Hotel Babylon Ethnicity Stereotypes

The technique of "cut" was used during the race when the man was caught and the camera flicked between both the cupboard and the men chasing the man who they were taking away. It cut straight from the man being chased to the people in the cupboard and watched both events occurring at the same time and different reactions. This was used to establish continuous action and would have added a sense of urgency and tension. Shot-reverse-shot was also used at the beginning of the clip when the receptionist talks to the man that is sat down and gives him a reminder. He then looks back as though he is going to respond to what she has said. This suggests the intensity involved in their conversation and the urgency in what she is saying and how quickly it needs to be done. It then gives the audience an insight into what my happen next and what they could be planning to do due to what is going on within the hotel. At 3:22 the camera zooms into their faces as they are shocked and someone has walked into the room which adds the effect that the audience are walking into the room too. The editing also connotes the narrative through the way that is was constructed such as following each scene and editing it very specifically to ensure that once the Immigrants have been showed as lower class, they are thrown into a cupboard and other usual tasks carry on taking place whilst they are suffering down under the floorboards of ordinary life. Fast-Paced editing is also used which reflects emotions and situations so as scenes are edited together quickly and of a faster pace than ordinary, it is easier to tell the emotions of the character and understand the hurry and rush surrounding the present events.

Diegetic sound is used a lot within this extract such as verbal interaction and gasps as the lady passes out. All of this sound has a source on screen hence why it is called diegetic sound. Other sounds such as banging on the floor whilst the man is being taken away and door slamming once they have escaped. The immigrants also pray as they are locked in the cupboard which identifies their ethnicity as well as each of them could be of different religions and could have different God's that they are praying too to keep them safe. Non-Diegetic sound was also used in this extract as there is some sort of repetitive sound that continues all the way through which sounds like tension music which would keep intensity all the way through the scene which is what is needed to keep the importance known throughout. It would have been done to show that the plot is extremely important and this scene is very tense and would also draw an audience in to feel more connected and a part of the scene. This music is also carried on through each scene which would be a sound bridge as the music is continuous. This connects each scene and shows that there is something to relate to in each scene. This is done to show a link.


The other type of sound that is used is synchronous sound and this is used throughout the scene as all sounds that are heard are expected as they match the action that is on going. For example, when the lady does pass out, you hear gasps as that is what would be heard if someone did pass out in front of you therefore it is an expected sound within the scene. When she does pass out, Tessa Perkins theory is shown as the man helps her when she is passed out by rubbing jam on her gums, this is a positive stereotype, as he gives her an instant sugar boost which fights the stereotype that all Immigrant people don't have previous skills sets. This man clearly does and is able to use them, despite not being in that job anymore, and is able to help someone as a consequence. In the reception area they speak very formally and use standard English as they are in a high class hotel and this is a typical stereotype for that kind of environment. Yet when they are downstairs, they all talk over each other as though they are in a rush and they talk fast and in their usual tone instead of a tone or language that may be put on. They also speak with an accent or in a foreign language which shows their ethnicity and background. The sound is constantly surrounding which would create an atmosphere and show continuity between the scenes. The man in the cupboard who looks after the lady who passes out says "I haven't always been a cleaner" which shows that he did have a life before he was reduced to this and treated so differently and people expected so much less of him. It draws the audience in and makes them realise that this hasn't always been their life but this is what they have been left with and need to deal with.

Tessa Perkin's theory is first recognised when it is clear that there are separate groups such as: White and black people, Illegal Immigrants and different generations. Each of these characters are stereotyped in different ways so it supports her theory that they aren't always about a less powerful group. The women that are important within the hotel are all dressed in business dress which could be a counter stereotype as usually, women are seen as assistant managers instead of genuinely being a Manager themselves. The costume would be a stereotype though as this is typical of what a business woman would wear. Another stereotype would be that all cooks are in white clothing which is what is expected and followed within many films or TV Programmes. It is a typical trait along with Bellboys in suits and looking presentable and holding themselves with pride which would be expected as they are front of the hotel and are representing the hotel considering they are front of house. Furthermore, all customers and visitors at the hotel are in formal outfits and are dressed in a way which would be seen as posh as the hotel is quite high class.


This can be illustrated through the way that all staff hold themselves and dress. The final way costumes show off stereotypes are the way that the Police are wearing typical Police dress which they are most recognised by in most TV Dramas or films. The hotel, as a set, is also suitably dressed up and shown to be as grand as how the staff are dressed. It gives off a very pristine and perfect impression on anyone that would be watching with a certain opinion. The Police and Immigration officers were shown as Antagonists as they made the situation seem like a game and it was continuous and that they would be back which scares the characters and would keep them and the audience on edge.  The police use Leon Festinger's theory as Police officers should be Protagonists as they are there to make the community a better and safer place but yet they are scaring people out of their jobs and dragging them away from their livelihoods in the worst way possible. Through the way that these characters have been represented as smaller and having dirty and scruffy uniform, it shows how badly they were treated and how white people and workers had a higher status. There colours of the suits of the ladies shows their class and how high up they are within the business. The white suit shows that she is of a higher authority as it is kept in a pristine condition and the housekeeper wears a black suit, which is the same as other Immigrant workers and maids, which shows she is of a lower authority.


The scene is also stereotypical as the hotel is luxury and guests are treated in a luxurious manor but the cupboard that the Immigrants are thrown into is very small and cramped. This demonstrates that their ethnicity is looked down upon and they aren't provided with the privileges and specialities that the others have. At the end f the extract, they are all placed on separate tables, although they are in the same room, which seems to be based on their ethnicities and they are situated downstairs away from all the other staff as they eat and are given a cold looking, cramped room yet again to share. They are though, sat in a  communal group this shows that they can have the same traits and when they work together they have a very positive environment and they are hard workers so they can achieve as much as anyone else. This also follows Tessa Perkin's theory as they aren't all of the same minority or ethnic group, they are all a part of different groups and they are all discriminated against. The last use of the scene would be lighting as up in the reception area the lighting is artificial yet downstairs where the housekeepers and hidden and perform their duties, they have low-light which could translate to how much money or their class that each ethnicity have as they, stereotypically, may not have enough money to afford high-level lighting so by using low level light it reflects both their class and ethnicity.

A Hand-Held camera was used quite a lot in this clip especially during any panic and running around such as when the lady collapses and when the man is caught and carried out of the building. This illustrates to the audience feel as though they are part of the action and as though they are experiencing it with him. It adds a shaky feeling. The camera shakes and follows the lady fall as though falling with her. This could make the audience feel as though they are one of the people hiding in there with everyone else and they have fallen with her to help her. A tracking shot was also used in a very effective way as the camera followed the sequence of action between each scene. For example it followed the mans chase and then focused back on everyone hiding in the cupboard. Furthermore, when he leaves the hotel and is eventually dragged away, it follows his departure and exit of the building. As he is being dragged away by Immigration, the camera looks up at him and gives a different angle. This could represent his place in society and how he should be at the bottom where the camera is but instead he has a job and a comfortable life, up until now. A point-of-view shot is also used a lot when it zooms into peoples faces to see their reaction and opinion to the situation that has just occurred.


A typical stereotype for a black person would be to be scared of anyone that is taunting and of a high importance but within this clip, they break that stereotype and show a counter stereotype as when the Lady uses the code word and the man leaves he shows no fear just ambition. It zooms in on his face and it doesn't seem as though he is scared and he shows a resilience but at the end, when he is taken away, the Manageress looks shocked and completely scared by what has just happened. It is quite clear that she now doesn't know what to do considering she didn't know how to protect one of her employees and Immigration could come back. At 3:22 the camera zooms into their faces as they are shocked and someone has walked into the room which adds the effect that the audience are walking into the room too. There are different takes with the camera. There are long shots for the people who are of a higher society class such as the officers and the police and the receptionist by there are shorter shots for the Immigrants when it shows them in the cupboard. The angles that are used for each ethnicity of character is also shown as when an Immigrant is present on the screen, the camera is either facing them or looking up at them which would show their class as that would socially be the angle that they are looking at people from. Shallow focus is also used when the housekeeper is shown as shocked when the Immigration officer leaves and the receptionist starts talking to her. It could be seen as a dream and something that she is imagining and that is why the receptionist is out of focus.