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  • Hey all, just changed over the backend after 15 years I figured time to give it a bit of an update, its probably gonna be a bit weird for most of you and i am sure there is a few bugs to work out but it should kinda work the same as before... hopefully :)

How did feeding crew become a standard in the industry

I think someone figured out that if you make sure that your crew is well fed they have more energy and better focus, therefore you work them harder and get better results.
 
Happens in the still world all the time and also other industries. Especially if you're burning the midnight oil.
 
Are you referring to craft services or full blown catering? Craft services started as a more generalized position and eventually became what it is today which is primarily tasked with providing crew snacks, drinks, cough drops, etc. This helps keep the crew moral up especially during long, grueling days.

Catering on the other hand provides those amazing spreads you see on the big jobs. There are some companies that really have that market cornered. It probably stemmed from the same reasons as craft services, although there was probably some "Hollywood" element to it. I can't say I know exactly when this started or who started doing it. But I have been on set for some really nice spreads. :-)
 
I can see craft services similiar to a break room with snacks at a big corporate company for moral etc. im curious if anything came because of unions in our industry. i agree with the longer day theory. having a standard 10-12 hrs min it seems like a benefit to the job just like a corporate job.

ps. if you are in a union, are you an independent contract or employee... ie do you have to get your own insurance etc
 
Michael Notar said:
I can see craft services similiar to a break room with snacks at a big corporate company for moral etc. im curious if anything came because of unions in our industry. i agree with the longer day theory. having a standard 10-12 hrs min it seems like a benefit to the job just like a corporate job.

ps. if you are in a union, are you an independent contract or employee... ie do you have to get your own insurance etc
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You have to qualify for insurance. It's a certain amount of work hours within a certain amount of time.
 
Also film crews are asked to go to remote locations or unfamililiar places all the time. Its faster and cheaper to just have the food ready to serve on the spot. Time is money.
 
If you are a no-low budget effort, if you don't feed your crew at least half decently, they'll start finding it elsewhere, your schedule will slip and you will be on your own next time.
 
I agree craft services and catering is good for promoting positive attitude but it's funny that they don't have that for construction industry/workers. They too end up in remote places on big jobs and they're lucky to have a snack truck pull up with goodies to buy.

Otherwise they carry those 'big ass' lunch boxes...ha, ha. Mmmm, their lunch boxes make me crave a ham sandwich...
 
I make sure people eat well (not pizza and junk). When people are treated with respect they work harder. It's common sense.
 
My milkshake brings all the boys to the yard... wait, that's not what I should serve. Scratch that.
 
I think it began originally after the first producer was lynched...
 
I work in advertising in Toronto - all the crews are non-union; well actually they all belong to one or the other union - but they don't work under union rules… scratch that, they work under union rules and get paid union scale but the work is non-union. Make sense???

Food on set is part of the deal - Crafty and catering is essential to keeping everything running on time & keeping everyone happy. Especially on hour 16...

G.
 
Jack Shanahan said:
Its faster and cheaper to just have the food ready to serve on the spot. Time is money.
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Yup

If you can keep staff on set it is quicker to get them back to work. There is no excuse for being late getting back from lunch... that, and some people just might not come back at all.
 
Also, there are rules in place to make sure producers don't push lunch and dinner breaks. Meal penalties add up quick. Especially when you are talking about a crew of 100 people. So, it's much easier to have the breaks well organized so you have full control over things.
 
Guys you gotta work for a cooking show. I am telling you catering plus cooking show food=twice the grub! I legit didn't go to a grocery store for like 9 months last year
 
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