ASK & DISCUSS INDEX

11 years, 6 months ago - nena eskridge

Thanks, Dan. Will do.

11 years, 6 months ago - Dan Selakovich

Nena, you need to be much more clear. I don't know what you're asking. For example, you have access to a bar and grill? Or just a bar, and you need to fake the grill? Or just a room you're making look like a bar?

Please list the needs of the script, then separately what you have access to.

Then ask yourself: does this bar REALLY need to be a restaurant? Is it that important to the story? If so, how important is it you show a fry cook? Is this just a one-off to set the mood? Or is the fry cook an important part of the story? And if he is, does he need to be a fry cook, or will a bar-back be just as good?

Think of it this way: if half your story takes place in this bar and grill, and you don't have a grill, you are asking for a world of hurt. And if the fry cook is a one off, your story will feel odd if we never see him again if half your script takes place there.

As a practical matter, you're going to have 15 extras nibbling on food that is under hot lights and 10 hours old. Somebody is going to get sick.

But if you really want to do this, don't you have a food truck? Can't you fake the frying of burgers in the truck? Can't the truck supply the extras with all the burgers and fries? And if you don't have a food truck, why not? Crews judge a shoot by the food more than anything. They'll take low pay, but if the food sucks, you'll have an unhappy crew.

Sorry, I haven't gotten to the script yet. This weekend for sure.

11 years, 6 months ago - nena eskridge

So sorry, didn't mean to waste everyone's time! I just assumed everyone knew everything about my project :)

A lot of my film takes place in a bar/grill. I've rented a "functional" bar that will be closed for business so that we will have full use of the location during the shoot. By "functioning" I meant it's a real bar not a set built on a sound stage. There is a room in the front that is the bar and a kitchen in the back. The grilling/frying are imp to the story. In one scene the cook is in the kitchen frying burgers and fries (also imp to the story). My question is, how do I shoot the frying part in the scene? There is a working fryer and stove but don't want to risk burning cast/crew by actually frying/cooking. y'all always come up with solutions like Dan's idea of using the food truck and that might just work. Thanks!

I won't be serving alcohol on set. I wanted ideas for faking the booze, so thanks for that one, too. I'll just use grape juice and non-alcoholic beer. Perfect! Another issue: in one scene around 10 customers (extras) will be in the bar area supposedly eating hamburgers and fries. Don't want to actually serve real food on set for reasons you've mentioned. I'd imagine you use prop food for anything the actors don't actually eat (hamburgers?), and fake food for the stuff they do eat (maybe substitute sliced apples for french fries?). No worries, I'll figure it out with my art director.

I have a terrific team set up for catering. I understand food is the most important element of film making!

Thanks again!

11 years, 6 months ago - Paddy Robinson-Griffin

^^ Oh absolutely what Dan says about the quality of the food you give the cast and crew. If they earn £50/day but have brilliant meals they'll be happier than £70 and just pizza every day. Low-budget events/films where you've only got pennies to spend and crew are near-enough volunteering/subsidising your film in the first place then spend the extra on decent food.

On 'proper jobs' we allow £30-40/head/day for catering - when you're spending a month or two away from home you need good, varied food, flavours from home, veggies and diet needs catered for, fresh veg, choice of desserts etc.

11 years, 6 months ago - Paddy Robinson-Griffin

Functioning bar/grill as in it is still open commercially whilst you're filming? They must be mad! It'll drive customers away in droves!

Not sure what the burger question really is - if it's mentioned in the script, shoot it in the kitchen and cook some burgers (not rocket science), if not, then I don't see the problem. If you mean you need to have plated burgers to serve pop to MaccyD's?

Heading off problems down the way, get yourself crates of an alcohol-free beer brand (that the bar does not already sell - keep your stock clear and separate), and only use/serve that. Alcohol and filming do not mix at all, and you'll have plenty of drinking shots taking place in a bar. If nothing else it's respectful as you never know which cast/crew are in AA/recovery, keep the shoot completely 'dry'. Red and white grape juice may taste rank, but it doubles for wine better than Ribena.

Make-up - make sure they MUA knows some SA's will need to look drunk at some point

Drinks and food are a continuity nightmare - prepare for that

Lighting - aside from the usual having to black out the windows and create a mood, you may want to squirt a little smoke around to add depth to those rays and reality from an active kitchen.

Just some thoughts

11 years, 6 months ago - Dan Selakovich

Fuck it. Just use the grill and deep fryer. You can fake it, but it won't look right. Just make sure your camera person knows. It's OK to have real food on set forever, as long as people don't eat it, and there are no close ups. (And people can eat cold fries, no problem).