Classification & verification standards
TRUTH BASIS
Truth-basis grades
reelVerity examines how closely the events and people in a film or series are grounded in the historical record and assigns a work an A, B, or C grade. The grade is not calculated from a fixed score or percentage. It does not rate the work’s artistic quality or historical importance.
- A — Fact-centered
- The central events and people broadly match the historical record. Some scenes or dialogue may be dramatized, but the main course and significance of events do not substantially depart from the record.
- B — Fact-based dramatization
- The story draws on real events or people but includes substantial dramatization, such as combining people or changing the order or timing of events.
- C — Inspired reconstruction
- The work draws inspiration from real history, events, or people, but important parts of the story are invented or cannot be directly tied to a particular real event.
- UNRATED — Not rated
- The work has not yet received a truth-basis grade. It has not been assigned A, B, or C.
What informs a grade
- How closely the work matches real events and people
- How much of the central story and ending is supported by records
- How the time and place of events are depicted
- How far characters, relationships, and major conflicts are invented or combined
- What the creators have disclosed about invention and dramatization
- Whether reliable sources allow the portrayal to be checked
VERDICT
Fact vs Fiction determinations
- Fact
- A claim that reliable sources support as an event that happened or a fact that can be established.
- Dramatized
- A portrayal grounded in a real event or person but changed for the work, for example in its scene, dialogue, action, or sequence.
- Composite
- A portrayal that combines the roles of several real people or several events into one character or event.
- Fiction
- A portrayal that conflicts with established facts or has evidence showing it was created for the work.
- Disputed
- A claim on which reliable sources differ about the facts or their interpretation.
- Unverifiable
- A claim that cannot be determined from the material currently available to reelVerity. A determination may change if new material or reports are confirmed.
- Pending / under review
- A determination held back because the relevant material has not been reviewed sufficiently.
CONFIDENCE
Confidence
Confidence is not a numerical probability that a claim is true. We consider the origin and nature of the sources, whether independent materials support the same point, whether contemporary records exist, how closely the materials agree, and how specific the evidence is.
- High
- Official records, judgments, contemporary materials, or independent reliable sources support the same point.
- Medium
- There is supporting material, but some details or interpretations remain uncertain.
- Low
- Available material is limited and further verification is needed.
Source quality grades
These grades describe the type of reference material. They are not scores for a work or an individual verification item.
- A
- Official records, judgments, government or international-organization material, original contemporary records, and peer-reviewed academic work.
- B
- Major news reporting, specialist books, production materials, and interviews with directors or screenwriters.
- C
- Film databases, encyclopedias, Wikipedia, and personal websites, used mainly to locate or consult information. We do not complete verification of a central fact using only grade-C sources.
One source may be cited by several verification items, so the number of sources and the number of citations can differ.
PROCESS
How we reach a determination
Select a work → identify real events and people → separate the claims to check → collect sources → compare materials → determine Fact, Dramatized, Fiction, or another applicable category → assess confidence → review → publish.
New evidence may lead us to revise a published determination. We continue to update descriptions and conclusions in light of verified material rather than treating an earlier decision as permanent.
FACT / INTERPRETATION
Distinguishing fact from interpretation
Whether something happened and why it happened are different questions. A record may show that a person was at a particular place; a claim that the person acted out of betrayal may be an interpretation unless directly supported by a record or testimony. We treat thoughts, feelings, motives, and private conversations with particular care.
DRAMATIZATION
How we treat dramatization
Dramatization is not itself an error. Films and series may compress time, combine people, or invent dialogue for storytelling. We explain how a portrayal differs from the record rather than treating every such choice as a mistake.
STREAMING
Viewing-availability information
Viewing information is a reference to help readers find a work. It is not updated in real time and reflects the date on which it was checked. We distinguish subscriptions, rentals, and purchases, and show picture quality, HDR, audio, or subtitle details only when confirmed. “No information” does not mean that a work is unavailable on that service.
EDITORIAL INDEPENDENCE
Verification and neutrality
reelVerity does not select materials or make determinations to support or oppose a political or ideological position. We compare portrayals with verifiable records and distinguish factual findings from interpretation and evaluation. When historical accounts differ, we examine their sources and explain the differences without asserting what has not been sufficiently checked. Neutrality means applying consistent standards to the evidence, not treating every claim as equally well established.