Craft service

In film, television and video production, craft service is the department which can assist other IATSE crafts.The craft service person can provide food and beverages to other departments such as camera, sound, electricians, grips, props, art director, set decorator, special effects, hair and make-up, background as part of the on production work. These other departments are referred to as crafts.^[1] In addition to clearing the set of trash, the craft service department provides snacks and drinks.^[2] Craft service workers are nicknamed "crafties". Crafts service is also an IATSE craft and the work is covered by a collective bargaining agreement.

Craft service is different from catering. Craft service refers to the food always available to the crew while they are working, and can range from a small supply of refreshments to more elaborate meals. Catering, on the other hand, is ordered from a restaurant or catering company and handles full meals like lunch and a second meal if the day goes over 12 hours. It is required that the producer supply a hot meal or break to walk away every six hours. Snacks and drinks are regularly supplied throughout the day along with the meals.^[3]

Crafts service is a crew position and crafts service workers are represented by a union. the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE). 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, and the craft service worker is usually one of the lowest paid on a production. If you are called "crafts or craft service" you would need to be an IATSE member.

In the history of crafts service, the job entails servicing the other union crafts. People used to bring their own food to set since food was not typically provided by the producers, therefore craft services at this point did not involve the serving of food. In the mid-1960s, crafts service people are general laborers on an active set. They had also been put in charge of answering telephones and making coffee. At Universal Studios, they used 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 be able to leave their workstations to grab a snack from the crafty table, which may be located in another room. Aside from snacks and beverages, crafty may also supply bandages, aspirin, gum, antacids, toothpicks, hand sanitizer, sunscreen, and hand-warmers.(non union only) As medics also members of LOCAL 80 provide, aspirin, sunscreen etc. Providing snacks is not "required" it is simply common business practice. Obviously water must be available and the crafts service department is responsible for set up and delivery of such.

See also

• Catering

References

• "[spoonuniversity.com/lifestyle/history-craft-services Craft Services Keep Your Favorite Movie Stars Fed on Set]." Spoon University, 20 Apr. 2017, . Retrieved 1 November 2017.