Unit G324 - Short Film - Mockumentary Analysis

I will analyse Drop Dead Gorgeous while Vikki will analyse an episode of The Office, I'm going to look at Sound, Mise en Scene, Editing and Camera. I think i will have to look closely at camera as the use of camera in both documentaries and therefore mockumentaries are different to conventional films which use the fourth wall, characters are talking to the camera and the camera will catch things (which of course in a mockumentary will be scripted) and zoom or move in an unplanned way. This adds a sense of realism to the film and includes the audience which is important in this genre of film. Editing is crucial as the film must look like a professional documentary which would include unforeseen events and a large amount of film that would have to be discarded for entertainment purposes so the characters pieces to camera aren't in their entirety rather than a film with a linear dialogue and plot. Mockumentaries also use a certain type of sound, as it's meant to be filming people without knowing what's going to happen there's little or no use of incidental music, generally these films are more about the dialogue in the sound department. For mise en scene i will be looking at costume, lighting, acting, make-up, props and setting, this will have to be quite naturalistic for a mockumentary but i will also have to make sure that the setting and props fit with the musical establishment and instruments that would be included in a Battle of the Bands scenario. Costume and make-up will also be fairly naturalistic yet i need to make sure that the costumes match the genre of music and the personalities that will be wearing them.

This is spinal tap, A mighty wind and Best in show are all films by Christopher Guest, these were suggested for Vikki and I to watch as they are all mockumentaries and This is spinal tap is based around a rock band so it's very close to our idea. Anvil was also suggested to us, this film is a comical look at a metal band in the mockumentary style.