super size me
DESCRIPTION
Breif overview about the truths portrayed in 'Super-size me'TRANSCRIPT
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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
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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;
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PHOTOS: All PICTURES fROm Super Size Me
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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
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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”.’
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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.
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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
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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).
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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
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