TV/documentaries                                              SaturdayGuardian 26.03.
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Men at Work…
In a new series of documentaries,
channel 4 explores the invisible world
behind establishments and the individuals
within, whom without, everything would
fall apart.
“What better way to make a living?”
These are the words of one of the subjects in
this documentaries series, which examines
the lives of inconspicuous individuals in the
work place. They epitomise the job satisfac-
tion and dedication felt by men and women
who work constantly behind the scenes of
establishments and organisations, who keep
them running smoothly and efficiently.
From the opening shots which portray
scenes of nature juxtaposed with the sounds
of industry, we can immediately see that this
is not merely a popular reality television
show or documentary following the “freaks”
who are now exploited and publicized in
many of Channel 4’s latest programmes.
11 
 Average Joe 
It is in contrast a series of poetic and
traditional episodes depicting the years of
hard toil and effort by those individuals, who
are often take for granted ,but have im-
proved their employers facilities and ease of ates,
ence
work by immeasurable lengths.
One of the first subjects the pro- how
gramme follows is Joe Cornish, an ex- Beir
resistant materials teacher, now turned tech- serva
ence
nician. He has been working at a secondary
school in Somerset for over 32 years, “ ish l
working with wood, metal and making
things,” and represents a generation of peo-
ple who stayed in the same employment for sider
shots
the majority of their working careers ,unlike
the younger people of contemporary society to cr
arou
who no longer have the security of a life
long job. in th
scho
Mr Cornish is seen as a wizard at his
craft, able to make anything that he is pre-
sented with from either his students or teach- cross
class
ers. Will characters like Joe be appreciated
by the British public in what some would of th
expe
describe as pointless nostalgia?
to tra
cross
 The quaint and poetic feel this film gener-
, would often only appeal to a niche audi-
e,
ever, film producers Will Davis and Mark
ne are sure that “this humbling series of ob-
ational documentaries, will make the audi-
e reminisce of the forgotten old ways of Brit-
ife and work.”
The documentary uses shots that are con-
red to be experimental. At the start there are
s of abstract scenes of nature and industry,
reate the sense that the school moves on and
und Joe and show that he is always working
he background and is an integral part of the
ool.
During the interviews there is a use of
s fades to make him almost drift through the
s room, as if he is “ingrained into the fabric
he school itself.” Even though there are many
erimental and poetic traits used, it also sticks
aditional documentary conventions with
s fades and blackouts creating a steady re-
This series of films mirror the style, structure and
presentation of other short documentary films that regularly
appear on 4docs such as “ A Damn Nice Café.”
The use of asynchronous sounds and time lapses, as-
sociate the concepts of time and its relationship to the
subjects for the audience. This results in the subject leading
the film rather than it following the directions of its produc-
ers. It also prevents the overpowering use of narration
marking the start, middle and end of each scene and event,
which can turn the film into a very structured rigid pro-
gramme.
Similarly to “A Damn Nice Café” this film is free
flowing and the narrative appears very natural and continu-
ous, with no cancellation of scenes or topics, instead it
moves quietly towards the same destination. Even the end
of this film is not sharp or cancelling, but matches the slow
dim of the end of a day’s work. As the subject stores away
his equipment and heads home, the film fades away as if it
was following his train of thought drifting off until the next
day.
channel4.com/documentaries
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