1. Spooks- Series 3, Episode 10 chapter 3
The first shot we are introduced to is a close up the food being served, and then cuts to
another close up of the white females face, and then opens out to show us the setting
which seems to be an empty room. The low key lighting was vital to establish the mood,
which in this case was hostile, colourless; the low key is so strong they are almost seen as
shadows.
We are introduced to the leading male Arab “terrorist”, i believe it challenges the
mainstream perceptions of the typical terrorist, how? Well he can tell this by the speech he
has, his still got an accent but can speak it very good. Also this is radiated to use by the
mise-un-sene, the typical terrorist is presented in society as a Muslim person, with a beard.
Turban and the Arab outfit. Whereas on the other hand this terrorist is clothed in a suit, and
seemed to be very well groomed. Another point that the director shows us about the
character is that his married. In a way he is giving us signs to sympathize with this
“terrorist”. Another section of the mise un sene that reflects the middle eastern character is
the wallpaper, it is very elegant , modern sophisticated .We are put in a very awkward
situation, do with side with good people or the bad people. But in fairness how are the
mood people and bad people in this scenario?
When the Arab man shows the white women the picture of the son, non digetic soundtrack
is inserted to reflect her emotions which at this point is worried. We are also taken to an
editing affect called a flashback, the way we know its a flash back is because its in a
distorted black and white filter and the non diegetic sound is more ambient mysterious, and
also its in also in slow motion. The thing that I could point out about ethnicity is that by the
mise un sene clothing of the boy and his uniform I could make an assumption that he goes

2. to a private school, if this is so it would represent that this white female is a well off, higher
class person, so this conforms to the stereotypical view of white people.
All throughout this clip the camera is handheld, this gives an effect of realism, almost makes
us believe we are there, in their situation. It also to a certain extent reflects the atmosphere
they are in , confused and unaware.
We also encounter a split screen sequence when the two white couples are having the
phone conversation and the dialogue is between the women in the room and the white man
walking. I’ve also noticed that there are lot of zoom ins and close ups. Most of the shots in
this sense are close up, i think it’s because the director wants the spectator to focus on the
characters facial expressions, emotions.
When the Arab terrorist makes the women decide between her husband or son, we hear
non diegetic sound track, of drums beating in a countdown rhythm, this is done to add to
the tension of her making a radical choice. The husband in the NEF cafe is portrayed to us
as the typical upper class white man, costumed in a suit, all this is shown through a panning
shot. He sits down with a cup of coffee and a news paper, a procedure in a white man day to
day life, well that’s what the media shows us.
Very quickly we are introduced to the female Middle Eastern character. She again is shown
as a intellectual smart elegant women, some of those aspects of her are shown through her
mise un sene, her bright white jacket
makes her look innocent and humble in
this situation. Again we are shown into a
split screen, introduced by a sound effect,
there are lots of cuts ins leading to a close
up of the character facial expressions.
The non diegetic sound track of the
violins playing adds more drama and
tension. Another thing that caught my
eye is that the black guy was tied up were as the white women wasn’t. This maybe the
because they the terrorist may have some certain views on black people, they trusted the
white women, but when it came to the black man, they took more caution, he might of tried
to steal something or attack them. These are some perspective that the media radiate to
the people.