In film, television and video production, craft service refers to the department which provides food service and beverages to other departments such as camera, sound, electricians, grips, props, art director, set decorator, special effects, hair and make-up, background. These other departments are simply referred to as crafts. In addition to policing the set of empty cans and trash, the craft service department provides buffet style snacks and drinks.
There is a difference between craft service and catering. Craft service refers to the food always available to the crew while they are working, and can range from a single table of cookies, candy, cereal and coffee (on a low-budget indie feature), to more elaborate meals. Catering, on the other hand, is ordered from a restaurant or outside the company and handles the true meals like lunch and a second meal if the day goes over 12 hours. It is required that craft services supply a hot meal to the crew every six hours. Snacks and drinks are regularly supplied throughout the day along with the meals.
Craft service is a crew position and craft service workers are often represented by a union, the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE). In Los Angeles, craft service workers are represented by IATSE Local 80. In areas that have a large amount of production work, such as Atlanta, Georgia, there are well over 400 union represented "crafties." In smaller markets such as Minneapolis/St.Paul, there are only two. Certain productions will require that the worker be a union member, where others may not. Craft service is considered an entry-level position in film and television.
During meal time, food is often served to actors and directors first. The order in which you are served typically depends on the status of your position as a crew member. Production Assistants are served towards the end, followed by background actors then nonunion workers.
In the history of craft services, the job originally entailed doing odd jobs such as helping with set setup. People used to bring their own food to set since food was not typically being served for free, therefore craft services at this point did not involve the serving of food. In the mid-1960s, craft service employees still operated as general laborers. They had also been put in charge of answering telephones and making coffee. At Universal Studios, they had huge roll-around carts where they would brew coffee. These carts could be shut during takes so that the bubbling machines would not spoil a sound take. Studios now anticipate the needs of craft services and often make a kitchen available for the crew to use.
Typically there is one main table where the snacks and coffee are set up (which is simply called "crafty" or "the crafty table"). Occasionally there are two craft service stations, with one being for cast and crew and another for non-union background actors. A "satellite" crafty may be set up next to the camera, as they may not reasonably be able to leave their workstations to grab a snack from the crafty table, which may be located in another room. This smaller, scaled-down set-up may be on a rolling cart or on top of an apple box. It could consist of a few small baskets containing granola bars, dark chocolate, gum, aspirin, bananas and bottled water. The food provided can vary widely, due to fluctuating budgets; for example, pilots and low-budget productions often offer very limited food, while big-budget productions often offer generous food and drinks. Aside from snacks and beverages, crafty can also be the go-to place for bandages, aspirin, gum, antacids, toothpicks, hand sanitizer, sunscreen, and hand-warmers.
Crafty is the nickname given to the craft service workers. They are given radios to communicate with production and will respond to a call by saying "go for crafty." Craft service workers will bring the necessary equipment in order to prepare various snacks and beverages, such as skillets for quesadillas or a blender for smoothies. Any equipment brought with them is part of a kit that the production rents for the duration of the shoot.
The craft kit may include:
- Tablecloths
- Food nets
- Serving trays, bowls, platters and utensils, knives
- Scissors, tape, pens, clips, paper, labels, markers
- Baskets
- Markers, tape and paper for making signs
- Cutting boards and knives
- Slow cookers/food warmers
- Toasters
- Blenders
- Food storage containers/bags
- Coolers
- Ice packs
- Extension cords
- Coffee makers and thermal pots
- Hot water kettles
- Decaf coffee
- Basic first aid kits
- Basic medicines
- Toiletries
- Garbage cans
- Recycling cans
- Compost bins
- Garbage/recycling bags
- Hand sanitizer/wipes
- Dish soap
- Hand soap
- Spray cleaner
- Paper towels and cloths
- Food service gloves
- Wax paper, foil, plastic wrap
- A wide variety of hot teas, cocoa, apple cider, chai
- Sugar/sweeteners
- Hot bag
- Rolling cart
- 6 foot table
- 4 foot table
Craft service is usually the first to come to set and the last to leave. Although wage minimums are often set by the unions, the craft service worker is one of the lowest paid within any given production. Instead of hourly pay, most productions base wages on a day rate. This is often a set rate for 10 hours. Some productions may negotiate a 12 hour day, but this is circumstantial.
Video Craft service
See also
- Catering
Maps Craft service
References
- "Craft Services Keep Your Favorite Movie Stars Fed on Set." Spoon University, 20 Apr. 2017, spoonuniversity.com/lifestyle/history-craft-services. Retrieved 1 November 2017.
- Stamberg, Susan. "How Hollywood Gets Fed: A Lesson In Craft Service." NPR, NPR, 4 Mar. 2010, www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=124245252. Retrieved 3 November 2017.
Source of the article : Wikipedia
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