In “Low Budget Film 101,” your mentors probably taught you how to make cheap and effective jelly blood, but did they teach you how to make cheap and effective organic jellyrolls to treat a cast and crew of fifteen? Or what if there are only seven people working on your film but the location is an incredibly desolate area with one stoplight and a truck stop? As a director, providing meals for the workers has suddenly become a glaring issue.
A: Analyze This
Pre-Production Survey: The initial task is to send around a survey to indicate everyone’s food preferences, food allergies, and special requests. Special requests are not mandatory to fulfill, but only to take into consideration. Unless it’s a life or death situation, anything “special request” is contingent upon the film’s budget. Divide your tallies into categories such as: general (eats anything), vegetarian, vegan, food allergy, and other (if needed). After collecting the data, the goal is to think creatively, inexpensively, and health consciously. Whether filming for three days or three weeks, take a few hours to Google sample meals and recipe ideas, making sure to take into consideration your survey results. Jot down the easiest recipes and reusable ingredients. Meal planning can seem like a production in itself; but with a little research, the effort and money conserved will be well worth it.
B: Bulk Up
Non-Perishables: Whether filming is taking place across the country or across the street, go to a local wholesale superstore such as BJ’s, Sam’s Club, or Costco, or order food online. Search for the non-perishable snack foods first, and think like a kid. Cheap, healthy snacks for the cast and crew include: popcorn, peanuts (or soy nuts), trail mix, granola bars, baked potato chips, dried fruits, Nabisco’s 100 Calorie Packs, Nestle’s Juicy Juice, and Goldfish. The next step is to head for the canned foods section for staples such as beans, soups, broths, and tomato paste. Bags of rice and whole-wheat pasta are also great bulk buys. Here’s a list of healthy, non-perishable items from Wellspheret to use for an example.
