THE WHOLE HOG: FAST FOOD FILMS people to sue food companies for making them obese; • In 2005, Jamie Oliver tried to overhaul school dinners in the UK documentary TV series Jamie’s School Dinners. By Andrea Hayes Subject/Story Concerned about the increasing rate of obesity in America and a lawsuit in Super Size Me, directed by Morgan 9. Can be divided into thirteen which two teenagers unsuccessfully tried Spurlock, rated pG, 100 mins, 2004.Suits: sequences for easier analysis to sue McDonalds for making them fat, middle to senior secondary students. (see Sequence Chart). Morgan Spurlock embarks on a thirty- 10. Had a significant ‘real day McDonalds-only diet experiment. He 10 reasons to teach world’ impact on the sets himself four rules: Super Size Me issues it covered (see below, ‘Flash 1. He can only eat things on sale at Super Size Me is an excellent way to Forward’). McDonalds. explore the documentary form because it: 2. He must Super Size his meal if asked. Flash Forward 3. He has to eat everything on the 1. Deals with subject matter familiar McDonalds menu at least once. to all. • During the 4. He has to eat three meals a day. 2. Is fast paced, fun and informative (and film’s cinema demonstrates why documentaries are release, the Further, he decides to restrict himself to increasing in popularity). Australian the ‘average’ amount of exercise, typical 3. Discusses issues relevant to students, McDonalds’ of the American population. such as the dangers of unhealthy CeO, Guy diets and marketing that targets Russo, Spurlock, who has good genes, doesn’t young people. appeared in a smoke, do drugs or drink alcohol, is 4. Uses a personal experiment to commercial declared at the start of the experiment to address many health-related issues deriding be in ‘perfect’ health by two specialists, a besides eating McDonalds. Spurlock’s general practitioner and a nutritionist. 5. Is primarily told from one point of view findings. but includes interviews with a myriad • Following the Super Size Me tracks his initial medical of experts. film’s release, examination and the ‘McDonalds-only 6. Mixes statistics, animation, graphics, pieces of fruit experiment’ and all its effects. During fly-on-the-wall footage and interviews were introduced the thirty days Spurlock also explores ISS ISS U U with experts and people on the street to McDonalds’ menu, a number of related issues including: E E 44 44 SCREEN SCREEN with Spurlock’s ‘video diary’ of his while in America the the fast food companies’ targeting of experiment. Super Size option was children, increasing obesity rates and the ED ED U U 7. Contains graphic images that will both dropped. medical ramifications, school lunches, C C A A tOp leFt: DIRECTOR TION TION shock and fascinate. • In March 2004, the and the lobbying power of large food 8. Is highly topical given the rise of American Congress companies. Along the way he interviews leFt: PICTURE DESCRIPTION obesity in Australia and other Western passed the ‘Cheeseburger MIDDle: PICTURE DESCRIPTION a host of characters and presents a 14 countries. Bill’, making it illegal for RIGHt PICTURE DESCRIPTION barrage of statistics. By the end of his 15 ALISTER GRIERSON; THE WHOLE HOG: FAST FOOD FILMS ‘little extreme’ experiment, he has gained 11.25kg, his cholesterol has risen by sixty-five points, he has doubled his risk of heart disease, and he has a fatty liver described as ‘pate’ by the Gp. Issues • Where does personal responsibility stop and corporate responsibility begin? • the damaging medical, political and social effects of obesity on individuals and nations. • the effects, availability and nutritional value of food served in schools. ‘McDonalds call Spurlock’s narration is reinforced by • there is a funny and informative • The influence of marketing on children. images that are a mixture of interviews, animated sequence about chicken • the political influence and lobbying people who eat video diary, fly-on-the-wall footage and nuggets. power of large food companies. graphics. • Music complements the images (eg., McDonalds once ‘Fat Bottomed Girls’ by Queen is Setting • Maps and graphics identify the fattest played over images of fat Amaricans), a week, “Heavy cities and states in the US. or is used to counterpoint them (eg. the film uses a variety of McDonalds • Statistics tell the audience that ‘two- the ‘Blue Danube Waltz’ is played venues in New York and locations at Users” (72%), thirds of American adults are either over footage of surgeons performing a cities in the ‘fattest states’. participants overweight or obese and almost 40% gastric bypass). There are many interesting people in and people who of teenagers have too much fat in their • ‘Super Size Me’, the song, was co- this documentary, but writer–director bodies’. written by Spurlock and mocks the Morgan Spurlock is the star. He has a fun eat there 3, 4 and • Interviews with health officials, jargon associated with fast food. sense of humour, speaks naturally and doctors and school administrators • Footage of Ronald McDonald rocking honestly, and plays the part of human 5 times a week, reveal alarming trends and also with children to the tune of Curtis guinea pig well. He makes jokes and function as a dynamic counterpoint to Mayfield’s ‘pusherman’ reinforces asides all the time to the camera and “Super Heavy the rapid deterioration in Spurlock’s the way McDonalds marketing his interview subjects. Spurlock takes physical condition. targets children. his experiment very seriously and you Users” (22%).’ • Jump cuts help speed up interviews • Frequent shots of big bottoms and admire his bravery at sticking with it even and maintain the documentary’s fast large McDonalds workers reinforce the when he is obviously suffering. He is not pace. message that obesity as aggressive as Michael Moore but is is at epidemic rates in just as effective in giving a personal face the US. to a nation’s problem. • Still photographs used in a ‘who do you Style know?’ competition for children illustrate Spurlock’s style is fresh, personal, the effectiveness of honest and fun. His documentary is McDonalds’ marketing: event-driven in that it centers on a they are more familiar thirty-day experiment conducted Ronald McDonald by Spurlock himself. This works as than Jesus. a linking device between sequences • Shots of vomiting and and allows Spurlock to explore larger, a close-up of a black hair related issues using a variety of docu- found in McDonalds mentary conventions to get his yoghurt evoke strong ISS ISS U U message across. responses from the E E 44 42 SCREEN SCREEN audience and provide memorable images. Visuals ED ED U U • Fly-on-the-wall C C A A TION TION Super Size Me uses a lot of post- footage of a school production visual effects (VFX) and leFt: PICTURE DESCRIPTION kitchen shows the vast slick editing to communicate its many RIGHt: PICTURE DESCRIPTION amounts of processed 16 statistics and maintain a fast pace. foods used in schools. 17 THE WHOLE HOG: FAST FOOD FILMS • Internal body footage of a gastric 10 Key Quotes Sequence chart by-pass operation emphasizes the obesity problem in America. 1. ‘Where does personal responsibility No Sequence: Vision – participants/action Sound • Documents back up the film’s stop and corporate responsibility messages, eg. transcripts from a court begin?’ – Morgan Spurlock ‘Where does 1 Introduction case. 2. ‘the plaintiffs have failed to show that - quote from Ray Kroc, McDonalds’ founder - children singing junk food jingle • Repeated shots of the McDonalds consumption of McDonalds’ personal - shots of big bottoms - narration arches makes them seem ubiquitous. food caused their injuries.’ – - obesity trends map • Unanswered phone calls to lawsuit transcript responsibility stop - changing graphics of teenage girls McDonalds demonstrate the 3. ‘In March 2004 Congress passed - court transcript circled company’s refusal to acknowledge the ‘Cheeseburger Bill’ which would and corporate - shots of McDonalds venues Spurlock’s concerns. make it illegal for people to sue food responsibility - Spurlock takes challenge • Titles announce different chapters of companies for making them obese.’ the documentary. 4. ‘Don Gorske has eaten 19,852 Big begin?’ 2 Medical check up • Low-angle close-ups with a hand- Macs. Cholesterol 140. He seldom - cardiologist, gastroenterologist and general - ‘Fat Bottomed Girls’ by Queen held camera make the film feel eats fries.’ – Morgan Spurlock - practitioner examine Spurlock personal and immediate (eg. in the car 5. ‘You should never eat fast food.’ – - nutritionist and Spurlock consult - results from checkups with Spurlock). Nutritionist • Video diary of Spurlock describing 6. ‘You can’t argue that people should 3 The Last Supper how he feels gives a personal feel and exercise personal responsibility and - Spurlock’s vegan chef girlfriend cooks meal - interview works as a continuity device that links then not give them the information on - Spurlock and girlfriend eat meal - fly-on-wall conversation all the sequences together in the film. which to base it.’ – John Banzahf • Quick, sharp editing of the many 7. ‘By offering junk foods in the lunch 4 Day 1 images, graphics and interviews gives line are we setting kids up to make - Spurlock eats at McDonalds, - talks to camera film its fast pace. bad choices?’ – Morgan Spurlock - cites rules (titles) - narration 8. ‘the world’s not gonna change, you - interviews with people on street - interviews have to change.’ – Jared Fogel, - John Banzhrat interview in office Subway spokesman - shots of kids in McDonalds play areas, 9. ‘No one eats McDonalds food three - clown, toys, cartoon times a day and no one should. We - Samuel Hersh, David Satcher interviews believe, and have always believed, - lisa Young demonstrates cup sizes that McDonalds can be eaten as part of a well-balanced diet.