Actually, the reason you can't see the instruments is because of the video camera, (you ever see a news report in a room full of old crt monitors), and you can see the fo's PFD in one of the shots, it just flickers because of the above mentioned effect.
Also the captain does have 4 stripes, the 4rth one has a little circle attached to it, ala ships captain, very common among Euro carriers.
I didnt know that about the star being the 4th stripe. So do you think they are flying while this is going on then?