In this Ausfilm feature, we explore Cutting Edge’s involvement in Amazon MGM Studios and BBC Studios Australia’s recent adaptation of the renowned series The Office.

As we prepare to farewell another year, it is always an excellent opportunity to reflect on some of the fantastic content produced in Australia. With no shortage of compelling and engaging stories exported from Down Under, one of the more high-profile TV series to be released in 2024 is the much anticipated Australian adaptation of the widely successful and popular franchise The Office.

We all know The Office well. Even if you haven’t watched it, chances are you have heard your colleagues occasionally reference it around the water cooler. The British (the OG) version of The Office was first released in 2001 and quickly became an award-winning, global hit. This was followed by the release of the US version in 2005, which ran for an astonishing nine seasons. Both versions were critically acclaimed and embraced by audiences worldwide, often causing fights among fans as to which version was better.

Now, 23 years later, it’s Australia’s turn to take on the pop culture phenomenon.

Starring Australian comedian Felicity Ward, the Australian spin captures the franchise’s essence but adds its unique Australian flavour. This is evident when watching storylines throughout the series centered around snakes at a reptile farm and a mischievous Crow affectionately called Russell. These unique Australian elements add a fresh and exciting twist to the familiar franchise.

Providing full Post and VFX services, The Office Australia presented Cutting Edge with the opportunity to collaborate with heavy hitters Amazon MGM Studios, BBC Studios Australia, and Bunya Entertainment.

Cutting Edge’s involvement included digital dailies, editorial hire, picture post, and executing key visual effects (VFX) sequences based out of their Sydney Studio.

“When we were initially approached to provide picture post services on The Office Australia, it was an exciting opportunity for the Cutting Edge Production and Creative team.

Having previously worked with BBC Studios Australia, Bunya Entertainment, and Amazon MGM Studios, it was an honor for Cutting Edge to be trusted again to provide Post and VFX on this celebrated series.

While the team was eager to get started, I would be lying if I didn’t say working on an internationally successful series like The Office was a slightly daunting undertaking.

It is not every day that you get to do post production on a TV Series that is already so well-known and established. We wanted to do it justice and work with the Production team to contribute to its success.”

Marcus Bolton, Head of Features & Television, Cutting Edge

Cutting Edge began working on the series in June 2023, firstly facilitating dailies and editorial hire before commencing finishing picture post in late 2023 and delivering in July 2024. This successful post‑production experience is a testament to Cutting Edge’s expertise and commitment to providing high‑quality work.

While not a heavy visual effects style show, Cutting Edge executed the key VFX sequences throughout the series.

One of the more involved and complicated tasks Cutting Edge had was creating Russell ‘The Unemotional Support’ Crow, a beloved character who steals the show in episode five, ’Pajama Day’.

As a key sequence, Cutting Edge was initially briefed on the CGI requirements during pre-production. Russell the Crow was always cast in this sequence as a fully realised CGI character, giving the scene more flexibility to hit comedic beats arising from the mayhem of Russell’s ‘accidental’ release.

No stranger to CGI builds of animals, Cutting Edge’s visual effects team was entrusted with Russell the Crow. As the Cutting Edge VFX team knows, creating 3D CGI of animals is an in-depth process requiring a fair amount of research and development. Led by VFX Supervisor Damien Thaller and VFX Producer Andrew Strouthos, the Cutting Edge team took advantage of their time, using pre-production to discuss further and test the CGI build while helping to map out the sequence.

Starting with the look development, Cutting Edge worked closely with the stakeholders and key creatives to determine the onset needs and ensure the bird’s most realistic animation and rendering.

Cutting Edge used visual cues from the real-life Russell to match the scale, shape and feather texture. During this process, they studied the unique and identifiable characteristics of the actual bird, down to the finest of details, to ensure a seamless transition between real-life Russell and the CGI build.

From here, the VFX team created a fully customised animated rig, allowing them to match and further motivate the actors’ performance. Using the actors’ reactions, eyeline, and movements helped guide Russell the Crow’s actions and added to the scene’s chaos, making it comedic gold.

“Our VFX team inquired into the behavioural habits of crows, watching countless reference videos to study their actions in confined environments and their flight paths while in similar situations.

This delicate task was a true test of our team’s creativity and problem-solving skills.

It was important to Amazon MGM Studios, BBC Studios Australia and Bunya Entertainment that Russell did not appear harmed or distressed. It was a constant and delicate balance of realism and comedy, the epitome of which was when a glass meeting room wall foils Russell’s escape.

In VFX, we experimented with a few options: He bounced quickly off the glass unphased, circling the room and evading his captors, adding to the comedic beats of the scene.

Sticking with the Australian comedic storylines featured in the series, Cutting Edge pivoted from a bird named after an Aussie legend to slithering creatures synonymous with Australia. Yes, that’s right! Snakes!

Featured in episode seven, ‘Away Day,’ the Cutting Edge VFX team had their work cut out when mastering the visual effects of a snake sequence at the reptile farm.”

Damien Thaller, VFX Supervisor, Cutting Edge
Andrew Strouthos, VFX Producer, Cutting Edge

As with Russell the Crow, Cutting Edge was involved during pre-production and was able to attend the shoot day for the scene. VFX Supervisor Damien Thaller, when on-set, quickly discovered that snakes shy away from the limelight, opting to hide in darker corners rather than take centre stage, making capturing their movements a lot more complicated.

This presented the VFX team with a dilemma. Should they attempt to capture the snake’s performance in camera or take the sequence over entirely in 3D?

To ensure coverage and different variety plates to work with and test, this included plates of actors and snakes, plates of just actors for performance, and plates of just snakes.

Ultimately, the decision on the approach came down to the final edit. As with Russell the Crow, the VFX team discussed potential solutions with key creatives and stakeholders throughout the process to find the best way forward.

After extensive dailies reviews, rigorous testing, and layout options, the most efficient approach was via 2D elements. Cutting Edge was able to augment the speed, direction, shape, and overall performance of the snake elements captured in camera and integrate them neatly into the main action plate. This complemented the hilarious performances of the actors and further contributed to the realism of the sheer panic in the scene.

While the VFX team were working on some of the more chaotic and ‘out there’ scenes featured in the series, Cutting Edge’s Senior Colourist Dwaine Hyde worked collaboratively with The Office Australia’s creative team to execute the grade across the entire series.

Working closely with DOP Bevan Crothers, Dwaine and Bevan set out to establish a unique aesthetic for the series. One could falsely think that being the third version of a renowned franchise would mean simply following suit from the previous series. However, it was important to Bevan that The Office Australia was unique, a creative decision Dwaine was excited to tackle. This was the first time Dwaine and Bevan had worked together, and it didn’t take long for them to establish a shared vision for the series.

“It was an absolute pleasure working with Bevan. His dynamic documentary cinematography style ideally suited the genre.

His enthusiasm and energy were appreciated in the grade suite, which the series greatly benefited from.”

Dwaine Hyde, Senior Colourist, Cutting Edge

While there are some similarities in style, particularly with some of the more ‘mundane’ office looks, Bevan and Dwaine worked hard to create nuances in the grade that further highlighted the individuality of the series and some of its Australian themes.

This is evident in the team building execution, the main story in episode seven, where the audience is taken out of the everyday office environment and transported to a reptile farm. Visually engaging, Bevan and Dwaine could contrast the colours of this scene against the more sterile office scenes, further enhancing the vibrancy and chaotic nature of the snake scene delivered from VFX.

Another notable difference in the Australian spin-off compared to its predecessors was consistently seeing outside the office windows throughout each scene. While this happens occasionally in the US version, this was a key feature in the Australian version and had been planned to give the audience a sense of realism and grounding. Bevan and Dwaine had to navigate this in the grade to ensure the balance between the inside office environment and outside the windows.

From VFX to grade, the Cutting Edge team feel fortunate to have worked with the production and creative teams from Amazon MGM Studios, BBC Studios Australia and Bunya Entertainment. Their professionalism and expertise made the post-production experience seamless and enjoyable, with plenty of laughs along the way.

“Cutting Edge completed postproduction picture, including dailies, on the 8-part series THE OFFICE for Amazon MGM.

Cutting Edge worked with us to design and implement the post workflow and assigned an expert team of technicians and producers who fitted the brief of an eye for detail, technical knowledge and a can-do approach.”

Annalisa Brown, BBC Studios Australia

You can check out The Office Australia on Amazon Prime. All eight episodes are currently available for streaming in over 250 regions globally.