Where in the world is...
Morgan Spurlock

words by Jason Dean
photo by Daniel Marracino

I’m sitting with Morgan Spurlock at the Avalon Hotel in Beverly Hills, head swirling from a freshly-drunk margarita, and trying to scrawl notes with a 19¢ piece-of-crap, disposable Bic pen. I had left my “A” pen in my freshly-valeted car and wasn’t about to pause the interview to retrieve a more suitable writing device. I might as well have been carving my notes in one of the thickets of bamboo trees scattered about the premises.

Fortunately, I’m able to overcome adversity for an enjoyable chat over dinner with the affable filmmaker who has elevated the documentary genre to new heights with his autobiographical adventures in self-endangerment.

His latest installment is Where in the World Is Osama Bin Laden?, which finds the 37-year-old West Virginian visiting the tumultuous terrain of the Middle East in search of the No. 1 pariah of The West. The film, which premiered at Sundance in January and opens in limited release in April, is a fascinating journey that entertains while it vividly depicts just how internationally reviled American foreign policy has become in the post-9/11 world.

Spurlock had already pulled off one of the most daring and shocking achievements ever captured on film: eating nothing but McDonald’s food for 30 days in 2004’s Super Size Me, and living to tell about it. The documentary was nominated for an Academy Award that year. The movie became a global phenomenon. In all, Spurlock visited 24 countries to promote Super Size Me, aided by the fast-food chain’s ubiquitous presence as well as the world’s fascination with the customs and practices of the typical fat American. “It transcended borders and cultures,” he says. “It really blew my mind.”

Having proven he could capture the interest of an international audience, he took the next logical step in ill-advised, risky behavior. As it happened, there was a certain poster child for terrorism running amok in the world. A modern-day Houdini, this individual had found the perfect hiding spot in some cave in a barren land, far, far away. “It was 2005, [George W.] Bush had just started his second term, and a newscaster came on talking about how Osama had released another video – or album or whatever – and everyone in the news was asking, ‘Where is he? We have to track him down!’ The hunt was on.“

In preparation for his trip, Spurlock underwent an intensive training “boot camp” that included valuable information about proper hostage etiquette and what to do if someone in your immediate vicinity tries to blow him or herself up. Did all this preparation leave him feeling empowered, or scared shitless? “From my standpoint, I wasn’t always aware of how scary a situation was, because I had people around me making wise decisions,” he says.

Local journalists were procured to help the crew negotiate the nuances of language and customs in different areas. British journalist James Brabazon’s prior experience covering stories in high-risk areas made him an invaluable asset. I ask Spurlock what was the best advice he got as a U.S. citizen traveling abroad. “They told me that when you’re in these countries, tell them you’re Swiss. Don’t even say that you’re Canadian. You’re Swiss.”

And what about the U.S. government? Surely they were incredulous as to Spurlock’s intentions, closely monitoring his every move. Hardly. “Most of our clearance came from the international governments we visited,” he recalls. But they weren’t exactly welcomed with open arms, especially in Pakistan. Through much difficulty, the crew, which also included co-writer/producer Jeremy Chilnick, was able to obtain four visas for $2,000. “The main reason the governments resisted was they were afraid we’d ‘find something’. They also said, ‘We’re scared you’ll be the next Daniel Pearl.’ ”

Such sentiments weren’t the sort of things Spurlock would write home about. During filming, his girlfriend, Alexandra was pregnant with the couple’s first child. He tried to spare her any details that would illustrate the gravity of any particular situation. “I’d be in the middle of a war zone and I’d call her on the satellite phone, ‘Yeah, everything’s great, honey!’ I’d never tell her everything. I wanted to protect the baby. I didn’t want to stress her out and get any ‘crazy juice’ in the womb.”

His itinerary read like the National Geographic version of Fear Factor. Three to four weeks in Afghanistan. Two to three weeks in Pakistan. Three weeks in Saudi Arabia -- with credit for time served in Egypt, Morocco, and the Gaza Strip.
Filming was truly hit-and-run. “We’d go out on the street for no more than five minutes, then get back in the van and move on.” Seemingly harmless situations could turn bad in seconds. “One time, we were visiting a Palestinian refugee camp in Jordan and a crowd started gathering, and it gradually got bigger. Brabazon, a veteran of such episodes, said it was time to go. We said, ‘Everything seems fine,’ and he said, ‘It always is right up until it isn’t.’”

The most harrowing incident during filming took place when they were traveling with U.S. troops in Afghanistan and a roadside bomb was disabled about one kilometer ahead of their convoy. An indispensable member of the skeleton crew was ace cameraman Daniel Marracino, who deftly captured the hyper-energy and the intimate humanity of their journey. “He’s one of the most positive people I know, in spite of having to lug a camera around for 19 hours a day,” says Spurlock. Of course, finding Osama bin what's-his-name was never the point of the film. Although, Spurlock recollects, “We thought we had as good a chance as anyone.” What the movie does find is real people in cities, villages, and communities who generally speak in the past tense when describing their admiration for the United States. “People made a point of separating American people from foreign policy. To some of them, I was the first American they had ever met in their lives. I want to reach people who have never seen a documentary before,” he says, “people who don’t read the paper or watch the news every day.”

Meanwhile, back at the Avalon Hotel…it’s obvious that Spurlock’s digestive tract bears no permanent scars from his McDonald’s ordeal as he makes short work of a plate of venison. When he’s in L.A., his favorite place to get a double cheese burger with chili is the Tommy’s at Beverly and Rampart. “You only need one a year,” he explains. “It follows you around the other 364 days.”

The subject turns to the Web series I Bet You Will, Spurlock’s first foray into documenting the human condition. Participants on the show would earn modest sums of money for doing things they normally wouldn’t do for free. He filmed 53 episodes for MTV and was able to finance Super Size Me with the earnings.

His current small-screen project, 30 Days, took root in the gap between Super Size and Where in the World. The cable series, which deposits people in environments outside of their comfort zones for a month and chronicles their change of heart (or lack thereof), just wrapped its third season for The FX Network. “I like filming things as they unfold in real time.” 

Even Spurlock’s son, Laken, makes a cameo appearance in the film - as he’s being born. Proud dad returned to the states less than two weeks before Alexandra’s due date. When I ask him about the unfortunate prospect of missing the birth of his son, he says he and his wife (they have since gotten married) had a mutual understanding that “it would have been bad, but better late than not at all.”

And what was the best thing about being back on American soil? “It was weird to suddenly not see people with guns on the street,” he says. “And to be able to go outside and walk around was nice. I hadn’t gone on a walk in weeks and weeks.” But like anywhere in the world, danger can lurk in unexpected places. A few weeks after he got back, Spurlock was having lunch at Neptune’s Net, a roadside restaurant on Pacific Coast Highway in Malibu. “All of a sudden, helicopters swooped in overhead, a bunch of cop cars pulled up, weapons drawn, and a voice on a megaphone said, ‘You seven people, we see you in the woods! Come out with your hands up!’” Welcome to Malibukistan.