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April 8, 2002
Representatives from the media are invited to attend Hawaii’s
fourth "Hackacademy Awards" to be held
Wednesday, April 10, 2002 at 9:30 a.m
at the Ward Theatre Complex.
Teenagers from high schools on O’ahu will be presenting Thumbs Up!" or Thumbs Down!"awards at the event for Hollywood
portrayals of smoking in its top movies.
Throughout the past year students participated in the "Thumbs Up! Thumbs Down! Project" by viewing the
movies nominated for academy awards. "Thumbs
Down!" were given to movies that included and glamorized
smoking, while "Thumbs Up!" were given
to movies that contained no smoking, or anti-smoking messages. Students
shared the information they gathered in their classes and wrote
articles in school newspapers.
As part of the project students observed the extent and type of
tobacco use; who used tobacco; specific brands shown; perceived
messages of tobacco use; special situations of tobacco use; and
anti-tobacco messages displayed.
The entertainment industry can play a significant role in
influencing young people in terms of tobacco use..both positively and
negatively. When an actor or actress lights up or objects to tobacco
use on screen, millions of young people in theatres across the nation
and around the world receive the message.
According to a new study by Professor Stanton Glanz of the
University of California, the rate of smoking in today’s movies
has returned to what it was 40 years ago, meaning someone on screen
lights up once every five minutes. And of those smoking scenes, 35
percent were rated PG-13.
Six of this year’s Oscar contenders, from "Black Hawk Down" to
"Monsters Ball," feature tobacco use by performers on screen.
The "Thumbs Up!" Thumbs Down !" Project was a collaboration between
the Department of Health’s Tobacco Prevention and Education
Program, Consolidated Theatres, the Coalition for A Tobacco Free
Hawai’i and the Department of Education. The schools that
participated were Campbell High School, Castle High School, Iolani
School, Waianae High School and Waipahu High School. The purpose of the
project was to increase awareness about the impact on young people of
tobacco use in movies, videos, and TV.
For more information, call the Tobacco Prevention and Education
Program at 586-4613.
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