Everything I Know About Craft Services and Meal Breaks for Ultra Low-Budget Filmmaking
You have to spend money. But that’s okay. Aim for easy to set up, keep fresh, plenty of options, choices that won’t take time from production, and easy to clean up.
If you know anyone with a bulk warehouse store membership, you can get a good variety but make sure you’re doing the math on each purchase. They’re not always the cheapest option. Grocery Outlet, Big Lots, ALDI, and other discount stores might not have consistent stock but they’ll always have interesting variety at good prices. Also check out ethnic markets where fruit and vegetables are often much cheaper.
Don’t be afraid of coupons.
Buying bulk items instead of individually wrapped might save you money but large bowls or bags of shared foods are prone to grubby hands and can quickly go stale. However you can buy in bulk and portion out the items yourself using snack size baggies.Â
Speaking of grubby hands, a few bottles of pump action instant hand sanitizer by the table won’t hurt either. Set up a clear place for garbage and recycling.
Caterer Danielle Wilson and crew journeyman Mark Ilvedson:
"I did a horrible movie under very trying conditions on location in the middle of nowhere and the only thing that kept things going is we had semi decent craft services and hot catered meals. If it wasn’t for that, I swear to God the movie would have fallen apart. It would have been mutiny,” Ilvedson says. Don’t risk mutiny.
"The most important aspect of my job is coffee and water,” says Wilson. “Coffee is a necessity for working those kind of hours.” A water bottle tip: get the tiny bottles. Otherwise, you’ll find half drunk bottles of water everywhere. Crew members can’t keep track of their water bottles.”
Ilvedson recounted when he was sent out holding a production person’s credit card: “I literally had $3,000 worth of food that I was trying to buy for this shoot and they wouldn’t take the card. Always take cash."
Before production send out an email to your cast and crew — ask about allergies and preferences.
If you are the director and producer, give all of the foodresponsibilities to someone else. I actually recommend you have at least one crew member who’s sole job is crafty and meals. Talk through everything with them before hand. Don’t underestimate how important this job is.
3-time Emmy winning Chuck Peter’s on what to feed your crew:
The goal isn’t merely to provide caloric fuel, but to offer appealing options. Set up a 6 or 8-foot table, and plan to fill it with a wide > range of savory selections.
Select foods that will stay fresh and appealing all day. Healthy options are a must on every table. Individually packaged variations are a good option, and any extras can be saved for future shoots. 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. It is extremely important that your crew stay hydrated throughout the day. Plan to have 3-4 bottles of cold water per crew member each day, and encourage everyone to partake. Letting the crew choose what they like lets them know that they are valued as individuals.
Don’t underestimate the boost you can get late into the night or in the middle of a long afternoon by feeding the sweet tooth. It’s always a good idea to offer the option of a little caffeine buzz.
Instead of spending a fortune on individually crafted drinks, buy a box of coffee or set up your own coffeemakers with a variety of non refrigerated creamers, flavored syrups, and sweetener packets for options.
In certain conditions provide the option for hydration and electrolytes with some electrolyte water or Gatorade. Use Sharpies for people to write their names on cups or bottles.
Make it look nice, keep it organized.Â
Feature the healthy and protein rich items like fruits and nuts. Don’t be afraid to reserve some snacks for later in the day, a simple mind game but it has a positive impact on the cast and crew going.
The Guerrilla Film Makers Handbook by Chris Jones & Genevieve Jolliffe:
Concentrate on foods that are easy to prepare, cheap to produce, and fast to distribute and clear. Draw of a list of meals and outline them in a schedule. This will allow certain meals to be rotated.
Qdoba caters and the Hot Naked Burrito Bar is fantastic for meat eaters as well as vegetarians, vegans, and gluten free. Your cast and crew can mix the options the way they want. Set your time and they’ll arrive, set it up in chafing dishes, and provide you with napkins, disposable cutlery, and serving utensils. Fast and easy.
Speaking of which, check out 9 Ways to Feed A Hungry Film Crew For Free.
Key personnel should be able to eat first and have drinks brought to them.
Print out a menu for the shoot so the cast and crew know they’ll be provided for. It also gives everyone something to look forward to on those hard days.
You probably can’t afford to please everyone. Do all you can, show them you care, it will go a long way to getting the best out of everyone so you can finish the film. Good luck!
(images from my blog Celluloid and Leftovers. yeah, I know, the crafty of your dreams.)
