how is race represented in bullet boy?

Bullet boy is simply a film based on the character Rickie and how he plans to change his life after being in prison for a period of time. After being released his brother Curtis gets in trouble with a gang and conflict is created dragging Rickie into in order to help protect his brother. From this extract race has been represented in many ways. Rickie and Curtis are black, and are portrayed to be living in a lower class house, which could represent them living on a council estate furthermore portraying the idea of Chav / gang like culture. They are dressed quite scruffy as well which gives the impression they are quite rough and struggle with money. Also during the extract on the bus scene we see the contrast between the black and white community, as it portrays the white community to be of a higher authority as they are more expensively, smart dressed compared to the black people and are also the only people on the bus talking. Overall the main representation of black people are to be of lower status and thuggish.

The mise en scene creates the representation of race strongly in many ways. Such as the stereotype of an under class house, portraying it to be a council estate style which is shown through the empty pizza boxes, bottles of alcohol, damaged walls and cheap, damaged furnishings. The character Curtis is then presented to us in darker clothing than his brother Rickie, which could symbolise the idea he is more rebellious and is overall represented negatively, this is due to him wearing a gold chain and scruffy clothing which represents the idea of Yob like behaviour and attitude, furthermore creating the impression that black people are frowned upon for being rebellious like. Curtis is wearing light grey clothing with black sleeves, which portrays him more innocently, but due to the black sleeves could also portray the idea that he still has a slightly rebellious side to him. Rickie has a scar on his neck, which could show that he has had violent trouble in the past, which portrays the black race to be violent and dangerous.
We then see the stereotype of a playing field in a council estate area which is deserted and run down where children are usually playing football or hanging around which portrays the idea of chav culture. The bus sequence then plays a large role in creating the representations of race as the black people are sat separate from the white people showing there is a difference in status and respect. There are only white people talking on the bus which portrays the idea that they are of higher authority than the black people. The bus itself looks rather run-down and poor, creating the idea that the community itself is poor. Curtis is sat in the dark while Rickie is sat half in the light and half in the shadow which yet again portrays their attitudes of behaviour; Rickie having a more innocent side to him.
In the flash back to the childhood of the two brothers, Curtis is still in dark clothing and is smoking weed which reinforces the idea he is rebellious, where as Curtis is in complete white and is called a “mummies boy” by Rickie emphasising the idea that he is innocent, this creates the representation of gang culture, and how rebelliousness can be pressuring to children and lead them into this kind of negative culture. The bike the two boys use is clearly shared between them, reinforcing the idea of living in a poor community as the bike looks cheap and run down as well. This portrays the idea that the black race is lower status and living in poor conditions, but they boys seems happy which shows the idea this is the kind of culture they are use to living in.
we then see Rickie key picking the door unlocked, this portrays the idea that the black race are non-law abiding and can be potentially dangerous while reinforcing the representation of being thuggish.
The use of the gun creates the idea of gun violence and makes a further connection to gang culture that it is dangerous and threatening. The room looks warm and we can see Rickie backing off back into the gloomy hallway which portrays the idea he is negative and cold hearted. The other Gang's members running out the house are all wearing dark clothing which portrays them to be negative and dangerous as well, but one of them is wearing a red hat which portrays them to be more dangerous and threatening, this overall portrays the idea of violent gang culture, and as the characters are all black it portrays the black community to be the only race involved in this kind of shocking act. We then see the shutters, light on one side of the building and dark on the other, this shows a clear contrast of the outside world and we see that Rickie is stood on the dark side portraying him to be dangerous and overall still in the negative side of the situation. The Car park is deserted and gloomy which creates a kind of villainous effect, the fact that Curtis and Rickie are hiding out hear portrays that they know the area well, which further more portrays the idea of gang culture and gang territory.

The use of camera work helps to emphasis the representations of race. The camera shots are usually very unsteady while focusing on Curtis and Rickie which portrays the black race to be uncontrollable with behaviour and attitudes. The 180 degree rule is kept throughout the conversation whilst using close up shots on each of the characters emotions, which are very aggressive portraying the idea that they can not control their anger and overall rather threatening which also heightens the tension. We then see a cut away shot to a tracking shot of the boys riding a bike as children, this portrays them to be more innocent but yet still have to be tracked as they are always moving around, which could portray the idea of gang culture and the fact they never stay In the same place in case they get caught in trouble, due to this sequence being brighter it shows it is a different time setting and in this case its the past. We then see a crow shot of Curtis and Rickie on the bus, this shows a clear contrast of black and white people on the bus showing how separated they are and once again reinforcing the idea the white people are of higher status. The camera then cuts to an unsteady medium shots of the two men, Rickie is looking into his reflection in the window which could represent the idea that he is reflecting upon his life. It then cuts to a 2 shot of the children which creates the emphasis on the conversation which is weed and mocking, this reinforces the idea of gang culture. We then cut to a long shot which once again shows the environment which furthermore creates a link between the environment to the two boys. Once again the camera cuts to a shot of Rickie and Curtis walking down the street, which creates the link that they are still rebellious. We then have a close up tracking shot on Rickie as he enters the house which creates the focus around him as well as heightening the enigma. An eye line match is then used to show what Rickie is looking at which we see to be an other gang member, the close up tracking shot of the gun which follows makes the audience think there is about to be a killing which therefore creates the enigma. We then hear a gun shot and the pace of editing quickens to make the sequence appear more dramatic. When the gang run out the door, the camera becomes even more unsteady and the pace of editing becomes even faster which portrays the idea of urgency, which is usually the case for victims in a violent situation. An eye line match is used when Curtis is looking out of the shutters to show he is in hiding whilst using a point of view shots, this portrays the idea that he is not upfront and brave about his actions. Long shots are then used on both characters walking towards each other to show that they are related to the gloomy and shadowing environment whilst keeping the use of the 180 degree rule. Shot reverse shot is then used in their conversation while using Close up shots to emphasise the conversation as well as each of their reactions while showing the tension and nervousness created by both characters portraying the idea they are unsure of their situation.

Sound is arguably the most important in portraying the representations. The eerie music at the beginning portrays the negative idea that something isn't right, portraying the characters to be up to something. Curtis and Rickie's language is very informal and sounds harsh as they use lexis such as “blud” and “innit” which are common use of stereotypes within gang cultural language. The music becomes more positive and dream like which makes it appear more like a flash back and furthermore ends up creating a sound bridge to the past. The sound of footsteps and a bike is amplified to portray the idea of child like culture. When the boys are climbing the post the sound of their exhaustion is amplified in order to show their struggle of the climb while showing their determination, which portrays them to be strong minded. This is then followed by the amplified sound of laughter which reinforces the idea of youth attitudes of having fun.
On the bus sequence the use of ambience on the white people talking is used to show that they have higher authority over the black community. The ambience then focus's on a couples conversation sat behind. Curtis and Rickie to reinforces this idea of authority and shows that they are more dominating. The sound bridge of the music is then used again in order to link back to their childhood, the music then slows down and becomes more slower paced in order to create the emphasis on the voice over of the conversation between the two boys. The music then turns more eerie again as a sound bridge and while Curtis and Rickie are walking down the street which builds up the tension and creates enigma. Birds are then ambienced in order to portray the idea of an ordinary day which leaves the audience in suspense of what is about to happen. While Rickie is picking the lock, the sound is amplified in order to create the emphasis on the idea of crime, which is then linked to the stereotype of his race and being part of a gang culture. The music then changes to the CD which is then being played in the house which is typical of the gang culture as it is the genre of hip hop/ grime. This is then followed by the amplified sound of gun shots which can further more be related to the idea of gang culture, as the opposing gang are running, their footsteps and shouting are amplified to create the idea of violence and conflict while creating a dramatic impact on the audience. For the ending of the sequence the music comes back and is positive again portraying the idea that the dangerous sequence of events is over.

To conclude the representation of race in bullet boy is represented in the form of typical stereotypes, such as young black men being part of gang culture and being portrayed to be violent, law breaking and uncontrollable. Where as on the other hand, the white people are represented to have higher authority which can be seen as evident from the bus sequence. This furthermore creates a clear contrast between both races viewing the black people as negative and the white people as positive.