The Ellington Kid


Mise-en-scene


In The Ellington Kid, Mise-en-scene is used to reflect the short film's dark comedic tone. The kebab shop in London, with its harsh lighting, kitchen tools and dining area creates a realistic and relatable setting for the short film. This familiarity forces the viewer to consider whether the tale being told is real, adding tension to the story as we question the open ending. The props also play a key role in heightening tension, the knifes and kebab skewers become comic yet menacing. The short film blurs the line between myth/joke and reality, making us question the truth behind the narrative. 

Representation 


In The Ellington Kid, representation is used to challenge and subvert urban stereotypes. For example, there is common theme in media of young people in London being portrayed as aggressors or victims, the short film plays along with this idea but blends it with a mythical, comedic narrative. The short film focuses on working class, young Londoners in a kebab shop - a relatable setting for the audience - grounding the narrative in everyday realism while contrasting it with the exaggerated tale being told. The short film encourages viewers to question such stories ("witch's tales"), and how they form stereotypes/perceptions of both young people and different cultures in London. 


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