When the 1st AD has to decide
Around the tenth or eleventh hour, the 1st AD and UPM look at what's left and make a call. If the remaining work fits before second meal comes due, the company pushes to wrap. If it doesn't, catering needs warning, usually several hours ahead, and the 1st AD picks a sensible break point.
California's wage order puts it plainly: a subsequent meal period must be called not later than six hours after the termination of the preceding meal period. SAG-AFTRA's theatrical rules for performers say the same, with the same penalty schedule as lunch ($25 for the first half hour late, $35 for the second, $50 for each half hour after that). The wage order also requires hot meals and hot drinks for employees working after midnight, except off-production staff regularly scheduled then.
The arithmetic on a long day
Crew call 6:00A.
| Event | Time |
|---|---|
| Crew call | 6:00A |
| Lunch called | 12:00P |
| Back in (30 min last man) | 12:40P |
| Second meal due | 6:40P |
| Estimated wrap if no break | 7:30P |
The company is 50 minutes short. Pushing through means second meal penalties for everyone still working after 6:40P, for about two half hours each. Breaking at 6:40P for 30 minutes pushes wrap to about 8:00P, which runs deeper into overtime and cuts into turnaround before the next call.
So the choice is between penalties and a later wrap. On a union show with a 6:00A call tomorrow, a 10-hour turnaround from an 8:30P crew wrap (camera wrap at 8:00P plus packing up) means nobody can be called before 6:30A. The turnaround calculator shows the knock-on effect, and the meal penalty calculator prices the penalties.
What shows up on paper
The 2nd AD records the second meal times on the daily production report and, for SAG-AFTRA performers, on Exhibit G. If different groups broke at different times, like second unit or cast released early, each group's times go down separately.
Common mistakes
Not warning catering. A second meal called with no food ordered ends with pizza arriving 45 minutes into the break.
Assuming wrap time is the last shot. Crew keeps working for wrap after the last take, and that time counts toward the meal clock too. Electric wrapping cable at 7:15P after a 6:40P due time is still owed a meal.