Discuss the ways in which the extract conducts the representation of ethnicity using the following: Camera shots, angles, movement and composition. Editing, sound and mise-en-scene.
The scene opens with an ariel shot from the corner of the room, as if a security camera. It is also establishing as it sets the scene, showing the audience the main participants to the clip, and the dear room that it is set in. We can see that there are thin curtains that you could see out of, but would be hard to see in, showing insecurity within the room. We can see two people being sat at the table, with their arms tied up, and can tell that these people have been held hostage. The man standing at the door with the gun shows us that whatever is happening is bad, and dangerous, as the danger of the gun is involved. Next there is a tracking shot, following an Iraqi man around the room. He has dark lighting on his face; this connotes danger for the hostages. As the Iraqi man talks about why he has these hostages under his control, the music increases volume and is very deep, again showing danger. A long temporal shot is used for continuity. We are seen to be eye line with the captives so the camera is lifted up at an angle to show the Iraqi man, showing that he is in charge, also the camera tracks the man as he walks around the room, this shows that he is in charge and dominated over the others.
Music is used to contribute to the narrative in the story. Throughout the whole scene, non-diegetic music is used with violin strings, which helps build tension. This sound gets louder and picks up a pace as the scene goes on, reinforcing the negativity in the scene. This series of violins is interrupted on a regular basis with a bombing noise, which is deep and explosive. This shows danger and war. The lady is being forced to read a speech, when this is occurring the music seems darker and more dangerous. The music then gets higher and creates sympathy towards the woman. A photo is then shown, beforehand the music pauses, then a loud high noise starts again, and this emphasizes the music drawn to this photo. The photo is of a white man with blood in his head, dead. This is showing the reality of what is happening in the Iraqi war. A knife is then drawn to the black hostages’ throat. Diegetic sound was deliberately loud and exaggerated as it is highlighting the danger of the situation.
Mise-En-Scene is everything in shot, and how it is all put together to create the scene that it is. When the opening shot is shown, the location is established. We can see that there is no view out of the window due to the curtains, creating a feel of isolation, possibly trying to link back to the feel of isolation in the war. The room is big and grand which contrasts the stereo-type of the Iraqi buildings which are seen in the news etc., is has some standard plain furniture in it, this shows remoteness. The fireplace is not used, it seems abandoned and cold, this could be trying to convey the feelings of the people in the room. Lighting is used specifically well in this scene. There is a dark shadow on half of the Iraqi man’s face, this could be showing that although we know the stereotype of him is to be dangerous and negative, that he could have a positive side, and have the same feelings as the British, this dark lighting adds tension and danger. The guard standing in the room with a gun is very masculine, this adds to the stereotype of men being associated with violence. In the room there is also a object mysteriously covered with a sheet, which builds suspension as we do not know what is under there and what danger it may bring. The Iraqi man is in a suit, looking more sophisticated than the British hostages, this goes against the general stereotypes of them wearing shwarbs, however the masculine gun man at the door wears a balaclava which is stereotypical for the bad guys. There are black and olive-skinned British hostages, this is going against the stereotype of pale skinned. The black man is shown differently from the standard representation of black people on TV Dramas as he is presented as black and a good guy, as he works for MI5.
Finally, editing is used to emphasize to the audience what is going on, and what the producers want to be portrayed. The editing is used to build enigma and gives clues to the audience about how they are meant to feel about each of the characters and towards the scene. The way that the cuts are edited together makes the scene flow much better, if this didn’t happen the atmosphere would be ruined and easily lost. Shot-reaction-shot is used to build tension, as the audience can know what is going on by the narrative but also from seeing the reactions from the characters. There is a flash of white on a shot of the photograph for a dramatic effect. Quick movement between transitions is used to increase the pace of the scene and get the audience's heart pacing. This creates tension and suspension in the scene, and focuses most cuts on the reaction shots.
