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Why do movies/TV shows/commercials always seem to use empty opaque cups (i.e. a coffee cup) or other containers, when a simpleton like me can easily spot that they’re empty just by watching?

Sarah Jenkins
Sarah Jenkins
Lead Content Curator · Jan 17, 2026 · Updated Apr 13, 2026

Continuity, if they use real drinks in a clear glass, and the scene requires them to take a drink, they would have to refill the glass to the exact original spot for each take (and a film can do up to 10 takes for each scene). And the actors would have drunk an unholy of water by the end. It save…

74
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1 min
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The Short Answer

Continuity, if they use real drinks in a clear glass, and the scene requires them to take a drink, they would have to refill the glass to the exact original spot for each take (and a film can do up to 10 takes for each scene). And the actors would have drunk an unholy of water by the end. It saves a lot of trouble just to have them mime drinking from an empty cup.

Analysis

Key Concepts: Glass, scene, take

This explanation focuses on glass, scene, take and spans 74 words across 3 sentences. The depth is typical for Everyday Life questions (category average: 65 words), striking a balance between accessibility and completeness.

What This Answer Covers

The explanation opens with: “Continuity, if they use real drinks in a clear glass, and the scene requires them to take a drink, they would have to re” It then elaboratesultimately building toward a complete picture across 3 connected points.

How This Compares in Everyday Life

Ranked #176 of 500 Everyday Life questions by answer depth (top 36%). This falls in the detailed tier — above average depth. The explanation goes beyond surface-level but keeps things accessible.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is there a simple explanation for why movies/tv shows/commercials always seem to use empty opaque cups (i.e. a coffee cup) or other containers, when a simpleton like me can easily spot that they're empty just by watching?

Continuity, if they use real drinks in a clear glass, and the scene requires them to take a drink, they would have to refill the glass to the exact original spot for each take (and a film can do up to 10 takes for each scene). And the actors would…

How detailed is this explanation compared to similar Everyday Life questions?

This is an above-average answer at 74 words, ranked #176 of 500 Everyday Life questions by depth. The key concepts covered are glass, scene, take.

What approach does this answer take to explain movies/tv shows/commercials always seem to use empty opaque ?

The explanation uses direct explanation across 74 words. It is categorized under Everyday Life and addresses the question through 1 analytical lens.