How would you format this in a script?

I'm looking to write something along the lines of The Poughkeepsie Tapes, and I was kind of wondering how you would format a fake/scripted interview? How would you format certain imagery that crops up on the screen?

There's only one camera, one person, and an interviewer, and the interviews of various people could be taking place anywhere, so how particular would I need to be with the locations?

Any good examples of a mockumentary script?  Or a found footage script?

Anyone have an idea then? If somebody is recording with a camera all the way through, would I put that in the scene header?  Or would I just write it out in scene description?

I would read some found footage scripts and take what you can from them. I wouldn't know precisely how to go about it myself. It seems to me, though, that making a note of the camera in every single slug would be major overkill; at some point, it has to be obvious that it's a found-footage film and the reader doesn't need to be reminded of the fact every single scene. Seems like something that would need to be established quickly and unequivocally from the start so that the reader knows exactly what they're dealing.

I'd imagine you'd have to say something like "We're looking through a video-camera" in the very first scene, and then after that just write the shots like.... films himself, in the background we see... ect.

Very camera direction heavy I'm guessing...

I have a some kind of foundfootage/ regular mix of a feature and still don't know what I did with the formatting here.

I liked the formatting of SuperMick by the way. It's an ff, isn't it? Glenn did a great job, I think.

Max, long time no see.

Like Khamanna, I'd highly recommend SuperMick ;)

Seriously, that was my first found footage type thing I've written. What I did was establish it at the start. Over black I wrote:  In 2010 a film crew traveled to Co. Mayo to unravel the truth about local superhero, SuperMick. This is the only footage that remains.

Then it started with an interview. The interviewer talks toward the camera to see if it's rolling and then they're off.

I didn't do much else after that except for a few subtle things characters did toward the camera, basically acknowledging its existence.

The script is on here if you want to take a look.

Quoted from IamGlenn Max, long time no see. Like Khamanna, I'd highly recommend SuperMick ;) Seriously, that was my first found footage type thing I've written. What I did was establish it at the start. Over black I wrote:  In 2010 a film crew traveled to Co. Mayo to unravel the truth about local superhero, SuperMick. This is the only footage that remains. Then it started with an interview. The interviewer talks toward the camera to see if it's rolling and then they're off. I didn't do much else after that except for a few subtle things characters did toward the camera, basically acknowledging its existence. The script is on here if you want to take a look.

Yeah, that would be awesome... chuck us a link.

Normally in some of these mockumentary films tho... you have like.. newspaper clippings, animations ect... overview of maps...

I would want to write things like that into the script as well.  You know... the typical red dot going across the map sort of thing.

I'd like to know how I'd write that in as well... just an INSERT?

Yeah, maybe an insert of a map and just explain the red dot in an action line. Whatever makes it clear as to what's going on.

Don't know if it'll be helpful, but here's a link to SuperMick.

http://www.simplyscripts.net/cgi-bin/Blah/Blah.pl?m-1461510206/

Quoted from IamGlenn Yeah, maybe an insert of a map and just explain the red dot in an action line. Whatever makes it clear as to what's going on. Don't know if it'll be helpful, but here's a link to SuperMick. http://www.simplyscripts.net/cgi-bin/Blah/Blah.pl?m-1461510206/

Cheers Glenn.

It's really helpful.

So basically, you don't go overboard like...

INT. SHED - DAY

Glenn swings the camera around and focuses on a picture frame.  He edges toward ect. ect.

Glenn films.... Glenn points... bla bla

And certainly no GLENN'S CAMERA P.O.V in the slug... but that would be useful for people with multiple cameras.

In my opinion, if I was reading that, it'd drive me crazy. I always think it's better to keep it as simple as you can. Giving camera directions, especially detailed ones like "edging closer", is no different than using them in a non found footage type movie. Leave it to the director. You're only killing yourself, they'll change it anyway. You know?

Phil (dogglebe) wrote 2 mockumentary scripts, both of which should be available here at SS.

Pugumentary and  Documentary Killers


Not sure what they look like or if they're correctly formatted, but they may give you some help.

Quoted from IamGlenn In my opinion, if I was reading that, it'd drive me crazy. I always think it's better to keep it as simple as you can. Giving camera directions, especially detailed ones like "edging closer", is no different than using them in a non found footage type movie. Leave it to the director. You're only killing yourself, they'll change it anyway. You know?

Aiight then, safe.

I'll do a bit more research before getting back to you.

Cheers for the advice.

Quoted from Max Aiight then, safe.

LOL... haven't heard that in a while... safe man, yeah. I'd feel old if I said that now. It's almost as old as, word.

I still say, sweet. Sweet as a fuckin nut, mate. When have nuts ever been sweet?

I have some found footage produced feature scripts that I don't think are on this site, if you want I'll PM you with what I have.  

Quoted from DustinBowcot LOL... haven't heard that in a while... safe man, yeah. I'd feel old if I said that now. It's almost as old as, word. I still say, sweet. Sweet as a fuckin nut, mate. When have nuts ever been sweet?

Haha... too much.

A shootout RIGHT... is a fackin' shootout... *spit flies out mouth*... like a western.