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This moralistic short film from 1974 called “It’s My Hobby” tells a fictional tale of a student’s equivocations over potentially “busting” his friend for illegally selling pills to young people (students). The initial scripted story (0:11–7:14) is followed by a direct moral call to action for viewers.
Film opens with title sequence: “It’s My Hobby” (0:11–0:38). High schoolers walk around school campus. Two teenage boys (“Ed” and “Scott”) chat about playing ball while holding books, walk together to parking lot. Ed opens trunk of car to place books but finds drugs (pills) instead (1:18). Scott returns from front seat, saying it’s his “hobby;” they discuss. On a patio with plants, the two sit down with beer cans (1:56) and chat. They discuss dealing, selling, buying, kinds of drugs, justifications (footage = back-and-forth shots of Ed / Scott in conversation). Scott is selling to other students (“I sell to anyone who’s got the money…it doesn’t concern you”). Ed takes swig of beer in stunned silence (3:15). Ed and friend (“Bobby”) approach lockers, deposit their books, take out lunch bags (3:22). The two teenagers sit on a campus bench and eat, with other students similarly hanging out in the background. Bobby eats a sandwich, Ed drinks Coca-Cola. They discuss (lack of) responsibility to turn a drug dealer in (“I don’t know what to do,” “well, be cool, whatever you do—be cool”) and then continue lunch (3:22– 4:46). New scene: Ed is in passenger seat next to friend (“Barbara”) in driver’s seat (viewed through passenger’s side window). The two discuss responsibilities towards Scott’s drug dealing habit (“I don’t think you can bust him…I think you should just forget it…well, bust him, but don’t expect people to like you for it!…people don’t like a guy who would bust a friend”). Barbara looks at him sternly, and Ed shakes his head (4:46–5:46). Ed and Scott walk across campus with books, both wearing denim shirts. They sit underneath a staircase during passing period. Scott raises the drug dealing topic in conversation: “You shouldn’t be doing it man, it’s wrong…I’m asking you to quit dealing.” “And if I don’t, what are you gonna do about it?... What are you, some kind of boy scout!?” They raise their voices while arguing (6:35). Scott storms off (6:59). Long closeup shot of Ed looking down sadly (this scene: 5:46–7:11). Words appear on black screen: “Beau Bridges for CRM Films” (7:14). A man (Beau) wearing denim shirt with smoothed mullet hair and green eyes in a living room lectures on “social responsibility” pertaining to previous story and drug use more generally. The setting includes plants, pictures on wall, and desk in background. He sits on cushioned chair in well-furnished living room including large 1970s rug. He philosophizes: “Social responsibility, or what he owes to the society he lives in, demands that Ed somehow stop Scott from dealing to kids, but personal loyalty, what he owes to a friend, demands that he do nothing.” Beau gestures with his hands and leans forward in the chair. Camera starts zooming in on him while his lecture continues (8:15). “The kind of pressure they put on him is very hard to resist…what would you do?” Shot zooms dramatically to just Beau’s face. Starting at 8:41, he tells story of a pursuit, assault, and stabbing of a woman in New York City (“she called for help, but no one did anything or summoned police…what reasons might people have in a situation like that for not trying to help?”). He cocks his head. He asks a series of philosophical / rhetorical questions about enabling drug culture.
End with credits sequence (9:38–9:57): Film by Tom Lazaraus; with William K. Cullen as Ed; Steven Richmond as Scott; Ty Henderson as Bobby; Margaret Hillock as Barbara; and Beau Bridges (as interlocutor).
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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
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