Hello, I was wondering if anyone knows the reasoning behind adding smoke to a movie scene. I can recall seeing this done whenever I see a "behind the scenes look" at a movie being produced. The crew shuffles across the scene with a smoke thing-ama-jing just before the director says action. I can't remember specifics, but I do remember thinking to myself that the particular scene being shot would not be looking for a "smoke-filled" room look, like a bar or something (as far as I could tell). I'm just wondering if this smoke is done to just give a softer look and take away some of the sharpness. Or, I'm just plain wrong and the scenes characters are supposed to be chain smokers (or maybe the script calls for a fire-breathing dragon to be in the next room). I did a search on this smoke, but didn't answer my question. P.S. would anyone else agree that smoke, fog and mist looks great in Noir, black and white? Comments Please.

Steve,

One might smoke a room to accentuate the lighting, to catch light in the particles to create beams of light. Without something in the air, you wouldn't see the beams of light, only where the light falls and is reflected.

Josh

I see what you mean Joshua. The light becomes more tangible and is one more way to manipulate the asthetics of the scene.