Disney-branded films to ban depictions of smoking
07-25-07, 01:40 PM
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Disney-branded films to ban depictions of smoking
http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20070725/...y_smoking_dc_3
Since most depictions of smoking in movies does nothing to enhance the movie, I think this is a great move.
Chris
1 hour, 30 minutes ago
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Walt Disney Co. on Wednesday became the first major Hollywood studio to ban depictions of smoking, saying there would be no smoking in its family-oriented, Disney-branded films and it would "discourage" it in films distributed by its Touchstone and Miramax labels.
Disney Chief Executive Robert Iger also said in a letter to U.S. Rep. Edward Markey, whose committee last month held hearings on the effects of movie images on children, that the studio would place anti-smoking public service announcements on DVDs of any future films that feature cigarette smoking.
He said the company would encourage theater owners to show screen anti-smoking public service announcements, or PSAs, before such films.
Iger cautioned, however, that "cigarette smoking is a unique problem and this PSA effort is not a precedent for any other issue."
Markey described Disney's commitment as "groundbreaking" and urged other studios to follow suit.
Dr. Cheryl Healton, president and CEO of the American Legacy Foundation, commended Disney's move but said the studio left "some ambiguity about what would happen in relation to Touchstone and Miramax."
Research cited by American Legacy, a nonprofit created out of landmark litigation between the tobacco industry and states attorneys general, shows that 90 percent of all films depict smoking and children with the highest exposure to smoking in movies were nearly three times more likely to start smoking.
Tobacco is featured in three-quarters of G, PG and PG-13 rated movies and 90 percent of R-rated movies, the studies showed.
The independent Weinstein Co. already is using PSAs produced by American Legacy ahead of its films that depict smoking, Healton said.
(Reporting by Gina Keating)
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Walt Disney Co. on Wednesday became the first major Hollywood studio to ban depictions of smoking, saying there would be no smoking in its family-oriented, Disney-branded films and it would "discourage" it in films distributed by its Touchstone and Miramax labels.
Disney Chief Executive Robert Iger also said in a letter to U.S. Rep. Edward Markey, whose committee last month held hearings on the effects of movie images on children, that the studio would place anti-smoking public service announcements on DVDs of any future films that feature cigarette smoking.
He said the company would encourage theater owners to show screen anti-smoking public service announcements, or PSAs, before such films.
Iger cautioned, however, that "cigarette smoking is a unique problem and this PSA effort is not a precedent for any other issue."
Markey described Disney's commitment as "groundbreaking" and urged other studios to follow suit.
Dr. Cheryl Healton, president and CEO of the American Legacy Foundation, commended Disney's move but said the studio left "some ambiguity about what would happen in relation to Touchstone and Miramax."
Research cited by American Legacy, a nonprofit created out of landmark litigation between the tobacco industry and states attorneys general, shows that 90 percent of all films depict smoking and children with the highest exposure to smoking in movies were nearly three times more likely to start smoking.
Tobacco is featured in three-quarters of G, PG and PG-13 rated movies and 90 percent of R-rated movies, the studies showed.
The independent Weinstein Co. already is using PSAs produced by American Legacy ahead of its films that depict smoking, Healton said.
(Reporting by Gina Keating)
Since most depictions of smoking in movies does nothing to enhance the movie, I think this is a great move.
Chris
07-25-07, 02:07 PM
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Its fine. Showing people smoke doesn't have anything to do with the movie. If a private company wants to stop showing it, they should. If there's going to be a backlash, the box office will give them the message.
07-25-07, 02:46 PM
#7
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Originally Posted by bhk
Showing people smoke doesn't have anything to do with the movie.
Edit: I should note I'm referring to the Touchstone/Miramax titles and not the Disney/Pixar branded ones.
Last edited by DRG; 07-25-07 at 04:28 PM.
07-25-07, 04:29 PM
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To do otherwise would be like having gang members who don't cuss, or having a frat party scene where everyone is chugging colas.
07-25-07, 04:40 PM
#11
Originally Posted by Seantn
And how many cussing gang members or beer chugging frat parties have we seen in Family oriented Disney films up to this point?
07-25-07, 05:08 PM
#12
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I actually think this is a bit stupid. I guess it makes sense with Disney films though as long as it doesn't spill over into other films.
I wonder what Harvey thinks about this? I guess Silent Bob's going to have to stop smoking.
I wonder what Harvey thinks about this? I guess Silent Bob's going to have to stop smoking.
07-25-07, 05:22 PM
#14
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Originally Posted by RagingBull80
I wonder what Harvey thinks about this? I guess Silent Bob's going to have to stop smoking.
07-25-07, 05:23 PM
#15
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Originally Posted by RagingBull80
I actually think this is a bit stupid. I guess it makes sense with Disney films though as long as it doesn't spill over into other films.
I wonder what Harvey thinks about this? I guess Silent Bob's going to have to stop smoking.
I wonder what Harvey thinks about this? I guess Silent Bob's going to have to stop smoking.
07-25-07, 05:31 PM
#17
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I guess the news doesn't bother me as long s Disney doesn't go back and remove smoking references in their older titles.
Hopefully their Touchstone and Miramax releases won't be too affected by the decision.
I'm not a fan of smoking and anything that discourages the practice is OK in my book. Of course, if a child starts smoking because he/she saw Captain Jack do it, then they have bigger problems than cigarettes.
Hopefully their Touchstone and Miramax releases won't be too affected by the decision.
I'm not a fan of smoking and anything that discourages the practice is OK in my book. Of course, if a child starts smoking because he/she saw Captain Jack do it, then they have bigger problems than cigarettes.
07-25-07, 05:32 PM
#18
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Is everyone just skipping over the first part of the article? :
Walt Disney Co. on Wednesday became the first major Hollywood studio to ban depictions of smoking, saying there would be no smoking in its family-oriented, Disney-branded films and it would "discourage" it in films distributed by its Touchstone and Miramax labels.
--------------------------------------
It doesn't say that they're forcing all movies to stop smoking. Only the family oriented Disney ones that probably wouldn't have had smoking in the first place.
Walt Disney Co. on Wednesday became the first major Hollywood studio to ban depictions of smoking, saying there would be no smoking in its family-oriented, Disney-branded films and it would "discourage" it in films distributed by its Touchstone and Miramax labels.
--------------------------------------
It doesn't say that they're forcing all movies to stop smoking. Only the family oriented Disney ones that probably wouldn't have had smoking in the first place.
07-25-07, 05:42 PM
#19
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Originally Posted by Seantn
Is everyone just skipping over the first part of the article? :
Walt Disney Co. on Wednesday became the first major Hollywood studio to ban depictions of smoking, saying there would be no smoking in its family-oriented, Disney-branded films and it would "discourage" it in films distributed by its Touchstone and Miramax labels.
--------------------------------------
It doesn't say that they're forcing all movies to stop smoking. Only the family oriented Disney ones that probably wouldn't have had smoking in the first place.
Walt Disney Co. on Wednesday became the first major Hollywood studio to ban depictions of smoking, saying there would be no smoking in its family-oriented, Disney-branded films and it would "discourage" it in films distributed by its Touchstone and Miramax labels.
--------------------------------------
It doesn't say that they're forcing all movies to stop smoking. Only the family oriented Disney ones that probably wouldn't have had smoking in the first place.
Still, I'm not sure I see the point in putting a PSA in front of a film like Gangs of New York discouraging all the kiddies watching from smoking.
07-25-07, 08:34 PM
#20
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Originally Posted by Suprmallet
The Weinsteins no longer have any affiliation with Miramax, they've moved on and have started up The Weinstein Company. Clerks II was released through that company, and Kevin Smith has no plans of going back to Disney at the moment (nor does Tarantino, for that matter).
07-25-07, 09:28 PM
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This is nonsense! I think more kids are influenced by fighting in movies than smoking in movies. What little boy doesn't pretend he is Spiderman and falls down and hurts himself? Although I believe it does happen, kids smoking due to movies is FAR LESS!! So let's take out fight scenes!
07-26-07, 11:01 AM
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Originally Posted by GoldenJCJ
I'm not a fan of smoking and anything that discourages the practice is OK in my book.
07-26-07, 12:58 PM
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It might not seem like a big deal, but this is just another small step in the war to police everything that goes into a film. I'm not a smoker, but I realize there are people that smoke and that's their decision to make, not mine or a film's. If someone is that weak-minded that a film will influence them to smoke then enjoy being a mindless dolt, it doesn't bother me. I don't need to see people smoking in films, but it's going to seem pretty ridiculous when I see a character in a Disney/Miramax film that you know would be a smoker and instead they're chewing gum or sucking a lollipop.
