Best food on set
- Thread starter Slimothy
- Start date
Trent_Lucid
Well-known member
Lasagna is generally a semi-quick and inexpensive way to feed a crew. Add some bread and a salad and everyone is happy.
kimko
Veteran
jeesh high budget people here. I talked to Tim while i was shopping at costco, hmm....nuff said, and who mentioned pizza ughhh! no way cold pizza sucks, need i explain? anybody that's been on a set knows what i mean. finger foods my friends and as healthy as possible. TIME T I M E IS... M O N E Y
Time is money, but nothing will stress your crew more than insufficient breaks and haphazard food services.
CRAFT SERVICES
Have a craft services area that is refreshed throughout the day. Doing this keeps energy up between meals.
If you go catered, specify individual waters, assorted juices, Gatorade-type drinks and good coffee service and tea packets based on consumption. Naturally, you can recruit someone to do CS. Keep fruit (bananas are king), nuts, energy bars, salty snacks, candy and drinks well-stocked all day long.
BREAKFAST
Fresh fruit, energy bars, individual yogurts, granola cereal, a vat of oatmeal with sides (raisins, brown sugar) is a good substitute for catered breakfast. Use this as the staple service and mix it up with one or two other offerings each day.
I've been on network and feature shows where breakfast burritos and greasy diner-style foods off the back of a catering truck marked the beginning of each work day. It seems like a great idea at 7:30, but the crew is just about dead from the results by lunch. Simple, whole foods are best in the morning when people are still waking up.
LUNCH
Meals should be hearty and there should be alternatives. Special foods (Kosher, vegetarian, allergic issues) should be sorted out in advance.
DINNER
Plan it well or cut the crew before you get there. Craftspeople get tired and dangerous beyond the 10th or 12th hour, regardless of what you've fed them all day long. So, if you're working long or splitting the call, have a real dinner rolled-in like you mean it.
Hastily ordered fast-food and endless pizza will eventually wear really thin with your hard-working crew and can actually cost more in the long run than healthy alternatives.
e
CRAFT SERVICES
Have a craft services area that is refreshed throughout the day. Doing this keeps energy up between meals.
If you go catered, specify individual waters, assorted juices, Gatorade-type drinks and good coffee service and tea packets based on consumption. Naturally, you can recruit someone to do CS. Keep fruit (bananas are king), nuts, energy bars, salty snacks, candy and drinks well-stocked all day long.
BREAKFAST
Fresh fruit, energy bars, individual yogurts, granola cereal, a vat of oatmeal with sides (raisins, brown sugar) is a good substitute for catered breakfast. Use this as the staple service and mix it up with one or two other offerings each day.
I've been on network and feature shows where breakfast burritos and greasy diner-style foods off the back of a catering truck marked the beginning of each work day. It seems like a great idea at 7:30, but the crew is just about dead from the results by lunch. Simple, whole foods are best in the morning when people are still waking up.
LUNCH
Meals should be hearty and there should be alternatives. Special foods (Kosher, vegetarian, allergic issues) should be sorted out in advance.
DINNER
Plan it well or cut the crew before you get there. Craftspeople get tired and dangerous beyond the 10th or 12th hour, regardless of what you've fed them all day long. So, if you're working long or splitting the call, have a real dinner rolled-in like you mean it.
Hastily ordered fast-food and endless pizza will eventually wear really thin with your hard-working crew and can actually cost more in the long run than healthy alternatives.
e
Shaun Patrick
Well-known member
just do everything through Costco....
Deli Meat Sandwich Platter
Veggie Tray with two types of dip
Fruit Tray
2 Loaves of Bread
Pita Chips
Granola Bars
Trail Mix
Water (48ct)
Sports Drink (24ct)
all for around $75 and it feeds a cast/crew of between 10-15 people
You can even add the Costco muffins...
You're golden...
"A well fed crew is a happy crew"
Deli Meat Sandwich Platter
Veggie Tray with two types of dip
Fruit Tray
2 Loaves of Bread
Pita Chips
Granola Bars
Trail Mix
Water (48ct)
Sports Drink (24ct)
all for around $75 and it feeds a cast/crew of between 10-15 people
You can even add the Costco muffins...
You're golden...
"A well fed crew is a happy crew"
Mythfit
Well-known member
overlandfilms said:
Everything Overland said, I just didnt want to quote the entire post.
Find the budget for decent craft services and someone to take care of the table throughout the day.
I can't stress this enough, especially when your not paying people, good food will keep moral up, keep people from bailing on a multi-day shoot, and even make it easier to recruit your crew the next time around.
My wife is studying cooking and does my CS, she always goes overboard, but I don't mind because I'm known for putting on a good spread, so when production time rolls around I have little trouble filling my roster.
Maybe they keep comeing back because they enjoy my winning personality, but I'm sure the food helps too.
TC
Resident Agitator
Definitely avoid fast food while your shooting.
Fresh stuff is always good. I usually do stuff like fruit, granolla bars and juice for breakfast. Then do sandwiches for lunch. Just set out bread meat, cheese, lettuce, etc. and let them make they're own.
If you've got someone who could cook while you shoot, than spaghetti is always a good idea. Easy, and super cheap.
I agree with John, TONS of water.
Fresh stuff is always good. I usually do stuff like fruit, granolla bars and juice for breakfast. Then do sandwiches for lunch. Just set out bread meat, cheese, lettuce, etc. and let them make they're own.
If you've got someone who could cook while you shoot, than spaghetti is always a good idea. Easy, and super cheap.
I agree with John, TONS of water.
imgentertainment@mac
The Reverend
Coffee lots of it, M&M's, and Beer when the day is done
kimko
Veteran
:thumbsup: almost, but i like newcastle and pistachios and one of those great cigars from Callaghans would do the trick. Chad and i did his sci-fi and ended with a good smoke and a vintage port. i doubt this short, that we're working on will be all that. but i'm glad TIM (slimothy) is on this project.:engel017: :thumbsup:ChuckS said:
insanityfw
Ban Me Please!
Lots of protien, but stay away from too much red-meat as much as possible. I love red meat, but serve it too heavy and you'll loose a couple hours while people are napping.
Costco has been mentioned and is wonderful. On one shoot we even bought the Costco salmon and cut it into small filets and threw it on a BBQ grill at the house we were shooting at. Served it with some salad and cold pasta...ta da...people were willing to go the distance because they had been well taken care of and fed really well. Also, it didn't cost but a few bucks a head.
Another good Costco dish is to buy there Crab meat in a can. It's about $13 a can, but then you buy their variety pack of pasta. 3 boxes for $10. Cook it the night before and let it cool. Add in a can of crab for each box and you've got a $50 ton of pasta that will feed a pretty good sized crew. if on a tighter budget grab some vacuum packs of Tuna fish and Salmon....uh, fish and substitute that for the crab. Better than most deli's and if kept on ice can be a staple for the whole day. Even better stir-fry some brocolli, bean sprouts, artichokes, etc. and thow that into the pasta. Now, you've got an amazing, balanced meal that will keep people moving and happy.
You can underwork them and over pay them, but don't even try to under feed them.
Good luck.
J.
Costco has been mentioned and is wonderful. On one shoot we even bought the Costco salmon and cut it into small filets and threw it on a BBQ grill at the house we were shooting at. Served it with some salad and cold pasta...ta da...people were willing to go the distance because they had been well taken care of and fed really well. Also, it didn't cost but a few bucks a head.
Another good Costco dish is to buy there Crab meat in a can. It's about $13 a can, but then you buy their variety pack of pasta. 3 boxes for $10. Cook it the night before and let it cool. Add in a can of crab for each box and you've got a $50 ton of pasta that will feed a pretty good sized crew. if on a tighter budget grab some vacuum packs of Tuna fish and Salmon....uh, fish and substitute that for the crab. Better than most deli's and if kept on ice can be a staple for the whole day. Even better stir-fry some brocolli, bean sprouts, artichokes, etc. and thow that into the pasta. Now, you've got an amazing, balanced meal that will keep people moving and happy.
You can underwork them and over pay them, but don't even try to under feed them.
Good luck.
J.