Section A Improved Paragraphs

Camera angle, movement and position

The representation of ethnicity is used through camera angles, such as the low angle shot used in the store cupboard where Jacky is portrayed as the protagonist because the use of the low angle shot connotes power and dominance, and thus suggests that she has a higher social status than the rest of those in the room (who indecently are immigrants), which is a key aspect of a protagonist.

Editing

This is further stressed through the use over the shoulder and shot reverse shot, where the protagonist is talking to one of the immigrants about the diabetic lady on the floor; here she continues to have the low angle shot, while the immigrant has as high angle shot, suggesting that he’s weaker than her, thus inferring that he’s of a lower status than her. However, Bineary opposition is used when the audience sees that he’s helping the diabetic lady on the floor, as he essentially saves her life, causing a shift of power from the once protagonist, Jacky, to the cleaner, which results in him having a low angle shot, highlighting his new sense of power, which doesn’t conform to stereotypes.

Sound

The tempo of sound varies throughout the extract from light and upbeat at the beginning, to a considerable increase in tempo when Ibrahim is about to get caught by the police, which creates tension and suspense; it also creates sympathy as the viewer doesn’t want Ibrahim to get caught creating an emotional bond with the character, supporting the stereotypical view as the viewer’s know that their original country may not be safe, and so if he gets caught then he’ll be sent home. This fear is further supported through the use of dialogue, such as when Jacky pleads with the officers, saying that if he goes back then he will be ‘killed’. The incidental music cuts out from this point and all you can hear are the diagetic sounds of the rest of the hotel, which are emphasised by the use of Foley sounds, such as the rustling of Ibrahim’s struggle. This creates verisimilitude within the diagesis and creates sympathy as it emphasises the realism of the situation.

Mise-en-scene

The costumes create binary opposition between the immigrants and the hotel staff as they are wearing smart business clothes(creating verisimilitude within the diagesis), such as the man at the beginning who has a purple tie; the colour purple is associated with the English aristocracy, and so connotes high status. Similarly, the woman at the desk is wearing a white suit. The colour white has connotations of innocence and purity, following the stereotypical image of women being seen as innocent, vulnerable and therefore inferior, however the fact that she’s on the desk suggests that she has a higher authority that the immigrants who are all wearing uniforms. This use of binary opposition in costume follows the stereotypical portrayal of ethnicity as jobs associated with the uniform aren’t successful, thus inferring that they aren’t important too.