Hamburger America

George Motz may be America's foremost hamburger expert. Since the release of his documentary film Hamburger America (on the Sundance Channel in 2005), and now the book of the same name (Running Press, 2008), he has been asked daily of his opinion of where to find some of the best burgers in the country. He has taught a course on hamburgers at NYU, consulted for Wendy's Hamburgers, and NY chef Harry Hawk named a burger after him. In 2006, Hamburger America (the Film) became required viewing in a food course at Princeton University and was nominated for a James Beard Award. Hamburger America (the book) can now be found in just about any bookstore.

A long time ago, George tried to explain to a reporter that he was a filmmaker, not a hamburger expert, but the press would have none of that. So George has resigned himself to the fact that based on his travels and intensive research maybe he really does know a lot about burgers. His passion for greasy nourishment and American nostalgia probably helps.

In his real life, George is an award-winning freelance Director of Photography based in New York City. Over the past 17 years he has worked on numerous television commercials, films, music videos, documentaries, and promos.

In 2000, George received his first New York Emmy Award for a spot lensed for Thirteen WNET. And in 2006 he took home two New York Emmys for a 21 spot station ID campaign for WNET.

George is currently represented for television commercial work by the Jacob & Kole Agency in Hollywood, CA and by Laura Dail in NYC for literary work.

In 2007, George and Chef Harry Hawk created the NYC Food Film Festival, a multi-sensory film festival where food films are screened along with the food profiled in those films. The 3rd Annual NYC Food Film Festival was held in June 2009 and was a unequivocal success.

The book Hamburger America is coming to life in the form of a TV series, currently in development. Stay tuned.