What Is Craft Service On A Movie Set?

On a film set, there are two different departments that handle food for film crews – catering and craft service. Craft service is the department that makes sure that food and beverages are always available throughout the work day for cast and crew members, inbetween the hot plated meals served by the catering department.

Craft service typically provides a spread of coffee, water, and prepackaged snacks at a designated food and drink area. As the budget for craft service increases, the snacks become more elaborate, including treats such as sushi, made-to-order sandwiches, gourmet salads, and more.

Television and film production can consist of 12-16 hour days (sometimes even longer), so having food and drinks readily available can help ease the stress of those long work hours. Members of the craft service department help ensure a good film production experience by frequently restocking refreshment stations, discarding expired and stale food, and cleaning up the area. They can also help deliver snacks and water to cast and crew members who are unable to get it themselves.

Craft service is one of the most important departments on set because staying hydrated and having snacks to consume inbetween catered meals helps restore energy and focus to the film crew.

Watch this video below to learn more about why craft service is so important:

“Feeding Staff and Crew at Your Video Shoot – Craft Services” by Bill Rolland

In Nevada, we have several companies that provide continuous on-set craft service for a wide range of productions. Some of their credits include Jason Bourne, The Trust, and The Hangover, amongst many other major feature film productions. Other credits include providing craft service for television productions like Entourage and Tanked, as well as commercials and photo shoots for Sports Illustrated, Nike, and more.

If you are looking for craft service for your next production, check out our online Nevada Production Directory for a list of craft service companies in Nevada or drop by our office and pick up a free printed directory!

If you offer craft service in Nevada and are not yet listed in our Nevada Production Directory, you can learn more about how to sign up for the NPD here.

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