Smoking on Film and TV.

[Mortdecai]

I watched Hattie tonight, and as is usual for films/tv depicting the 1960's, everyone smoked like a chimney. Which is fair enough because that's what they did back then. My question is regarding the current anti smoking laws we have in the workplace in Britain today.
A film or tv set is a workplace, with not just actors but camera and sound crew and a host of other people all milling about, so if an actor is required to light up, isn't it illegal?
Also, would an actor be refused a role if they declined to smoke?

[Kitty Whiskers]

Most sets use herbal cigarettes, as I understand. I can imagine that solves a lot of issues that would crop up.

[icetorch]

Did you know, you can get lung cancer just by looking at an avatar of someone with a cigarette in their mouth?

[Steve Crook]

Most sets use herbal cigarettes, as I understand. I can imagine that solves a lot of issues that would crop up.

I liked the recent QI where Stephen Fry pointed out that in the Amsterdam coffee shops where you're allowed to smoke cannabis it's illegal to smoke tobacco. But then you can go out into the street where it's legal to smoke tobacco but illegal to smoke cannabis

Steve

[Tonch]

I liked the recent QI where Stephen Fry pointed out that in the Amsterdam coffee shops where you're allowed to smoke cannabis it's illegal to smoke tobacco. But then you can go out into the street where it's legal to smoke tobacco but illegal to smoke cannabis

Steve

I've never been to Holland. Do they let you drink coffee in the tobacconist's?

[icetorch]

I always ask for hash browns when I breakfast at my local café, but I never get high on them. Now there's something for WatchDog to investigate.

[GoggleboxUK]

I'm getting revenge on the smoking in public laws.

Whenever a non-smoker visits my home I make them stand outside while I light up.

[HUGHJAMPTON]

I'm getting revenge on the smoking in public laws.

Whenever a non-smoker visits my home I make them stand outside while I light up.

Excellent, Gogs.

[Mortdecai]

Most sets use herbal cigarettes, as I understand. I can imagine that solves a lot of issues that would crop up.

Probably the case, but its still smoking. The rest of the population aren't allowed to smoke herbal ciggies at work or down the pub, so why actors?
I noticed Winston Churchill in a recent episode of Doctor Who smoked a huge cigar throughout - that can't have been herbal surely?
Wasn't there a theatre production about Churchill recently, and the part required the actor to smoke cigars, but the theatre had a no smoking policy so the debate made the news. I think it was Mel Smith.

[didi-5]

I thought theatres were exempt from the legislation because some plays do require the characters to smoke. You can usually tell if they aren't using herbals because the smoke really does smell toxic now we're not used to it in other public places.

[ShirlGirl]

I'm getting revenge on the smoking in public laws.

Whenever a non-smoker visits my home I make them stand outside while I light up.

But didn't you just quit?

[Rowdon]

Not really what's being discussed, but does it bother anyone else when a smoking character is clearly being played by a non-smoker? They hold the cigarette wrong (as if it's a bag of dog poop as opposed to an extension of their hand), they hold the smoke in their mouth for a nano-second before blowing it all out while it's still blue, rather than holding it down in your lungs until it's disappeared ... I find it very distracting (with a voice deep inside me screaming "If you don't want the bl**dy thing, give it to me!!!") - anyone else?

[GoggleboxUK]

But didn't you just quit?

I don't really do that Shirl, I was just having a laugh. I've still remained largely cigarette free although I did lapse for a day when my PC exploded.

[ShirlGirl]

I don't really do that Shirl, I was just having a laugh. I've still remained largely cigarette free although I did lapse for a day when my PC exploded.

You're doing well, Goggers!

[Steve Crook]

Probably the case, but its still smoking. The rest of the population aren't allowed to smoke herbal ciggies at work or down the pub, so why actors?

Is that true? Is the ban against all forms of smoking or just the smoking of tobacco?

Steve

[Kitty Whiskers]

Not really what's being discussed, but does it bother anyone else when a smoking character is clearly being played by a non-smoker? They hold the cigarette wrong (as if it's a bag of dog poop as opposed to an extension of their hand), they hold the smoke in their mouth for a nano-second before blowing it all out while it's still blue, rather than holding it down in your lungs until it's disappeared ... I find it very distracting (with a voice deep inside me screaming "If you don't want the bl**dy thing, give it to me!!!") - anyone else?

Funny you should say that - Bette Davis (as famous as she is as a smoker) was the least convincing smoker I ever saw. Lots of waving it about in the air, but never a convincing inhale did I see. Probably why I always prefered Joan Crawford - she didn't smoke, but at least she really didn't smoke.

[bruiser15]

Probably the case, but its still smoking. The rest of the population aren't allowed to smoke herbal ciggies at work or down the pub, so why actors?
I noticed Winston Churchill in a recent episode of Doctor Who smoked a huge cigar throughout - that can't have been herbal surely?
Wasn't there a theatre production about Churchill recently, and the part required the actor to smoke cigars, but the theatre had a no smoking policy so the debate made the news. I think it was Mel Smith.

It was Mel Smith in 2006 at The Assembly Rooms, in Edimburgh during the fringe. At the time the smoking ban had been brought in March 2006 in Scotland a full year and a bit before England. The Daily Mail got in a froth with "Scots ban Mel Smith from smoking in Churchill play" type headline. I think the Times compared Edinburgh Council with Churchill's foes during the war whilst saying they were acting like collaborators with a European [read EU] enemy

I saw the play it wasn't good and Mel Smith was pretty awful, but by heck he got some good publicity out of it. Smoke and Mirrors.

[Tonch]

... they hold the smoke in their mouth for a nano-second before blowing it all out while it's still blue, rather than holding it down in your lungs until it's disappeared ...

Not a smoker myself, but my mother has smoked for years and does it exactly how you are describing there Rowdon.

Do I now have to concede defeat after all and accept her frequent protestations of: "But I'm not really a proper smoker, not really!"

[Mortdecai]

Is that true? Is the ban against all forms of smoking or just the smoking of tobacco?

Steve

Not sure now you mention it. I would have thought if it was just tobacco that was banned then at least you would see smokers trying out herbals in shopping centres, pubs etc.

[Steve Crook]

Not sure now you mention it. I would have thought if it was just tobacco that was banned then at least you would see smokers trying out herbals in shopping centres, pubs etc.

Have you ever tried one? They're quite disgusting. It's better to go and stand out in the rain and have a real smoke

Steve