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| ==Super Size Me== | ==Super Size Me== | ||
| Spurlock was of above-average health for his age in ], when he undertook the project shown in '']'', which was released in the U.S. on ], ] |
Spurlock was of above-average health for his age in ], when he undertook the project shown in '']'', which was released in the U.S. on ], ]. In the film, he ate three ] meals a day every day for 30 days, taking the 'super-size' option whenever it was offered, the end result being a diet with twice the ] recommended by the USDA. Further, Spurlock attempted to curtail his physical activity to better match the exercise habits of the average American (he walked about 3 miles a day whereas the average American walks 1.5 miles). His health declined dramatically: he gained 25 pounds (11 kg), suffered severe ] dysfunction and developed symptoms of ]. Spurlock's supervising physicians noted the effects caused by his high-], high-] diet—one even comparing it to a case of severe binge ]. | ||
| Spurlock's critics contend that his movie is a dishonest depiction of how fast food fits in with a regular diet. These critics point out that obviously such a drastic and critically unhealthy diet-exercise regimen would ultimately cause deleterious effects on health. | Spurlock's critics contend that his movie is a dishonest depiction of how fast food fits in with a regular diet. These critics point out that obviously such a drastic and critically unhealthy diet-exercise regimen would ultimately cause deleterious effects on health. | ||
| After the completion of the project, it took Spurlock several months to return to his normal weight of 185 pounds (84 kg). His then-girlfriend (now fiancée), ] ] ], took charge of his recovery with her "] diet," which was the basis for a later book, titled '']''. | After the completion of the project, it took Spurlock several months to return to his normal weight of 185 pounds (84 kg). His then-girlfriend (now fiancée), ] ] ], took charge of his recovery with her "] diet," which was the basis for a later book, titled '']''. | ||
| In ] the film was nominated for an ] for Best Documentary Feature. | |||
| In ] ] was released. It is a edited version of the film designed to be integrated into a high school health curriculum. | |||
| ==30 Days== | ==30 Days== | ||
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| * ]'s criticism of "30 Days" episode on religious tolerance. | * ]'s criticism of "30 Days" episode on religious tolerance. | ||
| * Les Sayer's , an Anti-''Super Size Me'' website attempting to debunk Spurlock. | * Les Sayer's , an Anti-''Super Size Me'' website attempting to debunk Spurlock. | ||
| * , about one man's weight loss while exclusively eating McDonald's |
* , about one man's weight loss while exclusively eating McDonald's and of Morgan Spurlock "Someone check to see if Morgan was financed by Al-Qutofu or Hamburglar Hussain.". | ||
| * , a blog |
* , a blog aligned with the ] that in Mr. Spurlock, "Communist Chic" and "Spurlock's Contempt for Commerce" and is critical of Spurlock's actions and work, currently on hiatus. | ||
| ] | ] | ||
Revision as of 03:00, 14 December 2005
Morgan Spurlock (born November 7, 1970) is an American independent film director and screenwriter, known for the documentary film Super Size Me, in which he attempted to demonstrate the negative health effects of McDonald's food.
Rejected five times by the USC film school, Spurlock graduated with a BFA in film from New York University's Tisch School of the Arts in 1993.
Spurlock was born in Parkersburg, West Virginia, and lives in Manhattan. Before making Super Size Me, Spurlock was a playwright, winning awards for his play The Phoenix at both the New York International Fringe Festival in 1999 and the Route 66 American Playwriting Competition in 2000. He also created I Bet You Will for MTV.
I Bet You Will
I Bet You Will began as an popular internet webcast of five-minute episodes featuring ordinary people doing disgusting, unusual, or embarassing stunts in exchange for money. Examples include eating a full jar of mayo ($235 dollars), and taking shots of corn oil, pink bismuth, lemon juice, hot sauce, cold chicken broth, and cod liver oil ($450 for all nine shots). The webcast was a success, with over a million hits in the first five days. The show was later bought and aired by MTV.
Super Size Me
Spurlock was of above-average health for his age in 2003, when he undertook the project shown in Super Size Me, which was released in the U.S. on May 7, 2004. In the film, he ate three McDonald's meals a day every day for 30 days, taking the 'super-size' option whenever it was offered, the end result being a diet with twice the food energy recommended by the USDA. Further, Spurlock attempted to curtail his physical activity to better match the exercise habits of the average American (he walked about 3 miles a day whereas the average American walks 1.5 miles). His health declined dramatically: he gained 25 pounds (11 kg), suffered severe liver dysfunction and developed symptoms of depression. Spurlock's supervising physicians noted the effects caused by his high-fat, high-carb diet—one even comparing it to a case of severe binge alcoholism.
Spurlock's critics contend that his movie is a dishonest depiction of how fast food fits in with a regular diet. These critics point out that obviously such a drastic and critically unhealthy diet-exercise regimen would ultimately cause deleterious effects on health.
After the completion of the project, it took Spurlock several months to return to his normal weight of 185 pounds (84 kg). His then-girlfriend (now fiancée), vegan chef Alexandra Jamieson, took charge of his recovery with her "detox diet," which was the basis for a later book, titled The Great American Detox Diet.
In 2004 the film was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature.
In Febuary 2005 Super Size Me Educationally Enhanced DVD edition was released. It is a edited version of the film designed to be integrated into a high school health curriculum.
30 Days
Spurlock's current project is a television program called 30 Days. In each episode, a person spends thirty days immersing him or herself in a mode of life markedly different from their norm (working at Wal-Mart, being in prison, etc.), while Spurlock discusses the relevant social issues involved. FX began airing the show on June 15, 2005. In the premiere episode, "Minimum Wage," Spurlock and his fiancée lived for thirty days in the Bottoms neighborhood of Columbus, Ohio earning minimum wage, with no access to outside funds.
As with his film, this program has not been without its critics, among these right wing columnist Debbie Schlussel, who claims Spurlock seeks only to illustrate preconceived conclusions with his televised documentaries.
Public Nuisance
Comedy Central says that they are developing a new series called Public Nuisance with Morgan Spurlock
Bibliography
Don't Eat This Book: Fast Food and the Supersizing of America ISBN 0399152601
External links
General
- Morgan Spurlock at IMDb
- Morgan Spurlock's weblog
- Super Size Me Official Site
Interviews
- "The Real Price of a Big Mac": Newsweek interview with Morgan Spurlock
- Morgan Spurlock on The Daily Show
- Morgan Spurlock interview on the Paul Harris Show
- Film Threat interview with Morgan Spurlock
- Sundance Channel interview with Morgan Spurlock
Critical
- OpinionJournal.com Debbie Schlussel's criticism of "30 Days" episode on religious tolerance.
- Les Sayer's McDonald's-For-a-Month, an Anti-Super Size Me website attempting to debunk Spurlock.
- Kevin O'Connor's McDiet, about one man's weight loss while exclusively eating McDonald's and insults the patriotism of Morgan Spurlock "Someone check to see if Morgan was financed by Al-Qutofu or Hamburglar Hussain.".
- Spurlock Watch, a blog aligned with the Cato Institute that falsely implies communism in Mr. Spurlock, "Communist Chic" and "Spurlock's Contempt for Commerce" and is critical of Spurlock's actions and work, currently on hiatus.