This guy used to love McDonald's french fries as much as you do. |
by Scott Weinberg
THE 'SUPER SIZE ME' PITCH: Why are Americans so fat? Find out in Super Size Me, a tongue in-cheek - and burger in hand -- look at the legal, financial and physical costs of America's hunger for fast food.
Ominously, 37% of American children and adolescents are carrying too much fat and 2 out of every three adults are overweight or obese. Is it our fault for lacking self-control, or are the fast-food corporations to blame? Filmmaker Morgan Spurlock hit the road and interviewed experts in 20 U.S. cities, including Houston, the "Fattest City" in America. From Surgeon Generals to gym teachers, cooks to kids, lawmakers to legislators, these authorities shared their research, opinions and "gut feelings" on our ever-expanding girth. During the journey, Spurlock also put his own body on the line, living on nothing but McDonald's for an entire month with three simple rules: 1) No options: he could only eat what was available over the counter (water included!), 2) No supersizing unless offered, 3) No excuses: he had to eat every item on the menu at least once. It all adds up to a fat food bill, harrowing visits to the doctor, and compelling viewing for anyone who's ever wondered if man could live on fast food alone. The film explores the horror of school lunch programs, declining health and physical education classes, food addictions and the extreme measures people take to lose weight and regain their health. Super Size Me is a satirical jab in the stomach, overstuffed with fat and facts about the billion-dollar industry besieged by doctors, lawyers and nutritionists alike. "Would you like fries with that?" will never sound the same!
Will this be your first time at South By Southwest? Any other film festival experience?
This will be my first time @ SXSW. I went to Sundance in January - it was [my] first time at a major festival and it was incredible. I can't wait to come to Austin.
Describe your film in seven words or less.
"A fat food odyssey of epic portions."
When you were 14 years old, if someone asked you what you wanted to be when you grew up, what would your answer have been?
When I was 14, I wanted to be a comedian, live in Hollywood and make movies. One out of three ain't bad!
How did you get started in filmmaking?
I went to film school (NYU - Tisch School of the Arts), graduated in 93. I was rejected from USC's film school 5 times before that. As soon as I got out of school I started working on anything I could. I took the advice of a grip on the set of Luc Besson's The Professional to heart. He said, "If you want to be a director, start directing and stop doing this." He was right and from that day on I directed anything people would let me.
How have things changed for you since your film was accepted into the festival?
Since Sundance, my life has been a whirlwind. So exciting. Everyone really embraced the film and I can only hope that as it starts making its way around the country that more and more people like it.
When you were shooting the film, did you have SXSW (or other festivals) in mind?
I was always targeting SXSW as one of my "short list" fests. I love Austin, always have, and I have heard nothing but great things about the fest from people who have gone - so when I got in, I was psyched!
How did you get your film started? How did you go from script to finished product?
I had the idea on Thanksgiving 2002. I had just had a show wrap after 53 episodes on MTV, so I decided to take that loot and use it as the seed money to the film started.
What’s the single most important lesson you learned while making this film?
You can never have too many people helping you - especially on a movie.
When you were in pre-production, did you find yourself watching other great movies in preparation?
Absolutely, for months I watched doc after doc. I watched more documentaries this year than I ever have in my life, and I think that immersion really helped us deliver a quality movie.
If a studio said ‘we love this, we love you, you can remake anything in our back catalogue for $40m’ – what film, if any, would you remake?
Only 40M? Geez, what a cheap studio. I also tend to hate remakes - especially remakes of already great films - so if I was to remake something, it should be something I think I can make better, like Lost Horizon. A great movie, but in color with today's technology, it would be fantastic.
Two-parter: Which actor would you cut off an arm to work with, and which relatively unknown actor in your own film do you want the world to start recognizing sooner rather than later?
I would love to work with Sam Rockwell or Robert Downey, Jr. Both are amazing young talents - and speaking of amazing young talents in my film, wait until you see my Vegan Chef girlfriend - she's going to blow up like sugar-free, no butter popcorn!
The festival circuit: what could be improved, and what couldn’t be?
The people are always the best - just regular folks who love movies. What could change? Would be great if all the festivals flew you there and put you up!
Have you ‘made it’ yet? If not, at what point will you be able to say ‘yes’?
I will have made it when the creditors stop calling, I don't live in a shoebox or shower in my kitchen and when I can take my girlfriend on a vacation further than a Metrocard travels. Then I'll be doing pretty darn good.
A movie is made by a lot of people in addition to the director, but often films will open with a credit that says “a film by…” – Did you use that credit in your film? If so, defend yourself! If not, what do you think of those who do?
I used that in my film, and here's why: This film started as an idea in my head that was realized by an army of people - all whom believed and trusted in what that idea was blossoming into in my head. They dedicated their time and weeks and months to believing in something that they could only hope would come together in the end. Many people are involved in the printing of a book yet you only see the author's name on the spine, this is a similar task - to do it alone would be close to impossible, yet every ship needs a captain, a voice, a leader whom they trust to take them where they've never been before. And now we're going to SXSW. Not bad for a guy who was sleeping in a hammock in his office two years ago.
[Note: Three of our very own critics were able to catch Super Size Me at the 2004 Sundance Film Festival, and the movie earned THREE 5-star reviews from our (rather picky) reviewers. You can see Erik Childress' review here, Eric Snider's review here and my very own review right here.]
Super Size Me is a documentary directed by Morgan Spurlock. It will be distributed in North America by Roadside Attractions/Samuel Goldwyn Films, and you should keep an eye out for the movie some time in May or June. In the meantime, check out the official website right here!
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originally posted: 03/03/04 13:21:49
last updated: 06/16/04 18:36:22
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