Smoking and Movies

[Rockerforlife]

Why do you think we see in most movies people smoking and drinking?

[Trinity4]

Free country, if you want to smoke and drink that's your prerogative.  Nothing about the movie industry has ever shaped or molded me.  They have a lot more money than I'll ever dream of having so I'm not on the same level and don't care to be.  No subliminal messages to me.  I'm more concerned with message all those violent movies give young people.  Wonder who is behind that?

[JTRiver]

I don't really see what the problem is? Drinking and smoking are a part of life. Movies are considered art. Art mirrors life so what's the big deal?

[R Glass]

I have been noticing a lot of scenes that show people Working Out or Jogging. I wander if there is a conspiracy behind this?

[Rockerforlife]

Are actors to blame for smoking in movies? Some people in the film industry claim that superstars force directors to indulge their real-life tobacco addiction and make it part of the characters they portray. If A-list actors really have such power, they could also use it to reduce on-screen smoking, especially in youth-rated projects. But not one has publicly dared.

And what about the 120,000 other members of the Screen Actors Guild, struggling to find work and build careers? When they land a role, they cannot afford to be remembered as difficult. There are too many other hopefuls standing in line. They lack the clout to force directors to let them smoke. Nor can they easily protect their own health (and their young audience's) by refusing to smoke.

Actors shape young audiences. Can they help reform the film industry?

We highlight actors because they measurably shape young people’s feelings and behavior. Kids hungry for young adult models find them in movies. In fact, researchers find that teens whose favorite actors smoke on screen are sixteen times more likely to think positively about smoking — a strong predictor that they will start smoking themselves.

Between 2004 and 2007, some 750 “credited” actors used tobacco in more than 440 films shown in U.S. theaters. Some are first-rank stars, others are established character actors, more are newcomers who will do almost anything to get hired. In all, about 120 actors smoked in two or more films. The thirty actors listed below smoked in more movies than all other actors.

Of the tobacco performances listed below, 42 percent were youth-rated. How many of these thirty actors do you recognize? Only two smoked in all their roles — so it can’t be that actors “demand” to smoke, as studios have claimed. How many actors really have the leverage to decline to smoke on screen? And how many could help change Hollywood — if they acted together?

[Rockerforlife]

Film is better than any commercial that has been run on television or in any magazine, because the audience is totally unaware of any sponsor involvement."


http://www.smokefreemovies.ucsf.edu/problem/bigtobacco.html

[Rockerforlife]

Ya but have you noticed most flicks have smoking...its all a scam

[meakea]

Yes, I agree it's about money but I also think it's about showing a certain frame of mind...such as a high stress situation.  If someone is playing the part of a super-stressed out person - what better way to help portray that than with a cig and booze?

[FlGuy]

Product placement is more than just tobacco and alcohol. All sorts of products are placed.  Most notorious is any 007 film.

[Rockerforlife]

That is the only reason....no other

[Rockerforlife]

The cigarette and alchol compaines pay the movie stare big bucks to use thier products on screen ...it make it look ok to smoke and drink then...its all about money

[FlGuy]

I'm thinking sex.  But, I suppose it depends on the type of movies you frequent.