The representation of ethnicity in the clip from Hotel Babylon, is based around immigrants whom work in a hotel. The location this conflict is based in is a hotel, firstly a closeup shot shows a White British man who works at the hotel, then shot reverse shot shows two policemen also White British. The policemen wear black costumes with police written, these are usual British police uniforms, this shows that danger is approaching. Also the soundtrack begins as soon as the shot shows the policemen, the soundtrack is loud and fast, an action soundtrack, which also shows danger is approaching. This reinforces the danger stereotype of ethnicity.
A medium long shot now introduces John, and two other men, their costumes consists of business suits. These men are again White British, showing in this clip people with a British nationality have power, because of their costumes. John then shows the blonde British woman at the reception desk, his ID, showing he is important.
A code is said, from Jackie to Ben, Ben is also in a business suit, but is not White, therefore challenging the consistent trend so far, that White British men have all the power. A new location is now introduced as Ben, rushes to Jackie, she runs downstairs to the immigrants, the pace is now even faster, showing Jackie has a connection with the immigrant. The immigrant are working downstairs, showing they are at a lower level, therefore they have less power. Jackie's dialogue is in a foreign language now, and so do other workers, showing there are many nationality's working downstairs. Their costumes shows they has less power, because they are not in suits, but in uniforms. The juxtaposition between the immigrates and Jackie, allows her to have more power than the illegal workers. But she still feels she has to help them, and is passionate about that. Showing she doesn't feel threatened by them, so she is challenging the stereotype that immigrants are dangerous.
The clip now cuts to anther worker upstairs, vacuuming, all the space around him shows he is alone. He is wearing headphones, so cannot hear. The foley of the vacuum, adds to the suspense building, making the audience feel sympathetic to this immigrant worker. This also reinforces the stereotype of pity, which is what builds sympathy for this character. His costume is red, representing danger, which is a consistent trend in this clip in costumes, props and the interior of a building (walls, elevators etc).
Now cutting back to the hurry and busyness of the immigrants, closeups of the key and the staff only sign on the door, reinforcing the fact that they are staff, the the importance of them hiding. There is now no space between the workers in the new location of the cupboard, this reinforces the stereotype that they are unified, because they are huddled together. The lighting is low key in the cupboard, showing the stereotypical danger of immigration.
A worker faints, and Adam is introduced, he helps the woman who has fainted, by using a prop of jam. Jackie is show at a high angle, showing she has less power in this situation, because she isn't educated in this instant. Adam say's to Jackie ''I wasn't always a cleaner'', which insinuates he was in the medical profession, challenging the stereotypical immigrant, with being not educated because they come from an exotic country which is stereotypical as being poor. Jackie has a prop, a watch, which shows her wealth from power, but so does Adam (seen in a medium shot at the end). This shows he had or does have wealth, it may be because he was in the medical profession and had more power than he does now.
The non diegetic sound of knocking at the door, breaks the shot reverse shot of the conversation, and the camera quickly zooms towards Jackie, building suspense, and reinforcing the stereotype again that hiding immigrants is dangerous, but challenging the stereotype that immigrants are dangerous themselves. Jackie is then given the news that the immigration officers have taken a worker, she rushes back upstairs. She shouts at john, creating conflict, reinforcing the stereotype that ethnicity causes conflict. The worker struggles and the movement of him becomes faster, reinforcing the stereotype of danger, because he becomes more aggressive in his movement.
The soundtracks now slows down, and becomes sad. Showing the immigrants are not as unified because a close friend/family member has been taken. Jackie now empties his locker, as the family members watch, the soundtrack continues to follow the emotion of the picture. This shows that the stereotype of danger, is real in this case.
A new location is shown, of a cafeteria, the panning shot, shows the cafe, and the different tables showing different nationality's, which is reinforcing the unified stereotype. A medium shot now shows Adam and another woman, praying, every other table are talking and laughing, but they are quieter and sad because of the man being taken away. The clip is ended with a fade out, showing that their is now no danger, but sadness.
This clip is representing ethnicity is a positive way, showing the immigrant works in danger rather than causing danger through conflict. The audience feel sympathy towards the different nationality. Ethnicity has been shown in this way, to give the message that ethnicity shouldn't making some have less power, and immigrant works are not dangerous, but are being targeted because they are immigrants.
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