Fake Documentaries
 

Shows presented as truth but are completely fabricated stories with actors. Usually these are pretty obvious and would be considered comedy or 'what if' scenarios. I only know of a few but there must be more.

Stunt Rock (1978)
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0078335/

This Is Spinal Tap (1984)
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0088258/



Both of these mockumentaries come to mind first. Stunt Rock was obviously the direct inspiration of the more popular Spinal Tap and I am not very fond of either of them.

Alternative 3 (1977)
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0075664/

The Original War of the Worlds Radio Broadcast (1938)

Although not a documentary, it fooled the public and people panicked, believing the Martians were truly invading the planet.

William Rutledge's Apollo 20 Video (2007)
created by French artist Thierry Speth
https://theunredacted.com/apollo-20-...into-darkness/


This fake documentary caused a lot of hype when it was first released but the creator eventually exposed the hoax and since then the popularity of this novelty has worn away.

The Alien Autopsy (1995)
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt7834248/

I actually saw this on TV when it aired hand-in-hand with The X-Files, both being heavily promoted in commercials simultaneously. I watched with fascination, wanting to believe it was true but ultimately I doubted it and saw the X-Files connection there. Many years later I was admitted to be correct as the hoaxers were finally given professional credit for this as a fictional Hollywood production.

It depends whether you actually mean mockumentaries (like spinal tap) which are obviously fake and for comedic purposes. Nathan For You is a bit like this, especially the finale called 'Finding Frances'.

or...

Documentaries that have obviously bent the rules a little and manufactured some of the finer details to make the story more incredible (alot of documentaries do this but some go over the line)

If you look at Abbas Kiarostami's work like Close up or Through the Olive Trees....... It's purposefully manufactured to make it more entertaining but that's the beauty and genius of it.

Searching for Sugarman is an interetsing one. I was blown away by it originally, then read that alot of it was exacerbated for entertainment purposes and Rodriguez wasn't living a solitary life hidden away all these years, he had infact been performing regularly in South Africa and Europe. Does this matter? At the end of the day it's just a film. It's the same film I watched before I read the critique (that may or may not be true) I guess ehtically if you're showcasing a film as fact then it blurs the line of morality if you make stuff up. But that is the film-makers right. It's their peice of art.

The question then develops into......when does a piece of art become propaganda? Answering that is above my pay grade.

Re: Fake Documentaries
 

There's Mermaids: The Body Found from Discovery Channel Aside from the premise which may or may not seem ridiculous, the movie's credibility takes a dive when you see all the mermaid families saved by a merman cutting himself to draw the megalodon away from everyone.

I would like to avoid the misinformation political stuff as there must be a deep bin full of those being passed around to conspironuts. I'm more interested in the fun harmless stuff such as the above already mentioned. I'm into entertainment value, films that don't ask too much from their audience. A time passer, not a gobbler.

Re: Fake Documentaries
 

Right, so mockumentaries.

Try 'Ghostwatch'

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0200659/

Not much into the ghost stuff, but I will probably check it out anyways. Thanks for the suggestion.

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1816585/



https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2954660/


I suppose this is presented like a Discovery Channel documentary? Have you seen the sequel? This looks interesting. If they would make this then I wonder if theres a Santa Claus is Real documentary out there...

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1038988/




A 'found footage' documentary of a zombie infection. Made in Spain.

Re: Fake Documentaries
 

So much Michael Moore, so little time.

Yeah, he sort of looks fake, doesn't he?