Not sure this is the right forum so feel free to move.
My company is in the pre production stage of our next feature film which is a mockumentary.
The script is in its third major draft and we are still tweaking some things.
Doing as much research as I can (both reading and watching) there seems to be a lot of people in the film making community that do not like mocks for various reasons.
My question is: What do you like / dislike about mockumentaires? If you were making one what would you avoid / include? Any and all advice is appreciated.
Here is a link to the preview of the film to get an idea what it will be about.
http://vimeo.com/22621870
Thanks!
Mike
I watched the videoclip and thought it was clever. It was crisp and clean. My concern is that, as with a real documentary, the pace needs to be brisk. For me, I started to drift about the 2:45 mark. The talking heads shots become monotonous. The stills and prep shots started to become repetitive.
Just as with regular films, you need to avoid too much exposition and show the audience. Having them say, "This award upped my business" is not as effective as showing line-out-the-door business with an interview with a customer.
When I hear documentary, I think classroom lecture. So it needs to break that mold. I like "Modern Marvels" and other documentaries that mix fact, interviews, within a continuous sequence of action. Also jumping in as it is, I was largely clueless by the intro what the "Golden Scallop Competition" was.
One advantage of having an interviewer, is it allows the audience to vicariously participate by "breaking the fourth wall".
Code:
EXT. CAPE COD BENCH - DAY
The NARRATOR is eating a basket of fried scallops.
NARRATOR
You don't have to be from New England to enjoy
fried scallops. Recently our search for unique
traditions turned up a rather unique competition.
(beat)
Here in Cape Cod, the Annual Golden Scallop. It
attracts fierce competition and has built businesses.
He reaches into the basket, loads a fried oyster with sauce and delivers
it neatly into his mouth.
CUT TO:
...
Tell them what you're going to show, show them, then tell them what you showed them. It will cause film makers to cringe, but it is the model used in the classroom. Documentaries are basically teaching or expositions. If you keep it light, moving briskly, engage the audience with questions--"How many scallops are consumed over the competition? (beat, maybe interviewees guessing). Over 16,000 scallops weighing almost a ton are consumed each day at festival time!" Re-enactments are also good.Then move back to your story.
Most documentaries (and mockumentaries) that don't work for me provide too much talk and put you back in the classroom. Fortunately for the viewer, at home or the cinema, you can leave or flip the channel. Obviously for the filmmaker, it is the task to keep them wanting to stay fixed.
Just my few thoughts.
