30

The Whole hog: FasT Food Films

countries.9. Canbedividedintothirteen

sequencesforeasieranalysis(seeSequenceChart).

10.Hadasignificant‘realworld’impactontheissuesitcovered(seebelow,‘FlashForward’).

Flash Forward

• Duringthefilm’scinemarelease,theAustralianMcDonald’s’CEO,GuyRusso,appearedinacommercialderidingSpurlock’sfindings.

• Followingthefilm’srelease,piecesoffruitwereintroducedtoMcDonald’s’menu,whileinAmericatheSuperSizeoptionwasdropped.

• InMarch2004,the

Super Size Me,directedbyMorganSpurlock,ratedPG,100mins,2004.Suits:middletoseniorsecondarystudents.

Ten reasons to teach Super Size Me Super Size Meisanexcellentwaytoexplorethedocumentaryformbecauseit:

1.Dealswithsubjectmatterfamiliartoall.

2.Isfast-paced,funandinformative(anddemonstrateswhydocumentariesareincreasinginpopularity).

3.Discussesissuesrelevanttostudents,suchasthedangersofunhealthydietsandmarketingthattargetsyoungpeople.

4.Usesapersonalexperimenttoaddressmanyhealth-relatedissuesbesideseatingMcDonald’s.

5.Isprimarilytoldfromonepointofviewbutincludesinterviewswithamyriadofexperts.

6.Mixesstatistics,animation,graphics,fly-on-the-wallfootageandinterviewswithexpertsandpeopleonthestreetwithSpurlock’s‘videodiary’ofhisexperiment.

7.Containsgraphicimagesthatwillbothshockandfascinate.

8.IshighlytopicalgiventheriseofobesityinAustraliaandotherWestern

By Andrea Hayes

iss

Ue

44 SC

RE

EN

ED

UC

ATION

AmericanCongresspassedthe‘CheeseburgerBill’,makingitillegalforpeopletosuefoodcompaniesformakingthemobese;

•In2005,JamieOlivertriedtooverhaulschooldinnersintheUKdocumentaryTVseriesJamie’s School Dinners.

Subject/Story

ConcernedabouttheincreasingrateofobesityinAmericaandalawsuitinwhichtwoteenagersunsuccessfullytriedtosueMcDonald’sformakingthemfat,MorganSpurlockembarksonathirty-dayMcDonald’s-onlydietexperiment.Hesetshimselffourrules:

1.HecanonlyeatthingsonsaleatMcDonald’s.

2.HemustSuperSizehismealifasked.3.Hehastoeateverythingonthe

McDonald’smenuatleastonce.4.Hehastoeatthreemealsaday.

Further,hedecidestorestricthimselftothe‘average’amountofexercise,typicaloftheAmericanpopulation.

Spurlock,whohasgoodgenes,doesn’tsmoke,dodrugsordrinkalcohol,isdeclaredatthestartoftheexperimenttobein‘perfect’healthbytwospecialists,ageneralpractitionerandanutritionist.

Super Size Metrackshisinitialmedicalexaminationandthe‘McDonald’s-onlyexperiment’andallitseffects.DuringthethirtydaysSpurlockalsoexploresanumberofrelatedissuesincluding:thefastfoodcompanies’targetingofchildren,increasingobesityratesandthemedicalramifications,schoollunches,andthelobbyingpoweroflargefoodcompanies.Alongthewayheinterviews

TOPlEFT: DIRECTOR

AlISTER GRIERSON;

31

iss

Ue

44 SC

RE

EN

ED

UC

ATION

PHOTOS: All PICTURES fROm Super Size Me

32

ahostofcharactersandpresentsabarrageofstatistics.Bytheendofhis‘littleextreme’experiment,hehasgained11.25kg,hischolesterolhasrisenbysixty-fivepoints,hehasdoubledhisriskofheartdisease,andhehasafattyliverdescribedas‘pâté’bytheGP.

Issues

•Wheredoespersonalresponsibilitystopandcorporateresponsibilitybegin?

•Thedamagingmedical,politicalandsocialeffectsofobesityonindividualsandnations.

•Theeffects,availabilityandnutritionalvalueoffoodservedinschools.

•Theinfluenceofmarketingonchildren.•Thepoliticalinfluenceandlobbying

poweroflargefoodcompanies.

Setting

ThefilmusesavarietyofMcDonald’svenuesinNewYorkandlocationsatcitiesinthe‘fatteststates’.Therearemanyinterestingpeopleinthisdocumentary,butwriter–directorMorganSpurlockisthestar.Hehasafunsenseofhumour,speaksnaturallyandhonestly,andplaysthepartofhumanguineapigwell.Hemakesjokesandasidesallthetimetothecameraandhisinterviewsubjects.Spurlocktakeshisexperimentveryseriouslyandyouadmirehisbraveryatstickingwithitevenwhenheisobviouslysuffering.HeisnotasaggressiveasMichaelMoorebutisjustaseffectiveingivingapersonalfacetoanation’sproblem.

Style

Spurlock’sstyleisfresh,personal,honestandfun.Hisdocumentaryisevent-driveninthatitcentersonathirty-dayexperimentconductedbySpurlockhimself.ThisworksasalinkingdevicebetweensequencesandallowsSpurlocktoexplorelarger,relatedissuesusingavarietyofdocu-mentaryconventionstogethismessageacross.

Visuals

Super Size Me usesalotofpost-productionvisualeffects(VFX)and

The Whole hog: FasT Food Films

iss

Ue

44 SC

RE

EN

ED

UC

ATION

slickeditingtocommunicateitsmanystatisticsandmaintainafastpace.Spurlock’snarrationisreinforcedbyimagesthatareamixtureofinterviews,videodiary,fly-on-the-wallfootageandgraphics:

•maps and graphicsidentifythefattestcitiesandstatesintheUS.

•statisticstelltheaudiencethat‘two-thirdsofAmericanadultsareeitheroverweightorobeseandalmostfortypercentofteenagershavetoomuchfatintheirbodies’.

•interviewswithhealthofficials,doctorsandschooladministratorsrevealalarmingtrendsandalsofunctionasadynamiccounterpointtotherapiddeteriorationinSpurlock’sphysicalcondition.

•Jump cutshelpspeedup

interviewsandmaintainthedocumentary’sfastpace.

•Thereisafunnyandinformativeanimated sequenceaboutchickennuggets.

•musiccomplementstheimages(eg.,‘FatBottomedGirls’byQueenisplayedoverimagesoffatAmaricans),orisusedtocounterpointthem(eg.the‘BlueDanubeWaltz’isplayedoverfootageofsurgeonsperformingagastricbypass).

•‘SuperSizeMe’,thesong,wasco-writtenbySpurlockandmocksthejargonassociatedwithfastfood.

•FootageofRonaldMcDonaldrockingwithchildrentothetuneofCurtisMayfield’s‘Pusherman’reinforcesthewayMcDonald’smarketingtargetschildren.

•Frequent shotsofbigbottomsandlargeMcDonald’sworkersreinforcethemessagethatobesityisatepidemicratesintheUS.•still photographsusedina‘whodoyouknow?’competitionforchildrenillustratetheeffectivenessofMcDonald’smarketing:theyaremorefamiliar

withRonaldMcDonaldthanJesus.•shotsofvomitingand

aclose-upofablackhairfoundinMcDonald’syoghurtevokestrong

responsesfromtheaudienceandprovide

memorableimages.•Fly-on-the-wall footage

‘McDonald’s call

people who eat

McDonald’s once

a week, “Heavy

Users”, and

people who eat

there 3, 4 and 5

times a week,

“Super Heavy

Users”.’

33

iss

Ue

44 SC

RE

EN

ED

UC

ATION

34

ofaschoolkitchenshowsthevastamountsofprocessedfoodsusedinschools.

•internal body footageofagastricby-passoperationemphasizestheobesityprobleminAmerica.

•documentsbackupthefilm’smessages,eg.transcriptsfromacourtcase.

•Repeated shotsoftheMcDonald’sarchesmakesthemseemubiquitous.

•Unansweredphone callstoMcDonald’sdemonstratethecompany’srefusaltoacknowledgeSpurlock’sconcerns.

•Titlesannouncedifferentchaptersofthedocumentary.

•low-angle close-upswitha hand-held cameramakethefilmfeelpersonalandimmediate(eg.inthecarwithSpurlock).

•Video diaryofSpurlockdescribinghowhefeelsgivesapersonaltouchandworksasacontinuitydevicethatlinksallthesequencestogetherinthefilm.

•Quick, sharp editingofthemanyimages,graphicsandinterviewsgives

thefilmitsfastpace.

Ten Key Quotes

1.‘Wheredoespersonalresponsibilitystopandcorporateresponsibilitybegin?’–MorganSpurlock

2.‘TheplaintiffshavefailedtoshowthatconsumptionofMcDonald’sfoodcausedtheirinjuries.’–lawsuittranscript

3.‘InMarch2004Congresspassedthe‘CheeseburgerBill’whichwouldmakeitillegalforpeopletosuefoodcompaniesformakingthemobese.’

4.‘DonGorskehaseaten19,852BigMacs.Cholesterol140.Heseldomeatsfries.’

5.‘Youshouldnevereatfastfood.’–Nutritionist

6.‘Youcan’targuethatpeopleshouldexercisepersonalresponsibilityandthennotgivethemtheinformationonwhichtobaseit.’–JohnBanzhaf

7.‘Byofferingjunkfoodsinthelunchlinearewesettingkidsuptomakebadchoices?’–MorganSpurlock

8.‘Theworld’snotgonnachange,youhavetochange.’–JaredFogel,Subwayspokesman

9.‘NooneeatsMcDonald’sfoodthreetimesadayandnooneshould.Webelieve,andhavealwaysbelieved,thatMcDonald’scanbeeatenaspartofawell-balanceddiet.We’vebeentakingtheissueofobesityseriouslyforafewyearsnow.’–GuyRusso,CEOMcDonald’sAustralia

10.‘McDonald’scallpeoplewhoeatMcDonald’sonceaweek,“HeavyUsers”(72percent),andpeoplewhoeatthere3,4and5timesaweek,“SuperHeavyUsers”(22percent).’ThepercentageshererefertothequantityofMcDonald’scusomersconsideredinthesecategories.

The Whole hog: FasT Food Films

iss

Ue

44 SC

RE

EN

Sequence chart

No. sequence: Vision – participants/action sound

1 introduction -quotefromRayKroc,McDonald’sfounder -childrensingingjunkfoodjingle -shotsofbigbottoms -narration -obesitytrendsmap -changinggraphicsofteenagegirls -courttranscriptcircled -shotsofMcDonald’svenues -Spurlocktakeschallenge

2 medical check up -cardiologist,gastroenterologistandgeneral -‘FatBottomedGirls’byQueen -practitionerexamineSpurlock -nutritionistandSpurlockconsult -resultsfromcheckups

3 The last supper -Spurlock’sveganchefgirlfriendcooksmeal -interview -Spurlockandgirlfriendeatmeal -fly-on-wallconversation

4 day 1 -SpurlockeatsatMcDonald’s, -Talkstocamera -citesrules(titles) -narration -interviewswithpeopleonstreet -interviews -JohnBanzhratinterviewinoffice -shotsofkidsinMcDonald’splayareas,- clown,toys,cartoon -SamuelHersh,DavidSatcherinterviews -lisaYoungdemonstratescupsizes

5 days 2 & 3 -Spurlockeatsincarandvomits -narration -Reasonmagazinecover -cameraman’scomments -Reasonmagazineeditorinterview -‘RockandRollMcDonald’s’by -lawProfessor’sstoryaboutlollycigarettes WesleyWillis -SpurlockplayswithkidsinMcDonald’s -playarea

6 The impact -graphicsofobesityimpact -narration -Medicalexpertspeaksaboutdiabetes -talkstocamera -Caitliniscoveredbyimagesfrommag -JaredFogleatconference -JohnBaskininterviewandstills

7 days 5-10 -nutritionistadvisesaboutcalories -narration -hairinfoodatMcDonald’s -talkstocamera -firstweigh-in -interviewswithpeopleonthestreet -McNuggetscartoon -SpurlocktravelstodifferentMcDonald’s -DonGorskeinterview -first-gradestudentslookatfamousportraits -cartoonsaboutmediaadvertisingcosts -SpurlocklooksforNutritionFactssheets -firstbloodtestandsecondweigh-in

‘Where does

personal

responsibility stop

and corporate

responsibility

begin?’

– Morgan Spurlock

35

iss

Ue

44 SC

RE

EN

ED

UC

ATION

36

No. sequence: Vision – participants/action sound

8 it’s for kids -Napervilleschoollunches -fly-on-the-wallconversations -interviewBarbaraBrown–Sodexho -narration -Spurlockandcookcheckoutfoodboxes -interview atParkMiddleSchool -AppletonHighSchoolDeaninterview

9 days 13–20 -Fatcitiesmap -tapeofphonecall -GMAinterview -narration -PEteachersinterviewingymswithkids -interviews -girlfrienddiscussessexlife -thirdweigh-in -GPcheckup,resultssheet

10 addiction -medicalexpertinterview -‘Pusherman’byCurtisMayfield -nine-framescreensplit -narration -graphics:‘heavyusers’and -phonecalls ‘superheavyusers’ -interviews -2002Frenchad -‘BlueDanubeWaltz’ -girlscall100nutritionists -surgeonsdiscussobesitysurgery -gastricbypassoperation

11 days 21 – 30 -Spurlockfeelssick -talkstocamera -GPcheck-up -narration -interviewwithGMA’sGeneGabowski -lisaHowardphonecall -familytryingtorememberoathinfront -girlfriendtalkstocamera oftheWhiteHouse -‘Fat’byTheViolentFemmes -phonecallstolisaHoward -fly-on-the-wallconversations -Spurlockstrugglesupstairs -shotof‘Morgan’sdetoxdiet’withgirlfriend -lastMcSupperpartyatMcDonald’s

12 Results -finalweigh-inandbloodtests -talkstocamera -calltolisaHoward -narration -transcriptoflawsuitoutcome -interviews -graphic/photoofSpurlockandresults -doctorscommentonliverfunction -shotsofMcDonald’ssponsoringsportsevents -‘Premiumsalads’poster -30lbsofsugarontable -shotsofambulance,cemetery -graphicoftombstone

13 epilogue -shotsofJohnBanzhaf,DonGorske, -‘SuperSizeMe’song BruceHowlett,GeneGrabowskiwith -narration updatesintitles -‘Cheeseburgerbill’ -statisticsfromexperiment -McDonald’sannouncements -Spurlock’shandoverRonald McDonald’smouth

Ten Suggested Activities

1. Web research

ask students to:a)checkoutMcDonald’sAustralian

website(http://www.mcdonalds.com.au)andlistthenumberofoutletsinAustraliancapitalcities;

b)representonamapthethreeclosestMcDonald’stoyourschool;

c)identifythefiveitemsontheMcDonald’smenuthatarelowestinfatandsugar;

d)downloadamenuandestimatewhataSpurlockthirty-dayexperimentwouldcostinmoneyandcalories.

2. Food loga)AskstudentstokeepaFoodlogof

whattheyeatforoneortwoweeks,noting:cost,typesofjunkfood,fatandsugarlevels(thesearelistedonmostpacketedfood,tryhttp://www.nutrition.com.sg/he/hefdchc.aspforachartforotherfood).

b)Discussstudents’Foodlogsinclass.c)CompareFoodlogswiththe

recommended‘twofruitsandfiveservesofvegetablesdaily’suggestedbytheHealthylivingFoundation.Doesanyone’slogmeetthisstandard?

3. advertising analysisTapeaMcDonald’sTVad(oruseaposter)andanalyseitbyaskingstudentsto:a)constructadetailedSequenceChart

ofthead;b)identifyitstargetaudience;c)discusswhatmakestheadappealing

(colour,sound,composition,text,graphics,peopleetc.).

4. school canteen reportWriteareportthatevaluatesthefoodofferedatyourschoolcanteenunderthefollowingsubheadings:availablefoods;nutritionalvalue;suggestedfoods;howtoeducatethestudentsabouthealthiereatinghabits(500words).

5. documentary genre and conventions

Asaclass,defineanddiscussthedocumentaryconventionsusedinthefilm(showninboldintheVisualssectionofthisarticle).

The Whole hoge: FasT Food Films

iss

Ue

44 SC

RE

EN

ED

UC

ATION

6. sequence ChartConstructaSequenceChartwithheadingsandaskstudentstocompleteitwhiletheywatchthefilm.

7. sequence analysisAnalysethefollowingsequencesseparatelyby:a) identifyingSpurlock’smessage(s);b)identifyingthetechniques,

conventionsandstyleheuses;c)explaininghowheusestheseto

conveyhismessagetotheaudience.

sequences•Days5–10•It’sforkids•Addiction(Youmayneedtoconductaclassdiscussion/brainstormusingtheboardtoensureallstudentsareontherighttrackbeforetheywriteitupasaSequenceAnalysis).

8. small group or class discussion/debate topics

a) ‘NobodywouldeatonlyMcDonald’sthreetimesadayforthirtydays,so

Spurlock’sfilmisirrelevant.’b)‘Wheredoespersonalresponsibility

stopandcorporateresponsibilitybegin?’

c) ‘Junkfoodcompaniesshouldnotbepermittedtosponsorchildren’ssportinggroups.’

d)AnyoftheTenKeyQuotes.e) ‘Whyis Super Size Me aclevertitle?’f) ‘Super Size Me isacleverpieceof

reverse-marketing.’

9. essay topics 600–800words.Makesurestudentsincludediscussionofthedocumentaryconventions,techniquesandstylesusedinfilm.

a)‘It’snotthefoodbutthemarketingthatmakesMcDonald’ssopopular.’HowdoesSuper Size Me explorethisidea?b)HowdoesMorganSpurlock’s‘littleextreme’experimentenablehimtodiscussmoreseriousissues?c)‘AlthoughSuper Size Me isanevent-drivendocumentary,itisMorganSpurlockhimselfwhomakesthefilmentertaining.’Discuss.

10. diY junk food documentaryAskstudents(insmallgroups)todothepre-productionfora3–5minutedocumentaryaboutjunkfood.Theywillneedto:

•Constructasequencechartthatincludessongtitles.

•Useatleasttwodifferentconventions,eg.interviews,narrationetc.

•Submitanarration/voice-overscriptifused.

•Provideanexampleofgraphics.•Submitacompletelistofcredits.

Stageaminifilmfestivalifstudentsareabletoactuallyproducetheirdocumentaries.

Andrea Hayes is an experienced teacher, author, film text presenter and education consultant for Video education Australia. She is also the producer of the documentary Bike Affairs (2004), and the Skinny film kit (2005), a teacher resource that introduces film process, techniques and analysis to Junior–middle secondary students. • 37

iss

Ue

44 SC

RE

EN

ED

UC

ATION