It's February again, and this year is not a Leap Year; there will only be 28 days. I need that extra day! Once again, I'll need to be inventive about such things (a day stretcher perhaps). I still love the month because it is romantic (I am the one who is hopelessly romantic or is it romantically hopeless, I forget or maybe I never knew?). My Mother was born in February and my Sister, Sally, was born on Valentine's Day! I am the only person who has more heart stuff than she does! One year, I even decorated my Christmas Tree in nothing but hearts. If it wasn't a heart, it didn't go on the tree. I'm over that now, but the sentiment remains. Hearts and flowers, forever, I say.

February is always a standout month for Imagine because of LOCATIONS GLOBAL EXPO 2001 and AFM, both in Los Angeles. Imagine goes to both of these events, and so do I, along with representatives from over 350 film offices from cities and countries all around the world. The collective mission is to hawk locations, resources and "dealmaking capabilities" with producers, directors, location scouts, and the like who attend looking for exactly the right "everything" for their next film/video project. Imagine works hard to support the New England film offices, and the unique locations, resources, talent, and technology that is available in this still mostly undiscovered region. This issue is dedicated to encouraging the world to bring their projects to New England and to the creation of IVYWOOD, our region's own brand of filmmaking that most likely won't cost as much or be as predictable as those films coming from HOLLYWOOD. You'll see a beautiful location shots in this issue.

Now here's an interesting segue from Valentine's Day, filmmaking development, through affairs of the heart (a healthy one that is) to this industry issue that has been examined for us and that we need to ponder. Smoking still remains prevalent in movies even though tobacco companies agreed to stop paying filmmakers to feature their brands more than a decade ago, according to a new study. Tobacco use was depicted in nearly 85% of the top 25 highest-grossing movies released each year from 1988 to 1997, Dartmouth Medical School researchers said last month.

"I think we show that the ban had no impact on what is essentially cigarette advertising in the movies," said study co-author Madeline Dalton, a professor of nutrition and public health at the college. In 1989, tobacco companies voluntarily agreed to halt movie product-placement after Congress questioned whether the practice violated advertising regulations. Evidence had surfaced that Philip Morris paid to promote tobacco products in "Superman II" and the James Bond movie "License To Kill," which later agreed to post a tobacco warning in its credits.

Tobacco use was featured in about 92% of the top 25 films released in 1988, the year before the ban, Dr. Jim Sargent, lead author of the study, said. The percentage plunged to 80% in 1989 but skyrocketed to 96% in 1990, he said. Despite dips to 80% in 1991 and 1995, smoking has otherwise wavered between 88% and 92% in the top 25 movies each year, he said. The Dartmouth review of a 10-year span of films does not supply evidence that tobacco companies are continuing product placement, Dalton said. More likely, Dalton said, smoking in films remains prevalent because "it's an easy way for a director or actor to make a quick statement about a character."

This important food for thought could produce a good industry debate/panel discussion. Is there a forum for that around here?

I did notice this month that "food" is being rather loosely tossed around. Congratulations to director Bob Colman, who was pelted with broccoli when he stepped on the stage after the successful screening of his film, FOLLOW THE BROCCOLI, at the MFA. It was a great laughing crowd that included much of the films' cast and crew and quite a few food hurlers.

Our Valentine Sampler this month doesn't contain chocolate (darn), but it does contain a good sampling of the stellar production companies in New England. We hope you enjoy it. Next month Imagine will focus on New England Directors and bring you our Sundance Film Festival reports. Watch for it as it promises to brim with excitement.

Happy Valentine's Day to Everyone!