Last week I saw and reviewed Borat, and mused on which scenes were real or staged. Turns out this is a fairly popular topic out there, and I’ve got a few quick updates:
- Pam Anderson scene: Probably staged (although not definitive).
- The prostitute: staged and is a known actress.
- Frat boys: real, and they are suing. Fat, drunk, and stupid is no way to go through life, boys.
- Rodeo scene: frighteningly real. This article (from Salon) has a ton of in-depth commentary on the “is Borat staged?” topic, and was a great read.
- Dinner party. real, chock full o Southern hospitality, ‘Bama-style.
- Etiquette lesson. real, although apparently the teacher had her doubts.
Incidentally, for the least useful source of material on the topic, head on over to Yahoo! Answers.
Can you call the prostitute “staged” as the joke was on the dinner society and the people at the bar? Thank you for clearing up the frat boy scene. Too many critics and fans ASSumed that that scene was staged. I really hope they feel really really stupid now. It’s great that Borat is continuing to fool America.
Although I had my doubts about several of the scenes being real, I have wondered about the possibility of law suits by those who were duped. I question whether the director
revealed the jokes after the scenes were shot, and got releases signed. That would have been impossible in the Rodeo scene. Surprised Cohen was not set upon and seriously hurt.
Everything staged.