At least in the United States, smoking is something fewer and fewer people take up these days. This obviously wasnā€™t the case back in the 50ā€™s through the 80ā€™s, where cigarettes were commonly smoked out in public.

So whenever I see a period movie or show, filmed in the 2020ā€™s but taking place in the 60ā€™s, thereā€™s frequent scenes where characters are smoking cigarettes in a bar or stress-smoking to the filter after a stressful conversation. And I think to myself, ā€œare these actors all smokers? In this day and age? Or is that an unlit prop ciggy with VFX smoke done in post?ā€

Are fake cigarettes common in film production now, or are these still typically the real deal?

12 points
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Just in case someone important reads this:

I really wish movie makers would drop the ā€˜smoking is {cool,badass,ā€¦whatever} trope.ā€™ Iā€™m happy whenever I find that a whole cast never touches a cigarett on camera (think, How I Met Your Mother or The Big Bang Theory)

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9 points

In my experience it usually means ā€œthis is the bad guyā€ nowadays, rather than ā€œthis guy is coolā€

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-3 points

Characters can be ā€˜the bad guyā€™ without smoking. Associating ā€˜being the bad guyā€™ with smoking is even worse, IMHO than a smoking hero.

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1 point

Oh I agree people can be a bad guy without smoking

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16 points

How I Met Your Mother literally had an episode only about smoking, revealing that everybody in the main group has smoked at one point, and they all do in that episode.

Besides that, isnā€™t the ā€œsmoking is coolā€ phase in movies a thing of the past already? Most movies donā€™t show anyone smoking, and if, I would say itā€™s most often not the hero, but often some shady guys.

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1 point

I know that episode. And the message, in red bold face across the screen for the entire episode is ā€œDonā€™t smoke.ā€ Thatā€™s different from the on-screen smoking Iā€™m talking about.

Characters can be shady without smoking. Just because theyā€™re not the hero, the appeal of ā€˜being shadyā€™ and the incentive to look to them as a role model doesnā€™t vanish.

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6 points

IIRC they werenā€™t smoking, they were ā€œeating sandwichesā€

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9 points

They are eating sandwiches when they are smoking weed. They are smoking actual cigarettes when they are smoking cigarettes. Tedā€™s kids are shocked when they learn this, I donā€™t remember them reacting to the sandwich stories.

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7 points

They donā€™t inhale. You can usually tell the real smokers from the ones who donā€™t smoke if you watch the exhale.

If it all comes out in one puff, they arenā€™t smoking, just holding it in their mouth.

If it comes out in a long stream or through thier nose, then they are likely a real smoker.

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27 points

I have a question of the same kind, how do they do when they clearly sniff coke ? What kind of white powder isnā€™t harmful to the nose is used in cinema ?

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0 points

Thank you for your answers !

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34 points

As far as I know, itā€™s usually crushed vitamin B. Shouldnā€™t feel like much unless you do dozens of takes.

At least thatā€™s what they used in Mr. Robot.

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23 points

Wasnā€™t Jonah hill hospitalized from snorting so much vitamin B in wolf of wallstreet?

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17 points

Tbf, that was wolf of wall street, itā€™s basically a three hour long line of cocaine.

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2 points

Yeah I read that too.

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4 points

I believe they use inositol powder.

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75 points

Theyā€™re herb cigarettes. Think about how long scenes take to shoot, it could be days for a single scene. Theyā€™d be smoking multiple packs in a day of nonstop smoking. Even actual smokers wouldnā€™t enjoy it.

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16 points

I dunno, if I got paid to smoke 3 packs a day I think Iā€™d be pretty happy. I also hate my lungs more than most people though.

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6 points

Sure, if youā€™re an A-lister making millions. But as a day player doing background work for <$200/day? Nahā€¦

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2 points

That all depends on whoā€™s paying for the cigarettes

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1 point

I remember hearing thatā€™s what they used in filming Peaky Blinders when they smoke all the time.

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115 points
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Theatre Worker Here:

Most prop masters Iā€™ve worked with use either this brand or something very similar. From that page the ingredients listed are: Marshmallow Leaves, Red Clover Flowers, Rose Petals, Fruit Juices, Honey. You can also buy packs that are designed to look like real brands(yellow american spirits, the famous ā€œMarlboro Redā€, and white for marb lights.)

Fake cigarettes have been pretty common props for a while now. Obviously there used to be a lot more actual tobacco use on sets but nowadays, especially with a lot of municipalities outlawing tobacco smoking indoors in public spaces, its almost always all fake/herbal. There are also nicotine free vaporizers that are styled to look like real cigarettes.

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I remember reading Cillian Murphy went through some silly number of those herbal cigs filming the first season of Peaky Blinders alone.

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1 point

they taste like a bouquet of flowers its like smoking your mums garden. the smoke is so light that you think its not lit but then u breathe out smoke. looks real, tastes like rolled up roses. bought 2 packs when I was trying to quit, had 2 and never touched them again

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Wow, thatā€™s really good insight! Thank you!

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