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''La Job'' is a Canadian French-language comedy television series set in
Montreal Montreal is the List of towns in Quebec, largest city in the Provinces and territories of Canada, province of Quebec, the List of the largest municipalities in Canada by population, second-largest in Canada, and the List of North American cit ...
,
Quebec Quebec is Canada's List of Canadian provinces and territories by area, largest province by area. Located in Central Canada, the province shares borders with the provinces of Ontario to the west, Newfoundland and Labrador to the northeast, ...
. It is an adaptation of the British show ''
The Office ''The Office'' is the title of several mockumentary sitcoms based on a British series originally created by Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant as '' The Office'' in 2001. The original series also starred Gervais as manager and primary charac ...
''. Produced by Anne-Marie Losique's Image Diffusion International, it has been broadcast for a limited number of viewers on
Bell Satellite TV Bell Satellite TV (; formerly known as Bell ExpressVu, Dish Network Canada and ExpressVu Dish Network and not to be confused with Bell's IPTV Bell Fibe TV, Fibe TV service) is the division of BCE Inc. that provides satellite television service a ...
satellite television, beginning on October 9, 2006. It was later seen by a wider audience on the public broadcaster Radio-Canada (starting in January 2007)"Les infos d'Anne-Marie Losique"
, on the Anne-Marie Losique official website, retrieved August 28, 2006
and specialty channel ARTV (starting in the third quarter of the same year)."Anne-Marie Losique frappe dans le mille"
by Pascale Lévesque, ''Le Journal de Montréal'', October 6, 2006; retrieved October 10, 2006
It is the third official foreign adaptation of the concept, and the second in a language other than English.


Synopsis

National industry leader Les Papiers Jennings, a multinational carton and packaging company, is restructuring. The regional manager of their branch on Côte-de-Liesse, Saint-Laurent, in
Montreal Montreal is the List of towns in Quebec, largest city in the Provinces and territories of Canada, province of Quebec, the List of the largest municipalities in Canada by population, second-largest in Canada, and the List of North American cit ...
, is David Gervais (the name is an homage to Ricky Gervais, and his original character David Brent). He will need to compete with the Terrebonne branch and operate an important effort to avoid the shut-down of their branch. He will also have to cope with occasionally rebellious employees. David is a failed comedian and rocker who also fails to grasp the notion of political correctness. He tends to either make a fool of himself in front of the office crew or make it intensely uncomfortable. The one who seems to enjoy him the most is Sam Bisaillon, former army cadet who worships David. He shares his desk with Louis Tremblay, who is secretly in love with the shy receptionist Anne Viens. The problem is that Anne is engaged to Luc, a macho warehouse employee.


Production

''The Office'' had already seen foreign adaptation with the American ''
The Office ''The Office'' is the title of several mockumentary sitcoms based on a British series originally created by Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant as '' The Office'' in 2001. The original series also starred Gervais as manager and primary charac ...
'', the French ''
Le Bureau ''Le Bureau'' is a 2006 French television show written and directed by Nicolas & Bruno. It is a French adaptation of the popular British television series '' The Office''. ''Le Bureau'' adapted the scripts of the original British series, chang ...
'' and the quasi-official German version '' Stromberg''. Image Diffusion International produced the Québécois version. IDI co-founder Anne-Marie Losique, a well-known television host and producer, says "I saw the original show on DVD and found that it was one of the most risqué and extraordinary shows ever. For me, it's a cult classic ... we've stayed very faithful to the British series ... ike the original series the show is also set in the suburbs where nothing ever happens"."Office life satirized in La Job"
by Anna Bratulic, ''Saint-Laurent News'', August 14, 2006; retrieved August 28, 2006
Surprisingly, Losique claimed that she bought the concept for only $5,000, according to a 2005 article in '' Le Soleil''. She has mentioned that French television station Canal+ has shown interest in this version, despite already producing and broadcasting the French one. Losique already made herself known for importing shows like the American '' The Simple Life'' (called ''La Vie rurale'' in its Quebec version, its first exportation) starring herself and pop singer Jacynthe and '' The Surreal Life'' (''Des gens pas ordinaires''). Like the British ''Office'', ''La Job'' takes the form of a
mockumentary A mockumentary (a portmanteau of ''mock'' and ''documentary'') is a type of film or television show depicting fictional events, but presented as a Documentary film, documentary. Mockumentaries are often used to analyze or comment on current event ...
. Twelve episodes for the first season began shooting on July 10, 2006 and wrapped-up six weeks later, with a budget of less than
Can$ The Canadian dollar (currency symbol, symbol: $; ISO 4217, code: CAD; ) is the currency of Canada. It is abbreviated with the dollar sign $. There is no standard disambiguating form, but the abbreviations Can$, CA$ and C$ are frequently used f ...
200,000 each and filmed in high-definition. For its first season, as its French counterpart, ''La Job'' has adapted directly from the British scripts, rather than creating new ones like in the United States (although the American version did adapt the first episode in this fashion). Initially, there was hesitation over whether to call the show "''Le Bureau''" (a direct translation identical to the French version) or "''La Job''" (a
Quebec French Quebec French ( ), also known as Québécois French, is the predominant variety (linguistics), variety of the French language spoken in Canada. It is the dominant language of the province of Quebec, used in everyday communication, in education, ...
franglais colloquialism, not a proper French word, for "job"; it exists in France, but in the
masculine Masculinity (also called manhood or manliness) is a set of attributes, behaviors, and roles generally associated with men and boys. Masculinity can be theoretically understood as socially constructed, and there is also evidence that some beh ...
rather than feminine form). Eventually, ''La Job'' was chosen. Reports in the media of the name ''"Le Job"'' were mistakes. André St-Pierre is the director of the episodes. He is best known as the co-director of the
Télé-Québec The (; ), branded as () (formerly known as ), is a Canadian French-language public educational television network in the province of Quebec. It is a provincial Crown corporation owned by the Government of Quebec. The network's main studios an ...
show '' Les Francs-Tireurs'' and ''La Job'' was his first fiction. Script adaptation was given to Ian Lauzon and Jean-Philippe Granger was made
screenwriter A screenwriter (also called scriptwriter, scribe, or scenarist) is a person who practices the craft of writing for visual mass media, known as screenwriting. These can include short films, feature-length films, television programs, television ...
."La Job: Quand la réalité rejoint la fiction"
by Richard Biron, ''La Presse'', August 5, 2006; retrieved August 28, 2006
Like the American ''Office'', improv veterans were called to fill the shoes of some of the original actors. The role of the David Brent boss was entrusted to Antoine Vézina, a performer of the reputed Ligue nationale d'improvisation (LNI), a Quebec-born concept of
improvisational theatre Improvisational theatre, often called improvisation or improv or impro in British English, is the form of theatre, often comedy, in which most or all of what is performed is unplanned or unscripted, created spontaneously by the performers. In its ...
and international improv team competition (
Quebec Quebec is Canada's List of Canadian provinces and territories by area, largest province by area. Located in Central Canada, the province shares borders with the provinces of Ontario to the west, Newfoundland and Labrador to the northeast, ...
, France,
Belgium Belgium, officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a country in Northwestern Europe. Situated in a coastal lowland region known as the Low Countries, it is bordered by the Netherlands to the north, Germany to the east, Luxembourg to the southeas ...
,
Switzerland Switzerland, officially the Swiss Confederation, is a landlocked country located in west-central Europe. It is bordered by Italy to the south, France to the west, Germany to the north, and Austria and Liechtenstein to the east. Switzerland ...
and Italy). Sophie Cadieux, who holds the role corresponding to Dawn Tinsley, has also taken part in the LNI. Paul Ahmarani, playing ''La Jobs Gareth Keenan, is a great fan of the British series. About the black humor of the show, he comments: "Personally, when I began watching that show, after five minutes, I knew that I had before my eyes something unique, that would literally shatter all that we had seen before". On his character, he sums up that "I'm someone that is very much of a coward, so I like to take refuge in military fantasies of virility... I really like to say that I spent three years in the army... I'm a bit of a loser, very right-wing, very militarist". Sébastien Huberdeau, the Tim Canterbury equivalent, was seen on international screens in ''
The Barbarian Invasions ''The Barbarian Invasions'' () is a 2003 Canadian-French sex comedy-Drama (film and television), drama film written and directed by Denys Arcand and starring Rémy Girard, Stéphane Rousseau and Marie-Josée Croze. The film is a sequel to Arcand ...
'', winner of the 2004
Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film The Academy Award for Best International Feature Film (known as Best Foreign Language Film prior to 2020) is one of the Academy Awards handed out annually by the U.S.-based Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS). It is given to a ...
. It was reported that Anne-Marie Losique made the surprising choice of making Luc Provost audition for the Gareth Keenan character. Provost is better known as the flamboyant
drag queen A drag queen is a person, usually male, who uses Drag (entertainment), drag clothing and makeup to imitate and often exaggerate Femininity, female gender signifiers and gender roles for entertainment purposes. Historically, drag queens have ...
Mado Lamotte. He had just wrapped up shooting Losique's ''Des gens pas ordinaires'' when the offer was made. Irony would have been striking for the openly gay Provost playing the slightly homophobic character. He ultimately did not obtain the role.


Reality and fiction

Reality and fiction sometimes meet in ''La Job'', like in its American counterpart. The actual studios are located on Côte-de-Liesse (part of the Saint-Laurent borough in Montreal), near Autoroute 20, where the Papiers Jennings branch is located in the series. Some scenes have also been shot at the Bar Zeffé, a bar located near the main set that keeps its real name within the show. Built for the series, the shooting set is said to be ready to be converted into a real office space overnight. Shooting is done without spotlights, only with the office
fluorescent light A fluorescent lamp, or fluorescent tube, is a low-pressure mercury-vapor gas-discharge lamp that uses fluorescence to produce visible light. An electric current in the gas excites mercury vapor, to produce ultraviolet and make a phosphor ...
s. The neighbourhood paper ''Saint-Laurent News'' provides the show with fake newspapers used in filming.


Internet videos

Made for the internet, around a minute long original videos of the boss alone at his desk, giving foolish advice to camera, were released online weekly in the last quarter of 2006 on
Bell A bell /ˈbɛl/ () is a directly struck idiophone percussion instrument. Most bells have the shape of a hollow cup that when struck vibrates in a single strong strike tone, with its sides forming an efficient resonator. The strike may be m ...
's Sympatico.msn.com. The American version also released internet videos, in the middle of 2006. Those are the episodes thus far. * "La ponctualité": David reminds the viewers "punctuality" is what people should learn first, right after they are born. (September 13, 2006) * "Le diplôme": David Gervais says that he doesn't only think about "the diploma", he wants to know ''what you know how to do'', and maybe he can ''arrange a little something, if you...'', but, embarrassed about what he appears to say, adds it's ''not in that sense... not sexual''. (September 13, 2006) * "L'efficacité au travail": For "efficiency at work", David advises to wake up happy. Like the Pope. (September 15, 2006) * "L'argent": According to the boss, "money" isn't everything, even if they say it runs the world, ''okay, fine''. (September 15, 2006) * "La ville": Gervais defends the suburbs of "the city", such as Saint-Laurent or Trois-Rivières (actually a city of its own, 150 km from Montreal). (September 29, 2006) * "Voyage de pêche": The boss talks of his reward for hard work, a "fishing trip" with a good male friend, ''under the stars'', with ''only the two of us'', but gets into an involuntary misunderstanding implying the trips might have romantic aspects. (September 29, 2006) * "L'ancienneté": The boss explains his vision of "seniority". (September 29, 2006) * "L'équipe": Gervais talks about "the team". (September 29, 2006) * "Extrait épisode 1": A clip from the first episode where David, the receptionist and the corporate head discuss of a possible future merger between the Saint-Laurent and Terrebonne branches. Rocky calls on the intercom. (October 4, 2006) * "Extrait épisode 2": A clip from the second episode where Gervais reassures the office staff about merger rumours and introduces a new female co-worker. (October 4, 2006)http://video.fr.sympatico.msn.com/v/fr-ca/v.htm?g=a733994e-2160-4c37-906f-4c23efc00504&f=38/82&fg=copy


Episodes

* Episode 1: A camera team begins filming the life of the small Saint-Laurent branch of Les Papiers Jennings. Talks of a merger begin. See the corresponding first British episode. * Episode 2: Rumours of downsizing continue. A new female worker enters the office. See the corresponding second British episode.


Cast

These are the actors and characters. To see how these characters compare with other versions of the show, see . * Regional Manager: David Gervais ( Antoine Vézina) * Sales Representative: Louis Tremblay ( Sébastien Huberdeau) * Receptionist: Anne Viens ( Sophie Cadieux) * Assistant to the Regional Manager: Sam Bisaillon ( Paul Ahmarani) * Office Temp: Fred Caillé ( Alphé Gagné) * Travelling Sales Representative: Rocky Larocque (Yves Amyot) * Warehouse Employee and Receptionist's Fiancé: Luc ( Martin Tremblay) * Corporate Head: Emmanuelle Sirois-Keaton ( Nathalie Coupal) * Senior Sales Representative's girlfriend: Julie Évelyne Rompré * A girlfriend of the temp: Valérie ( Noémie Yelle) * A trade unionist: Raymond ( Bernard Carez)


See also

*
List of Quebec television series A list is a set of discrete items of information collected and set forth in some format for utility, entertainment, or other purposes. A list may be memorialized in any number of ways, including existing only in the mind of the list-maker, but ...
* List of Quebec television series imports and exports * Television of Quebec * Culture of Quebec *''
The Office ''The Office'' is the title of several mockumentary sitcoms based on a British series originally created by Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant as '' The Office'' in 2001. The original series also starred Gervais as manager and primary charac ...
'' *''
Le Bureau ''Le Bureau'' is a 2006 French television show written and directed by Nicolas & Bruno. It is a French adaptation of the popular British television series '' The Office''. ''Le Bureau'' adapted the scripts of the original British series, chang ...
''


References


External links

*
Video page of La Job
at Sympatico.msn.com
"Pushing papier: The newest copy of BBC's The Office is La Job"
in the
National Post The ''National Post'' is a Canadian English-language broadsheet newspaper and the flagship publication of the American-owned Postmedia Network. It is published Mondays through Saturdays, with Monday released as a digital e-edition only.

"Office life satirized in La Job"
i
Saint-Laurent News

"La Job: Quand la réalité rejoint la fiction"
in La Presse {{DEFAULTSORT:Job, La The Office television series Television shows set in Montreal Television shows filmed in Montreal Saint-Laurent, Quebec 2000s Canadian satirical television series 2000s Canadian sitcoms 2000s Canadian workplace comedy television series 2006 Canadian television series debuts 2007 Canadian television series endings 2006 French television series debuts 2007 French television series endings Ici Radio-Canada Télé original programming Canadian mockumentary television series