ASK & DISCUSS INDEX

10 years, 2 months ago - Paddy Robinson-Griffin

Depending on the effect you want, probably want either a stadium hazer or gas powered smoke gun. The hazer is electric and runs continuously ideal if not too much wind. Smoke gun creates thick plumes of smoke fast so can fill a space with a bit of wafting, needs someone to operate it (if you're inexperienced, you can either spray crew with boiling oil or do damage to the gun).

Both will require consumables - hazer oil or smoke oil and gas canisters, they are a real cost as you can only normally get 5L at a time! Ask the hire company if they'll fill them for you or if a previous hire gave them back a half bottle you can use (I've given back nearly full bottles in the past on the proviso they give them to the odd student production). You'll end up only using a few spoonfuls of liquid after all!

If you go the Maplin route, get a big machine - glycol smoke dissipates quickly (especially the cheap fluid, go for the posh stuff which has less water), so you'll be running it more often, and that cools the element. Higher power means less cooling so you can run it longer.

In any case, discuss it all with your gaffer/electrician - there will be constraints on the amount of power you can draw vs the effect you want. Let them advise. If your power position is limited (eg Genny power) then the gas system is the way to go. I have one, but will only wet hire (ie me and the gun) as I've had expensive repairs in the past from hires burning it too hot when not in use, carbonising the oil in a narrow vaporisation coil! I'm based in Bath, so makes for an expensive hire when you factor in the train etc! Hopefully you'll find someone locally?

10 years, 2 months ago - Paddy Robinson-Griffin

Sam, there are many types of smoke machine - ones for indoors, outdoors, oil, glycol, etc., some not suitable where others would be.

For instance, I have a gas-powered oil vapour machine, the smoke is very fine, non-irritant, hangs for hours, used extensively for prey much all Spielberg exteriors to add depth - but will be too much in a church hall, and the live flame makes it unsuitable for theatres and most indoor use.

Conversely, you can spend £30 in Maplin and get something suitable for a living room disco. Hang time is limited, mildly irritating to some people for prolonged use, but fine for a few hours. Or you can get a cold oil stadium hazer which is flame-free and is used for showing off the stage lighting. There are even compressed gas systems which condense the atmospheric moisture!

Either way, start work your local lighting hire company - rental isn't expensive necessarily. Or if you're shooting in a smaller room, even try Maplin, and either keep the machine for parties afterwards, or give it to a crew member in lieu of payment ;)

10 years, 2 months ago - Sam Jeffreys

Thanks Paddy! Very helpful. We're shooting in an open air car park at night.