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Visiting offices isn’t usually high on wish kids’ lists. Unless, of course, you’re talking about the office of the Dunder Mifflin Paper Company – the setting for NBC’s hit comedy The Office. Sixteen-year-old Anna wanted to visit this office more than any place else in the world.
Anna felt like part of the Dunder Mifflin gang when the cast welcomed her on set.
When Anna was a small child, she was diagnosed with hypoplasia, a medical condition affecting the development of her arms and legs. Coping with her disability has been challenging at times, but it never kept her from her passion for all things related to film, theater and television. The Office, her favorite TV show, was the inspiration for her wish.
“I’m a huge fan of the show, and I want to go into the film industry someday,” Anna said. “I knew visiting the set of The Office would be amazing and would help me learn for my future.”
Wish granters from the Make-A-Wish Foundation® of Central & Western North Carolina soon had Anna and her family on a plane bound for sunny California. Before she knew it, she was standing at the front door of the Dunder Mifflin office – a place she had seen her favorite characters enter and exit from so many times on TV.
“It was really cool because The Office films in a real building, not on a soundstage,” Anna said. “They opened the door for me, and B.J. Novak (Ryan Howard on the show) was standing right there!”
Even Anna couldn’t escape The Office’s antics. She’s pictured here with bunny ears from Oscar Nunez.
B.J. and Anna became fast friends – they still send each other letters today – and he was only the first of many cast members Anna met. Rainn Wilson (Dwight Schrute), John Krasinski (Jim Halpert), Jenna Fischer (Pam Beesly) and the rest of The Office gang greeted Anna, and she watched them rehearse two scenes.
“I was in shock, but they were all so down to earth and different from their characters in real life,” Anna said. “They all told me about their day-to-day life filming the show and how they broke into show business. Jenna Fischer especially encouraged me a lot.”
And, of course, no visit to The Office would be complete without meeting the “World’s Best Boss” Michael Scott, a.k.a. actor Steve Carell. Anna said she was surprised to see him break character when he met her.
“I almost expected him to be telling jokes the whole time, but he was so down to earth and normal,” Anna said, laughing. “Just completely normal.”
Anna also got to learn tricks of the trade from the show’s film editor, prop director and producer. They gave her a signed copy of the episode’s script, and the show’s makeup artist gave her a makeover. She even took a full tour of the set and sat at Michael Scott’s desk.
Anna hit it off with B.J. Novak, the first cast member she met.
Anna hopes her wish trip will be the first of many visits she makes to Southern California. The college-bound teen toured the University of Southern California campus while she was there, “and just fell in love with it.”
In the meantime, she is staying in contact with one of the executive producers of The Office but swears he hasn’t given her any clues about what’s next for her favorite characters.
“I think they have to keep Jim and Pam together, though,” Anna mused. “They took so long to get together, and they’re just perfect for each other.”
By Kathryn Roethel
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I am truly touched by this story. As an avid fan of The Office, I was pleasantly surprised to see how down to earth and sweet the cast and crew were, granting this wish to this girl. You don't often get people like that in show business. Best of luck to you, Anna, and thank God that some celebrities can remain down to earth despite all of their fame.
- Anthony 06/03/2008 19:56 -
Awww, it's so great to read this! Going on the set of The Office and meeting the best cast and crew ever would definitely be high on my wish list.
- Ashley 06/03/2008 14:51 -
Wow, good choice!!! I love that show!
- Angelina 07/31/2008 8:37 -
Anna, that is one of my favorite shows besides Threes Company and The Shield. Thank God that your wish came true you, seem to be so full of life from what I can see in your pictures. You can sure teach some of us a really good lesson as to not take life for granted. You are a real inspiration to me because I love life but sometimes I can feel down for no reason. Thank you for your beautiful smile and hang in there. God Bless you and your family!!!!
- Violet 10/14/2008 15:48 -
I love the office. Nice choice.
- Danielle 10/14/2008 7:40 -
Me and my mom love that show! I'm so glad you got to meet everyone on the show.
- Meghan 11/03/2008 21:06 -
WOW!! How cool is that!!! My daughter's and I love The Office, you were so lucky, and smart, to have chosen this for your wish.....Nice One!
I'm sure that if my daughter would've been old enough when she had her wish, this could've been hers as well....not that we would've even thought of this.
(she was only 3)
Smart WISH choice, Anna!!!!
I LuV Jim!!!
......and Pam too!.
- Monica 11/11/2008 0:53 -
Wow Anna, what a great wish! Our entire family loves The Office, and it looks like you had an incredible time during your visit. What a great choice for a wish! Best of luck to you in college, and thanks for sharing your wish experience with the rest of the world!
- Jessica 01/14/2009 10:18 -
thats the best wish ever! Im happy it came true for you!
- nora 11/29/2009 11:17 -
What a creative wish! It looks like a lot of fun and the cast looks really nice. Way to go, Anna!
- Tracy 04/28/2010 8:35 -
you rock, Anna! WE <3 you!!!! GREAT WISH!!!
- Matt, Jack 09/23/2010 12:22 -
I think you made a good choice on picking The Office even though I've never seen it. I'm happy the wish came true to you.
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- Nick 09/23/2010 7:01 -
i m glad your wishes come true. I hope you had a good time on the set. Im so happy it came true for you
- Zack 09/23/2010 6:56
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