"Flip Schultz -- funny-looking body." |
Even if you're open-minded and wise to body image issues, his gut rolls probably made you cringe. Just a little.
Schultz is the blissed-out sunbather on the Special K commercial that's been airing since September. For about 10 long seconds, we see his soft body from various angles as he rubs lotion on himself at the beach. His flesh glows white like Wonder Bread, his belly jiggles like Jell-O. He is unapologetically untoned.
"You don't expect him to be perfect," the words on the screen read. "Why expect it from yourself?"
It's part of a Canadian ad campaign encouraging women to be kind to themselves and to eat a sensible diet (preferably including Special K cereal). Schultz's image is on the campaign's front line.
How does it feel to be the unofficial poster boy for imperfection? The Journal tracked Schultz down at his Fort Lauderdale, Fla., home to find out.
How much did you get paid to do this?
Let's just say they nailed humiliation down to the penny.
How did you feel about having to reveal almost everything for the camera?
I really didn't have too big a problem -- I've never been that shy about things like that. I'm a comedian by trade, so any chance to be the centre of attention is no problem for me. Being in a Speedo on the beach in front of everybody -- all it was for me was being funny again, you know. But I'd never do it in real life.
Do you ever wear a Speedo in real life?
NO. I don't even wear briefs. I wear boxers.
Do you think you'll ever live down that Speedo?
Probably not. Actually, when I was doing it, I kind of had this premonition I'm going to be on the Tonight Show or something and Jay Leno is going to go, "Ah, Flip, before you did this and that, you did this little Speedo commercial."
It'll be on a nasty clip they pull out when you're hugely famous and they'll say, "This is how he got his start."
Right, page one of The Star: "Before he was a big star, he dressed in Speedos." But you know, I don't mind. Of all the things I've done, trust me, that's one that I'm rather proud of.
How did you get the gig?
Kellogg's was shooting a spot down here and they auditioned local talent. I've got a few agents and this one, she said they were looking for funny guys who aren't models. I said, "That's me."
Tell me about the audition.
They videotaped everybody without their shirts on and we just did a minute little improv on how you keep yourself in such good shape (laughing).
Then I had to show up wearing the Speedo, and that was a little embarrassing because there were some women there interviewing me too. So I was sitting with my legs crossed. When I went for my fitting -- they actually had a fitting for my Speedo -- I happened to see the notes they wrote about me and it said, "Flip Schultz -- funny- looking body." Yeah. Oh yeah -- my self-confidence? Bang, bang.
How many people were there staring at your trunks?
About 10 people. I didn't really even think about it. But the other thing was they were telling me they wanted to bikini wax me, and I said, "Well you're going to have to give me a little more money to do that." But they ended up not doing it.
Phew! So as far as being a professional comedian, that sort of prepares you for everybody being dressed and you're wearing a Speedo?
I've been on stage naked before, so ...
Did you have to do anything to get ready for the shoot?
I was actually in very good shape, so I just I gained, like, 30 pounds and I laid in bed all day. Just kidding. No, not really. It was pretty much just show up.
How long did the shoot take?
I got there four in the morning. The shoot lasted until about five in the afternoon.
Does the director say, "OK, I want you to jiggle your belly more!"?
Yes. He actually said, "Do the belly jiggle -- we're aiming for a belly jiggle." I swear to God. I was putting the lotion on and he was saying, "No, no, harder!"
That must be really hard work, jiggling your belly all day long.
A lot of times, I would put so much lotion on, it would literally splat all over the place. So it would be, "Cut, cut, you can't put that much on." I was too into it.
When they were shooting my butt, that's when I got a little self-conscious. When I was watching the commercial, I saw they got a nice closeup of my big ol' butt. I think the thing that really got me was when they showed me bending over and my belly rolls. That's when I said, you know, maybe I should really start losing weight. Which I have, actually.
Since the commercial?
Yeah, I've lost about 20 pounds. Not really because of the commercial, but it definitely was a motivating factor in it.
Wow -- 20 pounds. You must be working out a lot.
What happened was I got really sick and I couldn't keep anything down for about a week. So by the time I was better, people were saying, "Are you losing weight?" I've just been able to keep it off.
Do you have an exercise routine then?
All I really do is, every morning, I do 30 push-ups. It's been six months now.
Is there anything they teach you in acting school to help you accept your body and be comfortable enough to use it to entertain people?
I think when it comes down to it, everyone has to feel comfortable with themselves completely, and there's really nothing they can teach you to deal with that. When I was younger, I really felt very self-conscious about showing off my body and I'd swim with a shirt on. It took me a while, but I have become very comfortable with how I look.
Do you think there's less pressure on you to be perfect because you're a guy?
I'm not too sure about that. I know a lot of guys that are self-conscious about the way they look and some women aren't. But I think it's kind of unfair that society has put such a strain on women. That's why I was really happy about doing this kind of commercial. Because I really believe that superficiality is stupid.
Superficiality?
The whole idea that you're supposed to look a certain way and if you don't, you're unattractive -- that's stupid.
Do people recognize you from your commercials?
Believe it or not, three people have come up to me and said they saw the commercial when they were in Canada. So that kind of blew me away.
Have you shown the commercial to your friends and relatives?
I showed it to a couple friends and they said, "Oh man, you really look like crap." I showed it to my parents, they laughed. Then I showed it to my girlfriend. She, uh, she cried. She just went, "Oh my God. Never show that to me again." I don't even know how to describe it. It was kind of like laughing, but it was like "That's YOU! My boyfriend! Ew."
But she still loves you.
I hope so.
How do you feel about being the poster boy for imperfection?
I feel proud. The poster boy for imperfection ... that's funny.
FACT BOX LABEL
- Name: Flip Schultz (given name Phillip)
- Age: 25
- Profession: Stand-up comic
- Other work: Has appeared in low-budget indie films and various commercials -- Special K is his biggest one yet.
- Education: Bachelor of Fine Arts in Theatre from Florida Atlantic University
- Height: 6'1
- Weight: 185 pounds at the time of the commercial shoot in April; currently 165
- Exercise routine: 30 push-ups each morning
- Family: Eldest of two children -- parents are both special education teachers
- Home town: Fort Lauderdale, Fla.
- Home page: www.flipschultz.com
