[Setup Unit 8] Mockumentary Research & Analysis: The Office
The Office
The Office is to be my primary source of inspiration for the script and the style of filming. Written and directed by Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant, the series focusses on the day-to-day life of those working in one of the offices of paper merchant Wernam Hogg. While the show deals with a variety of themes, it is primarily a comedy, most of which coming from David Brent, however a good portion from the conflicts between Tim Canterbury and Gareth Keenan too.
The script was largely based on Ricky Gervais's time working in an office for almost a decade, and the character of David Brent is an amalgamation of bosses who he has worked for throughout his life. Gervais has said that the very first scene of the show, in which David Brent interviews a potential new employee, was based on an interview he himself had.
From this first scene it is made clear that it is intended to be in the style of a documentary. The first indication is the look to the camera at the end of the scene from David Brent, clearly addressing that he is on camera. Another sign is the cinematography, which is intentionally basic and has very few cuts. The first scene is one long take which, in a film, would likely be split up with close-ups and long shots. These kinds of basic shots are very common throughout The Office and resulted in it seeming so real that many audience members assumed it was real before the show became as popular as it is now.
The cinematography is largely handheld, and as shown in the first scene, it moves around and zooms frequently. This is a technique used in many TV shows and movies, however mostly during fight scenes, in order to make the audience feel like they're there, adding to the intensity.
From this first scene it is made clear that it is intended to be in the style of a documentary. The first indication is the look to the camera at the end of the scene from David Brent, clearly addressing that he is on camera. Another sign is the cinematography, which is intentionally basic and has very few cuts. The first scene is one long take which, in a film, would likely be split up with close-ups and long shots. These kinds of basic shots are very common throughout The Office and resulted in it seeming so real that many audience members assumed it was real before the show became as popular as it is now.
The cinematography is largely handheld, and as shown in the first scene, it moves around and zooms frequently. This is a technique used in many TV shows and movies, however mostly during fight scenes, in order to make the audience feel like they're there, adding to the intensity.
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