Are craft services and catering the same thing?

Craft service is different from catering; craft service refers to the food always available to the crew while they are working, while catering is provided by a catering company or a restaurant and handles full meals. In addition to snacks and drinks, the craft service department clears the set of trash.

How much does catering cost for a film?

The overall percentage spent on feeding the film is probably less than one might expect, however: A typical $3 million made-for-TV movie that shoots for three weeks might budget in $30,000 to $40,000 for catering, or a little over 1\% of total production cost.

Why is catering called craft services?

The history of craft service explains its interesting name. As technology advanced and jobs became more specialized, craft workers (people in certain departments) could no longer cross over between departments. People needed to be hired specifically to do the small, extra, but necessary tasks.

Do movie sets have catering?

There are two departments that provide sustenance for hungry film crews: catering and craft services. Catering handles the hot, sit-down meals that are usually served twice a day. Because the day usually starts around 7 a.m. on a movie set, this means lunch and dinner.

How many meals does a film set have?

As a rule, you should be prepared to provide a full meal every 6 hours. For example, if your shoot starts at 6AM, you should serve breakfast soon after, lunch at 12PM, then the next full meal at 6PM. Have some small snacks on hand as well, just in case your team gets the munchies in between full meals.

What food do you get on a film set?

Catering for film sets – craft services Pizza, sandwiches, fresh fruit, cookies, and veggies are all fair game. Designated for the “crafts”–grips, costume department, make up artists, filming crews–who might not have time for a sit down meal, you can find anyone on set munching the goods here.

What are catering and craft services in film?

Craft services is technically for the “crafts” — the grips, costume department, makeup artists, camera and lighting crew — who might not have time for a sit-down meal. Depending on the film’s budget, the goods served by catering and craft services can range from bare-bones to elaborate.

Does craft catering provide hot meals?

Craft services is a full time, full attention job and unless you are hiring a craft services and catering team then do not expect hot meals from craft. It is almost impossible for one person to take care of all of the food requirements on a set.

What are the goods served by catering and craft services?

Depending on the film’s budget, the goods served by catering and craft services can range from bare-bones to elaborate. For a low-budget, nonunion production, the craft services setup could easily be a single table manned by a production assistant serving only coffee, water and prepackaged snacks.

How do I budget for craft services?

Have a daily Craft Services budget that is fair: A lot of productions will try to work with a very unreasonable and low budget when it comes to craft services, count how many people need to be fed and allow enough money to cover that cost. A better fed crew is usually a harder working crew.