Photos from the recent Reality Check Event in Hamilton.
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Reality Check protests smoking in movies
By:LEAH McDONALD, Dispatch Staff Writer
03/26/2008
HAMILTON - It was a gala event Friday as students from all over Madison County gathered for the premiere of "Drillbit Taylor," dressing for the occasion with dresses, suits and gas masks.
Members of Reality Check converged on the Hamilton Movie Theater to speak out against smoking in movies and how the current ratings system considers the act when rating films.
"People are blindly accepting smoking in movies because they don't know the facts," said Kirkville student Jenn Marriott, 16, one of three speakers who addressed the crowd of teens at the theater. "They don't know that Hollywood is responsible for getting 52 percent of new teen smokers hooked on a product that kills 1,200 Americans daily. By not knowing these facts, people are allowing two of the most powerful and influential industries to team up in order to promote big tobacco's highly addictive and deadly product."
Last year, the ratings board said it would consider rating movies with smoking as PG-13, the kids explained. They chose "Drillbit Taylor" because it is a PG-13 release.
"What we don't know is if it has smoking in it," said Chittenango student Monica Brooks, 16. "We don't know because the current rating system of the MPAA doesn't value us enough to give smoking in movies the rating it deserves - an 'R'."
Reality Check coordinator Heather Bernet said the students decided on the premiere as a fun way to draw attention to their cause, contacting the theater and setting up a demonstration outside with fellow members dressed in gas masks and radiation suits urging onlookers to stop smoking.
As part of their campaign, they encourage people to write to movie producers and companies about the impact tobacco use has on children who watch films, as well as raise awareness in Madison County of the influence tobacco and movie industries have on youth who are constantly inundated with positive images of smoking.
Reality Check's goal is to have at least 200 letters by March 31 and 400 by April 21.
"I think it's time for the public to step up and accept change," Marriott said.
Those interested in writing letters can address them either to Jeffrey Katzenberg, Chief Executive of Dreamworks Animation SKG, or Dan Glickman, president of the Motion Picture Association of America, and submit them to Heather Bernet at 3059 Seneca Turnpike, Canastota, NY 13032.
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Reality Check is a youth led movement against the manipulative marketing tactics of the tobacco industry. Teens here in Madison County and in every single county are a part of this statewide movement. There are over 18,000 members across the state and this number is growing.
Reality Check believes that teenagers are targeted by the tobacco industry. Why do we believe this?
We have proof!
For example Philip Morris (the largest tobacco company in the United States) stated in a 1981 market research report on young smokers that:
“It is important to know as much as possible about teenage smoking patterns and attitudes. Today’s Teenager is tomorrow’s potential regular customer..”
and here’s another from RJ Reynolds, (the second largest tobacco company in the United States) in a 1986 RJR letter, “Camel New Advertising Campaign Development”
“Camel advertising will create the perception that Camel smokers are non-conformist, self-confident and project a cool attitude, which is admired by their peers.”
And the result of the use of “Joe Camel Campaign”:
Their Sales increased by 6,000% when they created this “cool” cartoon camel.
These are just a couple of the many statements we have found in the internal documents of major tobacco companies. So, we believe what we believe because it is the truth!
So your probably saying; “So what, they are just marketing their product like any other company, and hey they have that right!” The problem is that there is absolutely no other legally marketed product out there that when used as intended will cause death and disease. Tobacco use kills more people than ANYTHING ELSE! In fact it kills more than 400,000 Americans a year. That’s almost 25,000 New Yorkers, alone.
We, Reality Check are a movement of youth that have had enough, and want to tell the tobacco industry that “WE WON”T BE BOUGHT!”
Now the question is WILL YOU?
Go to www.realitycheckny.com and find out more about Reality Check, our youth action projects and about Big Tobacco and how you can join the fight against them.
Reality Check members attend rally
Reality Check is a youth led movement against the manipulative marketing tactics of the tobacco industry. Teens here in Madison County and in every single county are a part of this statewide movement. There are over 18,000 members across the state and this number is growing.
Reality Check Calendar:
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Reality Check: Madison County's Calendar |
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Tobacco Industry Awareness Events at Stockbridge Valley |
@ Stockbridge Valley Central School |
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Regional Reality Check Leaders Summit
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@ Adventure Center |
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Hamilton Area Reality Check Meeting |
@ Colgate Bookstore 3rd Floor |
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Turn Off the TV Week |
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World No Tobacco Day |
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Relay For Life - Oneida High School |
@ Oneida High School Track |
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Check out Reality Check's Myspace Page at: http://www.myspace.com/realitycheckrocks
WE ARE LOOKING FOR YOUTH LEADERS!!! PLEASE CONTACT US IF YOU OR SOMEONE YOU KNOW WOULD BE INTERESTED! There are opportunities like no other, youth have traveled to other states to train other youth on Reality Check and the various initiatives we have in our state! Don't miss out on this opportunity to change your community, your country, and your world! You CAN make a difference!
