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  • Clear The Smoke Commercial: Real or CGI?

    my wife and i got into a discussion about a commercial that's running now; it's the anti-tobacco commercial where an asian woman is bathing her baby daughter in a tub and the tub's filled with what appears to be cigarette butts and is colored gray. i think it's just some harmless dye added to the water to make it look dirty and the cigarette butts are made of plastic. it gives a realistic effect and is cheaper than having one or more people skilled at cgi create an illusion of a dirty tub.

    my wife, on the other hand, believes that it's all computer generated.

    off hand, if i'm wrong, i'd be incredibly surprised that they would spend what i think would take much more time and money to achieve what can easily be done with just a few inexpensive items.

    anyway, if anyone in the industry like tutu has any inside info, i'm all ears. thanks.
    525,600 minutes, 525,000 moments so dear. 525,600 minutes - how do you measure, measure a year?

  • #2
    Re: commercial: real or cgi?

    Sorry, Shaveice...I have no inside info and have, like you, wondered the same thing. The CGI scene in that spot, just like the one when the dad starts to feed his young son cigarette butts, is obvious. Less obvious is the bathtub scene.

    Those spots were filmed on the mainland. There are strict laws protecting children from intentionally being exposed to harmful toxins, chemicals, etc. IF the bath water was not CGIed then, my best guess is very safe coloring was used and the cig butts were made of some harmless material...and that both had to pass some sort of approval process.

    As I said...just a guess on my part...as is my guess that the organization is probably getting a lot of concerned inquiries about the same thing.

    Comment


    • #3
      Re: commercial: real or cgi?

      off hand, doesn't it seem way easier and therefore cheaper to simply use a dye and plastic cigarette butts to imitate the image that they're trying to create vs hiring a bunch of digital video gurus to create that effect?

      in the first scenario, the dye would cost only pennies and the fake cigarette butts may require the work of a specialized hired hand but it doesn't seem like a very challenging task. the scene where the water "turns" clean could simply be done by shooting the exact scene twice and fading from one scene to the next. cheap, relatively easy and totally safe for the baby.

      to be fair, maybe doing it all digitally is easier than i think. sigh... i may have to live with not knowing the answer!

      in either case, thanks for the comments!
      525,600 minutes, 525,000 moments so dear. 525,600 minutes - how do you measure, measure a year?

      Comment


      • #4
        Re: commercial: real or cgi?

        I have the exact, same questions you do! There are several variables that could affect how that scene was shot. PSAs tend to hold a soft spot in the hearts of crews and we work on them at either a greatly reduced rate or pro bono.

        Possibly the CGI work was given to a student in exchange for helping him/her build a demo reel. I've heard of directors who are also skilled at CGI. Possibly his/her director and CGI skills were combined in the budget.

        And, then, maybe there are a plethora of harmless cig butts for rent in the various prop houses!!! Another possibility is that the bathtub was refinished with a mottled, gray paint, much like mine was with white paint recently.

        Lotsa possibilities and I'd really like to know the answers 'cuz my curiosity is getting the best of me!

        Comment


        • #5
          Re: commercial: real or cgi?

          Here's the ad in question, for ClearTheSmoke.org. It definitely disturbed me, which I suppose is the point.

          I don't think it's CGI. Heck, if Tutusue wasn't sure it was filmed on the mainland, I'd also say it was locally produced. Black dye and some (hopefully) fake cigarette butts and one well-aligned dissolve is really all I see.

          A PSA for a campaign funded/managed by a state agency would hardly merit the kind of graphics talent needed, for example, to animate floating items in water. It ain't as hard as fire or hair, I suppose, but definitely outside the scope of a basic ad.

          Comment


          • #6
            Re: Clear The Smoke Commercial: Real or CGI?

            Is bathing in cigarette water harmful? Really: I want to know.
            But I'm disturbed! I'm depressed! I'm inadequate! I GOT IT ALL! (George Costanza)
            GrouchyTeacher.com

            Comment


            • #7
              Re: Clear The Smoke Commercial: Real or CGI?

              tutu! after a mad search on the web and many turns, i have the answer. check it out!

              http://www.clearthesmoke.org/campaign.php

              man, i should have made a bet with my wife for dinner over this one!!!

              Behind the Scenes: The Smoke- Free Set

              None of the actors in the Clear the Smoke “Live Smoke-Free” commercials were exposed to real cigarettes. All of the cigarettes and ash seen in the ads were props made out of the following non-toxic ingredients:
              Ash

              * Cornstarch
              * Non-toxic tempera paint


              Cigarettes

              * Paper
              * Cotton laundry rope
              * Non-toxic glue stick
              * Water color marker
              525,600 minutes, 525,000 moments so dear. 525,600 minutes - how do you measure, measure a year?

              Comment


              • #8
                Yes, they are fake. As fake as a little SHS being harmful to an otherwise healthly child in a reasonably ventilated home. I grew up in a very smokey home and I never had any health problems at all so there was no need for smokers to go outside and as a kid I never thought of it as a health issue.

                The ad is designed to;
                1, Socially engineer intolerance for smoking in your own home, using children as a guilt trip social tool for the vanguard of this concept.
                2, Create further self loathing and shame in be inculcated into what they see as the weaker minded smokers.
                3, It is an opening salvo in preperation for a law to ban smoking in your own home such as already is the case in ultra-liberal Belmont California.
                4, The true intent is as always to harass and shame smokers into quitting. To get AlohaKine to quit would require the involuntary-bullet-to-head therapy. However, this would not "save a life".

                As for "Pro-Bono", apart from a few gulable teens they use to fit their needs, you got to be joking. It's all about the bucks. When the MSA lawsuits on the tobacco companies occurred, these types of one topic only PAC's sprung up to loot the settlements funds by the millions. It's all about using the MSA to rake the cash off the backs of hard working smokers and make a nice income. I've actually talked with some of these anti-smoking dogs off record, and I can tell you that a goodly proportion of them don't even care about the smoking issue - IT'S ALL ABOUT THE GREEN THEY CAN LOOT.

                The more extreme they act, the more CA$H they get from the very few among them that actually have true bigotry in their hearts. Pull the $9 million they loot every year from MSA and circulate among themselves and watch hate groups like Zysman's "coalition" disappear. She could then get some crappy job at some DOH for $15 an hour. She didn't make that coalition, the ACS did, without their support, MSA funds, and oversite for 10 years, it wouldn't exist. It had already existed for seven years when she took over. She ain't smart, she just had a lot of help.

                As for the "it's the tobacco companies statement" in the ads. That's their stock line for anything that disagrees with them, regardless of the facts.

                They actually had this posted on the "REAL" website to coach usefull idiot teens on how to respond to questions from the media, should they be interviewed at one of their little hate rallies. Basically, if a statement comes up that is contrary to the groups statements, automatically blame it on "big tobacco", regardless if there is any evidence on not.

                Before the law went into effect, If any bar person questioned the economic effects, they were telling them that business would be just fine and it was only the tobacco companies that posted anything otherwise on the internet. They got caught to that lie, when over 100 bars personnally testified or signed statements that it HAD hurt business alot.

                Comment


                • #9
                  Re: Clear The Smoke Commercial: Real or CGI?

                  Every time I see one of these ads, especially the bath water ad, I think they should put up a disclaimer on the screen:

                  "No babies were harmed in the making of this commercial."

                  Yechh! Disgusting!

                  And, I guess, very effective.
                  Make trouble, have fun, do good stuffs.

                  Comment


                  • #10
                    Re: Clear The Smoke Commercial: Real or CGI?

                    Originally posted by pzarquon View Post
                    [...] It definitely disturbed me, which I suppose is the point.[...]
                    Uh huh!!!
                    Heck, if Tutusue wasn't sure it was filmed on the mainland, I'd also say it was locally produced.[...]
                    I heard reference to it being a mainland production but I shouldn't have made such an affirmative statement without first asking someone further up the film industry chain. I've emailed the question and will report the answer to HT...even if I have to change my avatar to Tatt's!
                    Originally posted by AlohaKine View Post
                    Yes, they are fake. As fake as a little SHS being harmful to an otherwise healthly child in a reasonably ventilated home. I grew up in a very smokey home and I never had any health problems at all so there was no need for smokers to go outside and as a kid I never thought of it as a health issue.
                    Perhaps you were lucky, AK. I, too, grew up with parents who were both chain smokers. I did have health problems because of it. Once I was on my own with my own home I had to ban my parents from smoking inside. It was a health decision, not a moral decision. I had no problem with their choice to smoke and never asked them to stop. It was a lifestyle choice for them...one they chose long before I was born. Hell...long before they even knew each other. When in their home as an adult I spent much time in a bedroom at the opposite end of the house from where the majority of smoking took place...in a Benadryl stupor. It was their home and they were free to do what they wanted while in it. I had the choice as to whether to stay there or leave.
                    [...]As for "Pro-Bono", apart from a few gulable teens they use to fit their needs, you got to be joking. [...]
                    Absolutely NOT joking. I, personally, have worked on many anti-smoking commercials...both pro bono and at a greatly reduced day rate. Crew communicates about rates. If one person goes out at 25% of their day rate...we all do the same thing. If the project is signatory to the Screen Actors Guild, SAG allows talent to work pro bono ONLY if the job is pro bono for everyone. Otherwise, the talent must receive at least scale. Most of the anti-smoking PSAs I've worked on have been non-union. I'm not saying that no money is made somewhere along the way. But I am saying that crew (and I AM crew) has and will continue to donate time to various causes, anti-smoking or otherwise.

                    I don't deny you your choice to smoke. Why do you try to deny me my pro bono experiences?

                    Comment


                    • #11
                      Re: Clear The Smoke Commercial: Real or CGI?

                      Originally posted by tutusue View Post
                      [...]I heard reference to it being a mainland production but I shouldn't have made such an affirmative statement without first asking someone further up the film industry chain. I've emailed the question and will report the answer to HT...even if I have to change my avatar to Tatt's! [...]
                      <insert Tatt's avatar here!!!>

                      Ok...it took some poking and prodding to find the answer but when I did find it I hit the jackpot...the prop master!!!

                      The first couple of people I asked today didn't know the mainland vs local answer and were also curious. That pretty much told me it was the mainland. Then, after further query, the prop master called me. The spots ARE locally produced. She also said that during production everyone on the set was grossed out! Of course, as mentioned in previous posts...that's the intention.

                      Sorry, AK, you can prattle on all you want about smoking vs non-smoking (that's another thread, however). The commercials are excellent and they are not directed at you. You've already made up your mind that you enjoy smoking and don't plan to quit and, ya know what? That's fine. You and I both know a restaurant that'll welcome you with ash trays on the table!

                      Comment


                      • #12
                        Re: Clear The Smoke Commercial: Real or CGI?

                        Thank you for this discussion, and thanks to shaveice for coming across the behind the scenes information. We were having a discussion in my advertising media strategy class about this PSA. We were concerned about whether the baby was actually exposed to cigarette chemicals (although I was sure that nontoxic materials were used). I've emailed everyone in the class about "the making of." Go HT!

                        Comment


                        • #13
                          Re: Clear The Smoke Commercial: Real or CGI?

                          I'm all foa quitting smoking.

                          Their Ad should change from "Hawai‘i" to "Seattle" Tobacco Quitline at 1-800-QUIT-NOW.

                          I stopped calling cause no make sense to talk to people in Seattle. I want counselors who are here and know the struggles ala "Local Style!"

                          Auntie Lynn
                          1 month and 20 days
                          Be AKAMAI ~ KOKUA Hawai`i!
                          Philippians 4:13 --- I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.

                          Comment


                          • #14
                            Re: Clear The Smoke Commercial: Real or CGI?

                            Originally posted by tutusue View Post
                            Uh huh!!!



                            Absolutely NOT joking. I, personally, have worked on many anti-smoking commercials...both pro bono and at a greatly reduced day rate. Crew communicates about rates. If one person goes out at 25% of their day rate...we all do the same thing. If the project is signatory to the Screen Actors Guild, SAG allows talent to work pro bono ONLY if the job is pro bono for everyone. Otherwise, the talent must receive at least scale. Most of the anti-smoking PSAs I've worked on have been non-union. I'm not saying that no money is made somewhere along the way. But I am saying that crew (and I AM crew) has and will continue to donate time to various causes, anti-smoking or otherwise.

                            I don't deny you your choice to smoke. Why do you try to deny me my pro bono experiences?
                            Interesting. HSA works for free - 100%. That's why we don't have flashy TV ads because we can't afford them. We have to pay our own way. We did run one short radio ad, I think two times at a cost of $600. It came from our own pockets from personal income in unrelated labors.

                            Thank you for not wanting to take away my right to smoke. However, the anti-smoking crowd has more in mind - the top leaders that is. THEY WANT TO DO EXACTLY THAT. It's the whole idea of the "smoke free homes" campaign. Their goal, shamelessly written, on the internet for all to see is to corrupt condo associations into banning smoking condo wide.

                            My smoke doesn't bother anybody. The way my condo is set up, it CAN'T go in other people's space and no non-smokers live with me. It would have to get through a foot of solid concert. But the Zysman cabal doesn't care. She wants to take my home from me at great cost. This is political war. I will take it to court if they pull that sh*t on me. Then they can pay my court costs. Enough already.

                            Do you know that 1/3 of the smoker's alliance are non-smokers. That's right. The political battle is not against non-smokers, it is against paid anti-smokers. They make a living stealing from us just to bash us. Totally sick.

                            BAN THE BAN.

                            An aside, the Zysman cabal is now reaching the backstop. It's going to be hard fighting from now on, since she is attacking the core that will not bend to her in any way.

                            Zysman now wants to send goons into my own bedroom to run my life. What do you think the reaction will be?
                            Last edited by AlohaKine; October 21, 2007, 01:48 AM.

                            Comment


                            • #15
                              Re: Clear The Smoke Commercial: Real or CGI?

                              Originally posted by AlohaKine View Post
                              Zysman now wants to send goons into my own bedroom to run my life. What do you think the reaction will be?
                              In addition to The Patch, they'll offer you Viagra.

                              .
                              .

                              That's my story, and I'm sticking to it.

                              Comment

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