‘The Office’ set visit 2009

Friday, April 17, 2009

Ed Helms

I’m sunburned, sleep-deprived, and I’ve been wearing the same clothes for the past four days.

Other than that, this was one of the best freaking weeks of my life.

I have many, many photos, plus precious video, to share with all of you. I fly home tomorrow, so I will be posting more stuff very soon!

The Office cast, writers, and crew are the kindest and funniest group of folks I have ever met.

Thanks to everybody for letting me be a part of the 100th episode frivolity!

xo
Jennie

‘Where’s tanster?’ checklist (updated)

Here’s a final list of scenes I’m in. PLEASE keep in mind two things: 1) I’m in the background, so I’ll probably be the size of a dot, if recognizable at all, and 2) This is The Office, which means lots of stuff is shot that is never aired. It is possible that you won’t see me at all.

• ‘Shoot the basket’ carnival game. I’m shooting baskets with my back to the camera.
• Walking onto the picnic grounds with my buddy Erin (she’s pushing her stroller).
• Sitting on the lawn watching the Buffalo volleyball game. I’m wearing a camera around my neck and am drinking a fruity drink with little umbrella. Erin is standing behind me with her husband Dan and their babies.
• Watching stage entertainment. I’m sitting in the front row with my Buffalo peeps.
• Standing in a group of Dunder Mifflinites in the background, with David Wallace talking to two Office cast members in the foreground.
• Standing at a picnic table with other Dunder Mifflinites, talking to David Wallace.

When in doubt, look for a bright orange Buffalo shirt. :)

Wednesday, April 15, 2009

• To watch the entire cast of The Office frolic in a beautiful picnic setting, delivering hilarious lines, ad libbing even more outrageous ones, and playing football even when no one is filming, is almost too much fun to witness.
• The weather has been the worst part of this experience. Extras reported to set this morning at 6am. It was 40 degrees then. Everyone is bundled in long down coats, gloves, hats, blankets, you name it, anything to keep warm. When you are needed for a scene, though, you are required to strip down to your picnic attire, which for some is nothing more than a t-shirt, skirt, and flip flops. That part is not fun. Not fun at all.
• Today I got to meet the winner of this year’s Sierra Mist ‘win a walk-on role on The Office’ contest. He’s going to be in this episode, too!
• During one take of a particular scene, someone says “she touched it!” to which Kate Flannery says under her breath, “that’s what she said.” I ran over to her between takes and told her I heard her TWSS. She said, “good ear!”
• I got to meet Angela’s precious little baby, Isabel. She’s been on set every day and is quite the sensation. Angela even introduced Isabel to some of the extras!
• For the past few days, I’ve watched a LOT of volleyball being played, and cheered on the Buffalo team. GO BUFFALO!
• Right before lunch, the cast was allowed to let loose, and proceeded to play another Dunder Mifflin branch completely off script. It was the greatest 20 minutes of “volleyball improv” I’ve ever witnessed. Rainn Wilson was especially on fire with the smack talk. B.J. Novak had a great performance as well. It was fabulous. I hope the entire sequence makes it to the DVD.
• B.J. Novak asked me “are you sure you’re not bored?” I replied, 1) no, 2) loving every minute, 3) because I’m a total geek for the show.
• I met director Ken Kwapis for the first time yesterday. Ken directed the pilot episode of the show, as well as classics like ‘Diversity Day,’ ‘Booze Cruise,’ and ‘Casino Night.’ He also directed Jenna Fischer in her momentous talking head at the end of ‘The Job.’ He told me he follows OfficeTally’s annual Survivor Poll! At one point after setting up a complicated scene today, with the entire cast and nearly 200 extras, Ken walks up to me, squeezes my arm, and says, “does it look like I know what I’m doing?” I was so delighted that he would even ask my opinion, all I could say was, “Yes! Of course, yes! You’re doing great!”

Photos

Creed Bratton and Angela Kinsey

Also check out the photo Rainn took today.

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156 comments

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1. 
   156. Traci  Fri. May. 15, 2009 | 6:45pm

   Wow…I saw you in two scenes last night. Congratulations! What an awesome honor. Fantastic show too!

2. 
   155. Kathleen  Fri. May. 15, 2009 | 7:34am

   I caught your closeup, well done! And I want one of those Buffalo shirts in the worst way! LOL

3. 
   154. Stephanie  Fri. May. 15, 2009 | 7:04am

   Tanster–Were the people in the light blue shirts from the “Atlanta” branch?

4. 
   153. BobbleHead_Nisa  Fri. May. 15, 2009 | 7:00am

   Whoa! Amazing episode! I love the Dwight and Jim hug.

5. 
   152. Andy's Plaid Pants  Thu. May. 14, 2009 | 10:09pm

   I got super excited and yelled out “it’s Tanster!” then added “she does Office Tally!” for my roommate.

   Wow, corporate are a bunch of JERKS! And of course, YAY JAM!

6. 
   151. Tricia  Thu. May. 14, 2009 | 9:30pm

   So, Tanster, did you find out about Pam being preggers while you were on set, or was that part a surprise to you as well?

7. 
   150. Nette  Thu. May. 14, 2009 | 7:41pm

   CONGRATS Tanster!!!! You did an amazing job!!! :)

8. 
   149. Sara  Thu. May. 14, 2009 | 6:18pm

   Just saw you!

9. 
   148. Amelia  Thu. May. 14, 2009 | 5:14pm

   To Tanster:

   Hey I just wanted to thank you so much for this website and how amazing and dedicated you are! I have checked it every single day for the past 3 years and it really is the best :) NBC should thank you two hundred million times for all the support and viewers you have brought to the show! No doubt we’ve been through the good (JAM finally together) and the bad (writer’s strike), and now with the season finale of season 5 less than 3 hours away, I just wanted to say
   THANK YOU SO SO MUCH!!!

   -Amelia (rockin it in the bay area!)

   [from tanster: thank you so much, amelia! :) ]

10. 
    147. Grace  Thu. May. 14, 2009 | 4:54pm

    Two– well one more hour to go!!

    I’m coming right back on here after the show to see the rest of the photos! Thanks for posting them!

    [from tanster: you're welcome! and to clarify, the photos and such are coming after tonight, but not immediately. in fact, they'll be slowly posted in installments.]

11. 
    146. pamelajnewell  Thu. May. 14, 2009 | 4:18pm

    @ TANSTER:
    Are you an east coaster??

    [from tanster: no. but i wish i was tonight! :) ]

12. 
    145. Kaiser986  Wed. May. 13, 2009 | 7:43pm

    I just have one question… Do you know if this episode will be a 30-minutes or 1-hour long?

    Bye ;)

13. 
    144. Koos  Wed. May. 13, 2009 | 5:39pm

    Tanster, it is so awesome of you to share these tidbits with us! Cool!

14. 
    143. FlonkertonChamp  Wed. May. 13, 2009 | 3:39pm

    john uses burts bees!!!! so do i… obviously we’re soul mates! (uh, i’m kidding about that last part. i’m not delusional.)

15. 
    142. Tiffany, Office Examiner  Wed. May. 13, 2009 | 3:24pm

    I am fully supporting guys wearing eyeliner ever since Johnny Depp’s performance in Pirates. And, agreed, the lighting really washes out a person’s face. Bring on the eyeliner :)

16. 
    141. Sammie  Wed. May. 13, 2009 | 3:08pm

    I think it’s a small brush too, but I wouldn’t be surprised if the male actors wore a touch of eyeliner too. Those lights can wash you out!

    I love this behind the scenes stuff…thanks so much!

    [from tanster: you're welcome! i have LOTS more to post. after tomorrow night. :) ]

17. 
    140. laura  Wed. May. 13, 2009 | 3:03pm

    @ 139

    To me, that looks more like a small brush than eyeliner. It would be funny if it were though.

18. 
    139. nv  Wed. May. 13, 2009 | 2:31pm

    Is that…eyeliner? I’m going to say (hope) it’s not.
    But I do think I spot some Burt’s Bees lip chap- love that stuff!
    I also love that the accountants teamed up for the coffee cart!

    Thanks for taking the time to get pictures of these cool little details, tanster!

19. 
    138. schrutebernardlapinvancestanley  Tue. May. 12, 2009 | 6:36pm

    “Awesome footage, Jennie. Did you take that with a Flip? It’s surprisingly steady for a hand held. Very cool.
    [from tanster: yes, it's with a Flip! the best little gadget ever. especially for a newbie like me. :) ]” was it with a flip mino hd or flip ultra hd? if you know.

    [from tanster: mino hd!]

20. 
    137. Wendy  Tue. May. 12, 2009 | 8:48am

    Thanks for all the behind-the-scene photos and stories – I’ve enjoyed them! I saw you had a photo with the hair/makeup/prop ladies . . . do you think they would ever be willing to do a Q&A? I’m always curious about the little details of that aspect of the show too – who came up with Jim’s trademark “floppy” hairstyle, where did they get Pam’s pretty pink dress in Cafe Disco, etc.?

    [from tanster: good idea! we'll have to see about doing a Q&A with the behind-the-scenes folks next season. you can read more about jim's hairstyle here.]

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