Tuesday 23 October 2012

The Office Analysis - BBC 2

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The analysed clip has been taken from the first episode of the office, aired in 2001 on BBC. The first technical code that I will look at is Mise-en-scene. For example, something that is very apparent throughout is that they are following the workers when they are in there own norm environment. This is important as it means that they are being filmed in their natural surroundings. Humour is also a common feature here. This is because it is a fictional TV series that has been created in the style of a documentary. Therefore this connotes that they humour has been kept in there in order to keep the audience hooked and entertained throughout.  This also explains why it doesn’t seem that the programme itself is scripted.

Costume mise-en-scene, we can see that they are all wearing what they would normally wear for places such as work. This includes things such as business wear, and all the props are also true to what you would expect to find in an office, such as a stapler. This is important as it shows that they are trying to keep it as realistic as they possibly can.

There is a lot which can be said about the cinematography in the given clip. For example it starts off with a series of establishing shots, including a one of the roundabout and one for the ‘office’. This connotes that they are trying to show that maybe this is the way into work, and is taking the audience there one step at a time.  The camera is something that tends to catch everything. And therefore it is normally used to catch all of the interviews. This however is only true if there is nothing else interesting happening in the background. This is when the interviewee becomes the voice over and we can see that the other characters are doing. For example, if characters are having ‘private moments’ it tends to focus in on them instead. They also tend to take some of these shots through ‘secretive’ places, such as through windows. This gives us the impression that the camera is trying to spy on the characters in order to get what they want.

A number of close up’s have been used upon the ‘interviewer’ to show how he is feeling throughout after every question that has been answered. This allows for the audience to have an insight to what is being thought about, and to if the ‘right’ answer has been given. Whilst filming, we can tell that some of the shots have been filmed from many different angles. This is important as it means that they were able to cut in and out of the different rushes in order to produce a project that looks authentic. Finally the camera is always moving slightly as if it is hand held. This connotes that they are following what is going on at all times. It also gives the impression that he is always following his subjects and getting the best information that he can out of them.

In terms of edits, the one main thing that is always apparent is the use of cuts. They have been used constantly though out this in order to show a sense of continuity and to get a lot of information out into the audience. The cuts have also helped to keep a sense of face paced continuity going, so that the documentary never gets boring and so it keeps moving.

The last technical code left to discuss would be that of sound. For example, yet again, a voice over has been used for when the interviewer has been asking the many questions that he does. This is important as this is a technique that has been used though out the three documentaries that I have analysed. Also no language has been removed from the final clip. This is important as it allows for it to remain looking very genuine and also so that it makes it look real and authentic.

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