Good ol’ Lasagna
Lasagna is one of the most inexpensive ideas filmmakers can utilize when serving food to crew and cast members. Save even more money on the independent film budget by obtaining homemade lasagna. Many people enjoy lasagna, which reduces the chances of cast and crew complaining about their on set film catering experience. There are a lot of kids who love lasagna as well, so this baked food idea can work wonders for filmmakers who are making family oriented movies. Lasagna can be made using ground beef, ground turkey or other ground meet. Filmmakers can also prepare meatless lasagna when choosing food for film productions.

Although one of my previous tips to saving money on film set catering included home cooking, that does not have to apply on every production. Filmmakers who do not know how to make lasagna can hire someone else to cook this food for crew and cast members. Do not confuse “hiring” with the impression that money has to be exchanged in order for someone to cook a pan of lasagna.

Extra Alternative: Lasagna Rolls are a good substitute for baking one large dish that has to be carved out section by section. Lasagna rolls are also less messy which can reduce the amount of cleanup time on a film set. Save money on pasta, sauce and other Lasagna ingredients using Free Local Grocery Store Coupons to free up some extra cash for film festivals and other expenses.

Honey Glazed Ham
Ham is delicious but varies in quality and can be a waste if filmmakers serve a mediocre one to cast and crew members. There are supermarkets, meat shops and specialty gourmet stores that sell pre-cooked ham for around $30. Purchasing a pre-cooked ham makes the film catering task a little easier because no one has to really “cook” for this food to be made available on set. There is a glaze that should be burshed over the ham from time to time when it’s heating in the oven. A combination of household items including maple syrup, brown sugar, mustard or honey can accomplish this task with ease.

Much like quality, the price for ham varies depending its brand and size. There should be someone designated to cut the ham when it’s ready to be served because this process requires a sharp knife. One main person having the responsibility minimized the risk of some tired crew or cast member accidentally cutting themselves while trying to get a piece of ham.

Some stores also sell ham that is ready-to-eat, which can save a lot of time during production breaks and shorten the film shooting schedule. There are advantages to getting a ready-to-eat ham over pre-cooked ham. A pre-cooked ham may take the film catering person longer to heat up. Filmmakers can prepare a pre-cooked ham while setting up shots for the next scene.

Baked Ziti
Many people like Baked ziti and it’s on the menu of many pizza restaurants so it’s not hard to sample when choosing film set food. Some Baked ziti recipes include ground meat while others keep this ingredient out. Filmmakers can couple this with Lasagna or film set Taco ideas to provide options for vegetarian staff members or those who do not eat meat. It takes less than one hour to cook Baked ziti, if the person in charge of film catering is quick, skilled and organized.




This article was previously published on the topic of Indie Film Warp Parties as part of my AC Film Tips series. These baked food ideas can be used on a film set in addition to being part of the wrap party menu.

Photo by rustybrick

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Shrimp Platter
Grocery stores sell large shrimp platters for around $40 (or less if you can find a sale or couple them with coupons and rebates!). The platters come with two rows of medium or large shrimp. They also include a container of cocktail sauce but it helps to purchase an extra container and maybe some butter to melt as a second option for cast and crew. This one of the many independent film set catering ideas that can be served to small groups of cast and crew members. It can work well for those 49 hour film challenges or narrative stories that feature no more than two dozen staff members.

Crab Cakes
There are so many ways to make crab cakes that they make for a great seafood film set catering option. Crab cakes are not popular menu items at restaurants for nothing. They can be wrapped in bacon or stuffed with vegetables but you can keep it as simple as possible on your film set if preferred. Grill them for a healthier alternative or fry them to serve a lunch or dinner that is familiar. Crab cakes can also be baked but the way they are prepared is all up to you and the needs of cast and crew on your film set. Cocktail sauce and tartar sauce is a MUST when serving crab cakes but find out if your staff has cravings for another sauce.

Snow Crab Legs
Snow crab legs are on sale frequently, giving filmmakers an easy seafood option for film set catering. Many seafood stores and grocery stores make them available as ready-cooked food but snow crabs can be prepared in your kitchen. Getting snow crabs cooked in advance at the store may help to save a lot of time, making it easy to finish your production schedule. Snow crab legs also reduce the amount of mess that has to be cleaned up on your film set.

Fried Fish and rolls
Fried fish is one of the most simplistic seafood ideas that filmmakers can take advantage of when serving food on set. Certain fish like whiting and flounder can be cheaper than Catfish, Swordfish, Mahi Mahi and Salmon but they all make delicious options for independent film set catering. If you're going the fish route, tuna may even be the cheapest of them all, at 99 cents per can. Fried fish is so easy to make and you can by it fresh or frozen, but always make sure to select these items properly when purchasing them and take even better care when preparing this seafood to cook.

Bags of frozen fish may save filmmakers a lot of money on their film budget. Many brands are usually pre-cleaned and ready to cook. Vegetable oil (or whatever oil your staff likes their fish fried with), all-purpose flour and seasoning are the basic items to get when serving fried fish. You can also serve this with some dinner rolls but serve a real side item like vegetables or french fries. This will help to curb the hunger for cast and crew members so they don't expect to get full on a piece of fish alone.

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Photo: biskuit

This post was previously published as one of my AC Film Tips Titles. Since all who visit my writing profile does not make movies, these seafood options can get put to better use on Food for Films!

While they can be used for a movie wrap party, seafood can also be served to cast and crew on film sets working with a medium sized budget!!!

Which one of these items would you serve on your independent film set? Leave your comments below!


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Choosing good food for an indie film production is not an easy task. This can actually be a daunting task if you want to get away from providing the standard pizza and Pepsi meal. This choice of lunch and dinner has dominated the independent filmmaking community for years. While there is nothing wrong with serving an easy fast food dish to cast and crew members, indie film producers have more choices. By making small adjustments to the mealtime on your film set, you can add more variety and momentum to an indie film production. Here is a list of great chicken ideas for filmmakers. They are easy to prepare and can add be of value to the cast and crew meal selection process.

Chicken Fingers
This is an easy dish that can be prepared with little to no hassle. You do not have to be an experienced cook like Rachel Ray to be able to make chicken fingers. They can be baked, fried or grilled. Most people usually prefer fried chicken fingers, so this is the best way to go. Get a pack of boneless and skinless chicken breasts from your local grocery store. In addition to the poultry, get a container of Mrs. Dash seasoning, all-purpose flour and vegetable oil.

Cut the chicken into medium sized strips. Mix the flour and seasoning in a large bowl or plastic storage bag. Heat the vegetable oil in a large frying pan or stockpot on an oven. Only fill your pot or pan with enough oil to cover a few strips. Drop each strip into the flour mixture and then remove. Make sure to remove any excess flour from the chicken. Place each strip into the heated oil and remove when the chicken is golden brown. This is a great alternative to pizza and will not cause a messy environment on your indie film production.

Fried Chicken Wings
For those who prefer to have larger rations, fried wings are a good choice. This chicken idea is not as messy as barbeque wings. The latter is a favorite for summer indie film productions, but can be a nuisance on any movie set. You can make this easily by following the same instructions listed for chicken fingers earlier in this article. Instead of getting the boneless breasts, pick up a bag of chicken wings. However, there is no reason to learn a new way if you have your own favorite recipe for fried chicken wings. To save some production and preparation time, you can enlist an experienced friend or relative who will prepare great friend wings for cast and crew members.

Chicken Shish Kabobs
These items are typically in style when it comes to selecting food for an indie film production. Chicken shish kabobs can be prepared in 30 minutes and save you money on side dishes. Cut up boneless and skinless chicken breasts into cubed chunks. Also, cut green, yellow and red peppers into medium sized pieces. Add chunks of pineapple, peach or apple wedges. Once you have all of the pieces cut, thread them onto bamboo skewers. You should have enough room to add three or four pieces of chicken.

The chicken pieces should be separated by the pepper and fruit mixture. You can also add two bacon slices in between this mixture for a nice shish kabob twist. Marinate the skewers with teriyaki or sweet ‘n’ sour sauce. Brush marinade sauce over the skewers or use a spoon to spread it. Drain it and lay the skewers onto a medium heated grille. Remove your delicious skewers once the meat is cooked through. Chicken Shish Kabobs can be prepared on either an outdoor or tabletop grill.

Extra items for Cast and Crew Meals
It is important to have additional items for your indie film production meal. There are standard condiments that go with these easy chicken ideas. Hot sauce and ketchup may be desired for the fried chicken wings. If you are serving chicken fingers, barbeque and honey mustard sauce are must-have items. These easy chicken ideas are all inexpensive and can be used repeatedly. In fact, you can use all of these ideas throughout your entire indie film production schedule. Cast and crew members will enjoy the variety and time away from everyday pizza.

Photo: Josée Copyright morguefile.com

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