Morgan Spurlock's documentary Super Size Me follows him as he eats only McDonald's food for 30 days. He finds that consuming McDonald's 3 times a day causes significant health effects like rapid weight gain and increased cholesterol. The documentary aims to show the negative impacts of an excessive fast food diet and spark discussion about corporate advertising and public health.

2. Super size me is an expository documentary about the fast food branch, McDonalds and the effects it
can have on the human body if over indulged in.
Morgan Spurlock took it on himself to have McDonalds 3 times a day for both breakfast, Lunch and
dinner over the course of a month. Throughout the month he is seen by 3 physicians, A cardiologist a
gastroenterologist and a general practitioner. As well as a nutritionist and a personal trainer.
Rules that Spurlock must follow:
•He must eat every item on the menu at least once in the 30 day period
•He must only eat things on the McDonald's menu including drinks.
•If Offered to ‘Super size’ the meal he must accept the offer.
•He has to walk the same or less amount of steps that the average American walks in a day.
•He must consume McDonalds for all 3 meals of the day.

3. Directed by: Morgan Spurlock
Produced by: Morgan Spurlock
written by: Morgan Spurlock
starring: Morgan Spurlock
Cinematography by: Scott Ambrozy
Edited by: Julie ‘bob’ Lombari
Production company: The Con
Distributed by: Samuel Goldwyn films roadside attraction
Budget: $65,000
Box office: $25,592,368
Tagline: A film of epic proportions
Running time: 98 min
Language: English

4. Super size me is a expository documentary which usually either have a main topic/
argument being enforced within them. There usually built up of facts opinions and in
supersize me’s case different techniques in which putting across the point that fast food
is as big of a problem as smoking/drinking.
Expository documentaries the commentator/
subject (Morgan Spurlock) talk to the
viewers. The documentaries are usually built
up of different features which include
interviews/ Reconstructions and facts.

5. The purpose of the documentary is to expose what binge eating fast food everyday can
do to the human body. Spurlock’s purpose of the documentary is to tell us that
advertising is powerful and children need help to find healthy food alternates along with
adults.
The message behind the documentary is the fast food restaurants aren't the ones to
blame us as responsible people and consumers are.

6. In “supersize me” Morgan Spurlock is the narrator. He also appears throughout the
documentary as he’s the one who took up the challenge. The medical specialist are
examples where Spurlock only narrates over the clips he does this as these are omniscient
and trustworthy characters as they explain in depth all the medical statistics to do with
Spurlock's health as the weeks progress. During these scenes Spurlock just sits back as
these people are specialist in what they do and any information that is given to him can
help him during his month.

7. The script/structure of supersize me is thought out to be hard hitting from the start, as the
first scene is a group of young children all sat down singing the fast food song. This is a
very hard hitting start as children are shown to be most vulnerable as they don’t know
what eating fast food can do to them. Also during this opening scene the camera mainly
focuses towards the more overweight children, just to put forward the main point of this
documentary.
Throughout the main sections of the documentary most of the show is based around
statistics and the intakes that Spurlock is taking in. There is the use of lots of facts and
studies around the subject that is shown which reinforces the argument that Spurlock is
putting across.
The documentary then refers back to the use of children in the last day of Spurlock’s
McDonalds binge as on his ‘last McDonalds supper’ he sits with parents with young
children that are all happily playing in the play park doing this shows us the children's
vulnerability and most of all is the most hard hitting of all people eating McDonald’s.

8. Throughout the documentary there is stereotyping, this is done as the camera only
shows the people of the general public that are fat and walking into the McDonalds
branches by doing this it reinforces Sperlock’s argument of the public eating to much
fast food leading to weight issues.
Spurlock plans for this documentary is
to find out is it solely the food
companies fault on the obesity
increase or is it the people are who to
blame?

9. One of the reconstructions at the start of the documentary show us a blue print of 2
young girls whose parents filed a law suit against McDonalds due to them being
overweight (as seen below). It shows both girls sizes in both height and weight and
compares it to the nations average.
Another scene in which really builds to Sperlock’s argument that has a reconstruction is
the scene where ‘Fat’ cartoon characters go up to the counter to buy food. It then goes
on to talk about that McDonald's have there own group name for there customers the
‘heavy users’ and the ‘super heavy users’ both of which have the appropriate size
cartoon characters labelling each.
There is also another re-construction scene in which the chairmen/bosses are made
saying how much money they spent on marketing with McDonalds being the most.
Followed by candy and Pepsi. Finally it refers to the 5 a day fruit and veg campaign.
Being over 100% less spent on marketing healthy products. Furthering the point that
McDonalds is a day to day talked about and heard about company.

10. Interviews are carried during the documentary Spurlock
interviews the public asking them a series of question such
as, ‘how often do you eat McDonalds a week? When he
does this he asks a variety of different sized people he does
this so that his point isn’t biased but he still goes on to
chose people that are slightly above average weight doing
these he gets the answers that he wants to hear.
Throughout the documentary several interviews take place
with the cardiologist, gastroenterologist and a general
practitioner during these interviews Spurlock doesn’t speak
as the people are specialist’s in what they do and he can
learn from what they are saying.
He then goes on to do interviews/questions with children
showing them a variety of pictures and finally the Ronald
McDonald he does this as the children are the innocent
victims of obesity doing this makes you feel very
sympathetic towards them.

11. After Supersize me was released McDonalds then went on to abolish the ‘supersize’
portion meals from there menus across the US 6 weeks after the release of super size
me. (Which has now been re-introduced).
The impacts on Morgan Spurlock was that his cholesterol went up sharply and he had
gained a total of 24.5 pounds in weight over the course of the month. As a result of this
Sperlock had to go on a strict diet over the course of 4 months so that he could revert to
his previous body shape.
This then saw the introduction of the ‘go active’ adult happy meal introduced to there
menu which was scheduled to be introduced the day before ‘supersize me’ was released
to the cinema’s across the US.
Later into the future we have also seen the introduction of more healthy alternates such
as the McDonalds fruit bag for kids.

12. Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of media
concepts
Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of media
contexts and critical debates
Uses terminology appropriately and with accurate and
coherent written expression.
Apply knowledge and understanding to show how meanings
are created when analysing media products.
Apply knowledge and understanding to show how meanings
are created when evaluating their own practical work.
Demonstrate the ability to plan media products using
appropriate technical and creative skills.
Demonstrate the ability to construct media products using
appropriate technical and creative skills.
AO4
Demonstrate the ability to undertake and apply appropriate
research.
AO3 AO2 AO1
These are
the
assessment
criteria you
need to
keep in
mind.