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Change The Scene Take Action! Here are some suggestions below for ways you can help. |
 What You Can Do To Make A Difference!
Sign Our Guestbook... Become A Guest Reviewer! Write Letters... Have your youth/parent groups circulate a petition and gather signatures in support of a change in the rating system. Send the petitions with a cover letter to Dan Glickman at the MPAA. A sample petition can be found here: Sample Petition. Write letters to Actors and studios. Using the samples we've created, you can let the entertainment industry know how you feel about tobacco depiction in movies. Using our Studio Contact List, you can mail your letter to the studio directly. To find the studio that produced a specific movie, use the Archive page. Don’t forget to send letters of recognition to those who convey an anti-tobacco message to encourage and congratulate their efforts
Host local based media events around the time of the Oscars or World No Tobacco Day. During your event acknowledge movies that have no depiction of tobacco or that offer anti-tobacco statements as well as to make reference to those that depict pro-tobacco messages. Call for a change in the ratings system. Contact your local movie critics and ask that they write articles on tobacco use in the movies. Refer these critics to this website at www.scenesmoking.org for current data related to tobacco use in the movies. Place ads in publications that are read by the entertainment industry, parents or other concerned groups. Community Activities...  Work with the theaters in your community to run anti-tobacco slides before movies. Research has shown that anti-tobacco messages seen prior to seeing tobacco depiction on screen can have an innoculative effect. Previously, STARS created a movie-theater slide public service announcement. This slide was shown in theaters throughout California to promote awareness of the issue prior to audiences viewing movies. While this was a statewide effort, there are ways individuals can promote awareness regarding tobacco use in the entertainment industry. Tobacco depictions in film are not just present in the theater. Those depictions are seen over and over again once films reach video. Work with your local video store or chain to hold a press event asking for anti-tobacco messages to be placed before videos and in the store. Ask your local theater group, film classes, high school band, etc. to sign a smoke-free pledge. As the stars of tomorrow they can shape entertainment productions for years to come. A sample pledge can be found here: link to smokefree pledge.doc Hold a press or educational event at your local theater. Run anti-tobacco slides before films, place posters and other displays in lobbies, or gather signatures for petitions.
Request a copy of “Scene Smoking” and its accompanying curriculum from the CDC by going to http://www.cdc.gov/tobacco/celebrities/scenesmoking.htm. This hour-long video and accompanying guides for facilitators suggest activities to promote critical thinking and discussion to be used with high school and college students Visit http://www.scenesmoking.org/ regularly to learn more about the issue, share opinions and get the latest data on tobacco in current films. Be sure to check out the engaging discussion threads listed on our message board.
Encourage others to watch what they are watching. As a young person, talk with your friends about tobacco use in the movies and on TV. As a family, discuss the difference between the portrayal and reality of tobacco use. Although a beautiful celebrity may light up on a screen, the consequences of smoking are stunning in a completely different sense. Tobacco use is addictive and is a bad breath, yellow teeth, disease and death causing practice. If tobacco use is portrayed as a fun, celebrated activity, remember that studies show that smokers lose seven minutes off of their life every time they smoke a cigarette. In some movies, a character may be portrayed as a "cool", wealthy, or powerful individual with the assistance of a cigar or cigarette prop. In truth, it is hard to be "cool" or powerful when you are battling emphysema, a disease primarily caused by cigarette smoking. This disease attacks lung tissue and makes breathing difficult - not a very powerful prospect. COMING SOON! - In the coming months, we’ll be completing an on-line version of our popular training manual. Come back soon and you’ll be able to complete a self-paced training so that you can teach the TUTD methodology. BE CREATIVE!
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