Fifty billion weeks later...I keep my promise!

So finally I ring you my "shot analysis" (for want of a better term) of an episode of The Office! I used one of my favourite episodes, Casino Night (I can't pick one, its like choosing your favourite french fry out of a billion french fries, totally impossible you guys! Also, I just ate McDonalds, and the fries were delicious. P.s. is that how you spell the singular of fries...fry? It seems wrong...). This episode is also directed by Ken Kwapis who is awesome...he's directed a lot of The Office eps and also directed License to Wed and He's Just Not That Into You. So I like romantic comedies, is that a crime? Anyway, sidetracked once again. Here is my shot analysis!

Shot One: So this MS is pretty much at the very beginning of the episode-it occurs amongst a sequence of other MSs, MCUs and CUs. We find out a lot in this shot.

Having Dwight (in the Tux) walk in and place his coat on the rack (blocked from view by Jim) establishes that this shot occurs at the beginning of the day, answering the WHEN question.

Shot Two and Three: These are shot/reverse shots in a Dwight vs. Jim sequence. Going back and forth between shots of the two shows pretty clearly that they are on opposite sides, ALWAYS. They never agree.

This helps us to know WHAT is going on, WHO is part of it and WHY they are reacting in such a way. They are mostly MCU's. Note how they obey the 180 degree rule!!

Shot Four and Five: I would call these MLSs. These are perfect for The Office because we get to see everyone's reactions to events...well not everyone, but a few people at once, which is usually hilarious.

These usually follow an event or action (WHAT is happening) and answers WHO is reacting in such a way and WHY.

Shot Six and Seven: These two shots fall amongst a mix of MCUs and MSs that are all essentially establishing shots. I thought these two were the most important. The first one answers the question of WHO. Pam and Roy (foreground) are happy, playing a game as Jim watches on in the background. Poor Jim is always in the background. Such a waste of his handsome face...

ANYWAY, the next shot moves in closer to Jim and Ryan (to Jim's right), and we see Michael emerging from the background. (You can't really see him that well because Ryan blocks him in this shot. It was the best I could do you guys!). After this shot, we follow Michael into his storyline with the two ladies...

Shot Eight and Nine: LS to CU. The LS establishes WHAT and WHO-there is about to be some kind of encounter between Michael (on the left) and Billy (on the right). If you have ever watched The Office you will know that Michael will say something inappropriate to Billy about his wheelchair. Terrible but true.

True to form, Michael says something inappropriate, at which point the shot moves in to a CU of him to show WHO is left looking stupid.

Shot Ten and Eleven: These are both MCUs and work simultaneously to answer WHO and WHAT is going on. The first shot shows Carol (left) and Jan (right) talking awkwardly, and the closeness of the MCU allows the viewer to see how similar the two are in looks and clothing - in a way it establishes Michael's "type" of woman.

The second shot cleverly establishes WHAT the source of the tension between them is: Michael, who accidently invited both of them. Seeing him hovering in the background, literally situated between them in the shot conveys WHAT is making things so awkward.

Shot Twelve: This MCU is a clever rearranged version of Shot Eleven. It lets us know WHO is being booted out of the Michael/Jan/Carol love triangle : Jan.

Shot Thirteen: LS firstly establishes WHERE this scene is taking place, outside the office and the casino night party. We also find out WHAT is coming between Jim and Pam, literally and figuratively: Roy (in the car), Pam's fiance. It also answers WHY Pam rejects Jim in Shot Fourteen and Fifteen. She is torn between Roy and Jim. In a way we also find out HOW Jim manages to tell Pam, as we see Roy leave and we know everybody else is at the party.

Shot Fourteen and Fifteen: Both of these are MSs. These shots basically just convey WHAT is going on with Jim and Pam. We know too, that something mutual is going on, because they are constantly included in each others shots.

For something as personal and revealing as this, you'd kind of assume that CUs would be used, particularly on Jim as he confesses his love to Pam. But I think by constantly having them in the same shot, we know that its not unrequited love...Jim and Pam are in it together, even if she hasn't accepted it yet.

God, this episode just breaks my heart! Poor Jim.