- LOS ANGELES (Reuters) --
Film documentary "Super Size Me," a critical look at the health
impact of a fast-food only diet, has been downsized at cable network MTV
which has refused to air advertisements for the film, its distributors
said on Wednesday.
-
- Roadside Attractions and Samuel Goldwyn Films said in
a statement the cable TV channel targeted to young audiences has told them
the ads are "disparaging to fast food restaurants."
-
- The distributors said MTV sister network VH1 was planning
to use clips from the movie in a program called "Best Week Ever,"
but the clips were pulled before the show aired.
-
- An MTV spokeswoman was not immediately available to comment.
MTV and VH1 are owned by media giant Viacom Inc, which depends on advertising
for a major portion of revenues.
-
- For "Super Size Me," director Morgan Spurlock
ate nothing but food from McDonald's restaurants over 30-day period, and
if asked whether he wanted the larger, "supersize" meal, he always
said yes.
-
- Over the month, he gains weight and his health declines.
Documenting the impact are not only the cameras but also his doctors. Spurlock
mixes in various facts and figures about food and dieting as he travels
the United States talking to health and food experts in 20 cities.
-
- In March, McDonald's said it would eliminate its supersize
menu options by year end. At that time, a company spokeswoman said the
decision was unrelated to the movie.
-
- "Super Size Me" has been a hit at box offices,
and it earned Spurlock the Grand Jury Prize for best documentary director
at this year's Sundance Film Festival (news - web sites).
-
- The film began playing in theaters about two weeks ago
and rose to No. 10 on domestic theater box office charts this past week.
It has grossed $2.9 million in ticket sales -- a hit for a documentary
-- and last weekend scored a per screen average of $6,759, just behind
No. 2 film "Troy" with $7,014.
-
- The film expands to 165 screens from 148 for the upcoming
Memorial Day Holiday weekend, which the MTV ads had been timed to promote,
a spokesman for the distributors said.
-
- Copyright © 2004 Reuters Limited. All rights reserved.
Republication or redistribution of Reuters content is expressly prohibited
without the prior written consent of Reuters. Reuters shall not be liable
for any errors or delays in the content, or for any actions taken in reliance
thereon. http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/nm/20040526/tv_nm/leisure_supersizeme_dc
|
