The “Art” of Craft Service - How to Keep Your Production Running Smoothly
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Webinar hosted by: Lauren "Fluff" Lindsay
Craft Service Veteran
A craft service veteran with 30 years’ experience on 82 productions including Legends of the Fall, The Ford Mustang Super Bowl commercial, Clan of the Cave Bear, The Sea Wolf, Rocky IV, April Fools Day, The X-Files 2nd unit, Dr Who, Backfire, Sleepwalkers, Ticket Out, and The Highlander to name a few. Her experience includes high budget features and student films, as well as commercials and TV series. Restaurant owner, head chef, food truck vendor, and nutrition expert, she is a walking encyclopedia of Food Services. Youngest of 7 sisters, she was born on a farm on the Saskatchewan prairie. Her younger brother made up the family of ten at the table for every meal. The home kitchen ran like a well-oiled machine overseen by her mother. Self-sufficient pioneers for grandparents set the standard of food quality, preparation, and storage of “made from scratch” feasts as a day to day fact of life. Moving to the interior of British Columbia after school, she started cooking in a neighbourhood pub, which led to cooking in bush camps for 100 or more people. Her experience includes four years as the A chef at night for the Keg Restaurant, owner/operator of food vending trucks,and consulting for large crowd world class events. It was during the time she lived on Apex Alpine Ski Resort that the film production Clan of the Cave Bear arrived at the mountain. The craft service technician on that film hired her to assist in the craft department. In those days, craft was basically coffee and donuts. Lauren revolutionized the daily menu to include fresh fruits, vegetables, and healthy snacks to suit all diets including meat lovers, vegetarians, vegans, and diabetics. The crew showed their appreciation by voting her into the IATSE (International Alliance of theater and Stage Employees), and encouraged her to work on the next productions with them. It is the passion for good healthy FRESH food that has made her famous behind the camera. Today, as President of her company LL Services, she is consulting for film companies to hire and train craft service technicians. She has written an instructional manual detailing the work of craft service enriched with colorful day to day life on set stories. Full Bio »
Webinar Summary
Learn directly from 30 year veteran Lauren “Fluff” Lindsay, Key Craft Service on Legends Of The Fall (Brad Pitt, Anthony Hopkins), Rocky IV (Sylvester Stallone, Dolph Lundgren), and Sleepwalkers (Charlize Theron, Woody Harrelson)!
In this Stage 32 Next Level Webinar, your host Lauren Lindsay, will walk you through the details specific to managing and executing the job of providing nourishment to a working film crew in full production. In film, television, live theater or video production, Craft Service is a dynamic position which provides tray service around set, and buffet style foods and beverages to the other departments suitable to the environment on any given day or night.
Drawing from her vast experience on 82 productions, you will learn all the steps involved from getting hired, and knowing what is expected of you, to being successful working in this department. Her passion for fresh and healthy foods, which promotes a happy and productive crew, has made her famous behind the camera.
What You'll Learn
- History.
- Crafty has a history that dates back to silent film.
- Pre-Production.
- Getting hired.
- How to find out what productions are hiring in your area.
- Job Description.
- The butler at the elbow: the top 10 do's and don'ts.
- Long work hours, days and nights, the 24 hour clock.
- Daily duties.
- Production.
- The budget.
- Accounting / Petty cash problems.
- Your wage / benefits / time sheets.
- Script breakdown, shooting schedule, extras breakdown.
- The call sheet: everything you need to know about the day.
- Menu Planning / Shopping.
- Menu planning.
- Shopping for the fresh foods and dry goods.
- The environment, the number of people, the time of day.
- Working On Set.
- On set etiquette - timing is everything.
- Ready the craft truck for travel.
- Studio: controlled environment.
- Location shoots: unit moves.
- The Craft Truck: Ownership / Rental.
- Pro's and con's / company vs. individual.
- Tools of the trade.
- Licensed "kitchen on wheels".
- The Table.
- It's 50% presentation, 50% food quality.
- Pick up and go style.
- Wrap / Post-Production.
- Final wrap out for the show.
- Post-production duties.
- Recorded, in-depth Q&A with Fluff!
About Your Instructor
Lauren "Fluff" Lindsay
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