Mockumentary Screenplay

---
name: "mockumentary-screenplay"
description: "Write mockumentary screenplays in Fountain format with proper documentary conventions, talking head formatting, and comedic dialogue. Use when user needs to write screenplay pages, format talking head"
priority: 0.5
imported-from: "hermes"
source-path: "hermes/skills/openclaw-imports/mockumentary-screenplay/SKILL.md"
---
# Mockumentary Screenplay Writing

Write screenplays in Fountain format with mockumentary-specific conventions.

## Fountain Format Basics

Fountain is plain text that converts to industry-standard screenplay format.

### Core Elements

```fountain
INT. LOCATION - DAY

Action lines describe what we see.

CHARACTER NAME
Dialogue goes here.

CHARACTER NAME (V.O.)
Voiceover dialogue.

CHARACTER NAME (O.S.)
Offscreen dialogue.
```

### Scene Headings

```fountain
INT. OFFICE - TALKING HEAD - DAY

INT. DOG SHOW - ARENA FLOOR - CONTINUOUS

EXT. PARKING LOT - LATER
```

### Parentheticals (Use Sparingly)

```fountain
CHARACTER
(beat)
The line after a pause.

CHARACTER
(to other character)
Specific direction.
```

## Mockumentary-Specific Formatting

### Talking Head Interviews

```fountain
INT. CONFERENCE ROOM - TALKING HEAD - DAY

MICHAEL sits before a neutral background, speaking to someone off-camera.

MICHAEL
I'm not superstitious. But I am a little stitious.

He looks off-camera as if for validation.
```

**Key elements**:
- Scene heading includes "TALKING HEAD"
- Brief action line establishing setting
- Character speaks to off-camera interviewer
- Include looks to camera, pauses, reactions

### Documentary Crew Interaction

```fountain
INT. OFFICE - DAY

MICHAEL notices the camera.

MICHAEL
(to camera)
Watch this. This is going to be great.

He approaches DWIGHT's desk. The camera follows.
```

### Multiple Camera Angles (Documentary Style)

```fountain
INT. ARENA - DAY

WIDE: The competitors line up with their dogs.

The camera finds HARLAN in the crowd, adjusting his dog's collar obsessively.

HARLAN
(sotto, to dog)
This is our moment, Mr. Biscuits.
```

### Cutaway/B-Roll

```fountain
INT. FACTORY FLOOR - B-ROLL - DAY

Workers operate machinery. Assembly line in motion.

NARRATOR (V.O.)
Prestige Pickle has been family-owned for three generations.
```

### Interview with Cutaways

```fountain
INT. OFFICE - TALKING HEAD - DAY

SUSAN
We have an excellent safety record.

CUT TO:

INT. FACTORY FLOOR - DAY (ARCHIVAL)

A forklift tips over. Workers scatter.

BACK TO:

INT. OFFICE - TALKING HEAD - DAY

SUSAN
Excellent.
```

## Writing Mockumentary Dialogue

### Talking Head Voice Principles

**Oversharing**: Characters tell camera things they shouldn't.
```fountain
MICHAEL
Jan and I have a very mature relationship. We never fight. 
(beat)
Except about money. And her ex-husband. And Todd Packer.
```

**False confidence**: Characters state the wrong thing with certainty.
```fountain
NIGEL
This one goes to eleven. It's one louder, isn't it?
```

**Unreliable narration**: What they say contradicts what we see.
```fountain
NARRATOR (V.O.)
The team worked together seamlessly.

WIDE: The team argues loudly.
```

### Verite Scene Dialogue

**Naturalistic overlap**:
```fountain
TEAM MEMBER 1
What we need to do is—

TEAM MEMBER 2
—No, but that's exactly what I was—

TEAM MEMBER 1
—Let me finish—

TEAM MEMBER 2
I'm agreeing with you!
```

**Camera awareness bleed**:
```fountain
JOHN
(noticing camera)
Oh, we're still—
(to team, lower)
They're still filming.
```

## Scene Construction

### The Mockumentary Beat Pattern

1. **Setup** (verite or interview establishes situation)
2. **Escalation** (situation develops, comic tension builds)
3. **Payoff** (comic climax, often ironic)
4. **Tag** (talking head reaction, often undercuts or confirms)

### Example Beat Pattern

```fountain
INT. MEETING ROOM - DAY

MANAGER addresses the team confidently.

MANAGER
This quarter, we're going to crush it.

CUT TO:

INT. OFFICE - TALKING HEAD - DAY

MANAGER
(less confident)
Define "crush."

CUT TO:

INT. MEETING ROOM - DAY

The sales chart shows a steep decline. MANAGER ignores it.

MANAGER (CONT'D)
Any questions? No? Great.

CUT TO:

INT. OFFICE - TALKING HEAD - DAY

EMPLOYEE
There were many questions.
```

## Output Format

Save screenplay to: `script/screenplay.fountain`

Fountain files are plain text and render to PDF via various tools (Highland, WriterSolo, Fountain.io).

## Page Count Guidelines

- Feature mockumentary: 80-100 pages
- TV pilot: 22-32 pages (half-hour), 45-60 pages (hour)
- Talking heads: Should not exceed 25% of page count