Mocumentaries

A mocumentary is a type of TV show or film which fictitious events are presented in documentary format. They often analyze or comment on current events, as well as issues occuring now, using an unrealistic or fictitious setting. They are either comedic or dramatic in form. However comedic mocumentaries are much more common.  Mockumentaries are uaually presented as historical documentaries, Either with b roll and discussing past events or as cinéma vérité pieces, following the people as the action happens. Mocumentaries are often improvised to maintain the pretense of reality.  Comedic mockumentaries dont usually have 'laugh tracks' to sustain the atmosphere.

Examples of mocumentaries include:

David Holzman's Diary (1967),
Pat Paulsen For President (1968),
Take the Money and Run (1969), 

The Rutles (1978)

These are the conventions of a documentary put in to essential and non essential areas.

This is a hierarchy of the importance of documentary conventions. I decided that interviews were the most important as they usually make a programme more like a documentary. I also put titles and introduction of topic near the top as I think this is imortant because it makes the documentary clear for the audience. I put non diegetic music at the bottom of the heirarchy because I thought this wasnt an important convention for making a programme a documentary.

This is an analysis of the A2 documentaries that we watched during class.

Documentary Proposal

This is our documentary proposal that we completed in class in a group of 3. We decided to look at the unexplained death of Michael Jackson. We discussed which modes of documentary we would put in to it, to create an engaging and interesting documentary. We would like to interview his friends and family and many other people linked to his death, to create a moving, emotional and interesting documentary.     

Modes of Documentary

Reflexive:
-The film maker is in front of the camera (film maker ecknowledges their presece)
-It shows behind the scenes footage. For example; Jamie Ovliver's shows.
-Voiceover, not authoritative - usually questioning and uncertain.
-It aids the audience in the understanding of construction in the film, developing a critical attitude from them.
-Uses techniques from fiction film, to create emotional responses.
-Usually relies on suggestion and implied meaning instead of facts.
-Emphasises the expresive nature of a film - for example; expressive lighting, dramatic music, re-enactments.
'Driving Me Crazy' by Nick Broomfield is an example of a reflexive documentary.

Poetic:
-Little narration
-mood or tone created by music
-Usually artistic
-Doesn't tend to exaggerate
-The events can be under developed and situations unsolved.
'Take That: The Official Documentary' is an example of a poetic documentary.

Observational:
-The camera follows the person as the events unfold-watch it as it happens  
-Light equipment is used, i.e; hand held cameras suitable for following the events
-Hand held camera is used for location shots
-No interviews included
-No voiceover
-Synchronous sound incorporated
-Usually this mode of documentary is used for war documentaries- following the person and seeing the events unfold
-Long takes used.
'March Of The Penguins' is an example of an observational documentary.

Expository:
-Trying to prove a point-biast 
-Voiceover - addresses the audience directly
-Images used to illustrate the voiceover
-Contains retorical content
-The voiceover is either a 'voice of god' (heard but not seen) or a 'voice of authority (seen and heard)
-Editing - used to create continuity
-A variety of footage, stills and interviews, also archive material is used.
'The World at War' is an example of an expository documentary. 

Participatory:
-The film maker becomes part of the events - direct engagement
-The film maker becomes a character
-Use of archive material, i.e news footage and headlines
-Hand held camera used for location shots
-Many interviews incorporated but mainly informal.
'When we Were Kings' is an example of a participatory documentary. 

Michael Moore

Michael Moore was born 23rd April, 1954 in the US. He's a film-maker and author. He is the director and producer of Bowling for Columbine and Fahrenheit 9/11 and many more. He starred in the TV shows TV Nation and The Awful Truth and he also wrote them.

Michael Moore's film; 'Bowling for Columbine' is a documentary which explores the culture of guns and violence in the US. It's a 2002 film, it won the 2002 Academy Award for Documentary Feature. It gained great commercial and critical success for a film of it's type.  

This is Michael Moore's official website: http://www.michaelmoore.com/

This is the trailer for Michael Moore's 'Bowling for Columbine' (2002)

The Secret Millionaire

'The Secret Millionaire' is another example of a documentary.
This programme involves a millionaire leaving their luxury lifestyle to go undercover in a deprived area and see who needs their help. They later reveal their identity and give them some money to help with their events. This programme makes the audience feel sympathetic towards the deprived areas and people.

Camera angles:
-Arial shot over the city - it shows the audience the location.
-Tracking shot- Alongside the millionaire, as he walks through streets.

Sound:
-The music stops when the millionaire cries, this emphasises how upseet he is, showing the conditions are terrible.
-When the millionaire is working in the kitchen the music pace is fast showing the pressure.
-Asynchronous sound- voice over throughout, when the millionaire is talking about different events.

Editing:
-There isn't much editing involved in this programme because it is simply filming the lives of people in deprived areas. And the audience want to see the reality.

Louis and the Nazis

'Louis and the Nazis' is a documentary which explores the Nazi-pop folk duo Prussian Blue. He travels to California to also meet Tom Metzger 'the most dangerous racist in America'. This documentary includes some shocking clips which are used to keep the audience intrigued. Louis Theroux interviews these different people and finds their views on different cultures and religions.     

At the beginning of the documentary it immediately becomes engaging with Louis having an intense conversation/ argument with a lady who's a Nazis. This type of beginning shows the audience it is going to be an interesting and full on documentary, keeping the audience watching. The credits start 1 and a half minutes in, after the controversial footage. Asynchronous sound is used when  the titles start, and synchronous sound is used - dialog. The interviews by Louis are very informal and the camera work is also informal, the camera is hand held instead of using a tripod showing how informal it is. A fade is used in many different parts of the documentary. It is used to break up the sections showing different days. It is also used in a different situation, when Louis had no response to a comment. 

Theres continuity editing used throughout. Mexican music music is used when they drive through mexico - stereotypical.    

Born To Be Different

This is a clip from the documentary 'Born to be different'. It shows how the documentary is filmed. This clip shows a young girl who is very ill. By showing a young ill child makes the audience feel very sympathetic also the mother is interviewed and mentions that the girl may be too weak to live, again making the audience feel sympathetic. This clip also shows the doctor speaking about the girl's illness. Showing the documentary involves specialists opinions and facts, making it more interesting for audiences.   

A definition of TV documentary

A documentary is a program that provides a report or record on a subject or event. They are usually very factual. Examples of documentaries include;
- One born every minute
- The secret millionaire
- Poor kids
-The world's strictest parents
-Week in week out
-Our worlds
-Born to be different
-The model agency

Many of these programs like the secret millionaire, born to be different and poor kids make the audience feel very sympathetic due to the deprived areas and unfortunate people shown in the program. Many of the documentaries show people and families with very different lives, making them very interesting for audiences as they may not know how these unique people live.

Born To Be Different - Documentary

'Born To Be Different' is a TV documentary which follows the lives of children and their families, of which the children are living with disabilities which are affecting their lives dramatically. It shows how tough it is for the children as they grow up to go ahead with their every day lives with a disability.

Sound: Asynchronous sound is used with voice overs which are used throughout the programme. The voices incorporate the narrator and the children's parents. The narrator explains the events on screen to the audiences.

The music is quiet and slow to create a calm atmosphere to suite the action on screen. 

Camera angles: 

- Low angle

-Wide angle 

-Extreme high angle

-Two shot 

-Tracking shot 

Editing: There isn't much editing in this programme, mainly due to it being a documentary which are about the real lives of people, so it's mainly all natural to show the reality. 

It explains to the audience all about the disabilities experienced by the children, and its very factual. This programme will make the audience feel sympathetic towards the children and their families.  

  

Louis Theroux

Louis Theroux is an English broadcaster. He was born on 20th May 1970 in Singapore. At present he works with the BBC producing his documentaries and TV series. He is best known for 'When Louis Met...'.  

In the show 'When Louis Met...' Louis Theroux went along with  british stars and their day to day buisness. Interviewing them about their lifestyle. 'When Louis Met Jimmy' was voted one of the top fifty documentaries.   

Louis Theroux has produced a number of documentaries including;

Miami Megajail

America's Most Hated Family In Crisis 

Behind Bars

Law And Disorder in Philadelphia 

America's Medicated Kids  

The City Addicted To Crystal Meth

A Place For Paedophiles

Law And Disorder In Johannesburg.

This is Louis Theroux's official website, which includes personal information on Louis Theroux and his shows: http://louistheroux.com/


This video is a section from 'When Louis Theroux met Paul Daniels and Debbie McGee'. It's a documentary which Louis Theroux created. He produced many of these documentaries following the every day lives of various British celebrities. It was shown on Channel 4.