriham. The shot reverse shot supported with an over
shoulder shot depicts the conversation in which Jackie is weak in. As a
powerful Asian/Chinese, the stereotypical role of an Asian would be smart
however weak in authority which is being is represented by Jackie in this clip.
The dolly zoom gives the audience a clear indication of the characters facial
expression, the audience can see that Jackie’s facial expression is worried and
helpless, which makes the audience have sympathy towards her helplessness as
she couldn’t save Ibriham. Another depth in field shot in a long shot between Jackie
and the women in the white suit exaggerates the seriousness. The use of
dialogue ‘we got him’ from the immigrant office expresses that he is in lead
and in power compared to the rest of the people who are majority a different
ethnicity. The formal dialogue ‘sorry’ once again signifies that the woman is
calming the tension in the lobby.
The close up of Jackie taking Ibriham’s belongings out of his locker proves
that she is helpless. When Jackie closes the locker, the audience can get a
view of a number, proving that Ibriham and the rest of the immigrants have no
identity but just being a number. With all ethnicities coming together and
helping conveys that it’s all stereotypical and that there is equality amongst
the workers. The sad melodious sound in the background makes the clip sadder so
the audience can feel sympathetic towards all workers, especially toward
Ibriham. Ibriham’s fellow workers who are the same ethnicity are beside Jackie,
signifies that they were the only ones who are worried.
The panning in the canteen, begins with 4 Asian men who are talking to each
other very loudly while eating, continuing from going to the left, the camera
moves showing a group of Europeans talking and arguing at the same time with
the lady should ‘niet’ shows she is Russian and throwing the food in anger
proves that this ethnicity is complaining. Last of all, the camera pans to the
African/Black workers who are calm and praying before they eat, which is
completely opposite to their ethnicity stereotype. This whole scene signifies
that all ethnicities are still categorised and separate depicting that there is
still no equality.
The black women and man are praying shows they are religious and positive.
The man stops the lady into starting her food which shows another
representational issue of gender. The man has more authority and power to stop
the women and that the female is weak and being instructed.
