Doug Kreitz, a guest instructor for digital photography and digital video production at the Palo Alto Media Center, can tell you what type of pizza the lighting crew and stars of the Big Bang Theory eat. Kreitz was a VIP visitor on the set.

Photo Credit: Palo Alto Media Center featuring Doug Kreitz

Besides in-field production sound tips about lapel mics versus shotgun mics, I learned so much more than 3-point lighting for interviews. The key? Craft services. As an emerging student producer of videos, your reputation is built on how you treat your crew, how well you plan your shots beforehand out of consideration to said crew, and how you act as an ambassador when talent recruiting and location scouting.

Photo Credit: Renee Marchol CuriOdyssey short documentary with Wildlife Keeper

All that and how well you feed your crew. Beverages and solids are not optional. When crew decline and say that they’d rather just nap like the dead after a 7 hour shoot, as producer it is your duty to follow up and treat them to a lunch to show appreciation. It is manners. Don’t and you are damned because word will get out that you don’t know the industry ettiquette.

Photo Credit: Renee Marchol Royal Pin Donuts Peninsula Personalities documentary short

Doug Kreitz explains that craft services is showing consideration and respect for the camera operators, lighting staff, sound SmartyGirls and assistant production crew Smarty Fellas. It’s not about cost. It’s about hospitality and taking care of your allies. Climbing ladders, trekking through barn spiderwebs, and shooting from multiple angles for an outdoor documentary requires refueling and hydration.

Thoughtstarters:

A cooler of chilled bottled drinks and deli-fixings for a make-your-own sandwich bar. Add fresh fruit and veggies.

Pick up coffee-to-order and 3 kinds of saltenas from your favorite Bolivian pastry shop. Make sure there is a vegan and vegetarian option for non-meat eaters.

Protein bars, bottled water, bananas, apples and home-made PBJ for an athletic event type shoot.

Bring hand sanitizer and you are golden!

Follow all food safety and handling best practices so no friend gets sick from your craft services.

Caution: As producer, conserve your energy for the task-at-hand rather than exhaust yourself being Mr./Ms. Thanksgiving spread (all homemade). On rare occassions, you might want to host a thank you brunch at your apartment. Even the smallest apartment can accommodate the two item hospitality winners homemade meatball subs and Apple Jack (Cheese) Bread Pudding.

Try these budget-friendly craft services ideas for your next 5 hour podcasting work session with audio talent.

Photo Credit: T is for Tabby Guest Podcaster Apple Jack Pudding by SGL Media

Apple Jack (Cheese) Challah Bread Pudding
Cavalier Eric Hero Subs

A sneak peak? Visit SGL Media on YouTube and SoundCloud this summer for its podcast pilot featuring the voice talents of actor Chasya Hill and Guest Podcaster Engineer Tabora Constantennia in “T is for Tabby” for its pilot: An Interview with Tiamat, the 5-headed dragon. Recipes for Roasted Bogmen with Lightly-charred Flowers in a green sauce? Yes, we’ll share that recipe too.

Photo Credit: Cartoon Scrapbook Tiamat from Dungeons & Dragons TV series