Craft service
I have a sincere question for you. If I, as an underpaid writer on-set, have an issue with craft services, who should I complain to? The studio head? The star? The city health department?
–Lopa Mukherjee
A substantial portion of our readership is asking, "Wow, you’re
a writer, and you were allowed on the set?"
But seriously-and I guess your question is serious-the person to talk
with is the line producer or
unit production manager, who is ultimately responsible for hiring and
firing each of the different departments, such as craft service.
For those who have never been on a film or television set, there’s a
difference between catering and craft service. Catering handles the true
meals like lunch (which occurs six hours after the start of the day’s
filming, even if that means 2 a.m.) and second meal (which occurs six
hours later, if the crew hasn’t finished the day’s work). Catering is
a sit-down hot meal that lasts either 30 minutes or an hour, unless the
crew is working "French hours" (also called "Northwest
hours" in Seattle and Vancouver), in which case the meal is brought
to the set, and people eat whenever they get a chance.
Craft service is the food that is always available to the crew while
they’re working, and can range from a single table of cookies, candy,
cereal and coffee (on an low-budget indie feature), to an elaborate macrobiotic
spread with organic vegetables and sushi (on CHARLIE’S ANGELS).
Food is the source of half the complaints on any given production, so smart producers will often pay a little more to get top-notch caterers and craft service people. But within any price range, there are better and worse people for the job, so if one craft service guy isn’t cutting it, a different one should be hired.
(Originally posted in 2003.)
Articles
July 24th, 2005 at 11:31 am
How do I get started in cratf service and how do I set up a price list.
September 14th, 2005 at 9:50 am
the question you have below!! how do I strarted in craft service and how do I set a price list
March 13th, 2007 at 6:32 am
if there is a problem with crafty, go to the upm, he or she should address the issue,with crafty,if not resolved the upm should fire them,bottom line is to hire a experinced foreman n crew like myself ncrew,we are in the IL film directory and do travel.
January 17th, 2008 at 6:55 pm
I recently got started doing craft, but not by choice. I finished film school about a year and a half ago and have been interning and PAing on low budget indies. Many a time working on low budget gigs there is never anyone hired on to do craft, therefor a lowly PA will be given the task of craft. If you meet enough people in your town and they see you doing craft they will take note. Also if you have a website for the film community, such as in my state the Minnesota film and tv board, you can contact all of your local producers, production managers, and coordinators and let them know you are open for business. The biggest thing is to have a well equipped kit, ie coffee makers, hot water kettle, bowls, serving platters, etc., as you probably already know. I happened upon it through networking. I got my first job, did a kick ass job and got the rest of my jobs through word of mouth. As far as your rate goes….. start talking to people in town and ask them what the “standard” is and go from there. I started at $200 a day, but that’s because I had a great reference from the start. Usually, in Minnesota $175 is the standard for 10. If you have any other questions let me know….. I’ll be doing craft for a while, oh, and if you want to come to Minnesota, there is a huge shortage of crafty, so you’re more than welcome.
January 26th, 2008 at 8:58 pm
Hello my name is Anthony and I have done freelance work doing catering craft services for David’s craft services doing a film movie called Law and order. I would like to know about more websites to look at in the New York, New Jersey, Brooklyn, Queens,Long Island and Connecticut area’s. Again thank you for taking the time to read my information letter it was very much appreciated.