Review of Camera Angles in The Office

I chose to comment on a series called 'The Office' that can be found on Netflix. I have watched this series a few times and thought it would be interesting to go back and dissect the different camera angles used throughout. I have looked through the first few episodes and found almost every camera angle we have studied so far this year. I chose a few to talk about below.

This is an eye level shot. It shows one of the main characters, Michael Scott, talking to Jim Halpert about the sales call that he just made. He did not make the sale, which explains the face he is making. It is an eye level shot because it is shot at his eye level. This helps the audience's ability to better see and understand his reaction to the call. This shot is also a reverse angle shot because he is having a conversation with another character, Jim, who is off screen.

  This is an over the shoulder shot. You can see Michael talking to Pam about if he has any calls. He also talks about what Pam's duties are on a day to day basis. This is an over the shoulder shot because it shows Michael's point of view, while showing part of the back of his head. This shot could also be considered a two-shot because it shows two characters, Michael and Pam, having a conversation. You   can tell that Pam seems frazzled by the situation and wants Michael to stop questioning her so seriously.

This is a close shot. Michael is explaining to the audience that he has worked at Dunder Mifflin, a paper supply company, for a long time, and that he is the manager of the Scranton, PA branch of the company. This is a close shot because it shows Michael from the top of the head to the mid-waist. You can tell that Michael seems very excited to be talking about his job, and you can make the assumption that he really likes his role at the company.

This is a follow shot. Michael is showing the cameras around the office and discusses each different group of workers and what their jobs are. For example he talks to Pam, the receptionist, about what her role is at the office. This also makes it an establishing shot because it shows the audience around the whole office. This will let the audience get an understanding of the setting they are in and helps set the mood for the series, which is a comical mood.

This is a cut away shot. Dwight and Michael are in front of everyone conducting a meeting, and the camera turns to Oscar in the audience to see his reaction to the remark Dwight made about Michael's weird outfit and voice. This is a cut away shot because it related to the main part of the scene, Dwight and Michael's meeting, but briefly leaves it to show an audience members's (Oscar) reaction to it. This shot is also a reaction shot for obvious reasons. Oscar is reaction to what Dwight said.