I was just curious...

I read a lot of scripts. Pro and amateur. In a lot of the scripts, people smoke. Why? Just so the character has something to do? It can't be because it looks cool. I don't think a lot of people think smoking is cool these days. In my daily life for example, I hardly ever see anyone smoking. Not even when I travel do I see a lot of people smoking. When I do see people smoke, they tend to be old people. I did have some construction workers at my house last year and some of them smoked, but other than that, smoking seems to me to be a way of the past. So, I'm curious, do you have people smoking in your scripts and if so, why? It doesn't seem to reflect todays society. IMO at least. Or maybe I'm just living in a smoke free section of the world.  

PS: I do remember Rust from True Detective.  

Dave exhales as he ponders the question - watches the plume of smoke cascade away in the night air.

It is an interesting question.

I'm a smoker and I will only use it in two instances: (1) as a device to reinforce a character flaw. e.g., I am currently writing a script about a gambling addict - his smoking reinforces the lack of control he has and (2) if I want to use it so show a chink in the armor (think Bartlett in West Wing). However, overall I agree with you that it is used far too often.  

Times are changing... I gave up a 20 year tobacco habit 5 years ago in September. I don't tend to use smokers in my writing any more, unless it's weed or crack... or heroin... or...

I'm still in the minority, with my friends, when it comes to not regularly smoking. Like most things, most character hobbies or actions or whatever you want to classify smoking as, I believe it does highlight something about the character. If you imagine someone who smokes 40 cigarettes a day, then imagine someone who smokes the occasional cigarette when they're out with their friends, then imagine someone who's never smoked a cigarette in their live. I bet you get three completely different images of people.

I would never use it solely to have a character smoking, I only ever use it as a device to further illustrate character.

Interesting question, though.

I've thought about this question before,  if my character wants to smoke, then why the heck not? In True Detective, I don't think it would've made a difference if Rust was a smoker. Mad Men on the other hand...  if a smoker trying to quit can make it past the 1st season without one puff, I believe they would succeed. I think it can be easier to pull off in period films, war dramas do well, where it was more socially acceptable. The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo had a really good cigarette scene at the beginning, clever and revealed a lot about the character.

I don't feel it's a big deal if you ink a character as a smoker, but you'll do better if the smoker is eight months pregnant and smokes Marlboro Reds.

Of course a character can smoke if they like, but it seems to me that so few people smoke these days that it almost sticks out as unrealistic unless it really fits the character.

It was definitely more common years ago and also in movies years ago. IMHO, it definitely does not make a character more sexy if they smoke nowadays, while it was definitely seen that way years ago. Just an observation is all.  

Usually I have them smoke. My scripts are almost always dated based on certain things that I really enjoy throwing in; smoking, old (not classics, but rust buckets) cars, phone booths, rotary dial, etc. Smoking goes along with that.