AKA The one-man band…
“To be effective, an army relies on good and plentiful food.” That little beauty is a quote from Napoleon Bonaparte; yep, that Napoleon. The short French guy that almost took over the world.
There are tons of films, books, and articles about the art of filmmaking, the gear used, and the business aspect of the film industry. Today, I will write about what is dear to me. Food. Yep, food. If you want to make an incredible indie film, feed your crew. Don’t hold back on the food. I’m talking food for the sound guy, the cameraman, the lonely PA, food for all, Not just a bunch of crap from the dollar menu, but good food. Their hard work for little pay, if any, will make your dream come true. You did the job writing the film, raising the cash, getting the actors, and scoring locations; now, make sure the crew gets a good meal. Okay, I know, money is tight, but if you have to get the shot, a full belly will make it much more manageable.
Here are just some quick pointers and tips if you’re lucky enough to have a crew-
Like I said earlier, stay off the dollar menu. Everyone knows what you’re up to. We’re all broke in the indie world.
Don’t secretly pick out the meat from a dish; then try to serve it to a vegetarian crew member.
Cough drops and Arco coffee is not a craft service. Plus, craft service on a three thousand dollar budget? Come at least some candy with name recognition and beef jerky in the van with an ice chest full of cold drinks. Oh, and some variety of chips, not just your favorite.
If you’re making sandwiches? Make a sandwich. But make an authentic sandwich with meat, cheese, lettuce, or whatever. We’ve all had the only mustard or catsup sandwich, period; starve yourself, but feed your crew.
Please don’t wait to feed the crew till they’re starving. Stop and eat. You want to avoid ending up like some poor Captain in a British Naval film. Hungry people have overthrown governments, much less film sets.
Eat together. Small and micro-budget indie films have no room for a caste system. Crew, talent and the guy you found just that day to unload the van are in this boat together. And let them eat, don’t try to impress them with your creativity by hogging the conversation.
But most of all, let them know that you care enough to make sure they get something good to eat. Ask them what they like, and see if you can score it. They are helping you for little or no pay. At least you can ensure they have something in their tummy.
That’s it for today – Lance.