What the job covers
People on set call the department "crafty." The craft service person is usually a one or two person team with a truck or a van, folding tables, coolers, coffee urns, and a lot of paper towels. They set up the craft table as close to set as the 1st AD and location allow, and they keep it stocked from crew call to wrap. The meals themselves come from catering; see the craft services glossary entry for how the two split on the call sheet.
Beyond food, crafty picks up trash around the set, keeps water in reach during hot exteriors, and on many shows walks a tray to the camera and sound crews who can't leave their positions during a long setup.
Prep: a small department with a lot of shopping
Prep for craft services is short. A few days before the shoot the craft person gets the crew list, headcount by day from the 2nd AD, dietary notes, and the location list. The dietary notes matter more than people expect. A crew list that says two people are vegan, one has a tree nut allergy, and a cast member doesn't eat gluten changes the shopping list and how the table is labeled.
Shopping for the first week usually includes:
| Category | Examples |
|---|---|
| Coffee and tea | Urns, beans or ground coffee, milk and oat milk, sweeteners |
| Cold drinks | Water cases, sparkling water, electrolyte drinks for hot days |
| Dry snacks | Nuts (labeled), bars, chips, candy |
| Fresh | Fruit, cut vegetables, yogurt, sandwiches for the afternoon |
| Hot items | Breakfast burritos, quesadillas, soup on cold nights |
| Supplies | Plates, cups, napkins, sunscreen, hand sanitizer, trash bags |
A day at the craft table
On a 6:00 a.m. crew call, crafty arrives at 5:00 or earlier to get coffee going. Many shows serve a catered breakfast at base camp, but the craft table is where camera assistants grab coffee on the way to set. Around 10:00 a.m. a hot item goes out. Lunch is catered, and craft uses that hour to restock and move the table if there is a company move. The afternoon brings the second hot item, and if the day goes long and a second meal is called, crafty helps get it to set. Wrap for craft service comes after the last crew member has left the table and the area is clean.
On a night exterior the schedule flips. A 5:00 p.m. call means soup and hot drinks after midnight, and a lot more coffee at 3:00 a.m. than at 3:00 p.m.
Budgeting the table
Productions budget craft services per shoot day. Here is a worked example for an indie feature with 30 crew and an average of 6 cast per day over 18 shoot days, using a food and drink allowance of $12 a head (use your own local prices):
- Daily headcount: 30 + 6 = 36
- Food and drinks per day: 36 x $12 = $432
- Over 18 days: 18 x $432 = $7,776
- Add the craft person's day rate, a kit or box rental, and prep and wrap shopping days
Extras days need their own line. A day with 80 background actors needs water and snacks in the holding area, even when background eats a separate lunch. See the film budget template for where the line usually sits.
Who craft services works with
- The 2nd AD, for daily headcount, background numbers, and call times
- The caterer, so hot items don't duplicate lunch
- The location manager, for where the table can go and what the owner will allow on the floors
- The set medic on hot days, since hydration is a safety concern as well as a comfort
- Transportation, if the craft truck needs to move with the company
Getting the job
Non-union craft service is a common first job in the industry. It requires a car, a food handler card where local health rules require one, and a willingness to be up before everyone. On union shows in Los Angeles, craft service is an IATSE Local 80 classification. Contract Services lists Local 80 (Grips/Crafts Service & First Aid) among the unions covered by its Industry Experience Roster, which signatory producers use to find people with qualifying experience. Local 80 posts rates and availability for craft service on its site.
Paperwork and tools
Receipts, a petty cash envelope or a production card, a petty cash log, a kit rental form, and time cards. Storiara's Cast & Crew module stores each crew member's phone number and email, which helps when a craft person has to chase allergy notes for the week.