The Office (UK) was a BBC mockumentary sitcom that aired from 2001-2003. It was created by Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant, who also starred Ricky Gervais as the lead character David Brent. The show followed the daily lives of employees at the Slough branch of the fictional Wernham Hogg paper company. It began as short films but its popularity led to the BBC commissioning it as a full series. The Office was a critical and commercial success, winning multiple awards and attracting a large audience in both the UK and US through its portrayal of mundane office life and awkward humor. It helped launch the careers of its creators and cast.

1. PRODUCT ANALYSIS – THE OFFICE (UK)
WRITTEN BY JORDAN JONES
PRESENTED BY BEN&J’S PRODUCTIONS
The Office (UK)
Written and Directed by:
Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant
First Episode – 9th July 2001
Last Episode – 27th December 2003
Episode Duration: 30 Minutes
Channels – BBC – BBC America
Actors:
Risky Gervais, Martian Freeman, Stephen Merchant, Lucy Davis,
Mackenzie Crook.

2. JUST AN IDEA?
 The office started out as several home-made video shorts made by
the famous Stephen Merchant on his way up to the BBC. Steven
wanted to find something easy for him to film, along with Ricky
Gervais they came up with the office and used a local university to
produce the show. When the short show was realised the BBC
requested that they made an official series out of it and that would
land Ricky and Stephen jobs in the BBC for many years to come.

3. NARRATIVE, AND COMEDY
 The Office takes place in the most normal of work place, as the name
suggests; an office unit. The Sitcom Mockumentary follows manager
David Brent played by comedian Ricky Gervais as he shows us an insight
into his Wernham Hogg a branch of a large paper company based in
Slough. He undergoes multiple controversies such as racism, sexism and
discrimination.
 Throughout the show the comedy is ridiculous, it is so impolitically
correct it’s funny which really brings attention to the show, from office
romance to drunken quiz nights, the show finds many ways to interact
with the views and to keep them hooked. One of which is romance
between Tim and Dawn and drama between David and head office, these
different types of drama has made the two season show a massive hit in
the UK and in the US.
 The show itself is aimed towards a working class audience, the humour is
a lot to do with life in an office environment and often mocks health and
safety, women in the work place and different ethnic groups.
 The humour is mainly jokes aimed at elements in the office work place,
that people who watch the show can related to in turn knowing and
loving. This is another excellent method of attracting their target
audience to the show. David also points out and highlights how they are
silly while important throughout the show by making out he is for
women's rights in the work place while mocking them in a awkward way
during the program.
 The narrative is straight forward although the story does slightly change
throughout the show when new elements are introduced such as Neil's
appearance and the Swindon branch convergence. The changes through
story bring in new elements and get the audience wondering what will
happen next and how the office will change.
Tim Canterbury & Dawn Tinsley
(Office Romance)
David Brent
(Iconic Brent dance)
Garath Keen
(The ‘army’ Guy)
70%
30%
GENDER
Male Female
14%
82%
4%
SOCIAL CLASS
A1B2 C1DE Other
20%
60%
10%10%
RELIGION
Christan Atheist
Islamic Other
Projected target audience demographics

4. CONVENTIONS
 The show produces a lot of shots that are very conventional the genre. Throughout the show and at the start of the show establishing shots are used
frequently to show the audience the location of the next scene. The Office is mainly shot handheld giving the feeling of pace and movement throughout
the show.
 The beginning of the program is very typical of a BBC documentary, the logo fades onto the establishing and location shot to slough and eventually
Brent’s paper company. This a very stereotypical convention to the genre and the institutes presentation style of the documentary. It is also effective to
create location.
 Interviews are also present in the documentary, though they are only for a few seconds to talk about current issues that are happening during the show e.g
Tim talking about the romance between him and Dawn. These really help set the genre, there are a lot of documentaries especially set in urban
environments and have a clear narrative that have interviews to:
- Give the audience a different point of view of issues and events
- An insight into the character when not in a given environment
- Visual Character development
 Cinematography breakdown:
Close ups, The Office uses close ups extensively through the show giving the audience a sense of importance and reaction. Close ups are effective in
focusing on a single person or event.
Long shots and Medium Shots, Long shots are used in the office a lot during screen time. Often they take form of transition scenes between scenes to show
a sense of time. The medium shots are used a lot during interviews during the show
Over the shoulder, Almost in every interview during the office there are certainly a over the shoulder shot which is incredibly conventional in a sort of
informative documentary/mockumentary
Pan Movement, Panning only really occurred during the opening sequence of the show and again through the season. Panning is used in other
documentaries to show large objects creating a small feeling to the audience.
Handheld, There wasn’t many of these shots but they were present in time of important such as a party or drama within the workplace environment.
Handheld camera durations are useful in creating a feel for the audience e.g the audience feeling like they are actually there.
 Audio:
Ambient, You could hear everything that is going on in the workplace environment of the office. This is very convention of the genre as it gives the feeling
or element of belonging. As you can imagine you are there. Ambient sound in these shows are excellent for creating realism during a program.
 Production and Post-Production Break Down
Narration, Narration is another important element to the structure of this production. Narration was commonly used by a soft female ton to engage the
male audience into the scene. It is also an effective way of telling people quickly of what is about to happen or what is happening.
Shots frequently used in The Office
 Establishing – Mainly used in ‘setting the scene’, in the office this shot
is used at the start of every episode
 Location – Along with the establishing shots, location shots are used
in the transitions from place to place in The Office to give a sense of
progression without actually showing the journey.
 Close ups – Used in a lot of serious confrontations in the show as well
as showing the awkward humour that is present as well as reactions.
 Medium shots- Medium Shots are used through the office in basic
conversation between 2 or more people. This is usually when the
actors are communicating between themselves and another person
joins in.
 Long shot – Long shots in The Office are quite frequent, they often
take place when Brent is addressing the whole work place and usually
when the employees go out on a Friday night to a nightclub. This is
effective at showing the workplace in a whole new view instead of two
shots and multiple medium shots.The Office has a large number of unique characters from different
backgrounds and ethnicities. This helps the show represent different
cultures making it far more watchable to the audience. Having a
diverse cast with different personalities can appeal to specific people
as well as your main target audience. Which will create a link
between them and a character, this can be looks, opinions and
actions during the program.
Overall the show in terms of cinematography does not challenge the
current forms and conventions. However, the comedic content is very
unique and special to the BBC which is probably why it has been so
successful. It has successfully attracted its audience and managed to
involve them into the show and to make them laugh too.

5. MARKETING, ADVERTISEMENT AND DISTRIBUTION
 The Office Aired during the start of the
technological boom within our country, as
SNS didn’t really exist then the marketing
was pure and simple. Their marketing
campaign started with multiple posters
around the local area of slough, after they
then went further out to advertise to more
people to watch the show. The Office also
featured on many BBC Radio shows to the
build up to the release which really helped
in viewing figures of the night.
 The office in all was massive, it was backed
fully by the BBC and went on to be
nominated for multiple BAFTA awards and
winning them over the three seasons from
2001-2004 as well as Golden Globes and
Primeitme Emmy awards.
 The television show won:
Best Television Series - Comedy or Musical
– Golden Globe 2004
Outstanding Made for Television Movie
2005
Best Comedy Performance – BAFTA 2004
Best Comedy Performance – BFATA 2003
Best Comedy Performance – BFATA 2003
Best Comedy – Bannf TV Festival
BCA (British Comedy Awards)= Best
The show was also realised on DVD
in the early 2000’s. Although in 2014
All seasons where available on the
British and American Versions of
Netflix which increased income to
the BBC and distributor company.
The office also realised Christmas
specials on DVD every year up to the
final season. The Office currently
holds the record for the highest non-
feature DVD Sales in the UK.