Waterloo Road Essay

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vSA1cKaCbC4

In the sequence from Waterloo Road, we are looking at representations of Ethnicity. The first thing that I noticed was that the main character in this sequence (Bolton) is in jail and gets searched by the police officer. This shows a negative stereotypical representation of black people as he is made to look like a criminal. This links to the use of mise-en-scene as the setting (the prison) reflects this negative representation, alongside use of lighting by having high-key lighting on the authority figure (Miss Mason) and low-key lighting on so-called ‘criminal’ (Bolton). This use of lighting through mise-en-scene shows status in the scene, by making Miss Mason seem much more of a higher status over Bolton with other things such as costume with Miss Mason in a suit and Bolton and the other teenagers in a school uniform. This sequence shows negative representations of ethnicity even further through by having Bolton acting hard as if he doesn’t care, using his body language and facial expressions show make him seen arrogant and defensive.

There is also a contrast between the prison officer and Bolton when he decides to search him for drugs as the black police officer reflects an authority figure and is very much in power through the use of force. This shows an obvious higher status level from the officer to Bolton, emphasising this clear contrast in characters. As well as his school uniform, Bolton is also wearing a grey hooded jumper which through the use of costume presents him as a hoodie which is the persona he is giving off, overall showing a negative representation that black people are hoodies. If you continue looking at mise-en-scene as the scene moves on, lighting is used again when a man enters the same cell as Bolton, having low-key lighting on him to symbolise his dangerous and fearless character. In this same scene, there is a juxtaposition between the man and the vest he is wearing. The vest is bright blue in colour which is a feminine and happy colour. This contrasts with the man wearing it as he seems very dangerous, very manly and almost angry at Bolton.

If you look at the use of sound, sound is used as Bolton is walking down the stairs, by having the faint noise of people shouting and screaming in the background. This is to give the full effect of the prison in order to create tension and make Bolton scared. As well as this, there is an eery sound almost like a horror movie as he is placed in his cell which is for the same purpose as the men screaming in the background. If you look at cinematography, a whip-pan is used when Bolton is looking in the mirror in the cell, as the man in the blue vest enters the camera moves towards his face, doing an eyeline match between them to show the audience what a scary and potentially danger position Bolton is in. An over-the-shoulder shot is also used here showing the scary man over Bolton's shoulder. Close up shots are also used a lot on the man's face to show the anger he is feeling towards Bolton. Editing is also used as they have used the 180 degree rule here in order to show continuity editing by always keeping on one side of the actors.