Analysing sound and music in The Office

I’ve chosen to deconstruct the sound and music from episode one, series one of hit television drama ‘The Office’. During this scene David Brent, the boss of the particular team followed throughout the series, goes about what appears to be his daily routine; conversing with co-workers about the weekend and getting jobs sorted around the office among other things.

The opening sequence features the show’s theme tune ‘Handbags & Gladrags’ by Rod Stewart, this piece of music serves as just about the only soundtrack throughout the series and is non-diagetic in this case. After the title sequence we are introduced to David Brent who is talking to one of his employees about getting a job in the warehouse, the sound in this scene is all diagetic whether it is him clicking his ballpoint pen, the dialogue between him and his co-worker or him speaking on the phone. The other scenes follow a similar style where sound is concerned as it is all interviews with or dialogue between him and employees, however in the establishing shots and conversation in the main office area there is office ambience which is amplified in the establishing shots and becomes quieter in the scenes with conversation. A feature used in this scene and often throughout the series is a sound bridge of someones voice as the scene switches to an interview with them, this often serves it purposes as a sound bridge but also as narration as what's happening in the scene reflects whats they are talking about.

The office as a whole doesn’t contain much sound and music apart from diagetic sounds from the office as it is supposed to be in the form of a documentary to create the comedy and dramatic values it performs so well.