Film : Drug Film Culture - Case Study Example

Name: Tutor: Course: Date: Film Study I had initially assumed that a typical drug film culture has a lot of camera tricks. The tricks are meant to create virtual situations such as crime under the influence of drug and drug intake. Practically, a person acting in a drug film cannot take marijuana or cocaine just because he or she is playing a role of a drug addict. These drugs have serious consequences that someone may not dare try to use in the name of acting. However, I also assumed that the substances used when casting drug and inhabitation films are not real drugs. For instance, glucose can be used to represent cocaine while water used to represent alcohol. These assumptions almost appeared real until new developments emerged in the film industry where actual events were cast. In this new development, the films have real people using drugs for pleasure, trade and leisure. One may wonder how such is possible in movies when it is only meant for acting. Modern trends have embraced spying techniques to shoot videos. Hidden cameras have often been strategically positioned to capture real events related to drug culture and habituation. These images are then edited to suit the target audience with extraordinary scenes such as violent and pornographic scenes stripped off. In some instances, the modern development has also seen real victims being interviewed and screened while practicing their habits. However, the medical regulation of most states requires that the faces of such people be blurred to hide real identity. The screening has moved from fiction acting to real activity screening. The modern trend is often referred to as documentaries with many drug culture and habituation being screened for education and entertaining purposes. In the film ‘Highway to Hell: The Myth and Menace of Drugs in America Cinema,’ by Jack Stevenson has expressed how films play a role in showcasing myths to the modern generation. The concept of drug films has often been exploited due its profitability. Some films like the ‘Drug Menace’ that exposed the impact of drugs to include addiction, violence, sexual misbehaviour and exploitation. The first drug related film that was produced in America hit the cinema scenes in 1894. The film, ‘Opium Smokers,’ was used to bring to the public the effects of opium. The films included simple scenes of a man visiting a Den dominated by Chinese opium smokers; he took part in the smoking and later developed illusions. The films screened at around 1904 showed how drugs were shared in soft drinks and other foods. These were not documentaries but just acted movies created from imagination and creativity. To most of the viewers, these moves remained a myth since they were cast out of a person’s imagination. In addition, the substances used in the films as drugs are not real drugs. The idea somehow coincides with my initial assumption of the drug culture film and habituation. Drug use has been cast in several movies with powerhouses such as Hollywood cited as the major victims. Hollywood had established a brand of movies that had few moral lessons yet had a lot of money. The industry has proven to be good at creating illusion. Drug use and gambling were often depicted as attractive activities in Hollywood movies. The regulation to limit casting of such scenes presented a new dawn for the drug abuse related films. Several Hollywood stars have suffered the fate of drug addiction with the first ever casualty being Wallace Reid in 1923. His drug life and demise dared his wife to write a film known as ‘Human Wreckage.’ The film is written to include real life experiences and events that are related to drug use and the powerful cartels overseeing the drug circle. The film gained more prominence and later came to be used as the major lesson to the public. It has so far been established that the drug films were often written and produced by conducting research to add to imagination and creativity. Poor study would lead to false information like confusing the effects of hashish and opium. Most of the films screened in the past often included adult content that at times would make the audience perceive the drug addiction menace as an adorable ordeal. If the modern filming strategies were to be adopted, then case studies presented in the books; ‘the magic drink of the Amazon’ and ‘marijuana milpa’ would perfectly suit in casting the films. Case studies can be used to create good documentaries that can depict real activities for the sake of the public. The marijuana milpa by Steinberg is a book that documents how marijuana has been considered as an essential herb in Southern Belize. The residents do not consider marijuana as a drug capable of serious concerns. Residents consider marijuana as a cash crop just like any other crop. Technically, these ignorant peasant farmers create a huge obstacle to fights against drugs and other forms of narcotics. A nice filming can be made from such case studies and may contain more real and educative information for the audience. Another good filming can be created from the article ‘the magic drink of the Amazon.’ There is a crop from the South American continent that has proven to have serious intoxication abilities. The locals are also ignorant of the consequences derived from using the intoxicating plant. The crop is often referred to as vine of the soul since it is believed to have the capabilities creating an illusions I the minds of the users. The locals have a strong belief that the natural plants are a gift from the gods that creates a special link to the spiritual world. If this narration can be organized into a film, the two versions can apply, but one will definitely add more elusive ideas that the other. In shooting a documentary, the locals will be cast using the intoxicating plant. The use of the drug would be real as well as the effects of using the drug. However, illusions are never well brought out in documentaries. Acting then presents another form of filming where the people starring in the films are not resident. The use of the local intoxicating plant is also feigned, and the illusions are also faked. The audience can have an entertaining time to view these films but at the back of the mind will understand that it was a mere acting. It can be argued that documentaries have more influence when it comes to convincing the audience compared to the acted movies. Traffic is a movie that portrays drugs trafficking, its consequences and dangers involved. The movie also depicts strong anti-drug laws as the major factor increasing the cost and profitability of drugs (Ebert). It has been suggested that the movie developed from a previous casted Italian movie known as ‘traffik.’ The movie seems to create a negative impression on laws that brand substances illegal claiming that these laws relief merchants with trouble of advertising, tax, and regulatory formalities. Another movie, ‘the insider,’ has portrayed a tobacco scandal that includes powerful individuals within the legal system (Farabi). The sixty minutes thriller provides insight on how friendships can lead to serious trouble. The two films can be categorized under movies that depict the power of cartels in bending the law and gimmicking the legal system. In both, powerful individuals can be identified within the drug circle. The two movies portray a theme of manipulation, drug addiction and the power of drug business. The profitability of the drugs business is deemed as being financially upgrading and an issue of security concern. Works Cited Ebert, Roger. "Traffic." 2001. Movie Riview. 12 March 2016 . Farabi, Yasir. "The Insider." 2009. Synopsis fo the Insider. 12 March 2016 . Steinberg, Michael. "The Marijuan Milpa: Agricultural Adaptations in a Postsbsistence Maya LAndscape in Southern Belize." n.d. Stevenson, Jack. "Highway to Hell: The Myth and Menace of Drugs in American Cinema." n.d. "The Magic Drink of Amazon." n.d. Read More