Ethnicity

 Hotel Babylon

Camera:

In the Hotel Babylon clip, a large group of minorities are shown running into a staff room to hide from immigration officers. This shot is obscured by metal bars in the frame that look similar to prison bars. This could be symbolism for the ethnic minorities being prisoners and trapped in the situation that they are in- unable to escape. It could show that they are forced to stay where they are and are unable to escape, showing that the only job they would ever be able to do is in that hotel and they will never be able to go and find help anywhere else. It could also signify that it is their destiny to be in prison and it is inevitable- no matter how much they try to run from it they will eventually end up behind bars. This shot shows that they have no power compared to the other people in the hotel and the officers.

Ethnicity is portrayed as equal when different ethnicity's are put into the same room in the same situation with the camera at mid shot showing none of them superior . The shot of the man saving the women frames and focuses on him in the center with the others in the background this is the moment the audience can recognize that these people are more than their ethnicity and have skills and importance beyond being an illegal immigrant.

In the end scene in the cafeteria its shows multiple ethnicity groups eating dinner separated into their respective groups. The camera in this shot tacks at a contestant speed and shows each ethnicity group at the same camera level. This is done to show that the power levels between each group is the same and that they are all equal. The speed of the tracking camera also shows equality as each ethnicity group gets the same amount of camera time in the tracking shot.

Within the Babylon Hotel clip, race and ethnicity is presented through the use of camera angles, frame and movement. Through this use of camera, the worker taken away for immigration is made to appear insignificant and less than human. This one specific moment which represented ethnicity was during the second last scene – in this scene, the immigrant worker, Ibrahim, is being taken away by the immigration officers. Ibrahim’s face is not shown; the handheld camera tracks the immigration officers taking the immigrant away in a shaky format of only the back of his head. This aspect of the clip of neglecting Ibrahim’s face creates a perception of him being unworthy and insignificant enough to not be shown – his actions make the audience feel shameful towards him. Ibrahim furthermore appears less than human. This perception is created through the handheld camera, tracking the action with a mid-shot. The shaking effect of the camera reflects the hectic narrative of the scene, additionally, the shaking effect does not allow the audience to focus on Ibrahim’s self – only the action of the narrative.

Through the use of camera, the clip shows a representation of immigrants as insignificant and less than human. During the second last scene the immigrant worker, Ibrahim, is being taken away by the immigration officers. Ibrahim’s face is not shown; the handheld camera tracks the immigration officers in a mid shot, in a shaky shot of only the back of his head. By neglecting Ibrahim’s face the director creates a perception of immigrants being unworthy and insignificant enough to not be shown – the camera work make the audience feel shameful towards him. The shaking effect of the camera reflects the hectic narrative of the scene, additionally, the shaking effect does not allow the audience to focus on Ibrahim’s self. I believe that by doing this, the audience is asked to question how we dehumanise and ignore those of different ethnic backgrounds.

Mise en Scene:

Near the end of the clip, Ibrahim’s locker is being cleaned out of all his personal belongings. The locker door is covered in pictures of his family. The presence of the family photos highlights to the audience that Ibrahim had a family and was working to support them. The element of family allows the audience to connect with Ibrahim and the other immigrants because it allows them relate with the difficulty of raising and supporting a family. The removal of these belongings and the pictures makes the audience sympathise with the immigrants because they recognise their desperation to look after their family.

The lighting when they are in the cupboard is dark and dingy, the space that they are in is small and its almost as if they are caged in. The locked door shows how they are shut out and hidden from everyone as if they don’t exist.

Adam is dressed, in a standard cleaners clothing. This makes the viewer assume that he is like everyone else and has no talents other than cleaning. We then find out he is a doctor and helps cure the lady. This contradicts our original thoughts as Adam was a doctor before he worked at the hotel.

Ibrahim has been left in the corridor hoovering, whilst the rest of the immigrant workers are trying to keep safe in the staff room cupboard. Ibrahim is dressed in a red overall cleaning outfit, the use of the colour red could represent danger and warning that Ibrahim is going to encounter some sort of danger, foreshadowing the events that are about to take place. Ibrahim is also seen to be wearing headphones and is oblivious to what is going out making him appear vulnerable to the audience it also excludes him from the other immigrants highlighting the dangerous position he is in.

Editing:

When assessing the editing, graphic matching was used when linking the shots between Abraham and the rest of the immigrants in the stock room. The theme of the colour red was used throughout, in Jackie’s lipstick and shirt and in Abrahams jumpsuit, along with the red carpet and vacuum cleaner. By using the colour red, it foreshadows danger and shows the unity between the ethnic minorities in England. By using this link, it also creates a smooth transition for the audience as the colours do not contrast with each other.

The cross cutting between the two scenes in the hallway and in the cupboard help enunciate the panic and fear that the immigrants are feeling when the immigration officers arrive. The silence in the cupboard completely contrasts the loud hoover in the hallway scene, where Ibrahim is cleaning the floor. These two moments cut together creates a very tense atmosphere and bounces the audience member from immediate danger to hiding, which allows the audience to sympathise with Ibrahim, who is about to be taken away.

The pace in this sequence increase to a quicker pace with the shots where the workers where running to the stock room. This quicken pace is used to show the audience that this shot is chaotic and rushed. This shows a sense of urgency and panic. This makes the audience feel a sense of panic for these people as it is uncertain what the outcome is going to be.

Sound:

Dialogue at the end of the clip.

“We got him – it’s the rules of the game”

Got him – animalistic – tie to ‘game’ .

Game – value placed on these lives. Makes them seem unimportant. Not reality. Immigration playing with lives as though they don’t matter. Subverting a stereotype because the audience made to EMPATHISE with the immigrant.

Voices merging into one

Running into staffroom

Not individual. – audience feel sorry for them because they’re not individual.  – no recognition of where they come from or what their backgrounds are. BBC is challenging audience to recognise their own prejudice and assumptions about stereotypes.