Why do movie stars smoke on camera? Actors get paid to smoke in the movies. Moviemakers have even been paid by tobacco companies to use certain brands in movies.
Remember those are big bucks behind those little butts! Smoking in the movies has been just another form of advertising.
Leading Hollywood actors John Travolta, Leonardo DiCaprio, Sharon Stone and Julia Roberts have been accused of encouraging young people to take up smoking by lighting up on screen. Research published in the British Tobacco Control journal found United States students aged 10 to 19 whose favourite stars smoked on screen were more likely to smoke than those whose favorite stars never smoked in movies.
Four US cigarette brands accounted for 80% of brand appearances." Finally, the authors find: "The most highly advertised US cigarette brands account for most brand appearances, which suggests an advertising motive to this practice."
Besides deals with producers and studios, once-secret documents show that tobacco companies have paid to have actors smoke or to show cigarette and cigar logos. They have delivered free cigarettes and cigars, even cigarette machines, to have them used in movies. Less obviously, they have encouraged production designers and prop people to set out cigarettes and other smoking paraphenalia. They have even paid for movie crew jackets, rather than paying a producer directly.
[B]My Milage:[/B]
[B]My Quit Date: [/B]1/21/2007
[B]Smoke-Free Days:[/B] 126
[B]Cigarettes Not Smoked:[/B] 2,520
[B]Amount Saved:[/B] $563.22
[B]Life Gained:[/B]
[B]Days:[/B] 16 [B]Hrs:[/B] 15 [B]Mins:[/B] 39 [B]Seconds:[/B] 18
