MovieChat Forums > The Office (2005) Discussion > Prior to season 9, why were the camerame...

Prior to season 9, why were the cameramen never addressed?

posted 8 years ago by AdamGoMovies
12 replies | jump to latest

I am watching season 7 ep 15, The Search, where Jim leaves Michael alone at the gas station thinking that his daughter was locked in the car. Upon leaving the toilet Michael is shocked that Jim has left, and doesn't believe the gas station worker that he was just ditched. Then, borrowing the workers phone he doesn't call anyone from the Office because he doesn't have the number.

Now my question is, since this is a show where the cameramen are part of the show, thus addressed, why didn't Michael for instance ask for the cameraman's phone, why didn't he ask the cameraman where Jim went, and why didn't Jim tell the cameraman where he was going and what happened? Also why didn't the cameraman EXPLAIN what happened?

I know for the sake of the story this can't happen, but does this not strike as an odd plot-hole?

[–] benman46 8 years ago

Because it wasn't really a documentary, that idea was abandoned fairly early on, except for the final season strangely. They weren't a part of the show really, except for the final season strangely. They weren't characters in the show. In real documentaries you rarely those being filmed conversing with the camera crew.

[–] AdamGoMovies 8 years ago

I understand that, but the camera was always acknowledged through the talking heads and even through Jim giving the camera looks when something weird happened. That means that unlike other movies/shows, the camera isn't ignored, but it is accepted that it is there, and the people are being filmed; e.g. Michael's departure, he takes the mic off his chest.

That means in extreme situations, when it was absolutely needed, they could address the cameramen and therefore escape from difficult situations, as was Jim abandoning Michael. Just an observation i guess.

[–] benman46 8 years ago

As I said the camera crew are very rarely addressed in real docs. I would hardly call Jim leaving Michael behind an extreme situation, unless there was an earthquake at the time.

[–] Volley2020 8 years ago

The camera guys were glanced at many times during the show. Michael and Jim are notorious for giving them looks, glances, as well as Michael taking off the microphone, and a few others from time to time. Just because we didn't see them until the final season, doesn't mean they weren't there.

[–] angel-906-425006 8 years ago

No,it can't happen because the documentary crew has been specifically asked not to get involved in the characters lives at all,they could get fired for interfering(like Brian did).So no,it strike me as a plot hole.

[–] citycity123 8 years ago

It really quickly became a device of storytelling rather then a plot point. In some situations they acknowledged the crew but most of the time I guess even the writers and directors were not thinking about a crew being present.

Kind of like Modern Family, where they use the same style but there is no real camera, crew and no documentary is being filmed.

[–] benman46 8 years ago

Quite right it is a device of storytelling. The writers wouldn't be thinking of the crew whilst writing a script. So why were the crew included in the final season, unless the writers had run out of ideas. All it served to do was show how preposterous the whole idea of a documentary was. I remember before the season started, it was announced that "at last the crew would be shown". What did we get? Brian. Brian for God's sake.

[–] theauxphou 8 years ago

Now my question is, since this is a show where the cameramen are part of the show, thus addressed, why didn't Michael for instance ask for the cameraman's phone, why didn't he ask the cameraman where Jim went, and why didn't Jim tell the cameraman where he was going and what happened? Also why didn't the cameraman EXPLAIN what happened?

I know for the sake of the story this can't happen, but does this not strike as an odd plot-hole?

Agreed.

They've interfered before. Remember, early in the (I think) second season, the camera operator motioned to Pam that Dwight was eating a chocolate bar previously seen to be bought from the vending machine by Angela, thus implying Dwight and Angela are seeing one another?

[–] ptblazerfan 8 years ago

They were addressed every episode.....with facial reactions, 1 on 1 interviews, etc.

[–] benman46 8 years ago

To address someone you have to actually speak to them, Jim looking at the camera doesn't count, nor do the direct to camera which were basically monologues not interviews.

[–] benman46 8 years ago

Yes, but the cameraman doesn't actually say anything.

[–] CarolTheDabbler (575) 2 months ago

Jim leaves Michael alone at the gas station thinking that his daughter was locked in the car. Upon leaving the toilet Michael is shocked that Jim has left, and doesn't believe the gas station worker that he was just ditched....

.... why didn't Michael for instance ask for the cameraman's phone, why didn't he ask the cameraman where Jim went, and why didn't Jim tell the cameraman where he was going and what happened? Also why didn't the cameraman EXPLAIN what happened?

You're wanting some in-universe explanations, so -- taking the last question first, how about these: They don't explain because Michael doesn't ask them to (their job is generally to just record what happens, though perhaps occasionally there's a life-or-death situation, or they just can't resist). As for Michael not asking, that's probably because he's so used to ignoring the camera unless he's the explicit center of attention. And Jim doesn't think to leave a message with them because he's focussed on saving his daughter.