Mockumentary examples. What is a Mockumentary — Definition, Examples & History 2022-10-10
Mockumentary examples Rating:
5,3/10
1577
reviews
A mockumentary is a type of film or television show that is presented as a documentary, but is actually a fictionalized or humorous portrayal of its subject. Mockumentaries often use the same techniques as traditional documentaries, such as interviews with "experts" and "eyewitnesses," and use of archival footage, but the events and characters depicted are fictional.
One well-known example of a mockumentary is the television show "The Office." This show follows the everyday lives of the employees of a fictional paper supply company, and presents itself as a documentary film crew following the characters around and capturing their interactions on camera. The show is known for its deadpan humor and characters who are caricatures of office workers.
Another example of a mockumentary is the film "This is Spinal Tap." This film follows the fictional rock band Spinal Tap as they embark on a tour, and presents itself as a documentary about the band. The film is known for its humorous portrayal of the rock music industry, and its characters are exaggerated versions of rock musicians.
Mockumentaries can also be used to make social and political commentary. The film "Borat" follows the misadventures of a fictional Kazakh journalist as he travels around the United States, and presents itself as a documentary about his experiences. The film uses humor to comment on American culture and attitudes towards foreign countries.
In conclusion, mockumentaries are a type of film or television show that use the techniques of documentary storytelling to present fictionalized or humorous portrayals of their subjects. They can be used to make commentary on society and culture, or simply to entertain.
The History of the Mockumentary Artform
But if you're looking for a show that's a bit more thoughtful than the usual sitcom fare, then you should definitely give it a try. While the mockumentary received less-than-stellar feedback, Brooker and Jones went on to create a follow-up mockumentary the next year, titled Death to 2021. Even if it transitions into a more traditionally shot film after about 30-40 minutes, those opening sequences do a great deal to establish the world, characters, and ideas of District 9. Mascots, which starred Guest regulars Jane Lynch, Parker Posey, Bob Balaban, and the late Fred Willard, follows the lives of fictional sports mascots competing for the prestigious Gold Fluffy Award. Some television shows also fall under this genre. The show derives inspiration from the greatest of all TV mockumentary shows, The Office, and succeeds in making us laugh with its quirky characters and humour.
The 8 Best Mockumentary TV Sitcoms of All Time, Ranked
It riffs on the absurd implications of being a vampire in a modern world. Core characters are at a viewing party standard format for the special and Monk has second thoughts about his conclusion about the case. Waiting for Guffman and A Mighty Wind are both excellent, but the pinnacle of the trio is Best in Show, a look at all the weirdness and intense rivalries of dog shows. Related: A Guide to British Accents Using Popular TV Characters 6. It's unlike much else out there because of how strange it is. Much of the film is comprised of unscripted vignettes, with Cohen's Borat interacting with Americans who truly believe he is a foreigner completely unaware of American customs. Regardless, it's still a unique way to depict a historical event that happened centuries ago, and it stands out amongst other mockumentaries for being set so far in the past.
Typically, a TV show is no longer than an hour per episode. The film has since developed a cult following thanks to its behind-the-scenes look at beauty pageants and their cutthroat contestants. Some of the later seasons of Trailer Park Boys leave a lot to be desired, but the first seven seasons are fantastic. This mockumentary was so popular that FX picked it up as a television series in 2019. Retrieved 30 May 2021. But where does it sit in the pantheon? Furthermore, the film features the people involved in the real-life case playing themselves, re-enacting things that happened to them in real life.
5 Ways Mockumentaries Work Better As Movies (& 5 They're Better As TV Series)
Cohen has also created several other mockumentaries with other characters of his creation such as Bruno, and political satire series Who Is America. Further examples are Smile 1975 , Take the Money and Run is presented in documentary-style with Allen playing a fictional criminal, Virgil Starkwell, whose crime exploits are "explored" throughout the film. Taking the format to its logical conclusion, the fictional show at the heart of the film sees six contenders fighting it out for the grand prize — literally. This 1999 pitch-black satire centers on a tiny town in Minnesota as it prepares for the Sarah Rose Cosmetics Mount Rose American Teen Princess Pageant, with a star-studded cast that includes nothing — is more important than winning. Take What We Do In The Shadows for instance. RELATED: The only downside to the term "mockumentary" is that the "mock" part makes it sound like all mockumentaries are, by definition, comedies.
Retrieved 20 December 2021. He is also accompanied by his daughter, Tutar Maria Bakalova , who created quite the buzz with her controversial scene with Rudy Giuliani. These are just a few of the wonderful attractions that beautiful Sunnyvale Trailer Park in Nova Scotia has to offer. In fact, one could argue mockumentaries are the RELATED: But, are they more successful as films or television shows? The film follows serial killer Ben who not only murders on camera, but also continually shares his violent philosophy with the camera crew, who inevitably become entangled in his crimes. Related: Image via Warner Bros Best In Show is a hilarious mockumentary that highlights the eccentric and sometimes obsessive behavior of show dog owners as they prepare for the Mayflower Kennel Club Dog Show. Good mockumentaries have been hard to find in recent years; which is all the more reason to laud American Vandal. It's a great series but is best described as an existential dark-comedy than a traditional sitcom.
But Borat struck a different nerve, especially when his ignorance worked to unveil entrenched racist, bigoted or sexist views with the people he met along the way. The film follows three loosely-linked stories captured using a video camcorder, a store security camera, and concealed cameras. In the modern age of entertainment, not everyone has time to sit down for ninety minutes uninterrupted for a silly film. For example, found footage horror films like The Blair Witch Project and Paranormal Activity have been influenced by the "fake documentary" style of mockumentaries, without including their comic tone. A film crew documents the comical mundane realities of their day-to-day undead existence. Zelig has become an immensely popular film with directors and special effects artists due to its impressive use of is also unsurprisingly popular with writers due to its dry wit — but be warned: the film is subtly tragic as well.
What is a Mockumentary — Definition, Examples & History
His entry into a life of crime at a young age, his crime spree, his first prison term and eventual escape, the birth and growth of his family, as well as his eventual capture at the hands of the FBI are some of the notable events depicted. Mockumentary 9 Mockumentary Comedy 9 Fake Documentary 7 Satire 7 Improvisation 4 Written And Directed By Cast Member 4 2000s 3 Bus 3 Friendship 3 Independent Film 3 Scene During End Credits 3 2010s 2 Airport 2 Awkward Silence 2 Backstage 2 Band 2 Bar 2 Based On Sketch Comedy 2 Blood 2 Breaking The Fourth Wall 2 Brother Sister Relationship 2 Character Name In Title 2 Chase 2 Chicken 2 Comic Relief 2 Concert 2 Cringe Comedy 2 Crucifix 2 Cult Film 2 Dancer 2 Dancing 2 Dentist 2 Dog 2 Drink 2 Drinking 2 Employer Employee Relationship 2 Employment 2 F Word 2 Father Son Relationship 2 Feminism 2 Flash Forward 2 Guitar 2 Male Protagonist 2 New York City 2 Party 2 Satire Comedy 2 Small Town 2 Title Spoken By Character 2 12 Year Old 1 16 Year Old 1 18 Year Old 1 183 Year Old 1 1960s 1 1980s 1 1990s 1 21st Century 1 30 Year Old 1 379 Years Old 1 666 1 69 Sex Position 1 862 Year Old 1 90 Year Old 1 96 Year Old 1 Abortion 1 Abortion Joke 1 Abortionist 1 Absurd Comedy 1 Absurdism 1 Accountant 1 Actor Shares First Name With Character 1 Actress Playing Herself 1 African American 1 Aging 1 Airplane 1 Alabama 1 Alarm Clock 1 Album 1 Alien Contact 1 Alpha Male 1 Amateur Theater 1 Ambulance 1 American Civil War Store 1 American Culture 1 American Flag 1 American Midwest 1 American South 1 American Xenophobia 1 Amplifier 1 Amusement Park 1 Animal Cruelty 1 Animated Sequence 1 Anti Semitism 1 Antique Shop 1 Anus 1 Apology 1 Arab Stereotype 1 Arch Nemesis 1 Archive Footage 1 Arrest 1 Attack By Night 1. People Just Do Nothing follows a hip-hop crew that broadcasts from a pirate radio station in West London. Granted, it doesn't stay that way throughout, but it's a sizable portion of the film and one of the things that makes it such a RELATED: With a story about a giant spaceship that stalls over the city of Johannesburg and the ensuing refugee crisis it causes for the alien creatures on board, the mockumentary techniques work to make the premise feel more believable and authentic. Well, Best in Show has the answers.
Similarly, it can even be used in drama films like Man Bites Dog or District Nine. The show is hilarious, engrossing, and most surprisingly, profound. For the next hour, everything you hear from us is really true and based on solid fact. Thus, leaving those "clean" athletes to compete in the race. As we've seen and will continue to highlight, fictional bands make for stellar mockumentary fare.
