Home URL
Screening Shorts Logo white

Urban Savannah, The

Matthew Cooke, Vincent Lund, 2004

This David Attenborough-style mockumentary follows two “packs” of teenagers as if they were different species of animals being observed by a film crew. The “Skaters” and “Townies” go about their natural “pack” behaviour while experts comment on what they have learned about these different groups.

Clip Details

Genre: Comedy

Country of Origin: UK

Medium/Content: Colour, Sound, Live Action, Fiction

Clip Length: 10:00

Age Group: S4-S6

Classroom Activities

  • Listen to the first 49 seconds of the film. Does it sound familiar? What do you think is happening?
  • Carry on listening. When the music kicks in, there are also sound effects. What are you hearing? What effect does the combination of this music and the sound effects have?
  • Watch now with the picture on – can you explain the humour of this opening?
  • Listen to the voiceover up to 01:51 minutes. Can you hear words/phrases which you would normally associate with a nature documentary? What is the effect of this on the audience when combined with what is being shown on screen?
  • Watch up to 02:40. What do we learn about “Skaters” as a species? What techniques are being used to mimic the nature documentary style?
  • Watch up to 03:08. What do we learn about “Townies”? How do they compare with what we know about “Skaters”?
  • Do you think one of the groups is presented more favourably? What is your evidence for this?
  • Watch up to 05:20. What techniques familiar from nature documentaries are used to show there is trouble in the “Townie” pack?
  • How do the filmmakers convey the idea that “Skaters” are more “docile” than “Townies”?
  • What is the main difference between the two groups’ attempts to “attract a mate”?
  • What is the conflict that is introduced? Explain what this is based on from an animal documentary, and why this is humorous in this context.
  • How is the ending appropriate?
  • What techniques are used to make this film seem a) authentic b) humorous?
  • Read about the history of nature documentaries. Can you explain why this type of programming is so important? Why do you think that these documentary programmes have been shown on public service broadcast media and not on a subscription service that requires payment to view (i.e. the BBC)?
  • Mockumentary is a very popular style, most often used in tv or in shorts like this, but also seen in feature films. What do you think is so appealing about this genre?
  • Another style of mockumentary is ‘found footage’ style narratives. The first of these was 'The Blair Witch Project'. Read this article which also includes the film’s original trailer. Discuss how you think audiences must have felt watching this in the cinema at the time. Why do you think this film generated so much of a reaction?
  • Documentary filmmaking is a rapidly expanding genre, finding even greater popularity thanks to streaming platforms such as Netflix. Look for an example of each of the following types of documentary available on Netflix/Disney+/Amazon Prime etc.: True crime, Nature, Exposing scandals, Sporting stories, Biography)
  • Make a short film with voiceover narration about either a pet or a wild animal you can film in your garden/the park (birds, squirrels, ducks, swans etc.). Try to use the same style you have seen in this film.

Clip Details

Genre: Comedy

Country of Origin: UK

Medium/Content: Colour, Sound, Live Action, Fiction

Clip Length: 10:00

Education Level: Senior Phase