Screen Out! Project

Screen Out! Project

Health Promotion 2007

CMA Alliance 2007-08 Health Project: Screen-Out!

SCREEN-OUT!

From the AMA Alliance: The new Screen Out! Web site is now available online! Some of the features of the Web site include:

* Success Stories--This message board feature will allow members to submit stories about what they are doing in their local communities to promote Screen Out! Log on to share your ideas for the campaign and successes you have experienced working on Screen Out! in your local community.
* Toolkit--All documents in the Screen Out! toolkit will be available online. These documents can be customized and printed from your home computer. New organizational endorsement resources will also be available on the site.
* Online Petition--Add your signature to the online petition and encourage other members to add theirs. A paper copy of the petition can also be printed from the Web site.
* Screen Out! Announcements--Keep up-to-date on Screen Out! news by checking out the announcements section on the site.
* Customizable letters--Download and customize letters to the editor, endorsement letters and letters to the media studios from the Web site and print them from your home computer.
* Links to Helpful Web sites--Links to Web sites such as Scene It!, a site that lists movies featuring tobacco products, will be available on the Web site. Use these Web sites to keep up-to-date with the evidence behind the campaign and new movie releases that have tobacco imagery.

The Web site is an excellent tool that will allow members to plan more easily and implement Screen Out! activities in their local communities. Get the word out in your local Alliance newsletters by encouraging members to take advantage of this useful resource.

# Screen Out! Makes Progress in Hollywood

California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger announced on July 11, 2008, that the state will license strong anti-tobacco spots to four major Hollywood studios (Time Warner, Universal, Paramount and Sony), for placement on future DVDs of youth-rated movies with tobacco imagery. While The AMA Alliance applauds this initial step, it is also important to note that this policy fails to include running anti-smoking ads before all films (whether on DVD or in theaters) that include images of smoking.

Here are some stories written about this policy where the AMA Alliance was mentioned:

International Herald Tribune
Los Angeles Times
Variety Magazine

Unfortunately, this action is only one step on a longer road to doing the right thing. That is why the AMA Alliance--and with a broad array of partners--continue to demand that the ratings system be modernized to rate movies with smoking R. Doing so will cut youth exposure in half, preventing an estimated 200,000 kids from starting to smoke. Just a couple weeks ago, the latest of this summer's line of superheroes to appear on the silver screen, Hellboy II, was released as PG-13 yet it contained copious amounts of smoking by the leading heroic character.
Visit the Screen Out! Web site regularly at www.screenout.org to view the latest news and resource updates!

Additional references:

Letter to send to movie executives- Sample.

Contact CMA Alliance