Date

Representation of Ethnicity in Hotel Babylon

Camera Angles•Over the shoulder medium shot- 3 white males dominate: in command because they are aware of their power.

•Over the shoulder medium shot- all the policemen are white- significant. Man is being cut off from the outside by these police officers.

•Mid shot behind bars- immigrants are trapped, also mirrors the danger they face if caught.

•Close up on worker’s face- gives us intimate detail of fear and claustrophobia- trapped.

Camera Angles and Movement

•Contrasting camera movements. Police officers = slow camera movements suggest power whereas Ibrahim’s shot combined with the zoom = quick, panicked movements suggest vulnerability

•Focus pull directs the viewers’ attention from Ibrahim (oblivious to the danger) to the three white men.

•Panning shot shows the diversity of the staff, as well as showing the detrimental impact the immigration officers have- this is shown through the emotional contrasts of each minority group compared with Ibrahim’s group.

• The shallow focus upon Jackie in this scene emphasises the immigrants’ need for safety- they are effectively ‘hidden’ from view, as they are out of focus.

Editing•Fast paced editing throughout accurately portrays their panicked attempts to hide, and their fear of deportation.

•Eyeline match shows that the officers are not a threat to a receptionist as she is in no danger.

•Parallel editing shows the desperation of the managers- not one, but two people are concerned for the wellbeing of the illegal workers.

Editing•Shot reverse shot shows the small sense of solidarity between the agents and the receptionist due to their shared racial backgrounds.

Sound•Fast paced/tense music helps the viewer to empathise with the fear and trauma the workers are experiencing.•Jackie- “Adam, isn’t it?” Shows the anonymity of the workers- are they valued? Or are they anonymous for their own safety?•The language Adam uses is knowledgable- this disregards the typical stereotypes surrounding migrant workers.•The music fades as the workers hide, which reflects their desperation for protection.•The music is louder as Ibrahim is arrested, which conveys to us his panic.•Jackie- “For Christ’s sake” Shows her concern and passion for Ibrahim’s safety- Perhaps she can empathise as she is also a minority•“If he gets sent back he’ll be killed” Shows the severity of the threat the immigrants face if they are deported.

Mise En Scene

•Colour schemes in the hotel contrast- the lobby is bright (warm colours) whereas the staff quarters are gloomy, dark. This creates a rift between the staff and the guests due to their ethnicity

•The use of costume shows a disregard for stereotypes, as some of the hotel’s guests who are people of colour have been given costumes that portray wealth.

Mise En Scene•Adam utilises the pot of jam- this gives an insight into Adam’s intelligence which we have presumed to be small due to his ethnicity

•Jackie’s keys are symbolic- The keys represent power, control, but also imprisonment- the migrants are being ‘locked away’, but this time it is for their safety

•The use and abandonment of the Henry Hoover, emphasises the importance of immigrants to the hotel business as a whole, they are the backbone of the industry.