LinhCelluloid Smokescreen
August 2nd 2008 09:44
Artistic Puffers by Linh
Following a US study in 2005 showing that “exposure to onscreen smoking prompts many American adolescents to light up”, Hollywood was urged to include smoking warnings on DVDs.
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A couple of weeks ago, six major film studios (Paramount Pictures, Sony Pictures Entertainment, Twentieth Century Fox, Universal Pictures, Walt Disney Co. and Warner Bros.) have agreed to include the public service announcements on their films' DVDs which depict scenes with tobacco use.
Really Long Link
Is Hollywood really starting to get serious about the smoking issue, along with many film stars deciding to quit smoking?
The hit musical film Mamma Mia! which is currently screening in Australia, has a smoking scene and keen cinephiles who watch films right up to the end credits will notice a smoking warning.
It’s tagged on at the very end: “ The depictions of smoking in this film are based solely on artistic consideration…and not intended to promote tobacco consumption…..”
Could it be that film studio Universal Pictures is bowing to the pressure from health authorities or just appeasing Mamma Mia! star and anti-tobacco crusader Pierce Brosnan? Maybe it’s setting a cinematic health trend and hoping other major film studios would follow suit?
Would it have been more effective if a tobacco warning appeared immediately before the film as most people won't sit and read the end credits? Should there be a volumetric tobacco classification code - minor tobacco use, mild tobacco use and excessive tobacco use?
Despite opposition to the unhealthy habit, there will always be smoking onscreen in order to reflect reality. However, many actors are choosing to smoke fake nicotine sticks or herbal cigarettes for various character portrayals.
Susan Sarandon as Catherine Ames in a scene from Twilight. Image: Paramount Pictures.
Following a US study in 2005 showing that “exposure to onscreen smoking prompts many American adolescents to light up”, Hollywood was urged to include smoking warnings on DVDs.
Really Long Link
A couple of weeks ago, six major film studios (Paramount Pictures, Sony Pictures Entertainment, Twentieth Century Fox, Universal Pictures, Walt Disney Co. and Warner Bros.) have agreed to include the public service announcements on their films' DVDs which depict scenes with tobacco use.
Really Long Link
Is Hollywood really starting to get serious about the smoking issue, along with many film stars deciding to quit smoking?
Cate Blanchett as Bob Dylan in I'm Not There. Image: Paramount Pictures, The Weinstein Company.
The hit musical film Mamma Mia! which is currently screening in Australia, has a smoking scene and keen cinephiles who watch films right up to the end credits will notice a smoking warning.
It’s tagged on at the very end: “ The depictions of smoking in this film are based solely on artistic consideration…and not intended to promote tobacco consumption…..”
Could it be that film studio Universal Pictures is bowing to the pressure from health authorities or just appeasing Mamma Mia! star and anti-tobacco crusader Pierce Brosnan? Maybe it’s setting a cinematic health trend and hoping other major film studios would follow suit?
Would it have been more effective if a tobacco warning appeared immediately before the film as most people won't sit and read the end credits? Should there be a volumetric tobacco classification code - minor tobacco use, mild tobacco use and excessive tobacco use?
David Strathairn as Edward R Murrow in Good Night and Good Luck. Image: Warner Independent Pictures.
Despite opposition to the unhealthy habit, there will always be smoking onscreen in order to reflect reality. However, many actors are choosing to smoke fake nicotine sticks or herbal cigarettes for various character portrayals.
Brad Pitt as Tyler Durden in Fight Club. Image: Twentieth Century Fox.
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