While, as a society, we know smoking and vaping are very bad for our health, it is still glamorized in movies. UEHS junior Natalie Barrett
decided it was time to start changing that and she produced a :30-second video that placed first in the Broome/Tioga Tobacco-Free Coalition Statewide Reality Check Smoke-Free Movies Video Contest.
Natalie’s video highlights the need for the television and movie industry to change its ratings to R for any movies that show smoking and/or vaping. The objective of the contest, which was open to teens ages 13-18 across the state, was for the youth to create a short video that brings awareness to the manipulative tactics that the tobacco industry uses to normalize and glamorize tobacco use in the media.
Natalie accepted her award at the Reality Check’s Movie Event held at Cinema Saver where her video was played before the showing of “Ghostbusters: Afterlife.” Her video will be used across the state to support the Smoke-free Movies Initiative.
Reality Check works with teens in local schools to educate community members, and local and state leaders about best practices in youth tobacco prevention.
Natalie, who is also enrolled in the Broome-Tioga BOCES video production program, said, “It’s important that smoking and vaping are not glamorized. I hope this video will help to get the industry to change its ratings.”
Congratulations Natalie!