Ross Kemp: Teenage gangs of South London

Ross Kemp on Teenage gangs of South London, begins with an ambulance driving past the sirens are flashing and it is making it's traditional sound, this is done to showcase the emergency and the importance of an issue like gun and knife crime, in the capital. There is a voice over of Ross Kemp describing the main issue and introducing the key concept of gang violence and black on black violence. Further there is fast paced editing (montage), and there is a still of the guns portraying to the audience what the documentary is going to be about.

After the montage editing it cuts to 'Sky news' which is an institution, but more so it is known throughout the world, therefore showing the hype of the media in gang warfare. On the news they give fact and figures of the latest shootings and stabbing amongst mainly black youths. While the news is going on pictures of bodies in body bags are shown being carried on stretchers out the houses, this is done to create the reality factor. This scene ends and Ross Kemp is back walking down the street, the camera is in front of him, it is hand-held showing that he is the main person ('the hero') of the documentary. He highlights the purpose of the documentary which is:
"Why kids use guns on one another, and why do people resort to gangs and black on black violence?". The media show black youths in hoddies, joggers, pants low etc giving them their normal stereotypical views.

While he is walking the camera does an overhead view of London city, while Ross Kemp voices over his journey so far. The overhead shot was done to show London as rich and prosperous as they only show the good part not the gritty 'ghetto' streets, referred to by some of the youths as a 'hood'. There is diegetic sounds of the cars driving past and just the hustle and bustle of standard London City living, but over that there is non-diegetic sound of a song being played it says "going round and round", this in my opinion portrays the endless cycle of gang violence, as once one generation dies the other generation will continue the gangs regime.

There is archive footage of previous black youths who have been killed, again showcasing black on black violence, leading the audience to assume it to be sub cultural. The media hypes the issue even more to bring fear and to just again portray the reality as it is in our nations capital; the newspaper itself is a tabloid paper ('The Daily Mirror'), which may be bias and not reveal key information and may sensationalise some of the facts.

Ross Kemp goes on to interview a Sheryl Cicely, who is a youth worker, she just describes all the 3 murders which have happened "Around the corner". While they are at the scene of the first murder the camera is doing a 360 of them and the area showing where exactly where he was murdered. The women as she speaks plays on the emotions of the audience as the camera zooms up on to her face to display her emotion. Once this scene ends, there is natural lighting which is hi ki, being shown while the flag of Great Britain is being blown around by the wind, this is a contrast as one side the British flag which represents unity and a 'great country', while on the other hand there is a gritty estate in the back round; where so far 3 gang related murders have happened; all black on black violence tainting the British flag, and what it represents.

This scene dissolves into the scene of Ross Kemp driving his car, he's on his way to interview Nick Staunton. Nick says how the media only show the bad side to Peckham (South London), it doesn't record any new decent activity they do. While they speak there is no non-diegetic sound because they want the audience to hear his side of the shooting, the lighting at this stage again is hi ki (natural) as they are in a park. While Ross Kemp talks to him the camera does a 360 degree shot showing himself, Nick and the area which is very bleak.

After this interview Ross Kemp goes on to interview an ex 'Peckham Boy' gang member, his face is blurred and his voice has been altered to keep his identity secret but the audience is still able to tell that he is black. The light again is hi ki as they sit on a park bench, they use medium long shots and behind head angle shots, this is done to show the reaction of Ross Kemp as the audience are unable to see the ex gang members. The gang member says that they get their guns from the government. He then goes on to talk about his stabbing case, a he was stabbed the screen goes completely black as he says:
"After I got stabbed I had to make a decision".

The first thing the audience hear is the non-diegetic song by 'Mystical' he says 'Danger, Danger! Get on the floor'. This in my opinion promotes gun violence as he is telling his victim to get on the floor. The song fades away and the audience see normal people walking down the street again this is done to show the reality of the documentary. While he is walking there is more facts and figures showing how it is mainly black people doing all the murders again showing the stereotypical view of black people.

Next he interviews a gang, all members are black again stereotyping that only black people are involved in gangs. Their faces are all covered and the camera just does a point of view shot so the audience see what Ross Kemp sees. They comment on how life is all about 'Respect'. After the interview there is a photo of the well known gangster 'Scarface' surrounded by money; this gives the ideologies of capitalism because money= power and patriarchy as men as seen as the main gang culture, as there is no hint of girl related gangs. More facts and figures are shown as they again show the rise in gang violence and youngsters with 'straps' (guns).

After this he interviews a woman, the room is set out like an interrogation as he sits opposite her asking her questions about black on black crime and why has it increased. She ends the interview by saying:
"The only help is praying!".
As soon as she says this Kanye West's song "Jesus walks" is played this just further reinforces her point that their only refuge is God.

Once this interview is done there is archive footage of Jamaicans, referred to as 'Yardies'. The newspaper footage sees them as ruthless killers. They all carry guns again showing their patriarchy power. After this archive footage there is a shot of the South London 'Cribs' they are all back gain showing stereotypes.

The last bit of the documentary is the reconstruction of a women who got tortured, the camera is hand-held therefore making it seem that the audience is there and can feel the same pain and suffering she went through. After this there is quick montage footage of people and basically how it started. Finally Ross Kemp is walking up stairs while the camera focus's him and the background in the shot, the audience can see the park and the contrast of freedom and claustrophobic feelings, towards the estate.