September 2019 Chat Thread

[Bean]

Ha! I thought you meant you just tried one once, that story's much better!

I always notice it in films now, when people are smoking. I assumed it must some digital wizardry, but it looks so real that I always wonder if they would ever make anyone smoke in the name of acting?!

There was a lot of smoking in Once Upon A Time In Hollywood - I'd like to see one of those scenes before all the smoke had been added, it might amuse me!

[amber89]

Actually i always thought that the smoking in the films was for real.
I mean...considering how much of the heavy stuff is used by the actors in Hollywood, smoking would be the most innocent drug. And if the actors smoke also in real life, at least they don't need the cigarette break.

[3piggles]

Ugh! The bad old days when people could smoke everywhere, and did. I didn't mind some restrictions, but when I ended up smoking out in the freezing cold with the other smokers, it was time to quit. Glad you only had to do that once!!!

We had a frost two nights ago. Had to cover all the plants. It's 81 today, going to be hotter tomorrow, and Monday. Then slowly backing down to more seasonable temps. We should be in the 60s and 70s at this time of year, but having these last hurrahs of summer isn't unusual. We've managed to not heat or cool for a while, which is nice. That house traps the cold well, so after we closed up the house, it stayed cool

[bazookagoof]

Sept 20, 2019 7:08:31 GMT Bean said:

Ha! I thought you meant you just tried one once, that story's much better!

I always notice it in films now, when people are smoking. I assumed it must some digital wizardry, but it looks so real that I always wonder if they would ever make anyone smoke in the name of acting?!

There was a lot of smoking in Once Upon A Time In Hollywood - I'd like to see one of those scenes before all the smoke had been added, it might amuse me!

For a photo shoot, they would probably add digital smoke, but for a motion picture/TV show I think they use practical effects; for that show Mad Men I think they had actual cigarettes, but they weren't nicotine:

www.eonline.com/news/67822/do-actors-smoke-real-cigarettes-on-mad-men

[bazookagoof]

Sept 20, 2019 17:03:40 GMT amber89 said:

Actually i always thought that the smoking in the films was for real.
I mean...considering how much of the heavy stuff is used by the actors in Hollywood, smoking would be the most innocent drug. And if the actors smoke also in real life, at least they don't need the cigarette break.

For the most part, the smoking is real. I shot an independent film about 12 years ago and there was a scene where two actors were sneaking a cigarette; one of them smoked in real life and the other one used to, so they handled it well enough.

Digital effects add to the cost of the production, so that's another reason why smoking is usually real! (it's cheaper!) 

[Bean]

I think I'd be one of the people to chuck a whitey and be unable to act (not that I can at all anyway!) if they had me smoking!

I just would have thought the with all the health and safety regulations, asking an actor to do something potentially life limiting and addictive would open film studios up to a few future law suits?! Surely even herbal cigarettes carry some risk as it's still the smoke from burning something getting drawn deep into your lungs?

[3piggles]

I agree, Bean, unless the cigs are fake smoke makers, with no tobacco or nicotine. I think that's what Baz meant. Is that right, Baz?

Yes, actors can refuse to do anything life threatening, and it wouldn't be good for the producer, as if anything happened to the actor, even years later, that could be connected to having to smoke for those scenes, the actor will sue! Smoking is such a negative over here, pretty much anyone who sues for smoking related illnesses wins.

I wouldn't be at all surprised of most of what actors consume on TV and in movies isn't real. On NCIS, Pauley Perretts character Abby Schiuto lived on a sugary, caffeinated drink called CafPow. It was actually iced tea, and obviously she didn't actually drink every 64 oz. cup she was given. I know some of the Rat Pack had ginger ale in their glasses on stage or on talk shows, not the booze it was implied was in there.

With technology now, I'd think a fake cig or cigar could be made to appear totally real.

[bazookagoof]

Sept 21, 2019 22:19:42 GMT 3piggles said:

I agree, Bean, unless the cigs are fake smoke makers, with no tobacco or nicotine. I think that's what Baz meant. Is that right, Baz?

Yes, actors can refuse to do anything life threatening, and it wouldn't be good for the producer, as if anything happened to the actor, even years later, that could be connected to having to smoke for those scenes, the actor will sue! Smoking is such a negative over here, pretty much anyone who sues for smoking related illnesses wins.

I wouldn't be at all surprised of most of what actors consume on TV and in movies isn't real. On NCIS, Pauley Perretts character Abby Schiuto lived on a sugary, caffeinated drink called CafPow. It was actually iced tea, and obviously she didn't actually drink every 64 oz. cup she was given. I know some of the Rat Pack had ginger ale in their glasses on stage or on talk shows, not the booze it was implied was in there.

With technology now, I'd think a fake cig or cigar could be made to appear totally real.

As far as I understand it, yes, that's pretty much true.

Also, I would think even if there were a small risk from those herbal cigarettes, either the A-listers are not going to complain because the suits on the top are going to tell them, "You make $10 million a movie, so shut up and deal with it for a few days", and the extras on the bottom aren't going to want to rock the boat and get a reputation for being difficult and not get hired again, so...

...Hollywood at its best. 

[3piggles]

I was thinking about that, Baz. If they smoked real cigs, how many would they really smoke and how often. It's not as if many movies require actors to smoke non stop through the whole movie. They also don't have to inhale.

Still, there are A listers who won't do nude scenes, so I'm sure there are A listers who won't smoke. Hollywood is in a bit of a tizzy over the Me, Too movement outing so many of their actors and execs as sexist pigs who sexually abused so many actresses over the decades, there's no way they can excuse their way out of that. I think they are being a bit more careful than they used to, knowing things can come back and bite them decades from now.

[bazookagoof]

Sept 22, 2019 20:12:26 GMT 3piggles said:

Still, there are A listers who won't do nude scenes, so I'm sure there are A listers who won't smoke. Hollywood is in a bit of a tizzy over the Me, Too movement outing so many of their actors and execs as sexist pigs who sexually abused so many actresses over the decades, there's no way they can excuse their way out of that. I think they are being a bit more careful than they used to, knowing things can come back and bite them decades from now.

I believe it depends on how much power that A-lister wields, and who they go up against. The only example that I like to bring up (which is entirely non-sexual) is Steven Seagal, who really doesn't qualify as an A-lister, but for a while in the 90's had a bit of clout in Hollywood. Well, in 1996 he did a movie called Executive Decision that called for his character to die prematurely so the star of the movie (Kurt Russell) could save the day. Not sure what prompted him to take the role in the first place, (contractual obligations, possibly?) but when it came time to do his big death scene, he sat in his trailer and refused to shoot the scene.

Apparently one of the studio heads gave him the third degree (either by phone or face to face, I don't know which) and Seagal meekly climbed out of his trailer and did the scene. Not such a tough guy after all.

But nowadays I can see the MeToo movement gaining some traction to where actors can have more of a say. When I did my independent feature I told the casting director there was going to be a love scene, and I didn't want anyone who wasn't going to be shy when it came to that scene. It wasn't going to be explicit, but it was meant to be rather steamy. When the scene was shot, I was the only person in the room other than the two actors, and I guided them step by step so everything was choreographed. Also, we saved the scene for last so that everyone would feel comfortable with each other after having worked together for two weeks.

Sorry, getting off track here. 

[3piggles]

Love Executive Decision, and didn't mind losing Segal, lol I remember the whole tube shoot from plane to plane. Someone had to die, lol

There was a time when all actors were contracted to specific studios. They made the movies they were told to make, and played the parts they were told to play. Obviously, because they all have stunt doubles, some never did love scenes, etc., and their stunt doubles did that part. I think it was Jimmy Stewart who broke the studio contract system, but I could be wrong. After that, actors had to actually try out for parts, unless the part was written for them. Can't imagine who other than Stallone would play Rambo, or even his character in Lords of Flatbush. Liked Henry Winkler in Lords of Flatbush, too. Obviously, Dolph Lundgren could have played Rocky, as could a number of other actors. So I think when a part is basically made for a character, that actor has more say. Otherwise, it's either use a stunt double whenever possible, or just do the scene as written, and don't complain.

[bazookagoof]

Sept 23, 2019 15:21:49 GMT 3piggles said:

 Obviously, Dolph Lundgren could have played Rocky, as could a number of other actors. So I think when a part is basically made for a character, that actor has more say. Otherwise, it's either use a stunt double whenever possible, or just do the scene as written, and don't complain.

Speaking of Dolph Lundgren, I always thought he would have made a perfect Jack Reacher if they had filmed those novels about 15-20 years ago. He captures the look and feel of Jack Reacher far better than Tom Cruise ever could.

[Bean]

I've not read the books, but know a couple of people who have, and don't think Tom Cruise is a great fit! He's had too much work done on his face now, he just looks a bit odd. I really wish that the ability to move ones face to express emotion was ranked as a higher attribute than being a big name.

[3piggles]

I agree on both issues. Being able to use our faces to make expressions should be high on the A listers requirements. I also think Dolph Lundgren would have been a much better Jack Reacher. He'd have been a lot more believable.

I just heard that Jared Padalecki, who plays Sam Winchester in Supernatural, is going to be Walker, Texas Ranger, in a new version of that. Hard to imagine that, as I don't know if Padalecki has any martial arts training. Obviously, it was originally created for, and in large part by, Chuck Norris, who definitely had the skills. We shall see.

Seems it's true! www.nbcnewyork.com/entertainment/entertainment-news/Supernatural__39_s_Jared_Padalecki_Is_Starring_in_a_Walker__Texas_Ranger_Reboot-561147922.html

[bazookagoof]

Sept 24, 2019 7:16:09 GMT Bean said:

I've not read the books, but know a couple of people who have, and don't think Tom Cruise is a great fit! He's had too much work done on his face now, he just looks a bit odd. I really wish that the ability to move ones face to express emotion was ranked as a higher attribute than being a big name.

Jack Reacher is a giant of a man, not quite Schwarzenegger in musculature but close- and he usually towers over everyone. Tom Cruise does not fit that bill.

My Dad says he always envisioned Lee Marvin as Jack Reacher, but as Reacher has a James Bond-like tendency to have a different love interest in each story, I don't see Marvin as that type. Reacher simply exudes intelligence and confidence and Lundgren can pull that off. (For all the ribbing he's gotten about his action movies, he holds a master's degree in chemical engineering- so the guy's no dope.

[3piggles]

I haven't read the books, either, but always felt Tom Cruise was too much of a lite weight for the part. I think Cruise could have pulled of a James Bond type of role, because spies are supposed to fit in, not stand out. I'll have to give one of the books a try. I hope they're not hopelessly sexist, as the James Bond books were.

Clive Custler has a whole series of action books with great male characters, and they are about the action, not about how many women the men can have sex with. I don't know if I've read them all. I may have to get them on audio book Hubby and I both love his books. Their battles are fought with a lot of thought and planning, and still go wrong

[bazookagoof]

Sept 25, 2019 19:46:35 GMT 3piggles said:

I haven't read the books, either, but always felt Tom Cruise was too much of a lite weight for the part. I think Cruise could have pulled of a James Bond type of role, because spies are supposed to fit in, not stand out. I'll have to give one of the books a try. I hope they're not hopelessly sexist, as the James Bond books were.

Clive Custler has a whole series of action books with great male characters, and they are about the action, not about how many women the men can have sex with. I don't know if I've read them all. I may have to get them on audio book Hubby and I both love his books. Their battles are fought with a lot of thought and planning, and still go wrong

The Killing Floor is the first book in the series, if you're interested.

Also, to Lee Child's credit (he's the author), the women in the books are far more developed characters than in your typical Ian Fleming novel. They aren't sexual conquests for Reacher that happen at the end of every book (sometimes he doesn't get the girl, either), and there's a handful of recurring women that he has a strictly platonic relationship with that pop up every now and then. (At least, they've been platonic in all the books I've read so far.)

[3piggles]

Hubby built a great plant and storage bench for the front hall. It's made of composite decking boards, exterior 1x6s and exterior railing spindles, so spilling water on it won't bother it at all, and if needed, it can go outside. We'll add the hanging bar in a bit. Just what I wanted 🤗