Got a ‘Sabre’ question for Jen or John?

I’m so excited that Jen Celotta (update: AND John Krasinski!) have agreed to answer your questions about last night’s episode, Sabre!

Jen’s script. John’s directorial debut on The Office. Kathy Bates and Christian Slater guest star. Greg Daniels’ son returns. David Wallace leaves Sanity Island.

So much to talk about. :)

If you have a question about ‘Sabre,’ please post it in a comment below.

This post will close at 11pm Pacific Time tonight, so get your questions in today!

P.S. We’ve got quite a few duplicate questions now. Before posting yours, make sure it hasn’t already been asked. Thanks!

143 comments

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1. 
   143. SaraS  Fri. Feb. 5, 2010 | 10:43pm

   1) Was the child who played Wallace’s son really playing the drums!?
   2) Did you have to get permission to use Party in the USA?
   3) Was the comment “maybe you’re not as charming as you think you are” a nod to the change in Jim and Pam this season?

2. 
   142. Cayce80  Fri. Feb. 5, 2010 | 10:27pm

   Great episode, Jen & John!

   For Jen: The drumming scenes were awesome! Was it written in the script for Wallace’s son to play the drums or was that a talent the actor already had that later was incorporated into the script? He was great! And it was fun to see him on the show again.

   For John: I really loved the daycare scene with Joey Slotnick and remembered him from “Brief Interviews.” Did you play any part in the casting and, if so, did you have him in mind for the role? Otherwise, how did he get the part?

3. 
   141. Jake  Fri. Feb. 5, 2010 | 10:26pm

   John, what would you say was the most challenging part of directing yourself as an actor in the episode? Was it a different challenge doing it with comedy as opposed to your previous experience with directing and starring in a drama?

   Jen, I’ve been through my fair share of corporate mergers, and this episode was spot on. Were you drawing from personal experience? Also, I want to add the I love the slow transition of Jim becoming more and more like Michael. It has been amazingly consistent over the years.

   Thank you both for your time.

4. 
   140. Stile4aly  Fri. Feb. 5, 2010 | 10:13pm

   Having become addicted to the Office blooper reels, I’m wondering if the cast and crew took the opportunity to mess with John at all. Any hazing or good natured mutiny to report?

5. 
   139. office fan  Fri. Feb. 5, 2010 | 9:59pm

   Did you guys write/direct the Sabre corporate video as well? If so, did you subject yourselves to watching some real examples?

   John – Did directing mean putting in significantly more prep time than usual or do you just kind of roll with it?

   Thanks!

6. 
   138. Shane  Fri. Feb. 5, 2010 | 9:59pm

   Any chance of Kathy Bates making a trip to Scranton? I’d love to see her interact with characters like Dwight and Angela.

   And for JKras: Congrats on directing your first episode and thanks for all your work on the show! It’s been a true pleasure to watch and I hope it continues for a long time to come. You and Jenna have made Jim/Pam one of the greatest tv couples of all time…but when are we finally getting a Jim bobblehead?!

   God bless

7. 
   137. lovingthursdays  Fri. Feb. 5, 2010 | 9:53pm

   Hi Jen and John,
   Thanks to each of you for being more aware of the need for continuity in the writing and bringing more of the documentary style in the directing. Was it a conscious decision to key on that? Is the lack of or presence of ’smiles’ between Jim and Pam the decision of the writer, director or the actors? (Whatever it was, we’re SO glad JAM’s back!)

   John, what was your preparation process for directing and how long did you have to prepare? Did you get the script early and were you excited to have the challenge of a variety of scenes to shoot? Michael backing out of DW’s drive was so inventive! I was expecting him to hit a tree, however!

   John, you make it all look so easy, so you must be very talented and work very hard. Thank you so much!

8. 
   136. JMJ  Fri. Feb. 5, 2010 | 9:26pm

   John-Did you also direct the Christian Slater Sabre Video? If so, what was that like?

9. 
   135. Paula  Fri. Feb. 5, 2010 | 9:13pm

   A writing question: First, I loved the daycare scene because of the layered awkwardness of the situation, and how true it rang from our experiences in looking for schools for our kids. I’m curious if the name of the daycare had anything to do with the nature of what was occuring when Jim walked in on the daycare administrator, and was this in itself a joke or coincidence?

10. 
    134. Joanna  Fri. Feb. 5, 2010 | 9:04pm

    Hi John and Jen –

    Great episode. Just went through a buyout at my office, and this captured that experience very well.

    Question for John – As the director, did you find it more or less difficult to keep a straight face during filming, as opposed to when you’re acting in the scene?

    And Jen – Has Michael lost all respect for David Wallace now, and does that mean we won’t be seeing Andy Buckley anymore? (Hope not.)

    Thanks.

11. 
    133. AllisonSarah  Fri. Feb. 5, 2010 | 8:57pm

    Hey guys! Thanks so much for answering our questions! I’m visiting the set in early April and am so looking forward to it!

    For Jen: Was “I’ve got a big box, yes I do!” your idea? How did you come up with that scene? I thought it was fantastic.

    For John: What was your favorite scene to direct? Did you like directing scenes you were in better or scenes in which you didn’t appear?

    Thanks! :)

12. 
    132. Jordan  Fri. Feb. 5, 2010 | 8:38pm

    John,
    Being so much different than the way ‘traditional’ movies are shot, how did you approach the signature, shaky ‘documentary-style’ camera work of The Office? Were the quick zooms and cuts written into the script, or did you–as a director–get to decide where and how you wanted them to play out on camera?

    Also, the tag at the end with David Wallace and his son rocking out to the “Suck It” theme song was brilliant. Was that scripted or improvised?

13. 
    131. Christina  Fri. Feb. 5, 2010 | 8:37pm

    John, which actor gave you the most grief during your time behind the camera? What did he/she do?

14. 
    130. Alyssa  Fri. Feb. 5, 2010 | 8:13pm

    The Sabre CEO actually scared me! Was that the intention? What can we expect from Jo Bennett? Also, I’m sure I could tell from the episode, but did Jim and Pam ultimately fair well in their quest for above average preschooling? I really loved the episode! Congratulations to John for his first directing credit on the Office!

15. 
    129. Karina  Fri. Feb. 5, 2010 | 8:11pm

    Hi John! My question is was it easier to direct this time around since you had experience on ‘Brief Interviews’?[by the way I saw it,and it blew my mind-in a good way :)]

16. 
    128. Abbey in PA  Fri. Feb. 5, 2010 | 7:56pm

    Hi Jen & John – thank you so much for answering our questions! I have a question for each of you:

    Jen – thank you for writing such a fabulous episode! I loved the scene where Pam asks the daycare manager flat out about Jim seeing him in the bathroom. How did you decide that that was how she would handle the situation, just dealing with the awkwardness? Also, how old are Jim and Pam now? Not that age necesarily matters, but they seem more mature and it’s a nice development.

    John – first, congratulations on directing your first Office episode – how exciting! How much of a role did you play in the editing process? There was a lot going on in the episode but it didn’t feel rushed. I think I speak for all the Tallyheads in saying we’re really proud of you!

17. 
    127. Chardin  Fri. Feb. 5, 2010 | 7:55pm

    Oh, I just checked back and I have a question for John, too – sorry for the two comments.

    Hi John,

    First of all, fantastic job! Office directing is obviously another of your fortes. One quick question – did directing an episode change your perspective on Jim at all, and/or the way you play him?

    Thanks!

18. 
    126. Monica  Fri. Feb. 5, 2010 | 7:48pm

    Was it intentional that Wallace came acrossed as the depressed version of Michael Scott? Or am I goofy?

19. 
    125. Jackie  Fri. Feb. 5, 2010 | 7:45pm

    This is so nice of them to answer questions from fans! I loved the episode, it was hilarious as usual!

    My question for Jen is: When the actors improv, do the writers or directors just go with what they do, or do they edit what they say to make it fit the scene a little better? I’m not sure if there was any improv in last night’s show, but I wouldn’t be surprised if there was!

    And for John: First off, I’m a huge fan! Great job on directing! My question is, since you and Jenna have been playing Jim and Pam for so long, did you really need to do all that much directing for your scenes, or is it just so natural with you two that now you can improv a lot of it with the faces you give each other, etc?

    Thank you!

20. 
    124. Rachel B.  Fri. Feb. 5, 2010 | 7:42pm

    Hey there!
    Jen it made my day to see David Wallace making a fluffernutter sandwich and the inclusion of the two songs were stupendous: Andy and Erin with Sabre then David Wallace and his son with Suck It! Thank you! Do you write all of the guitar chords and music yourself or do you ask the actors for creative input?

    John! Great job directing! When are you scheduled to direct again? Also, I’m not really sure what the right question is but if I wanted to see Brief Interviews with Hideous Men how would you suggest I go about doing that?

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