“Inspired by a true story, The Fat Boy Chronicles reveals the emotionally painful world obese teens experience in the face of a thin-obsessed society. At age fourteen, 5’5 Jimmy weighs 187 pounds. Outside the comfort of his family and church, life for Jimmy is a constant struggle. The cruel taunts of his classmates make going to school or playing sports a humiliating experience. Yet, he still manages to focus on his goals – to lose weight and win over the girl of his dreams.” (http://thefatboychronicles.com).
The book, a novel by Lang Buchanan, The Fat Boy Chronicles tells the story of this obese 9th grader in first-person journal entrities. It was adapted into a screenplay by the team in 2009, the movie began screening in 2010.
About the Filmmaker
Lang Buchanan (Diane Lang and Michael Buchanan) began writing together during the University of Iowa’s Writer Workshops in the summer of 2000. Their first novel, Micah’s Child, published in 2006, received a nomination as Georgia Novel of the Year. Their screenplay, Treasure of the Four Lions, the story of three kids who are helped by Civil War ghosts to find the lost Confederate gold, is in pre-production with Riverwood Studios and Tin Roof Films. Cry of the Quetzal, an epic tale set in the deep South, examines the saga of Anna and Jacob, two people caught between the Korean War and their religious convictions.
Both former teachers, Diane and Mike were honored as Teachers of the Year and recognized nationally for their creative interaction with students. Mike Buchanan, who graduated from Georgia State University and from 1978-1981 taught at Hapeville High School, lives in Alpharetta. Lang and Buchanan are creative development executives for Tin Roof Films, a family entertainment movie company located in Atlanta.
For more information on the book and film, go to The Fat Boy Chronicles website. There is a trailer on that site as well as reviews and other information on the film and the filmmakers.
Please Note: The screening of “The Fat Boy Chronicles” is a local addition to the Hapeville “Reel to Real” Arts & Film series, and is not funded by, nor part of, the South Arts/Southern Arts Federation Film Series.
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