Mockumentary

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Mockumentary, a portmanteau of mock documentary, is a film and TV genre, or a single work of the genre. The mockumentary is presented as if it were a documentary, though it is not factual. It is a commonly used medium for parody and satire. More serious uses of the genre are sometimes referred to as a drama documentary which usually have a more serious tone. They are often used to analyze current events and issues, based in a fictional setting.

Mockumentaries are often presented as historical documentaries with b roll and talking heads discussing past events or as cinéma vérité pieces following people as they go through various events. Examples of this type of satire date back at least to the 1950s (a very early example was a short piece on the "Swiss Spaghetti Harvest" that appeared as an April fool's joke on the British television program Panorama in 1957), though the term "mockumentary" is thought to have first appeared in the mid-1980s when This Is Spinal Tap director Rob Reiner used it in interviews to describe that film.

The false documentary form has also been used for some dramatic productions (and precursors to this approach date back to the radio days and Orson Welles' production of H. G. Wells' novel, The War of the Worlds).

Mockumentaries are often partly or wholly improvised, as an unscripted style of acting helps to maintain the pretense of reality. Comedic mockumentaries rarely have laugh tracks, also to sustain the atmosphere, although there are exceptions - for example, Operation Good Guys had a laugh track from its second series onwards.

1 Comedic examples
2 Dramatic examples
3 Filmographies
4 See also
5 External links

[edit] Comedic examples

18 Fingers of Death!, a 2006 kung-fu mockumentary by directed by James Lew.
A Mighty Wind, story of three groups of folk singers who come together at a tribute concert in honor of their recently deceased manager. (US, 2003)
All You Need Is Cash (aka The Rutles), Beatles parody telling of the Rutles' story, while also parodying documentary makers themselves. (UK, 1979)
Arrested Development, A look inside the Bluth family from Newport Beach, CA. (US, 2004-2006)
Magician or Menace?: The Story of Johnny Popolopalous, Follows a young magicians attempt to get back into the magic community, and his attempt at pulling of the worlds greatest illusion. (AUS, 2006)
Auto Destruct: One Man's Obsession with William Shatner, award winning mockumentary by director James Wilkes about an obsessed William Shatner fan. (Canada, 2005)
Best in Show, story of some contestants at a national dog show (UK/US, 2000)
Big Tuna, mockumentary about Max Tuna Schreiber, who was the first candid camera film-maker in Israel. (Israel, 2003)
Bob Roberts, a Tim Robbins satiric film about a right wing folksinger's crooked election campaign. (US, 1992)
Borat: Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan, about a Kazakhstani journalist's journey through the United States. (US, 2006)
Boyz Unlimited about a manufactured and untalented boy band. (UK, 1999)
Brass Eye, an entire series of mockumentaries by Chris Morris (UK, 1997)
The Bronswick Affair, a mockumentary about a brand of television sets which makes watchers impulsively buy advertised goods in grotesque quantities.
CB4, a parody rapumentary that follows the story of CB4, a fictional rap group that is loosely based on N.W.A. and 2 Live Crew.
The Canadian Conspiracy, about a supposed Canadian plan to subvert the United States by taking over its media. (US, 1985)
The Comeback, a reality show type following the life of former "it" actress Valerie Cherish. (US, 2005)
The Comic Strip Presents... Bad News Tour (and its sequel, More Bad News), following an incompetent rock group on tour.
The Comic Strip Presents... Eddie Monsoon: A Life?, the life story of an offensive talk show host.
Curb Your Enthusiasm, about the bad luck of Larry David.
Dark Side of the Moon tries to portray the moon landings as a creation in a movie lot by Stanley Kubrick. (France, 2002)
The Delicate Art of Parking, a Canadian mockumentary about Parking Enforcement Officers shot in Vancouver, British Columbia.
Dill Scallion, a 1999 feature follows the rise and fall of country-western singer Dill Scallion (Billy Burke) in the mode of Spinal Tap. It is best known for its eclectic cast including Lauren Graham, Kathy Griffin, Henry Winkler, David Koechner, Dave "Gruber" Allen, Wayne Federman, Jason Priestley, Robert Wagner, Dana Gould, and Peter Berg. Written and directed by Jordan Brady.
Dog Bites Man is a parody of local news coverage, and follows the misadventures of a struggling news team as they travel around the country producing news segments.
Drawn Together, a mock-cartoon-reality show on Comedy Central.
Drop Dead Gorgeous about a beauty pageant in Minnesota. The battle between the good and the bad is bound to get ugly. (US, 1999)
Fear of a Black Hat follows the fictional rap group, "NWH", as it evolves with the genre from its popular origins to the advent of gangsta rap. (US, 1994)
First on the Moon (Первые на Луне or Pervye na Lune), Venice Film Festival winner. A mockumentary about the first Russian spaсe voyage, supposedly accomplished in 1938. Mixes archival footage and fake KGB materials. (Russia, 2005)
Forgotten Silver by Costa Botes and Peter Jackson, parody of a historical documentary about a "forgotten" filmmaker. (New Zealand, 1995)
FUBAR by Michael Dowse, a mockumentary that has achieved high cult status about head-banger subculture, especially within Canada. (Canada, 2002)
Fudge 44 by Graham Jones, a mockumentary about six puppets in a financially impoverished Tokyo children's puppet theatre who, locals believe, came to life and robbed a nearby bank to avoid being put out of business. (Ireland, 2005)
The Games, an Australian TV comedy that follows the mayhem and bureaucratical snafu faced by the organisers of the 2000 Sydney Olympics. (Australia, 1998 and 2000)
Get Ready to be Boyzvoiced, a film following fictional Norwegian boy band Boyzvoice (Norway, 2000)
G-SALE by Randy Nargi, scripted mockumentary about garage sale fanatics in the style of Christopher Guest. (US, 2003)
Hard Core Logo, following in the tradition of This Is Spinal Tap, this film traces the final tour of an overaged punk band, and serves as a model for the death of "true" punk rock. The film's associated album, A Tribute to Hard Core Logo, has several notable bands performing cover versions of Hard Core Logo songs, and is packaged as if Hard Core Logo were a real band. (Canada, 1996)
How to Irritate People, the 1968 "guide" written mostly by John Cleese and featuring Graham Chapman, Michael Palin, Connie Booth
Incident at Loch Ness the tale of all hell breaking loose as famous filmmaker Werner Herzog attempts to make a documentary about the Nessie myth while a documentary about his life is being filmed and a pigheaded producer (Zak Penn) tries his damndest to make Herzog's film a mindless high-grossing blockbuster. (US, 2004)
It's All Gone Pete Tong, a comedy following the tragic life of legendary DJ Frankie Wilde. The story takes us through Frankie's life from one of the best DJ's alive, through subsequent battle with a hearing disorder, culminating in his mysterious disappearance from the scene. (UK, Canada, 2004)
Jackie's Back! Comedy following the comeback of has been soul diva Jackie Washington (Jenifer Lewis). As she prepares for her gala comeback concert, pretentious British documentarian, Edward Whatsett St. John (Tim Curry), is on hand to film the event, and discuss the high and (frequent) low points of Jackie's life and career, with such friends, enemies and well-wishers as Bette Midler, Liza Minnelli, Penny Marshall, Kathy Griffin and Jackie Collins on hand to give an insight into the true Jackie Washington. (USA, 1999)
Jimmy MacDonald's Canada which are lost episodes of a mid-1960s public affairs show hosted by Jimmy MacDonald who was played by Richard Waugh. The show combined new segments with authentic news and human interest archive footage. (Canada, 2005)
Kenny full length movie following the life of a portable toilet installer in Melbourne, Australia. (Australia 2006)
Larry David: Curb Your Enthusiasm, HBO Special about the making of an HBO Special
The Last Polka, John Candy and Eugene Levy mockumentary about the last concert of the Shmenge Brothers, a Leutonian Polka duet whose characters were first developed on Second City Television.
The Life and Hard Times of Guy Terrifico, the rise and fall of a fabled Canadian country-rocker. (Canada, 2005)
LolliLove, a story about a husband and wife team, played by James Gunn and Jenna Fischer, who form a charity to give each homeless person a lollipop with a cheery slogan on the wrapper, but who are really only serving themselves. (USA, 2004)
Look Around You, parody of decades-old science videos shown in schools. (UK, 2002)
Man Bites Dog, Rémy Belvaux black comedy/satire in which a film crew follows a serial killer documenting his crimes. (Belgium, 1992)
Man of the Year, a satirical look, directed by former Playgirl magazine Man of the Year Dirk Shafer, at his reign as Man of the Year as a closeted gay man. (USA, 1995)
Medusa: Dare to Be Truthful, a "behind the scenes" exposé of pop singer and sex symbol Medusa, on her "Blonde Leading the Blonde" concert tour. (US, 1992)
Meech Lake Accord, an insider's view of Brian Mulroney's failed attempt at patriating the Canadian Constitution, filmed by Octagon Productions (Canada, 2006)
Mike Bassett: England Manager, is a satirical comedy in documentary style following the fortunes of a lacklustre England football manager in the World Cup (UK, 2001)
The National Scream, about the investigation of the disappearance of the official beaver, the national symbol of Canada.
Ned Danny's "The Cleaners", about a documentary filmmaker's attempt at making a film about murderers after murder has been legalized.
The Office, a British TV comedy about an everyday office run by an inefficient and egotistic manager, David Brent. (UK, 2001 to 2003)
The Office, an American remake of the British show, also about an office place. (USA, 2005)
The Old Negro Space Program, mockumentary about the fictional "NASSA" or "Negro American Space Society of Astronauts," lampooning far-reaching racial segregation in the United States; subtitled "the shocking but false story of America's blackstronauts".
On Edge, a mocumentary about figure skating (US, 2001)
Operation Good Guys, a British TV comedy focusing on a group of Undercover Policemen. (UK, 1997)
Otaku no Video, an anime film by GAINAX featuring live-action news segments of events past the film's 1985 release date. (Japan, 1985)
The Progressives - The Film, satirical documentary about London band The Progressives, 2005.
People Like Us, a British radio and TV comedy, featuring an inept interviewer (played by Chris Langham), who interviews people in various jobs. (UK, radio from 1995 to 1997, and television series 1999 to 2000.)
R2-D2: Beneath the Dome, talking about the career of supposed real-life actor R2-D2, who was played in real world by little person Kenny Baker and puppetteer Don Bies, co-director of this mockumentary.
Real Life, Albert Brooks directs a documentary about a year in the life of an average American family (headed by Charles Grodin). (US, 1979)
Rock-U-Mockumentary, The Really Spontaneous Theatre Company creates a live theater show which is a spoof of VH1's popular show Behind the Music. (US, 2005)
Reno 911! Comedy Central parody of COPS about a very inept police force in Reno, Nevada.
Run Ronnie Run! a humorous look following a redneck Ronnie on his rise to public fame through his arrests, by the folks who created Mr. Show. (US, 2002)
Sweet and Lowdown, Woody Allen faux documentary about a jazz guitarist. (US, 1999)
Take the Money and Run, Woody Allen film chronicling the mis-adventures of a bankrobber. (US, 1969)
The Mating Habits of the Earthbound Human, is a Discovery channel style 'nature program' starring a young Carmen Electra. (1999)
The Thick of It is a British comedy television series, which satirises the inner workings of the British government. (UK, 2005)
This Is Spinal Tap, follows a British rock band on tour long past their salad days. Also coined the term rockumentary. (US, 1984)
Trailer Park Boys, a Canadian TV comedy focusing on the misadventures of ex-cons living in a trailer park near Halifax, Nova Scotia. (Canada, 2001-,)
Waiting for Guffman, story of a small Missouri town's celebration of its sesquicentennial. (US, 1996)
We Can Be Heroes, an Australian TV mockumentary about five fictitious candidates nominated for the prestigious Australian of the Year Award. All five protagonists are played by the actor and show's creator, Chris Lilley. (Australia, 2005)
Where Are They Now? - A Delta Alumni Update, a John Landis-directed follow-up to his "documentary about one semester in the life of the Delta Tau Chi fraternity at Faber College, Pennsylvania", released on the Double Secret Probation Edition DVD of National Lampoon's Animal House, (US, 2003)
Yacht Rock, a mockumentary series on adult comtemporary music during the late 1970s and early 1980s.
Zelig, Woody Allen movie telling of a chameleon-like individual who blended in wherever he went. (US, 1983)

[edit] Dramatic examples

Alien Abduction: Incident in Lake County (1998), a horror-mockumentary that presents an "unedited" camcorder recording of a rural American family's encounter with aliens.
The Blair Witch Project, a horror film in the form of a documentary about a vanished film crew. Also see Curse of the Blair Witch.
Cannibal Holocaust (1980), perhaps the first horror mockumentary and an undeniable predecessor of the Blair Witch Project series. It tells the story of film students who take a trip to the Colombian jungle and end up eaten by revenge-thirsty cannibals.
Countdown To Looking Glass (1984), a cable-TV docu-drama presented as a series of news reports concerning an escalation in the Middle East between the US and the USSR, that eventually lead to nuclear war. (This film, however, isn't completely a documentary as it included dramatic interludes).
C.S.A.: The Confederate States of America, an alternate history in which the Confederates won the American Civil War.
Culloden (1964), a BBC "documentary" of the battle from 1746, presented as if cameras had been there to film it.
David Holzman's Diary (1968), one of the earliest examples of false documentaries. In it a young man creates a film "diary" of his life falling apart.
The Day Britain Stopped, detailing a series of events leading from a nationwide train strike in the midst of winter, forcing all Britain's motorways to become gridlocked. The lack of employees able to make it to work in turn leads to two aircraft colliding over London.
Death of a President, a fictional documentary presented as being produced in 2010 detailing the assassination of United States president George W. Bush three years prior.
Fandom: A True Film (2004), a blend of documentary and mockumentary footage. Tells the story of an obsessed fan who travels to meet Natalie Portman and loses his mind along the way.
Ghostwatch (1992), a BBC television special in which a ficticious "live" paranormal investigation goes awry. Ghostwatch was also used in two episodes of Doctor Who, Army of Ghosts and Doomsday.
The DVD release of Independence Day included a fake newcast covering the arrival of the aliens and their subsequent attack.
Interview With the Assassin, with Raymond J. Barry as a terminally-ill man claiming he, not Lee Harvey Oswald, killed President John F. Kennedy in Dallas, Texas on November 22, 1963
The Last Broadcast, a horror film -- the first film to be shot, edited, and distributed digitally -- in the form of documentary about the mysterious disappearance of a pair of cable television producers. Released in 1998, it is considered by many to have suspicious similarities with the Blair Witch Project.
The Magician (2005), an Australian mockumentary following the works of an hitman in Melbourne.
Nothing So Strange, a fictional documentary about Citizens for Truth, an organization seeking further investigation into the 1999 assassination of Bill Gates.
Oil Storm (2005), a fictional documentary on FX depicting a near-future of America's over-reliance on foreign oil.
Platinum Weird, a band formed by Dave Stewart and Kara DioGuardi, and the subject of a VH1 mockumentary.
Special Bulletin (1983), a TV movie commenting on the nuclear arms race, which is presented as a mock-TV news broadcast involving terrorists with a homemade nuclear bomb.
The Second Renaissance, a two-part animated short in the Animatrix series, presented as a documentary about the war between humanity and machines that ultimately leads to the events of the Matrix films.
Series 7: The Contenders (2001), a satire of reality television, depicting a marathon viewing of a game show in which random individuals kill one another.
The War Game, a fictional, worst-case-scenario docu-drama about nuclear war and its aftermath in and around a typical English city.
Supervolcano, a documentary about the eruption of the Yellowstone supervolcano.
Smallpox 2002: Silent Weapon, a docu-drama that reports on a (fictitious) attack made by terrorist using the disease of smallpox to attack the world.
Alternative 3 TV movie of a political conspiracy to establish a settlement on Mars.
Without Warning (1994) , a simulated news broadcast of an alien invasion.
Wesker's Report A dark retelling of the first three Resident Evil games, released as a bonus with Resident Evil: Code Veronica: Complete, as narrated by the series' antagonist, Albert Wesker.
Skull Island: A Natural History (2006) A special feature on the King Kong (2005) DVD. It explains the history of the island and its eventual destruction, which ignores the existence of Son of Kong, saying that it happened post-World War II.
Prehistoric Park, a 6 episode mockumentary that depicts a hypothetical scenario whereby a time machine is used to create a wildlife park.