Whether you realise or not, there are a lot of films that use smoke machines to add atmosphere. Some films do it to overkill (we're looking at you 1989’s Black Rain). Other films use it subtly to add what can be seen as a lighting texture effect.
While artificial smoke or haze does add atmosphere for a noir look, there are many other reasons you may want to add smoke to your photographs or films. For example, a broken down car, a science-y shot, kitchen effects, gun smoke, mysterious morning mist, or just to create cool effects for a fashion shoot.
Previously, the usual way to add smoke to your set was with a hefty mains powered smoke machine. Controversially, these machines would pour out what may or may not be toxic fumes. Liquid fogs often include chemicals like Propylene glycol (antifreeze) and unknown mixtures of fragrance oil to mask the real smell of the fog. Now this might all be about to change.
A company based in Hong Kong called PMI Gear (Practical Magic & Innovation) noticed this hole in the market and launched a Kickstarter project named SmokeGENIE in November 2021 to create a very small, non-toxic, battery powered smoke machine that can fit neatly into a Pelican case.
To learn more - visit the PMI Gear website
(Below) Video by PMI on the journey from Kickstarter campaign to final product.
(Below) PMI official video