Terrible camera work on America's Got Talent

Whoever the director is on America's Got Talent, they have their head up
their wazoo. Something I noticed tonight is that they spent way too much
time spent on reaction shots of the audience and judges when the whole point
is to see the acts. Do they think everyone really needs to see Brandy
mugging at the acts more than what the acts are actually doing?

Larry in AZ...

The camera work is fine, the directing is abysmal for the reasons you've
stated.

Ubiquitous...

I noticed that as well, which is a shame since a lot of these acts are
visual and we miss out on parts.

Martin Heffels...

It's not necessarily the director who comes up with this. It might be the
producers or the station as well, which demand this kind of work.

They also don't seem to get that ALL the shots need to be framed close
enough to SEE the performers.

Russell Watson...

I haven't watched this show but a couple of weeks ago I had to turn
off "So You Think You Can Dance" because I got seasick. They spent one
whole dance routine rocking the camera back and forth so it was like
being on a boat in high seas. I couldn't even follow what the couple
dancing was doing. They may have sucked or been the best ever and I
wouldn't know because I couldn't focus on them.

Jorabi...

I caught the second hour of this show. The reason for all the non-
stage shots is that the acts are heavily edited. Like the finger
snapper ... they hardly showed any of his snapping. If they
didn't show other things, the video of the act would be jumping
violently from one thing to another.

Anim8rFSK...

I agree it plays like that, but I don't think that's the case; the acts
have a specific time limit, so they can't be heavily editing them unless
they get more than one shot at the performance. I think it's just
really bad editing. I also don't believe those inserts of close ups of
gap mouthed kids are genuine; they're set up and/or shot at another time.

Larry in AZ...

With the exception of the performer packages, I thought the broadcast was

Larry in AZ...

Of course there's planning. I said that I thought the broadcast was
live...

live...

If they MUST do the audience inserts, at least stick 'em in an insert
box in the corner of the screen or something.

That part about the judges not being able to decide ... blatantly
pre-planned.

Doc...

Apparently they're under no obligation to make a decision at show time, even
though it's been stated that's how it works? I believe game shows have
strict rules they have to follow to stay out of legal hot water. Not so with
this show?

Anim8rFSK...

Yeah, I'm suspicious of that one too.

daveparks_00...

Forget that; the inconsistencies in the "judges" comments, and the
blatant nonconstructive purposefully rude remarks by the abrasive Brit,
Piers "You're simply useless" Morgan, but WTH was up with the judges in
electing *not* to select a "safe" performer for the evening?
I thought 'that' was thier whole function; pick an act to be safe and
automatically move on to the final rounds - what BS, or should I say,
"They're simply useless."?