Mockumentary (also known as a pseudo-documentary)[1], a portmanteau of mock and documentary, is a film and TV genre, or a single work of the genre. A mockumentary is one of the comedy genres, although there are serious mockumentaries. The mockumentary is presented as a documentary recording real life, but is in fact fictional. It is a commonly used medium for parody and satire. They are often used to analyze current events and issues by using a fictional setting around it.
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.
The Canadian Conspiracy, about a supposed Canadian plan to subvert the United States by taking over its media. (US, 1985)
Chalk, 2007 movie based on two teachers' real life experiences. LA Weekly said to think of it as "To Sir, with Sarcasm."
Comic Book: The Movie, a 2004 direct-to-DVD release mockumentary about a comic book fanboy dealing with the unfaithful film adaptation of his favorite character, set to the backdrop of the 2002 San Diego Comic-Con.
Dill Scallion, a 1999 feature follows the rise and fall of country-western singer Dill Scallion (Billy Burke) in the mode of Spinal Tap.
Dog Bites Man, a parody of local news coverage, and follows the misadventures of a struggling news team as they travel around the country producing news segments.
Drop Dead Gorgeous a camera crew follows beauty pageant contestants in a small town.
Finishing the GameThe story of the search for the "new" Bruce Lee to finish "The Game of Death."
First on the Moon (?????? ?? ???? or Pervye na Lune), Venice Film Festival winner. A mockumentary about the first Russian spa?e voyage, supposedly accomplished in 1938. Mixes archival footage and fake KGB materials. (Russia, 2005)
FUBAR by Michael Dowse, a mockumentary that has achieved 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)
A Great Disturbance, In April 2005, a film crew follows five Star Wars fans to the 3rd Bi-Annual Star Wars Convention and a great documentary evolves into a great disturbance. (US, 2006)
G-SALE by Randy Nargi, scripted mockumentary about garage sale fanatics. (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)
High Hopes, by Kevin Vallejo, following the lives of paintballers. (Canada, 2006)
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)
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)
Man Bites Dog, Rémy Belvaux black comedy/satire in which a film crew follows a serial killer documenting his crimes. (Belgium, 1992)
Magnus Opus, black comedy about a messianic performance artist and his rise to stardom. (Canada, 2003)
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)
The National Scream, the investigation of the disappearance of the official beaver, the national symbol of Canada.
Ned Danny's "The Cleaners", a documentary filmmaker's attempt at making a film about murderers after murder has been legalized.
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".
The Games, an Australian TV comedy that follows the mayhem and bureaucratic snafu faced by the organisers of the 2000 Sydney Olympics. (Australia, 1998 and 2000)
Jimmy MacDonald's Canada, 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)
The Office, British satire on white-collar management, later remade for US and other audiences (UK/USA, 2001/2005).
Operation Good Guys, a British satire of an incompetent police force (often seen as a precursor to The Office, see above).
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.)
Summer Heights High, an Australian TV mockumentary about three fictitious characters at a public high school. All three protagonists are played by the actor and show's creator, Chris Lilley. Two of the characters in this series are characters previously featured in two of Chris Lilley's past television shows, including "We Can Be Heroes". (Australia, 2005)
Trailer Park Boys, follows Julian, Ricky, and Bubbles, as they commit crimes, and hatch crack-pot schemes to make money, most of which are illegal and often involve growing marijuana.
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)
Norbert Smith - a Life, a personal project by English comedian Harry Enfield, satirising TV arts show biographies, British films of the 20th century, and the British acting fraternity.
Individual episodes
Sometimes an episode of an otherwise non-mockumentary series will be presented as a mockumentary.
"Band on the Roof", a "rockumentary"-style episode following the band, the Twitty-Steven Connection.
Dramatic examples
Film
AFR (2007), a Danish mockumentary about the fictional killing of the Danish prime minister by his secret gay lover.
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.
...and I was born to sweet delight! (2000), directed by Iranian film maker Kiarash Anvari, is an experimental mockumentary in Samuel Beckett's style jumps from one time zone to another. Tells the story of a lonely man who films his daily life by an 8 mm camera and his lonely neighbour who talks about his daily life on reel tapes. They fill their lonliness in these ways.
The Blair Witch Project, fictional story presented as non-fiction about three filmmaker's disappearances while making a documentary film about a supernatural being described in local folklore. (The backstory of the being, a witch, had no basis in fact, either.) Stands as the most successful documentary film to date. (US, 1999) Also see Curse of the Blair Witch.
Cannibal Holocaust (1980), perhaps the first horror mockumentary and an undeniable predecessor of the Blair Witch Project. It tells the story of film students who take a trip to the Colombian jungle and end up eaten by revenge-thirsty cannibals.
Culloden (1964), a BBC "documentary" of the battle from 1746, presented as if cameras had been there to film it.
Dadetown (1995), a faux documentary along the lines of Roger & Me - conflict in a small town between a fading industry and an emerging one.
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 2008 detailing the assassination of United States president George W. Bush on October 19, 2007.
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.
I Am a Purifier! (2002), a short film directed by Kiarash Anvari. Tells the story of a young Prostitute tries to adapt herself with two different layers of this film; fiction and documentary.
The Last Broadcast, a horror film ? the first film to be shot, edited, and distributed digitally ? in the form of a documentary about the mysterious disappearance of a pair of cable television producers.
Nothing So Strange, a fictional documentary about Citizens for Truth, an organization seeking further investigation into the 1999 assassination of Bill Gates.
No Burgers for Bigfoot (2007), a fictional documentary, spoofing the amateur filmmaking. From casting calls to, on locations shoots, to the film's premiere. No Burgers.. follows the director Michael Justice, and cast as they search for the Bigfoot inside us all.
Oil Storm (2005), a fictional documentary involving increased oil prices and a hurricane similar to Hurricane Katrina.
Special Bulletin (1983), was an NBC made-for-TV movie, which portrayed a live broadcast from a fictional American broadcasting network (Republic Broadcasting System, or RBS) on a nuclear terrorism incident in Charleston, South Carolina as they occurred. The realism of the broadcast caused a minor panic in Charleston at the time of its first airing, despite disclaimers shown at after each commercial break.
Without Warning (1994), was another TV film in the form of a mock newscast. Produced by CBS, it covered an apocalyptic alien attack scenario as seen through the eyes of a network TV news crew. Like Special Bulletin, reports of panic were also associated with its broadcast.
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 leads to nuclear war. (This film, however, isn't completely a documentary as it includes dramatic interludes).
Ghostwatch (1992), a BBC television special in which a fictitious "live" paranormal investigation goes awry.
Some films and shows take on the form of (fake) raw footage.
Cloverfield, a 2008 movie which revolves around a skyscraper-sized monster that attacks New York. It is told from the point of view of a small group of people using a handheld camera. It is portrayed as footage classified by the US military. (US, 2008)
The Blair Witch Project, fictional story presented as non-fiction about three filmmaker's disappearances while making a documentary film about a supernatural being described in local folklore.
Encyclopedia
top
