India, Sept. 11 -- Where did the idea of making a mockumentary come from?

I've been binge-watching true crime documentaries for years - those early 2000s American TV shows like Cold Cases and Forensic Files with their sensational interviews and dramatic re-enactments. I'd sit there wondering if those perfectly timed emotional breakdowns were actually real or just really good acting. Their interviews are so theatrical that I'd find myself thinking, "How can real people be this dramatic on camera?" and "How do these documentary makers get people to be so candid?"

Eventually, the cynic in me started wondering, "Are they even being truthful, or are they just fed these lines?" That's when it clicked; this could be easily faked. But here's th...