How do they do smoking scenes in films?

Question

I was wondering how directors do scenes where a character is smoking, whether it be a pipe, cigar or cigarette.

Not all actors will actually really smoke so I'm wondering whether they use some sort of prop or staging.

Any help?

Answer 1

The majority of the actors really do smoke real cigarettes (usually provided by props).

Some actors who are against smoking (or some who have quit and don't want to start again) will choose to smoke 'herbal' cigarettes if it is required for the role -- they are less harmful and less additctive but smell horribly bad!

Answer 2

I've smoked while acting and a lot is to do with continuity. For instance they film a close up, so you're smoking, the cig gets less, then they do a long shot of the same scene so the cig has to tally in length as the close up, they then do the same scene again as a medium shot...i.e waist up, so the cig has to be in keeping again with the length. When they edit and cut from close to medium etc, the cig will be the right length or tally, that is with how much has been smoked of it.

I ended up having to light quite a few cigs for the scene. It's the same with say a glass of wine, the amount drunk will have to tally for continuation purposes.Also you have to remember at what word/part of the dialogue you took a drag of the cig and drag on it on the same word when doing the other close/medium/long shots etc because when they come to edit, if you haven't done that, it would show mistakes in the cutting of one shot to another

Answer 3

Most of actors smoke, so they do smoke in the scenes. If not, they can't do the scene.

Answer 4

they take the smoke in their mouths and dont inhale, then just puff it out. its easy

Answer 5

I've been on set when they have done this before.

They were using some sort of Chineese Herbal cigarettes.

Fortunately they guy was a smoker, so it wasn't to bad for him.

And yes, they do smell appauling.

No camera tricks.

Answer 6

Fake cigarettes are only used on stage (because you can only fake that from a distance). In films, the actors are really smoking.

Answer 7

actors can get paid a lot extra if theyre a known nonsmoker and the director really wants a scene of them smoking

Answer 8

I don't think it's faked. They really smoke. If they're against it, they don't do the scene.  

Answer 9

i think they just pretend to smoke and then clever cutting and editing takes care of the rest

Answer 10

They actually smoke.

Answer 11

They sell fake cigarettes at shops such as Spencer's Gifts or something along those lines. You kind of have to blow into them and smoke comes out. They also sell ones that are gum that blow powder out that looks like gum which you can probably get at any candy store. They look really real.