New show called "The Locator"

[mrdazzo7]

Has anyone seen this show called "The Locator?" It's on WE, which isn't my usual stomping grounds, but after relentless promotion I decided to check it out, since it has a cool premise: P.I. guy reunites familes after years of seperation. Unfortunately, I'm totally disappointed with the show. The way it's shot anyone can see that practically every single scene is fully staged. The multiple camera angles, the random establishing shots, the fake phone calls, etc...

I don't get how anyone can find this intriguing or emotional when it's so obviously staged. I'm not saying it's not "real", but you can tell by the shooting that it's set-up. The multiple camera angles are a dead give away. In movies, each scene is shot multiple times to cover all angles (the whole group talking, then semi-close ups of each person, then close ups of each person, etc), which are all edited together later. That's exactly what this crap looks like.

Sorry for the rant but I find this subject to be extremely interesting (reunited with long lost family members) and thought this show would be an honest portrayal of what happens when you link these people up... but it just seems 100% fake and I think that sucks.

Has anyone caught it? Thoughts?

[steph569]

um well of course it is staged they cant just spring long lost relatives on people I love the show and cry every time, there are many people I would love to find, yes its staged but its real they are not actors

[mrdazzo7]

um well of course it is staged they cant just spring long lost relatives on people I love the show and cry every time, there are many people I would love to find, yes its staged but its real they are not actors

I didn't mean staged as in they just show up with the people. I mean staged as in it's a "production" as opposed to being real. If it was shot documentry style I could get into it, but it's shot like a movie. Perfect lighting, multiple angles, establishing shots... That means various takes. I can't see getting emtionally invested in something that's not even a true representation of the event. There's nothing real about it.

For example, in the first episode the guy is talking to the long lost family member in a diner. The camera cuts between being across the restaurant, then with both guys in frame, then close ups... Unless they have life 5 cameras on at once (which they don't), that means they shot the conversation four different times from all the angles and edited it together later. And that's how the entire show is. How can people find that emotionally interesting?

Like I said, I like the concept but I don't see the point in watching something that pretends to be reality when it's clearly fake. But hey, to each his or her own, right :)

[digdug]

mrdazzo7, I know what you mean. Checked this out and one episode was all we could get through. I don't like shows that imply that a certain person or group doesn't know what's going on, but how could they not notice the production crew buzzing around? It's a peeve of mine.

[Jayjoans]

reminds me of when they "notify" new contestants that they have a spot on Biggest Loser. hmmmm, you think they've sent a camera crew to get your reaction when they tell you that you missed the cut?

dur.