
Healthy fruit smoothies can be just the thing to energize your crew in the middle of a hot summer exterior day. Don’t forget to ask for staples like bagels and coffee. Bakeries, bagel places especially, have to get rid of their day old stuff and often give trash bags full of bagels out to whoever asks first.
How do you feed your movie crew good food?
Send thank you cards and post on social media pictures of your crew enjoying their food. With these tools in your producing tool belt, you are on your way to feeding that hungry crew good food without taking a huge chunk out of your budget. Now go forth and make movie magic!
What are the best tips for outdoor filming?
Here are some tips that I try to keep in mind when filming outdoors. 1. Make use of the sun during the middle of the day. Now, I’m not saying avoid the middle of the day all together, but rather that you pick your spots.
How can I ensure my film has great meals?
We put together a list of guiding principles for ensuring your film has great meals—and a happy crew! The most important rule for serving food on set is that there should always be enough— more than enough. No crew member should ever be concerned about taking seconds. And no producer should ever, ever, consider rationing.
What are the short film crew positions?
Short film crew positions include 2nd AC A 2nd Assistant Camera, aka 2nd AC, is a part of the camera team and is responsible for tracking and maintaining camera gear and accessories such as camera lenses, building camera rigs, and operating the clapboard.

What should I feed my crew?
Hot breakfast is one way to make a great first impression. That means you should go beyond donuts; eggs, sausage, bacon, hashbrowns, oatmeal, and bagels (with a toasted option) are all excellent menu items for starting your shoot on the right foot. Keep your crew happy from hour one!
How do you feed a movie crew?
3:224:43Feeding Your Film Crew - BEST Craft Services TIPS - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipSo don't forget it's not just food it's all the supplies that you need to make sure everybody canMoreSo don't forget it's not just food it's all the supplies that you need to make sure everybody can eat final tip is keep it clean so kind of clean as you go.
What do you call food on a film set?
Catering handles the hot, sit-down meals that are usually served twice a day.
What do you need in a film crew?
Let's break down some of the most common above the line film crew positions:The Director. The Director provides the guiding creative vision for a production. ... The Producer. ... The Executive Producer. ... The Principal Cast. ... The Casting Director. ... The AD Department. ... The Art Department. ... The Camera Department.More items...
What food do actors eat on set?
The Hollywood Diet: 8 Foods Celebrities Eat on SetSalmon. Salmon | iStock.com. ... Fruit. Blueberries | iStock.com. ... Chips. Chips | iStock.com. ... Protein-Packed Snacks. Beef jerky | iStock.com. ... Salad. Salad | iStock.com. ... Cookies. Cookie bars | iStock.com. ... Lobster. Lobster | iStock.com. ... Everything in sight. Chicken | iStock.com.
What do you feed a work crew?
Packs of snack crackers, chips, cookies, and nuts are fun, and they are easy for crew members to stash in their pockets in grab-and-go settings. Here again, options are your friend. Look for large variety packs of chips so your people can choose the kind they like best.
Who eats first on a film set?
At the end of the day, time is money, which is why union crew members eat first, as well as background actors who are members of the Screen Actors Guild (SAG). Both SAG and IATSE workers are required to take 30 minutes of lunch, and the timer starts when the last union member is served.
What is crafty food?
Crafty is a service which provides food on set, particularly when there is not enough room in the production schedule to constantly be leaving set to get food or beverages.
Are actors fed on set?
At least one person has died from doing the finger gun thing with a prop weapon on the set of a TV show. Twenty-six-year-old actor Jon-Erik Hexum starred in Cover Up, a CBS action show in which he played an elite military operative/spy/male model. One filming day in October 1984 was fraught with shooting delays.
What makes a good film crew?
A good crew member… Is concerned with making the film as great as possible even if it means shooting late. Is more concerned with making a film than getting lunch, eating snacks, taking breaks. Is able to admit when he/she has made a mistake. Will offer help to other crew members once their work is complete.
How much do film crews make?
The salaries of Film Crews in the US range from $17,360 to $35,780 , with a median salary of $21,490 . The middle 60% of Film Crews makes $21,490, with the top 80% making $35,780.
Who is the most important person on a film set?
The Director is in control of all creative aspects of the film. They are the primary person responsible for the storytelling, creative decisions and acting of the film. The 1st Assistant Director is in charge of basically running the set.
Do actors eat on set?
Actors eat real food in the scenes, but they're not swallowing every bite. Since multiple takes are required to get the scene just right, actors spit the food into a bucket between takes.
Do they feed you on set?
They consume actual food, but the actors don't eat it all at once. Each take is different, therefore actors are instructed to dump their food into an empty bucket between takes. As a result, Hollywood would look considerably different if every actor ate every morsel of food.
Who eats first on a film set?
At the end of the day, time is money, which is why union crew members eat first, as well as background actors who are members of the Screen Actors Guild (SAG). Both SAG and IATSE workers are required to take 30 minutes of lunch, and the timer starts when the last union member is served.
How do you cater a movie set?
Catering for film sets - craft services. Keep caterers away from the craft services table. ... Buy food in bulk. Buy supplies in bulk from wholesale market. ... Dietary needs. Account for allergies and diets. ... Healthy Snacks. ... Be a creative crafty. ... Follow instructions to the letter. ... Always back stock. ... Don't forget the non-foods.
What are some good snacks to eat on a crew?
Healthy options are a must on every table. Options like apples, bananas. and packaged granola or protein bars provide extended energy that will last through the day, and allow health conscious crew members to snack guilt-free.
What does it mean to have an assistant make a run to a sub shack?
— Letting the crew choose what they like lets them know that they are valued as individuals. It allows them to choose something they like, and lets them manage their own portion sizes.
How to keep helpers happy?
So, the best way to keep your helpers happy and highly productive is to feed them well. It doesn’t matter whether you are working with paid professionals or video volunteers, you’ve got to take care of the people who are taking care of your production . But, take heed, because not all foods are equally effective in placating this sort ...
Food is Political: Work it in Your Favor
Pete Sestina, a Los Angeles-based Producer/Director who, over the course of his career, has had to either personally or bureaucratically feed a lot of different crews, provides the most essential nugget of wisdom on feeding your crew.
Food is Nutritious: Don't Let the Crew Crash
If it’s your job to feed your crew for a long day, why not feed them in a way that boosts their performance? Yes, water and coffee are must-haves, but that’s not going to sustain a 14-hour day. While donuts might satisfy tastebuds, their sugar-laden simple carbohydrates will cause a crash later in the day.
Budgeting: Know the Costs Without Breaking the Bank
It’s not often discussed, but food will take up a higher percentage of your budget the lower your budget is. This incredible budget breakdown by 4Filmmaking shows how much food typically costs at different budget levels. Food might take up 20 percent of a $1,000 production budget, but may not scratch one percent of million dollar budget.
What to eat for a first impression shoot?
Hot breakfast is one way to make a great first impression. That means you should go beyond donuts; eggs, sausage, bacon, hashbrowns, oatmeal, and bagels ( with a toasted option) are all excellent menu items for starting your shoot on the right foot. Keep your crew happy from hour one!
How to keep crew happy?
A great way to keep crew happy is by showing how considerate you can be. Including thoughtful details with the meals will do wonders to boost morale. It can be as simple as adding avocado to the salad or bringing out a fun dessert after lunch. If you know a day is going to be hard, consider planning a fun surprise snack like cookies or hot chocolate. In that vein, also consider when morale is more important than health. Sometimes, especially on an overnight, items like Redbull and candy can win you major brownie points.
How to serve a meal on set?
Keep it hot and punctual. The only right way to serve a meal on set is hot and on time. It’s a difficult balance to strike, but a necessary one. Paying attention to timing is crucial.
How to make crew happy on set?
And no producer should ever, ever, consider rationing. The best and simplest way to make your crew happy is by keeping them constantly fed. And not only with plentiful food, but with quality food. So despite the fact that it might appear to be an easy budget cut, think long and hard before minimizing your meal allotment.
Can a crew survive on lettuce?
However, a crew cannot survive on lettuce alone. The physical work of set is extremely demanding and you will need to meet that demand with hearty and energizing meals.
Can crew leave half empty water bottles?
They also create mess; crew is wont to leave unmarked half-empty bottles all over set. One way to curb this issue is to buy the mini bottles, so they’re more likely finished than forgotten. Some sets are “green,” and crew members are encouraged to bring their own reusable water bottles.
Is it better to eat crafty or mealtime?
A perishable item that will go quickly is fine, such as a pumpkin pie, but bulk foods like chicken salad (or anything with mayonnaise) should be saved for mealtime only. Avoid anything that creams, curdles, dusts, or requires assembly. You don’t want Dorito dust on your lenses, do you?
What should you ask everyone before production starts?
Asking everyone what they prefer before production starts is an even more complete plan. Craft service food choices are limited by the general requirement that everything should be finger food, easy to eat on the fly. The snacks you select need to encourage sharp attention and high energy.
What is the best way to shoot a sandbox?
Let’s start with drinks. Water is the most obvious choice here. But plan on enough water to get everyone through the day, with attention to the environment you are shooting in. Hot days and high humidity demand more water than cooler locations. Having enough ice to cool drinks throughout the shooting day is important.
Do low budget productions have extras?
Extras are a potential challenge. Typically, low-budget productions do not plan to feed extras, but might still ask them to wait around for hours on end. Regardless of budget, you should plan to have drinks for extras at the minimum.
Is it a loss of time to eat pizza in a movie?
Some of the key problems and challenges may be solved in a conversation or brainstorm that happens at mealtime. Meals are not “lost time.”. They are an investment in keeping everyone able to focus on making the movie. There is one unwritten rule: Pizza may be served exactly once in any shoot.
Is it important to have ice during shooting?
Having enough ice to cool drinks throughout the shooting day is important. Sometimes a cold drink in the 10th hour of shooting is more critical than at the beginning of the day. Craft services (and meal service) are areas where productions can easily generate a lot of waste.
Is it important to feed the crew on the last day of shooting?
Either way, feeding the crew on that last extra day is probably more important than other days. Everyone has been giving their all. Everyone has been through some long days or nights of shooting, and this is the final push. It’s not the day for pizza (unless it’s gourmet, sit-down pizza).
What lens do you use to film outside?
Be sure to take advantage of focal length. You can do this easily by using prime lenses, particularly wide-angle lenses such as a 21mm or 28mm.
What does an ND filter do?
An ND Filter can make a huge difference in getting a shot and not getting a shot in the brightness of day. If you’re not sure what a ND Filter does, fret not. We can explain that for you. Image from Luke Pamer. When filming outside, the brightness of the sun can completely overpower your shot.
What can you use the middle of the day for?
The middle of the day can also be used to great extent in timelapse video. For instance, you can see several shots from this short film by Rustad Media where the middle of the day sun helps to create some really great imagery. 2. Use the sun as a backlight.
Can you film outdoors?
You’d think that filming outdoors would be a pretty simple thing to pull off. However, all of the same concerns you have on a controlled set will pop up when you’re working outdoors, and chief among those concerns is lighting. And, as we should all know by now — visual storytelling is all about lighting.
Can you use light in a film?
A good filmmaker knows exactly how to use light to enhance their image and elicit a mood. But you just can’t move the light around outdoors like you can on a soundstage. No, you have to get creative with your shots and really pay attention to the sun and its placement in the sky and use it effectively.
Rain
First things first, you’ll want to check the weather reports for the day (or few days) ahead. If harsh rain is predicted, you’ll need to review your schedule and either make a few changes or postpone for another time accordingly.
Wind
To combat gusty winds consider investing in a set of stabilisers for your kit; not only will this help to create a more stable and focused picture, it will significantly reduce the risk of damaging you camera should it hit the ground.
Heat
In hot conditions your tech might overheat; especially if it is exposed to the sun for prolonged periods of time. To ensure that this isn’t an issue, make sure that, at the very least, you pack a cloth to help block out the sun and always be mindful of how long you’ve left your equipment in direct sunlight.
Batteries
While batteries can be expensive, they are a crucial addition should your camera’s power supply deplete. Prior to leaving, pack a couple of sets of extra batteries and check that they are fully charged.
Spare Cables
You should also plan ahead by assessing your critical cables. Are there any that could potentially stop your shoot if they became damaged? If so, purchase a few spares so you can keep the cameras rolling.
Tools & Accessories
You can never truly predict what’s going to happen at any given time. Who knows, somewhere along the line your equipment may become damaged, and in need rapid repair.
Author Bio
This article was written on behalf of GripUp.com. The one stop shop for all your video camera and DSLR needs.
What is a caterer in a movie?
Film sets typically have catered meals during the lunch break, and the Caterer, aka Head Caterer if they are running a team, is in charge of preparing and laying out the hot food for the cast and crew. A caterer may prepare separate meals for cast or crew with allergies or dietary restrictions.
What is a casting director?
The Casting Director organizes and manages the casting process for a film. This can involve holding casting calls and auditions, orchestrating and receiving taped auditions, or coordinating with talent who may not be required to audition. The Director and Producers review the talent put forth by the Casting Director for hiring consideration. If you are interested in casting, we have a guide on how to become a Casting Director that can get you started in the right direction.
What is a crafty movie?
Craft services, aka crafty, is an arrangement of foods and drinks available throughout the day on a film set. Crafty is typically snack foods or simple food items and is separate from the hot meals provided by catering.
What is the role of an art director in a short film?
The art director is also responsible for visible signage on set and for breaking down a script for key props and decorations, often times with the assistance of the 1st AD.
What is the role of costume designer in film?
There are many different departments in film production. The Costume Designer is the head of the wardrobe department and is responsible for matching costumes to characters that appear on screen. This includes the wardrobe for principal talent and can include the wardrobe worn by extras as well.
