You may have not noticed it but there are an increasing number of films made where leading characters smoke. Thats right they light up more than ever before. With the increasing cost of making a film around $100 million, Hollywood is looking to outside finances to cover the bill. Who better than the big tobacco companies. So instead of an entertaining film with social value what you are really getting is a big budget cigarette commercial.

According to a recent report which stated Statistics from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention indicate that tobacco use remains the leading preventable cause of death in the United States, causing approximately 440,000 premature deaths each year and resulting in an annual cost of more than $75 billion in direct medical costs. What really disturbs me most is how Hollywood is secreting pushing this agenda. What agenda is that? Drug distribution of course. In fact Nicotine, the main ingredient in cigarettes, is one of the most heavily used addictive drugs in the United States. Even more addictive than crack cocaine! It is no secret then that Hollywood is becoming one of the leading drug pushers in the world! If what I am saying sounds absurd then do your research. You simply cannot justify a character in a film lighting up in every other scene. Rent Johnny Depps The Ninth Gate and just count how many times he lights a cigarette. Or Rent Nicolas Cages Matchstick Men and youll see that practically every scene has him smoking a cigarette. It is well documented how films can influence the subsconious mind. And the most powerful way to do this is through the use of subliminal images. In others words, cigarette ads disguised as major motion pictures.

This is nothing new as Hollywood has been pushing drug use for years. However, now they have stepped up their efforts because they need the big tobacco companies money to finance the ever increasing out of control budgets. And of course some but not all, well-known stars are going along with this clandestine operation. Think about it. If you are in a $100 million dollar film rested assured your piece of that pie is going to be substantial. And if I told you that all you had to do is light up every other scene you would have no problem. Never mind the fact that you are helping to promote and distribute a product that is killing millions of people globally. This is where it stops being art and starts becoming something more sinister. Unfortunately, I dont have enough space to go over the actual subliminal techniques they use to get you addicted to cigarettes but here are just a few:

1. Showing close-ups of characters lighting up.

2. Using special sound effects of the puffs taken to demonstrate how it relaxes the character in tense situations.

3. Creating heroic characters that smoke to associate heroism with taking a cool puff.

4. Having the character light up many times throughout the film which creates a hypnotic effect. Through repetition your subconscious mind gets programmed.

5. Using special lighting effects which create a hunger or urge for the cigarette.

Now keep in mind that this is all done without your awareness of what is going on. But please dont take my word for it. Go out there and do your homework. The next time you are watching a film ask yourself if it is necessary that the character smoke? Then count how many scenes and films youve seen where these characters obsessively light up. Understand that if you have to make a career out of acting then this is an issue you most certainly will face. Every artist at some point must chose between what they feel is right and what someone asks them to do for the sake of money. For me as a filmmaker the answer it clear. I am not a drug pusher. Here is just a short list of some films that showcase principle characters smoking: Poseidon, Sin City, X-Men 2, Matchstick Men, The Ninth Gate, Secret Window, Domino, The Core, JFK and many more.

One of the ways to stop this practice is for Hollywood to decrease its motion picture budgets. Right now they are out of control. The more these budgets increase the more apt Hollywood will be to seek additional funds from advertisers and product placements. A good film is about story and not necessarily special effects and big name stars. In the end it will be up to the audience members to make a statement with their ticket purchases. But if not then it will rest upon the individual artists to take a stand against the machine. Organizations like the RKA Cinema Society are dedicated to exposing these films and their practices. But not many in the industry wish to talk about this subject. Only time will tell which of us has our fans health and best interests in mind.