The USC School of Social Work and the Los Angeles Unified School District will host Oscar-nominated Morgan Spurlock, the filmmaker behind the popular documentary film "Super Size Me," in a dialogue with high school students, teachers and social workers on Feb. 17 from 4 p.m. - 6:30 p.m. at Manual Arts High School located at 4131 South Vermont in Los Angeles.

The event brings together students from Belmont, Marshall, Monroe, Venice and Manual Arts High Schools in an open and candid exchange with Spurlock on his film about the perils of a modern fast-food lifestyle.

"We see the evening with Morgan Spurlock as a wonderful opportunity to engage a community of Los Angeles-area high school students and educators in meaningful dialogue," said Annalisa Enrile, assistant professor at the USC School of Social Work. "'Super Size Me' is more than a popular film; we believe it to be a relevant piece of modern social commentary and, thus, worthy of discussion."

The event is part of USC Field Education Instructor Rafael Angulo's course, 'Media In Social Work Documentary Filmmaking as a Praxis for Social Justice.' As part of a commitment to give students the tools they need to respond to a changing world, the nationally ranked USC School of Social Work recently launched a new curriculum that gives students an unprecedented level of career preparation that helps them anticipate emerging issues and lead social work innovation at the local, national and global levels.

The LAUSD, under the leadership of School Board Member Marlene Canter, pioneered the effort to improve nutrition in schools by banning the sale of soft drinks and junk food on school campuses. Other school districts nationwide have followed its lead.

"The obesity epidemic is a massive threat to the health of our kids, and they can't learn if they're not healthy," noted Canter, who had a small role in Spurlock's film. "'Super Size Me' powerfully illustrates the dangers of consuming fast food regularly in a way that resonates with students," Canter said.

Continuing on the educational theme, the event will also include the kick-off of the new Educationally Enhanced-version of "Super Size Me." Representatives from Hart Sharp Video, the film's DVD distributor, will demonstrate the numerous new features for the version created specifically for schools and institutions. Each "Super Size Me" Educationally Enhanced DVD comes with a teacher's guide, printable lesson plans, student handouts and links to other resources and web sites.

Nominated for an Academy Award in the 'Best Documentary Feature' category, "Super Size Me" centers on the effects of a fast food-driven lifestyle by focusing on Spurlock's sustained 30-day fast food-only diet. Released by Roadside Attractions/Samuel Goldwyn Films, it became the third highest box office grossing documentary film in history and has caused school districts nationwide to re-examine their food choices for students.