SYNOPSIS 100 pounds overweight, loaded up on steroids and suffering from a debilitating autoimmune disease, Joe Cross is at the end of his rope and the end of his hope. In the mirror he saw a 310lb man whose gut was bigger than a beach ball and a path laid out before him that wouldn't end well— with one foot already in the grave, the other wasn't far behind. FAT, SICK & NEARLY DEAD is an inspiring film that chronicles Joe's personal mission to regain his health.
With doctors and conventional medicines unable to help long- term, Joe turns to the only option left, the body's ability to heal itself. He trades in the junk food and hits the road with juicer and generator in tow, vowing only to drink fresh fruit and vegetable juice for the next 60 days. Across 3,000 miles Joe has one goal in mind: To get off his pills and achieve a balanced lifestyle.
While talking to more than 500 Americans about food, health and longevity, it's at a truck stop in Arizona where Joe meets a truck driver who suffers from the same rare condition. Phil Staples is morbidly obese weighing in at 429 lbs; a cheeseburger away from a heart-attack. As Joe is recovering his health, Phil begins his own epic journey to get well.
What emerges is nothing short of amazing – an inspiring tale of healing and human connection.
Part road trip, part self-help manifesto, FAT, SICK & NEARLY DEAD defies the traditional documentary format to present an unconventional and uplifting story of two men from different worlds who each realize that the only person who can save them is themselves.
With doctors and conventional medicines unable to help long- term, Joe turns to the only option left, the body's ability to heal itself. He trades in the junk food and hits the road with juicer and generator in tow, vowing only to drink fresh fruit and vegetable juice for the next 60 days. Across 3,000 miles Joe has one goal in mind: To get off his pills and achieve a balanced lifestyle.
While talking to more than 500 Americans about food, health and longevity, it's at a truck stop in Arizona where Joe meets a truck driver who suffers from the same rare condition. Phil Staples is morbidly obese weighing in at 429 lbs; a cheeseburger away from a heart-attack. As Joe is recovering his health, Phil begins his own epic journey to get well.
What emerges is nothing short of amazing – an inspiring tale of healing and human connection.
Part road trip, part self-help manifesto, FAT, SICK & NEARLY DEAD defies the traditional documentary format to present an unconventional and uplifting story of two men from different worlds who each realize that the only person who can save them is themselves.
WHERE TO SEE THE MOVIE You can buy the Fat, Sick and Nearly Dead DVD on amazon.
You can buy the Fat, Sick and Nearly Dead Book on the kindle from amazon.
You can stream the movie on Hulu, Netflix and Amazon.
ABOUT THE FILMMAKERS JOE CROSS Director/Executive Producer Joe Cross is an Australian entrepreneur and investor who invests in early stage high potential growth companies. These include investments in the fashion, transportation, private equity finance, derivatives trading, early childhood education, structural steel distribution and health and wellness sectors.
KURT ENGFEHR Director Kurt Engfehr grew up next to a steel mill in a working class suburb of Detroit. After adventures around the country, he settled in New York City where he worked as an Avid editor at HBO, MSNBC and National Video Center.
STACEY OFFMAN Producer Stacey Offman is an accomplished documentary and non-fiction television producer based in New York City. For the past eleven years, she has produced numerous feature length documentaries and a variety of programs and series for the IFC, Comedy Central, F/X Network, History Television and the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation.
CHRISTOPHER SEWARD Editor/Co-Producer Christopher Seward has ten years experience including television editor for PBS, A&E, The History Channel, Nickelodeon, Discovery Channel and others. He has edited a wide range of documentary subjects including The History of African American Humour, AIDS at 21 and episodes of A&E’s Biography series.
ALISON AMRON Editor/Co-Producer Working as an editor for over twenty years, with vast experience in both long- and short-form documentaries, Alison has worked with everyone from Oscar-winning director Alex Gibney to legendary journalist Bill Moyers.
JOHN MILLER-MONZON Co-Producer A New York-based producer, researcher and development consultant, Miller-Monzon’s recent projects include Oscar winner THE COVE and Indie Spirit Award winner CRAZY LOVE.
ROBERT MAC Executive Producer Robert Mac is a second generation film maker and writer. His work has been screened at Festivals all over the world, including the Sundance Film Festival.
SHANE HODSON Executive Producer Shane Hodson is a Sydney based chartered accountant who over the last 5 years has assisted in managing Joe Cross’ portfolio of investments, including Reboot Media.
JAMIN MENDELSOHN Production Manager Jamin Mendelsohn has been working in documentary production for the past 4 years. She worked on Morgan Spurlock’s Where in the World is Osama Bin Laden? and What Would Jesus Buy?; the PBS series e2 – Economies Of Being Environmentally Conscious, and most recently as the production manager for Fat, Sick & Nearly Dead.
KAREN PELLAND Associate/Field Producer Karen Pelland is a freelance radio journalist who occasionally dabbles in documentary film. Prior to getting her start at WBUR public radio in Boston in 1999, however, she wandered the grey cubicles of corporate America, not quite sure what it was all about. After moving to New York in 2002, her work ranged from freelance radio gigs to non-profit consulting, documentary film production and book research.
You can buy the Fat, Sick and Nearly Dead Book on the kindle from amazon.
You can stream the movie on Hulu, Netflix and Amazon.
ABOUT THE FILMMAKERS JOE CROSS Director/Executive Producer Joe Cross is an Australian entrepreneur and investor who invests in early stage high potential growth companies. These include investments in the fashion, transportation, private equity finance, derivatives trading, early childhood education, structural steel distribution and health and wellness sectors.
KURT ENGFEHR Director Kurt Engfehr grew up next to a steel mill in a working class suburb of Detroit. After adventures around the country, he settled in New York City where he worked as an Avid editor at HBO, MSNBC and National Video Center.
STACEY OFFMAN Producer Stacey Offman is an accomplished documentary and non-fiction television producer based in New York City. For the past eleven years, she has produced numerous feature length documentaries and a variety of programs and series for the IFC, Comedy Central, F/X Network, History Television and the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation.
CHRISTOPHER SEWARD Editor/Co-Producer Christopher Seward has ten years experience including television editor for PBS, A&E, The History Channel, Nickelodeon, Discovery Channel and others. He has edited a wide range of documentary subjects including The History of African American Humour, AIDS at 21 and episodes of A&E’s Biography series.
ALISON AMRON Editor/Co-Producer Working as an editor for over twenty years, with vast experience in both long- and short-form documentaries, Alison has worked with everyone from Oscar-winning director Alex Gibney to legendary journalist Bill Moyers.
JOHN MILLER-MONZON Co-Producer A New York-based producer, researcher and development consultant, Miller-Monzon’s recent projects include Oscar winner THE COVE and Indie Spirit Award winner CRAZY LOVE.
ROBERT MAC Executive Producer Robert Mac is a second generation film maker and writer. His work has been screened at Festivals all over the world, including the Sundance Film Festival.
SHANE HODSON Executive Producer Shane Hodson is a Sydney based chartered accountant who over the last 5 years has assisted in managing Joe Cross’ portfolio of investments, including Reboot Media.
JAMIN MENDELSOHN Production Manager Jamin Mendelsohn has been working in documentary production for the past 4 years. She worked on Morgan Spurlock’s Where in the World is Osama Bin Laden? and What Would Jesus Buy?; the PBS series e2 – Economies Of Being Environmentally Conscious, and most recently as the production manager for Fat, Sick & Nearly Dead.
KAREN PELLAND Associate/Field Producer Karen Pelland is a freelance radio journalist who occasionally dabbles in documentary film. Prior to getting her start at WBUR public radio in Boston in 1999, however, she wandered the grey cubicles of corporate America, not quite sure what it was all about. After moving to New York in 2002, her work ranged from freelance radio gigs to non-profit consulting, documentary film production and book research.
RSS Feed