In a first for the industry, the Walt Disney Co. (DIS) became the first Hollywood studio to ban smoking as a prop in their films. On Wednesday they announced from now on it wouldn't be allowed in any film that was branded as Disney.
For their Miramax and Touchstone labels, they're discouraging but not forbidding it in the films.
There is also an effort by Disney CEO Robert Iger to talk theater owners into including public service announcements against smoking before any film that features it in the story.
Iger was quick to add that "cigarette smoking is a unique problem and this PSA effort is not a precedent for any other issue."
In a letter to U.S. Rep. Edward Markey, Iger added Disney would include smoking warnings on any DVDs from films created from now into the future.
Independent film production company The Weinstein Co. is already using public service announcements by nonprofit organzation American Legacy before films depicting smoking.
I believe Universal already implemented a similar policy in April; Disney just made a bigger deal about it.
Posted by: Erik | July 25, 2007 10:54 PM | Permalink to Comment