It's not always clear-cut. Some movies are very closely based on true stories, while others just use a real-life situation as a loose framework and build a mostly fictional narrative around it.
Well, 'accepted based on a true story' usually indicates that there is a factual foundation. In many cases, it gives the work more credibility. Like in a biographical movie, the main events are often based on what really happened to the person. However, some creative liberties might be taken to make it more engaging, such as adding fictional characters that interact with the real - life ones.
There are many. '127 Hours' is based on the true story of Aron Ralston who was trapped in a canyon. 'The Social Network' is based on the founding of Facebook. It shows how Mark Zuckerberg and his friends started the social media giant. 'Hidden Figures' is also a good example, which is based on the real - life story of African - American female mathematicians who worked at NASA during the Space Race.
In a competitive situation, if you're basing your entry on a true story, one way is to be the most knowledgeable about it. For example, if it's a competition related to a historical event as the true story, research every detail and present it in a unique way. Another way is to show how the true story has personally affected you and how that makes you a better candidate. Maybe it gave you a different perspective on life or taught you valuable skills.
Eyewitness accounts can also be crucial. If there are people who were present during an event and their testimonies match up, it adds to the credibility. Take the civil rights marches in the United States. There were many eyewitnesses who told consistent stories about the events, which helped establish them as accepted true stories.
One example could be the story of Anne Frank. Her diary is an accepted true story that details her experiences hiding from the Nazis during World War II. It gives a very personal and harrowing account of life in hiding.
Yes, '1408' is based on a true story. The story was inspired by a Stephen King short story of the same name. It's about a man who stays in a supposedly haunted hotel room, Room 1408, and experiences terrifying and inexplicable events.
Well, it's a bit of a mix. While it may be inspired by some true elements from 1899 such as the general state of the world, sea travel, and social hierarchies at that time, it also has a lot of fictional elements added for the sake of drama and mystery. For example, the overarching mystery plot might be a creative take on some historical uncertainties, but not directly based on a single true story.