Tacos
It is rare that you will find any cast or crew member who will pass on the option of eating tacos instead of day-old pizza. Tacos make the list of 10 minute meals because they can be made quickly and are not too complicated to prepare. This provides more time to prepare or film the next scheduled scene on your production. Tacos can be made in a variety of ways but the most simplistic form is relatively easy. Add ground beef or ground turkey to a heated saucepan. Cook the meat until it turns brown and then mix in some taco seasoning.
Continue cooking your taco meat for 6 minutes and warm a good number of taco shells in the oven. Filmmakers can also use soft taco shells if that’s what the cast and crew votes on most. The meal is about ready to serve as son as your meat has cooked thoroughly. Top those cast and crew tacos with some lettuce, salsa, cheddar cheese and sour cream. Serving tacos during indie film productions can be useful because they are inexpensive and require little time to prepare.
Smoked Turkey Breast Wrap
Prepare a turkey wrap for cast and film crew using pita bread, Smoked Turkey Breast cold cuts, tomatoes, cheese and lettuce. Buy a pack of your favorite pita bread from a local grocery store. They come in rather larger sizes and can be cut in half if desired. Pita bread can also be placed in the microwave prior to making this 10 minute meal. A warm smoked turkey breast wrap is a great food idea for indie film productions that take place during the winter season.
Ranch dressing and honey mustard sauce are good additional to have at the craft services table. The two sauces add more flavor to smoked turkey breast wraps. Spread the ranch or honey mustard sauce on the pita bread before adding other ingredients. Place one slice of cheese on a section of pita bread. Follow up with two or three slices of turkey breast, two large pieces of lettuce and two tomatoes. Starting with one of the corners, roll the pita bread closed. Make sure that all of the contents remain in place and serve immediately to your hungry cast and film crew staff.
Fried Hot Dogs
Did you know Host Dogs can be fried? It is one of the easiest food ideas to prepare and may cook faster than broiling hot dogs in a pot. Pick up a few packs of beef, turkey or vegetable hot dogs and buns from the grocery store. Using a knife, slice each hot dog down the middle so that it has two sides. If you do not pay close attention, the hot dog may end up being cut in half which can still work but may require more effort to handle.
Place a tablespoon full of margarine or butter into one skillet. Using a fork, place each hog dog into the skillet and let cook for 5 minutes. Make sure to flip the hot dog over on each side during this time. Fill your craft services table up with the usual containers or packages of ketchup, mustard, sauerkraut, barbecue sauce and relish.
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!
Photo by JaBB
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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.
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Fruit Salad
This is a great idea for quick meals during an indie film production. Fruit salad is a healthier choice than greasy pizza and potato chips. You can make this dish on your own or purchase it from a local grocery store. It may be more cost effective to prepare a fruit salad at home. Large portions can last for days on end and save you a lot of money on your indie film production.
Fruit salad is also one if the easiest dishes to make. It can be prepared by cutting up chunks of apples, pears, pineapple and oranges into a large bowl. You can also add pieces of banana and seedless grapes to this mixture. Some people may be allergic to these items. Therefore, it is best to survey your cast and crew members before serving a fruit salad with certain ingredients. To spice this dish up a little, add cinnamon and coconut. Fruit salad can be served for breakfast, lunch or dessert. This adds more flexibility to the meal choices of your indie film production. You can also add almonds, walnuts, sunflower seeds or favorite nuts of your choice to the fruit salad served on your film set.
Pasta Salad with Shrimp
This is an easy salad idea to pull off. One of the great aspects of pasta salad with shrimp is there is no need for additional side items. A main course, vegetables and starch is all wrapped up into one central serving. There are many recipes available online for pasta salad with shrimp. It is best to browse several different recipes and choose one that fits your preference. An easy way to prepare this food is to purchase small pre-cooked shrimp and add it to a large pasta salad.
Cook tri-colored rotini pasta by the packaged directions. Add your favorite salad dressing and vegetables to the pasta. These items can include carrots, black olives, peppers, tomatoes and onions. You can also add bacon bits to the food for extra flare. This will complete your pasta salad. One large portion can feed an entire set of cast and crew members. You will only need to add beverages to top of the mealtime for an indie film production. This salad idea is not messy and will not ruin your equipment or location.
Macaroni Salad
While many people enjoy this food, it can be messy if one is not paying attention. Therefore, it is best to announce rules of etiquette before serving macaroni salad. This indie film production salad idea is usually prepared with tuna. However, it can be made without the seafood if desired. Recipes can be found online at Allrecipes or The Food Network. Macaroni salad can also be purchased from local grocery stores. You can serve this with cold cut sandwiches and beat the need to order the same old and common meals. This will add value to an indie film production that is operating on a low budget.
Photo by Bianca Meyer geb. Bollmeier
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