Marc Wielage Posted May 26, 2012 Report Share Posted May 26, 2012 As many other threads have said, is it worth risking your health for some goofy TV show? You are not a first responder that signed up to charge into the unknown in the hopes of saving lives, you are making a movie in a theoretically controlled environment. I found out years later that when they finally demolished that TV soundstage, they had to call in a special hazmat crew to take out all the asbestos and dispose of it. I was only on those stages for 4 years, but I know others who were there for decades. But most of those guys smoked like chimneys anyway, and weren't all that healthy to begin with. The only time I ever got exposed to oil-based smoke was on the set of Close Encounters of the Third Kind: Special Edition in 1980, where they added new scenes at the Glencoe Facility, a big VFX outfit in Venice. Oh, that's a smell I would not like to smell twice in my life... The more-recent smoke is at least sorta/kinda tolerable, as long as you're not sitting right by the machine. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michael Posted July 1, 2012 Report Share Posted July 1, 2012 Spoke to local fx guy (australia) who uses these type outdoors only. He said they were based on baby oil without the added sent. Damm stuff reeked like hell. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Philip Perkins Posted July 1, 2012 Report Share Posted July 1, 2012 The Fuller's Earth and asbestos particles are lung irritants- they literally chew up your lungs to the point that that they bleed internally and cannot process air for you any more. It is our version of miner's "Black Lung". The prop and SFX guys here used to burn potpurri, smoke cookies by the dozens, squads of bee-smokers, oil-based Ajibas etc etc. In the '80s I did finally get my own mask. Nowadays the glycerin/water smoke seems less toxic, but I agree that it still gives a sore throat and makes me feel lousy--I think my body is telling me that it isn't a great idea either. I don't know what the solution is for crew people and actors--the smoke is a definite look, needed some times to make scenes work, and ADs hate taking the time to air out a set then smoke it up again. I recall when oil-based and cookie-based smoke was replaced with the later versions some directors and cinematographers bemoaned the less refined look of the new stuff, how it took light etc.. phil p Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richard Ragon Posted July 2, 2012 Report Share Posted July 2, 2012 I used to work in the Vending Machine biz years ago.. More specifically, the Cigarette vending machine biz.. I used to pull out old machines from a bar that they were sitting in for near 10 years.. Get them out into the sunlight!! OMG, it's like a layer of yellow OIL was dumped on these things.. Imagine what the insides of people lungs looked like that worked there, and the locals that came to the bar night after night. Also.. First movie I ever worked on.. the fog machine broke, so being the film students they were, improvised by having as many people on set, smoke as much as possible at once.. People working said their lungs hurt for 2 days after.. What were we thinking?? -Richard Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mikewest Posted July 4, 2012 Author Report Share Posted July 4, 2012 Thanks Phil I've seen a specialist and the story continues mike Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dream Posted October 2, 2019 Report Share Posted October 2, 2019 I worked in clubs for years and suffered constantly from the 'water based' fog juice at certain clubs, having to quit certain clubs almost immediately if there was no ventilation. I'd run out of the room when it was dispersed until it cleared. The water-"based" fog is still full of chemicals: propylene glycol. It causes burning, dry eyes, lightheadedness, a headache, fatigue, breathing problems, nausea, muscle soreness, and more after even short-term exposure. I would wake up with severe fog hangovers. I believe everyone suffers the same symptoms, but since they have been drinking as well, and/or smoking, at the club, they don't know it's from the fog. I wish this stuff would be banned bc it's so toxic, and now I see it at kid's venues, such as trampoline parks and outdoor festivals. it really is poison. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike Westgate Posted October 3, 2019 Report Share Posted October 3, 2019 And now on to vaping !! mike Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Olle Sjostrom Posted October 4, 2019 Report Share Posted October 4, 2019 I work in radio nowadays, and I'm about to broadcast our weekly science show where one segment is about the first "victims" of vaping, people have suffered different diseases from vaping . If the same material is used in smoke and fog machines, they could also be subject to further research.. and then perhaps legal action? Not an american so I wouldn't know.. Anyway, the researcher's name is Brandon Larsen, and here's a quickly googled article about that: https://www.livescience.com/vaping-lung-injuries-toxic-fumes.html Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Izen Ears Posted October 18, 2019 Report Share Posted October 18, 2019 But how else to fake the filmy look?!!! (That’s the reason the DP on my job says for all the stage smoke.) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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