Craft services cost

It sounds like you may need a bit more for food. It all looks good when you throw #'s at it, but the bottom line is can you feed 20 people, twice, for $100 a day.

I may not be possible, but try to double it. If not, head to Sam's and bargin shop your ass off.

One thing to remember. Show attention to dietary needs, but play no favorites. On a show of your budget, even coffee for the DP can raise the question "why him/her and not me."

Food keeps a crew
 
Do you have a way to cook and deliver hot food to the location? If so, Sam's club would be a good way to go. A couple of big pan lasagnas will go a long way, especially when you get 20 of them.
 
No lasagna

No lasagna

Hey,

What is Sam's Club? Never heard of it. Also, lasagna won't work for everyone. I have one crew member who cannot eat dairy. I probably will have craft service people preparing foods at home and bring to site where we're filming. Hopefully some at our church will want to lend a hand.

Chris
 
The exact same thing as BJ's, in case you have one of them. Never shopped at a Costco, but if you buy Mayonnaise by the gallon drum, toilet paper by the case, and orange juice in a 5 gallon bucket... that's the place.
 
Quit hacking into my purchase records.

Come to think of it, I'm almost out of mayonnaise.

Our Costco here has non-dairy/vegetarian (Vegan, I guess) bulk prepared foods - lasagna, even - I don't know if that's a regional thing, but maybe your local one (or whatever mass-quantity chain you have) will, too.
 
There's nothing else quite the same consistency, that comes in pressurized cans, with the right-sized nozzle.

It's not like I plan to ever run for public office; I can afford to have hobbies.
 
about the breakfast thing, every professional set i have worked on provides breakfast before the crew starts working. always a good thing to start on a full stomach. full stomach = happy. anyways am budgeting a film right now for a march shoot, 4 days and my food budget is at 1500. That includes 3 meals, because we plan on shooting 12+ hour days. and $100 a day for crafty. this is for about 25-30 people.

I have worked on sets where we were only getting fed once every 10 hours and it made it miserable, no one was happy. when the director asked me why the crew was working so slow on one day, i snapped back "because we haven't fu**ing eaten for 10 hours" he immediatly ordered food.

My point is food is the most important thing related to crew moral.
 
We just shot two of our episodes for our series and shot them both in one night each. We spent about $250 per night for a cast and crew of 15-20. We didn't provide "lunch" per se, nor did we break for lunch per se.
We provided hot and cold food. Sandwiches, lasagna, both vegie and meat. Chili, soup, fruits and snacks as well as a limited selection of soft drinks, coffee, tea, hot chocolate and water. Most of our cast and crew has a lot of experience in the film industry and everyone was very pleased. We never really had any leftovers, but we never ran out either.
we just purchased everything at costco as well as Smart and Final.
 
Hi;
Just to add to the catering and crafty table issue.

If you are planning to have more than pizza and tacos for your production and you are concerned with the dietary needs of your cast and crew, you will need to factor in some average prices.

Below is the prices of catering I have dealt with in the past 7 months:

(this is Midwest and Southwest only)

Breakfast per head at $6.00

Lunch / Dinner $12.00 per head

Crafty: figure $5.00 per head

so for 20 people,

$120.00 Breakfast

$240.00 Lunch / Dinner

$100.00 Crafty table

your daily food bill will be around: $460.00 (per day)
Then times that by how many days you are shooting.
(i.e.) 10 days x $460.00 = $4,600.00

If you need an extra meal because of working 14 to 16 hours, add anothe $12.00 per person per day.

this is just a guideline that I use.

Maybe you can strike a deal with some local restaurants and get some sponsors.
Hope this helps.
 
bountyhunter said:
Hi;
Just to add to the catering and crafty table issue.

If you are planning to have more than pizza and tacos for your production and you are concerned with the dietary needs of your cast and crew, you will need to factor in some average prices.

Below is the prices of catering I have dealt with in the past 7 months:

(this is Midwest and Southwest only)

Breakfast per head at $6.00

Lunch / Dinner $12.00 per head

Crafty: figure $5.00 per head

so for 20 people,

$120.00 Breakfast

$240.00 Lunch / Dinner

$100.00 Crafty table
Click to expand...

Geez, I guess i was about "spot on".
$250. for 20 people.
 
Craft services sometimes called "crafty" is a "snack table" loaded with fruits, snacks, sandwiches, coffee, soda pop, water, ice and gatoraid etc, etc. it is always on the set. someone will be in charge of it to make sure they buy everything needed and to keep it clean and help with the drinks etc.
this keeps the crew going through the day (or night)

Catering is when you eat the "meal" Breakfast, lunch or Dinner. The caterer comes in with pre-cooked food or they prepare it on site, tables are set up and everyone eats.

the cast and the production crew will eat before any extras that are on set. usually starting with the Director, producers production staff and the talent then, the crew (sometimes depending who has to do what first) maybe set dresses or grips etc but, the extras or "day players" will be last to eat.
 
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