Mockumentary

A few questions I'm hoping some, or more, can answer:

1. Do any special conventions or norms applying to guildelines/style for writing mockumentaries?

2. In "A Mighty Wind", apparently there was very little written dialog, with much intent on actor improvisation of character lines. How does one, "write improv". That is, how is it designated in a script, should a subject outline be included, etc.? Is improv a good, bad, or indifferent thing?

3. Any tips for writing mockumentaries?

Thanks in advance.

I have never 'written' a mockumentary but have an opinion on why Tap, Mighty Wind et al are so great.

1. They pick subjects worthy of mocking.

2. They know the subject.

3. The subject is of interest to a wide audience. (Tap is by far the most popular of the movies from that team IMHO because heavy metal is of interest to millions of people. People can appreciate the humor of Best In Show but unless you're a dog show fan you won't connect in the same way.)

4. Everything else is dead straight. No 'Airplane' style pratfalls or things in the background.

5. Play it VERY close to dead serious.

The last two particulary make it possible, if you're not paying 100% attention, to watch half of Tap before you realise it's a spoof.

As to the adlibbing, you need people with the ability, and who know each other well enough, to get away with it. I suppose having a general overview of the scene beforehand, with maybe a few lines in mind, would be enough to get going.

And lastly, be ruthless about cutting anything that doesn't work. From the Tap DVD you realise they shot about three movies worth just to get one excellent movie.

You can't write improve, that's the whole point of improv, it's improvisational not pre-existing. Write it with place holder dialogue to give a sense of the kind of things to be said. I assume you are going to direct this as mockumentaries are a writer/director labor of love kinda thing not specs sold and made.

Yes regular formatting standards apply but since you will be directing/producing it you can write in two column AV style if you want.

4. Everything else is dead straight. No 'Airplane' style pratfalls or things in the background.

There is an article on Will Ferrell in a recent GQ. They mention of his comic techniques; he takes himself seriously no matter how ridiculous he looks.

What Deus said.

I can't think of a mockumentary that wasn't written-produced-directed-funded by a private party. (Though Guest gets funding from distribs these days, it's based on past success.)

Part of the reason why they could allow improvising in A MIGHTY WIND is that they knew who was going to be in the film, and they knew they were all great at being funny off the cuff. A lot of Second City people in that film.

A friend of mine just DPed on a mocumentary (written-produced-directed-funded by a guy) and the script was 100% written - every single funny line or action. The reason why? He had no idea who was going to be in the film, and since he was funding it out of pocket he might not get the best actors or the funnies people. He had to make sure it was funny by writing it funny. My friend read me a scene that was *really* funny, I laughed a couple of times... even with bad delivery.

So - I'd just write the best danged script you can.

- Bill

Just a heads-up- from a "Industry" standpoint, I don't think a single mockumentary spec has even been purchased.

Some good responses here.

I just read my first improv comedy script and it was 17 pages. The film is expected to run about 90 minutes. It consisted of scene descriptions - entry points, exit points, and key bits of dialogue or information that must be conveyed within the scene. Everything else is up to the talent of the improv actors.

You might want to check out how Woody Allen wrote "Take The Money And Run," which is a mockumentary. Also I recomend looking into the Belgian film "Man Bites Dog."

I am pretty sure those had to be scripted and not mostly improv. They could be though, just a hunch.

Also, I don't know if it's even possible to get a hold of some scripts for Reno 911 - but it seems that they script their stuff, yet it still feels like "reality" tv. Maybe you could find out more info on the comedy central site.

wenonah