Since this question is about a TV show I guess it goes here, It’s it not the right forum I’m sure the Mods will move it to where it belongs. I enjoy watching “The First 48” (TF48), a true crime show as opposed to the police procedural dramas that you can find playing 24X7X365.
In TF48 they start with a crime, typically a homicide, and then you see law enforcement investigate what happened and collect evidence. One thing you see them do a lot is interviewing witnesses and suspects in hopes of learning something or getting someone to confess. It always amazes me how much people under suspicion are willing to talk to police without a lawyer present, and how often you see them incriminate themselves when they could have just stopped talking, but that’s not my question.
My question is when you see the police interview people some are blurred out and their voices are altered, presumably because they don’t want to be photographed or recorded and could therefor be identified by someone, but some seem to have no problem being filmed while they are being questioned.
I assume the suspects and witnesses have to give their permission (sign a release) in order for them to be filmed without being blurred, but are they usually compensated for being on camera, and if not then what’s in it for them? Notoriety?