Paul Potts
This is probably a little out of the way but I ran into this clip:
I think there have been a number of “Britain’s Got Talent” clips running around, but for the most part they’re little girls who could cut open a fat rabbit and serve the judges the small intestines from the stage and still be “awwwed” to the next level. This time, though, it’s a roundish guy named Potts, and he’s sells cell phones. The best the producers were hoping for, I imagine, was an ‘average joe’ to do something kinda cool in between commercials, but I think this is one of those weird moments in reality TV when the contestant has something else going on in the back of their mind.
They’ve got their typical intro with the crap music and all, complete with the condescending “Paul, what are you here for today….Paul?” He looks at her like he’s lost it already and says “opera.” One judge looks over like he’s prepared for the worst, the others seem bored or just going through the motions.
My attraction to the clip starts, though, when he looks over at the lady cuing the music and nods. He’s got this subtle look that tells me somehow that he’s about to commit suicide; it’s really engaging. I love flawed or scared people. Then he sings.
And yeah, when the clip ends I’m left wondering if it’s the music and camera movement causing me to write this, but I keep going back and looking at those frames where the guy is about to cry even before the song begins. In the span of the video I’ve invented this cliché story where he’s walking along the desolate streets after a long day and few sells. His boss has verbally beaten him down, or his kids have written him off as a loser. He’s heard about the show, though, and can’t get the idea out of his mind that this might be he last chance to get out of his tracks and sing opera. The show is a means to something that isn’t even all that glamorous– it’s just something he’s got to do. I say not glamorous, but I get the same chills watching the height of this song that I do in a good movie, manufactured moment or not.
I also imagine the TV director and camera men recognized the appeal instantly and were scrambling around shouting in whispers across their headsets to prepare for several sweeping shots that would push the segment as high up as it could go. I’m not sure it could’ve been scripted as well.
Then someone who is shitty decided to put the Armageddon song at the end, ruining what could have been a very naturally uplifting victory (it’s not like we didn’t see it coming anyway).
At any rate, maybe you see it too.
