Happy Hour’s awesome Production Coordinator Will Davies puts all our TV advertising shoots together. This means crewing up, finding great locations, booking catering, travel, accommodation, coordinating everyone, fixing problems on the day and a whole host of other responsibilities.
Here, Will shares the importance of keeping the crew fuelled…
Napoleon once famously stated that an army marches on its stomach; well, the very same can be said about the crew on a TV commercial. It is quite a simple formula, in that sustenance equals productivity. A well-fed crew are generally more content and can deal with whatever the day throws at them.
It starts with breakfast.
Working on a shoot for a TV commercial usually requires getting up earlier than usual, with only the birds to keep you company. Everyone arrives at location, usually cold or dark or both. Jobs to be done and people to meet, stands to go up and scripts to hand out. Amidst the morning rush, somebody hands you a warm bap and a hot cup of tea. All is going to be fine.
The day ticks over, stomachs start rumbling. There are whispers of when lunch will be called. Rumours float around about what will be eaten that day, interesting and comforting smells start floating their way to set. Finally, it’s time for lunch. Within seconds a queue has formed. There is nothing more powerful than collective hunger – all eyes on the first plate being served. Is it hot? What does it smell like? Is there enough for seconds?
There is something about sitting around having lunch together. The morning has passed and it’s time to relax. It’s not just the eating that’s an important part, but the conversations had around the table. Unlike breakfast, jokes are told, people have settled into their roles. There’s a change in atmosphere. The morning’s work is talked about, and the afternoon will be planned. A moment of quiet pause, of reflection.
“A sausage is an image of rest, peace and tranquillity in stark contrast to the destruction and chaos of everyday life.” Tom Robbins, Another Roadside Attraction
Traditionally, using large corporate catering companies means choosing from a long list of generic meals which can get tedious. I like to work with local, independent caterers, like Kate’s Kitchen, who specialise in sustainable and seasonal food. It’s as important to use local food suppliers as it is to use local crew and kit houses. Not only does it mean that we’re playing our part in the local economy but we’re also trying to cut carbon emissions. Working with smaller caterers also means we can tweak and tailor the menu to our tastes and needs, whilst keeping an eye on costs at the same time.
From experience, a film crew remembers good food. One of my favourite questions to ask during the lunch break to new crew is “What has been your most memorable food experience on set?”. This usually brings the good and the bad. It’s a great way to learn how to do things better, or things to be avoided completely.
One of my favourite food experiences was when I was working on a prime-time TV show at Pinewood, where the only caterers we could book was a Turkish food truck. For 3 weeks we ate some of the most delicious and authentic Turkish food; from menemen for breakfast, platters of meze for elevenses and beautifully spiced dishes for lunch – not to mention the hand-made baclava.
I would like to think the shoots I put together can be remembered for the food and eating experience. I like to drum up excitement around mealtimes, hearing people’s joy at a colourful and well-prepared plate of food. Food is not just sustenance; it brings us together above all else.
Want to know more about TV advertising?
At Happy Hour we specialise in producing feature film quality TV commercials for brands that want to drive response and stand out in their market.
If that’s you and you’d like a no-pressure chat about working together on your TV advertising, please get in touch using our contact form or email us at info@hhour.co.uk
