Atlantica - 01.12.2004, Blaðsíða 10

8 A T L A N T I C A
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Morgan Spurlock’s Supersize Me opened this year’s American Indie Film
Festival in Reykjavík. The charismatic writer/ director/ producer and guinea
pig of the film spoke with Atlantica’s Bart Cameron just before boarding a
plane for New Zealand.
Atlantica: Okay, of course the French love your film. It attacks
an American institution. But what about the rest of the world?
Morgan Spurlock: Overall, it’s been really positive. Everybody
around the world can relate. It’s starting to take root in their
culture. Everybody has a relationship with fast food.
Atlantica: Did this surprise you? Even New Zealand is featur-
ing the film.
Spurlock: I’m not so surprised. McDonald’s doesn’t exist
because people don’t like the food. It’s there because people
get an immediate reward. Everybody develops a love hate
relationship with fast food. And it seems like these days every-
body has that relationship with the US in general.
Atlantica: We know about your hate. What is your love of fast
food?
Spurlock: There’s nothing I like better than a good cheese-
burger.
Atlantica: Ah ha! Busted.
Spurlock: But in my opinion it doesn’t come from McDonalds.
That food isn’t quality it’s quantity.
Atlantica: I’m extremely curious. How did you get the rights to
film in those McDonalds? I can’t imagine all the paperwork.
Spurlock: We just walked right in and filmed. Most of those
people are only making $5 an hour, like they care. They’re just
like ‘order your food and go away.
Atlantica: And the response Michael Moore got eviscerated for
Fahrenheit. Nothing seems to have happened to you.
Spurlock: They don’t attack me directly. They have lobby
groups they pay millions of dollars to do their dirty work. Look
at all the advertisements that suddenly popped up right before
the film came to Iceland. Salads! Even though I explain in the
film that those salads are so unhealthy. Half of the content is
fat. They give you half your entire day’s value of sodium.
Atlantica: Beyond advertising salads?
Spurlock: McDonalds gives you just enough information to
make you think one thing.
It’s all Health by Association. McDonalds sponsoring the
Olympics. They’re not saying they’re healthy. But look at the
athletes. People buy into it.
Atlantica: You’re a young successful filmmaker. What are you
going to do with the momentum this film has developed?
Spurlock: I’m committed to this project. For me, the most
important thing is getting this out to parents and teachers and
getting kids involved.
The DVD is coming out in the US, and I’ll be talking to PTAs,
talking about getting a movement at the grass roots.
Atlantica: So the movie has changed your life.
Spurlock: The film definitely altered my perception. The way I
look at food. The way I look at marketing.
Brand Recognition
009 Airmail Atl 604.indd 8 23.10.2004 15:45:22