How did feeding crew become a standard in the industry

[Jason Rudd]

I've worked in construction, IT (SAN storage, networking), post production as an assistant editor, and as an AC and grip. There are other jobs out there that are far more grueling, but of the various trades I've worked in personally, the production crew jobs were indeed the toughest and longest hours. I'm not sure what "misconception" you're referring to. Please elaborate for us.

erm... whatever. Keep telling yourself that, dude.... It's a common misconception or attitude with many in this industry, so you'll fit right in. Not to say film work isn't grueling, because it can be, but puh-leeze...

 

[David Mullen ASC]

It has little to do with production worrying about how hard we work - it's all about TIME, TIME, TIME. You can't limit lunchtime to a half hour if people have to go get their own meals. You can try, but odds that people will stroll back late become very high. The costs per minute of shooting on a movie or TV series are very high, which is why it's such a big deal whether you break fifteen minutes late or go an hour more that day, etc. And some actor's salaries are so high that a lot of work has to be compressed into that shooting time, and with their guaranteed turnaround time of 12 hours, if you go longer than 12 hours per shooting day, your call time the next day will keep drifting later and later during the week if you have to start and finish with the same actor. If you have day exteriors to shoot in the winter later in the week, you will find yourself quickly running out of light if your call time has to be 10 AM or later because of accumulated turnaround time.

 

[Zakaree Sandberg]

it saves times, and ensures the crew will be there when your back in.
if not.. then you would have 30-100 people all scatter to go find lunch, and they would stagger back into work, causing a delay on the schedule..

keeping them all there saves time.. which in the end.. saves money

 

[Nathaniel Kramer]

Its called treating your peeps well, being civilized and its frigging shameful if you dont feed your fellows... It's also really nice to take a break and have a conversation with the folks you are working with.. Also, turn off the damn cell phones and stop texting and emailing.. Look at your comrades, and not at your smart phone!

 

[Elsie N]

Feeding crew is so 'Old Hollywood'... just give them 5 Hour Energies or Red Bull. They can get nutrition on their own time. '-)

 

[Mark Britton]

I also believe that feeding crew on film sets has more to do with saving time than most other reasons. But another thought: most jobs don't generally record audio while working.

I shall not name any names, but once upon a time, I was working on a feature as camera op. Scene: Kitchen, characters preparing supper. Second take on scene that needed time to reset the cooking after every take: Shot looked good, focus good, this might be the one...just after cut the boom operator turns to one of the crew members and asks, "Is there a bobcat in there?". A couple of crew stomachs growled mid take. Apparently several times. Ruined audio. Production promptly called for break, had craft get the onset crew fed pronto.

 

[Harry Clark]

I've worked in construction, IT (SAN storage, networking), post production as an assistant editor, and as an AC and grip. There are other jobs out there that are far more grueling, but of the various trades I've worked in personally, the production crew jobs were indeed the toughest and longest hours. I'm not sure what "misconception" you're referring to. Please elaborate for us.

I agree. Most folks in corporate jobs, and construction workers alike, work an 8 hour day. They likely start work after we do (where the 7:00 am call time is the norm) They finish WAY before us generally. They may work physically harder (particularly construction, steel erection, etc.) but NOWHERE near the hours we work. They often "report to" the same "location" every day, whereas we are usually scattered all over the map. Just getting to work is often a grind. "OK, next shot the camera is up on top of the hill there. HURRY." "Company move, push the handtrucks over nine blocks! HURRY". "Looks like we're going long today fellas. At least till midnight. HURRY".
I agree that there are a few professions that are tougher, with higher burnout, and worse conditions. But I actually think the misconception is that the film business is all fun and a great life with catered food.
Cheers,
Harry

 

[Tom Lowe]

Google has a cafeteria with free food. It's a nice way to keep people working more.

 

[M Most]

the insurance is based on a 600 hour per quarter qualifier , then 400 hours per quarter after that to stay in , most crafts insurance , through motion picture health and welfare program , are paid by the directors cut of residuals of dvd vhs sales ....

Your statement about the eligibility hours is correct. But the motion picture health plan is not funded by directors. It is funded by a combination of the employers' contribution (which is contractual) and residuals. Residuals in the actors, writers, and directors guilds are paid directly to the artist, but for IA members it's paid into a fund that is used to support the health and pension plan. So your statement about residuals funding the health plan is basically correct, but it has nothing to do with directors, actors, or writers, all of whom have their own health plan (although all of those, as well as the MPIPHP, are affiliated with the Motion Picture and Television Fund and all can use the facilities maintained by that organization).

 

[Michael Pyon]

positive psychology

 

[David Mullen ASC]

If one is doing an indie movie, there is a lot of psychological value in keeping the crew happy with food, since they aren't being paid much -- I'm reminded of the story about Kubrick directing "Killer's Kiss" and breaking early for the day when the crew started grumbling... the actress Irene Kane asked him why he never got mad at the crew or argued with them... he replied "Because nobody but me is going to get anything out of this picture."

 

[James_Mills]

Haven't gone through the thread to see if someone already wrote this, but...

The story I heard while at USC was that (it being Los Angeles and all) allotting a single hour for lunch and having everyone go get their own food was actually a LOT more expensive than just buying everyone lunch because all it takes a single person coming back late to ruin the whole shoot. Excuses like getting stuck in traffic etc. would cost studios thousands and thousands of dollars every single day and ruin shooting schedules.

 

[Curt Pair]

The other thing to look at is from the "client" (studio/production company) side... by allowing crew members to LEAVE the set, they run the risk of someone not returning to the set on time, which could cause OT if it's a key member of the crew. Even worse, what if they got into an accident. Further by having food on set, they control the time you break and return. This is perhaps the most important when, like others have said... time is money!

 

[Nick Wernham]

As others have said, it comes down to a combination of efficiency (not forcing people to leave set in order to procure food) and camaraderie. Giving people an opportunity to relax, enjoy a good meal which has been prepared for them hot and fresh and have a conversation with the people whom they work helps with morale and makes the work day go more quickly. Treating people well is a sure way to motivate them as well and they deserve to be appreciated for the effort they are putting into the art (or heck, even commerce... not that the two are mutually exclusive, but sometimes it is one or the other) being made.

As to what people are saying about how people in film work longer hours than people in other lines of work, I'd suggest that most successful people in any industry work a great deal more than the 40 hours that is often suggested. Indeed, I don't know anyone who is good at what they do who only turns in that number of hours on a regular basis. Every job done well requires hard work and commitment.