Made by 21st Cinetics and Billy Budd Films for the Morris County, Pennsylvania Division of Drug Control and Intervention, “Holy Smoke in Three Acts” is an unconventional anti-drug cartoon that was inspired by ideas put forth by students. The animation were created by R.J. Barcklow.

The short, three-act animated film presents two artists and examines how the world around them influences their artwork. Both of the artists are influenced by drugs, drug use and the anti-drug campaign. The first act (:56) shows the artwork of a young girl who creates based upon the world around her. Although she does not personally have an issue with drug use, she sees drugs everywhere (1:38) therefore she paints the various types on drugs in stack formation. Next to the stack of illicit drugs, she paints the side effects of using such drugs including abscess and brain damage (1:58). The second act shows an artist who is constantly bombarded with anti-drug slogans and threats (4:12). This campaign of threat of punishment combined with a rather rigid and machine-like world left the boy feeling trapped and frustrated (4:12). The two artists then decide to come together to create a world they believed to be better in the third act of the film (5:44). An image of positive words stacking atop one another demonstrates their idea of a world which no one might feel the need to escape (5:58).

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This film is part of the Periscope Film LLC archive, one of the largest historic military, transportation, and aviation stock footage collections in the USA. Entirely film backed, this material is available for licensing in 24p HD, 2k and 4k. For more information visit http://www.PeriscopeFilm.com