Fourth-grader's Film Documents School Lunch Menu Vs. What's On Tray

A budding filmmaker and fourth-grader delved into the murky world of school lunches in a six-month undercover operation that resulted in an award-winning movie and landed him a guest appearance on "Good Morning America."

Zachary Maxwell, now a fifth-grader, attends school at a New York public elementary, and he decided to highlight the difference between the lunch menu reports of nutritious and delicious food being served and the reality of what was on his tray.

Urgent: Is Obamacare Hurting Your Wallet? Vote in Poll

His 19-minute movie, “Yuck – A 4th Graders Short Film About School Lunch,” is being shown at film festivals. (It won at the 2012 Brownfish Short Film Festival and Kidz Filmz 2013.)

Maxwell’s father, CJ Maxwell, helped the boy put the film together and is immensely proud of him, he told "Good Morning America."

Although the New York City Department of Education has said they don’t see anything wrong with the school lunch menus, Maxwell – and probably other children – have different opinions.

On his "Good Morning America" appearance, Maxwell said it was cool to see his documentary on the big screen and to hear the audience laugh when they were supposed to. He confessed that he was concerned about getting in trouble while filming, which took place over six months, and the school now has a new rule that any student caught filming can be suspended, Recapo reported.

While he may not be making more movies at school, Maxwell plans to continue on his path toward being a professional filmmaker. He’s working on a film for his fifth-grade class and is thinking about a film about puberty.

“When I grow up, I want to be a big-shot filmmaker,” he said, laughing, on "Good Morning America."

The film will be shown at the June 21 Manhattan Film Festival. Maxwell and "Yuck" have their own Facebook page. The film is not available to see online at this time.

Editor's Note: Get the Navy SEALs Cap – Celebrate Our Heroes

Related stories:

2,000 Netflix Movies to Disappear as Licenses with Studios Expire

Hollywood Faces Business Model Fears