The Office (US) is a prime example of a successful mockumentary-style TV show. To achieve this, the show's creators followed three key rules:
1. The camera crew is treated as people, not just observers, allowing them to interact with the characters and create a more immersive experience.
2. The subject (Michael Scott) had to be likable, so the show made adjustments to his character to make him more relatable and endearing.
3. The show avoided using "talking heads" (interviews with characters) as crutches for exposition, instead using them as a tool to reveal character and facilitate the narrative.
The show's use of the mockumentary style also allowed for a unique sense of attachment to the characters, as the audience feels like they're sharing secrets and moments exclusively with them. This technique was used to great effect in various storylines, making The Office a beloved and iconic show.
Here are the key facts extracted from the text:
1. The mockumentary genre has its roots in the early 1960s.
2. The 1964 film "A Hard Day's Night" was the first feature-length mockumentary.
3. The 2005 version of "The Office" followed a set of principles or rules to make a good non-autobiographical documentary.
4. Greg Daniels, co-creator and executive producer of "The Office", directed the camera operators as if they were actors.
5. The show's main cinematographer, Matson, was hired for his reality TV background, having just come off shooting "Survivor".
6. The camera crew in "The Office" were treated as people, not just observers.
7. The show's rule number one is that the camera crew are people, not just observers.
8. The show's rule number two is that the subject has to be likable, relatively.
9. The original British version of "The Office" featured Ricky Gervais as a very unlikable character.
10. The American version of "The Office" made changes to Michael Scott's character to make him more likable.
11. The show's rule number three is to not use talking heads as crutches for exposition dumps.
12. The show uses confessional moments to provide information about characters without using dialogue or narration.
13. The show's greatest mockumentary principle is using the technical premise to bring the viewer closer to the stories within the office.
14. The show deploys a technique to manipulate the viewer's attachment to the characters and their stories.
15. The show had its faults and tapered off in quality after Steve Carell's exit.
16. The show took a simple premise and nearly perfected it over the course of nine seasons.