TRIGGER FILMS

Format: 16mm

Description: This series of anti-alcohol abuse shorts are from a series called "Trigger Films for Health". They were produced by the University of Michigan Television Center, directed by William LaCrosse, and supported by the National Institute of Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA). The concept behind these non-traditional films was to promote discussion among the subjects who watched them. The films emphasize the motivations of drug behavior and do not overwhelm with facts or precautionary examples. The films instead looked a topics such as peer pressure in an oblique way, so as to allow discussion to foment. It's not clear how successful these films were in practice. (0:30) "Six Cans, Count ‘Em" – Opens with a close-up of six Schlitz beer cans and a hand counting them. Another hand comes in and affectionately places itself on the hand counting. The male voice in the commercial appears to equate drinking prowess and the ability to hold one's alcohol with masculinity. (1:55) "The Toast" – Close-up of a hand opening a wine bottle and pouring the wine into glasses. One hand blocks the wine from being poured into their glass. They all do a toast and one glass pours some of their wine into the empty one. The film raises the question, how can a non-conformist or non-drinker gracefully face a situation where alcohol is served? (3:23) "The Game" – Teenagers play basketball. One teen holding a book watches the game. The players take a break and pull out a cold beer. The teen watching comes up and asks for some, but the older boys don't let him drink. The film raises questions about peer pressure, and the privilege of age and consumption of alcohol. (5:00) "Main Street" – A crushed can is kicked around by a teenager on the sidewalk. He looks into a storefront and continues kicking the can but stops to peek into the window of a bar. The film looks at drinking as a social activity, and opens up questions of environmental influence when it comes to problem drinking. (7:14) "The Buddies" – An anonymous kid holds a wine bottle and shows it off to his friends. He dares his friends to try it.

Complete Record: This series of anti-alcohol abuse shorts are from a series called "Trigger Films for Health". They were produced by the University of Michigan Television Center, directed by William LaCrosse, and supported by the National Institute of Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA). The concept behind these non-traditional films was to promote discussion among the subjects who watched them. The films emphasize the motivations of drug behavior and do not overwhelm with facts or precautionary examples. The films instead looked a topics such as peer pressure in an oblique way, so as to allow discussion to foment. It's not clear how successful these films were in practice. (0:30) "Six Cans, Count ‘Em" – Opens with a close-up of six Schlitz beer cans and a hand counting them. Another hand comes in and affectionately places itself on the hand counting. The male voice in the commercial appears to equate drinking prowess and the ability to hold one's alcohol with masculinity. (1:55) "The Toast" – Close-up of a hand opening a wine bottle and pouring the wine into glasses. One hand blocks the wine from being poured into their glass. They all do a toast and one glass pours some of their wine into the empty one. The film raises the question, how can a non-conformist or non-drinker gracefully face a situation where alcohol is served? (3:23) "The Game" – Teenagers play basketball. One teen holding a book watches the game. The players take a break and pull out a cold beer. The teen watching comes up and asks for some, but the older boys don't let him drink. The film raises questions about peer pressure, and the privilege of age and consumption of alcohol. (5:00) "Main Street" – A crushed can is kicked around by a teenager on the sidewalk. He looks into a storefront and continues kicking the can but stops to peek into the window of a bar. The film looks at drinking as a social activity, and opens up questions of environmental influence when it comes to problem drinking. (7:14) "The Buddies" – An anonymous kid holds a wine bottle and shows it off to his friends. He dares his friends to try it.