As someone who has spent countless hours slaving away in corporate America, I can’t help but feel a deep sense of camaraderie with Milton from “Office Space”. The character’s struggles, his love for his red stapler, and his eventual breakdown are all too relatable. But what really struck me was the real-life inspiration behind this iconic figure.
People who have either read up about money laundering or experienced soul-crushing corporate life will find the characters in “Office Space” relatable. This cult comedy, directed by Mike Judge, focuses on three dissatisfied employees of a software company – Peter (Ron Livingston), Michael (David Herman), and Samir (Ajay Naidu) – who decide to steal from their employers after discovering that two of them are about to be laid off.
In the movie “Office Space,” Milton finds himself at his wit’s end. His superiors continually relocate his desk, eventually forcing him to work in the basement with the pests. His coworkers begrudgingly ask him to lower the volume on his radio, while management refuses to compensate him fairly. With his career in turmoil and morale at an all-time low, Milton spends much of his time venting — until he reaches a breaking point and sets the office building ablaze.
The funny behaviors of Milton, a character from “Office Space,” contribute significantly to the film’s status as one of the best comedy movies ever made. However, it’s interesting to consider how this fictional character compares to the real person who served as his inspiration.
The real story of Milton, the ‘Stapler Guy’ in Office Space
As a die-hard fan, I can’t help but resonate with Milton from “Office Space.” There’s nothing more infuriating for him than finding his cherished workspace rearranged. You see, when Milton joined Initech, he had the pleasure of a delightful window view where he could observe two adorable squirrels who seemed to be in wedded bliss.
During our conversation with The Ringer, Judge mentioned that someone had started talking about quitting because their desk was moved again. I asked him why he didn’t like his desk being moved, and he replied something along the lines of ‘If they move it one more time, I’m done.’ At the time, I thought even if his desk were moved 20 times more, he wouldn’t actually leave. It seemed like he just liked to complain.
The judge didn’t clarify whether his former coworker was indeed the one who set fire to the building, as hinted by the character of Milton in the movie. However, he did seem to have served as a source of inspiration for this amusing figure. Additionally, it’s intriguing to know that the red stapler from the film, which Milton is so fond of, has an interesting real-life history behind it.
How the Office Space stapler was made
Before “Office Space,” the Swingline manufacturing company hadn’t made red staplers. However, Milton’s distinctive red stapler was custom-made for the movie, since Mike Judge wanted it to be red. To achieve this design, prop expert Stan Gilbert obtained some Swingline staplers and enlarged and colorized them, as he detailed in an article by The Ringer.
“I recently picked up a can of spray paint and gave it a fresh coat of red. Mike and our production designer approved, saying ‘That’s fantastic!’ I received approval from Swingline to create a vinyl graphic for the side of the stapler since the logo was previously on top. In total, I have made 10 staplers with this modification.
Besides allowing the filmmakers to alter their machinery, Swingline was motivated by the iconic red stapler from “Office Space” to create new ones. The cinematic portrayal of a stapler had become trendy, and the company capitalized on this trend effectively.
How Office Space changed stapler sales in real life
One way of paraphrasing the given text in natural and easy-to-read language is: “Mike Judge’s ‘Office Space’ led to a $300,000 case of imitation theft, showcasing one of the more extreme examples of the film’s impact on society. However, the movie’s message that it’s satisfying to be rebellious might have contributed to some criminal acts after its release. Thankfully, ‘Office Space’ also sparked some lawful income-generating activities, particularly in the stapler industry, which saw significant growth due to the film.
Back in 2002, Swingline launched a red stapler that can now be found for sale on Amazon and other retailers. The popularity of the film “Judge’s” played a significant role in adding a splash of color to once monotonous office supplies, as they were previously only offered in shades of black and gray.
Ever since the release of the movie, the cast has teamed up for a Walmart commercial focusing on Black Friday deals, demonstrating how “Office Space” continues to impact commercial sectors beyond cinema. Meanwhile, “NCIS” makes an “Office Space” reference, underscoring the lasting influence of Judge’s film on our collective cultural mindset.
If you enjoyed this article, find out what happened to Milton from “Office Space” after the movie.
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2024-11-13 16:00