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'''Mockumentary''' (also known as a pseudo-documentary)<ref>http://www.m-w.com/dictionary/Mockumentary Websters Dictionary definition</ref>, a ] of ''']''' and ''']''', is a film and TV ], or a single work of the genre. A mockumentary is one of the ], although there are series mockumentaries. The mockumentary is presented as a ] recording real life, but is in fact fictional. It is a commonly used medium for ] and ]. They are often used to analyze ] and issues by using a ]al setting around it. '''Mockumentary''' (also known as a pseudo-documentary)<ref>http://www.m-w.com/dictionary/Mockumentary Websters Dictionary definition</ref>, a ] of ''']''' and ''']''', is a film and TV ], or a single work of the genre. A mockumentary is one of the ], although there are series mockumentaries. The mockumentary is presented as a ] recording real life, but is in fact fictional. It is a commonly used medium for ] and ]. They are often used to analyze ] and issues by using a ]al setting around it.


Mockumentaries are often presented as historical documentaries with ] and ]s discussing past events or as ] pieces following people as they go through various events. Examples of this type of ] date back at least to the 1950s (a very early example was a short piece on the "]" that appeared as an ]'s joke on the British television program '']'' in 1957), though the term "mockumentary" is thought to have first appeared in the mid-1980s when '']'' director ] used it in interviews to describe that film. Mockumentaries are often presented as historical documentaries with ] and ]s discussing past events or as ] pieces following people as they go through various events. Examples of this type of ] date back at least to the 1950s (a very early example was a short piece on the "]" that appeared as an ]'s joke on the British television program '']'' in 1957), though the term "mockumentary" is thought to have first appeared in the mid-1980s when '']'' director ] used it in interviews to describe that film. And is still used in the present, from the films of ] and the acclaimed 2006 independent 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 ]' production of ]' novel, '']''). The false documentary form has also been used for some dramatic productions (and precursors to this approach date back to the radio days and ]' production of ]' novel, '']'').

Revision as of 18:33, 22 February 2008

Mockumentary (also known as a pseudo-documentary), 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 series 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. And is still used in the present, from the films of Christopher Guest and the acclaimed 2006 independent film, Gamers: The Movie.

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.

Comedic examples

Film

Television

Series

Individual episodes

Sometimes an episode of an otherwise non-mockumentary series will be presented as a mockumentary.

Dramatic examples

Film

Television

  • Alternative 3, TV movie of a political conspiracy to establish a settlement on Mars.

Other Mock Films and Television

Reality Shows

News Shows

  • Babylon 5
  • 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.

Filmographies

Footnotes

  1. http://www.m-w.com/dictionary/Mockumentary Websters Dictionary definition

See also

External links

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