Episode 101: Lunches 

Never thought I'd dig a 15 minute video about lunch, nice work

As a PA, lunches are gosh darn anxiety inducing. Trying to get everybody through the line, and all the logistics that involves. And if things get messed up, nothing is worse than a hungry crew member who’s disappointed.

Thanks for making this video. This is the kind of stuff no one talks about nor do they know about, but is incredibly important. Good work, Dave.

yooooooo

There’s no free lunch in the world. Except Dave dropping free knowledge bombs.

Sorry, accidentally had hit “yes, made for kids” when selecting options. Here’s your comment section folks!

Thank you for all the amazing knowledge you share. God bless you sir!🎉

Welcome back!!! I love your channel!!!!

Love the video. Sharing it to AC world

Welcome back.

i loved every minute of this also it made me hungry

Thx for uploading

Hello there

Dave! I'm in film school now and we mostly work with Kinos, Arri tungten (100w-1k) and some LED from ARRI and Apurture. One thing we don't talk about is electrical safety, especially with the tungsten lights. I was hoping despite your busy schedule, could you do a video on indie gaffing and safe practices using common house outlets and all things concerning breakers!! Thanks! hope your doing well!

My wife just worked on her first real film set (props) and confirmed all of this as accurate. Videographer me had no idea about all this.

Hi Dave! I just bought a 12x12 frame, and my first couple rags (silk and black duvetine). I'd love to see you make a video about big frames - I've gotten some advice some a couple gaffers, and I've helped in a few big shoots, but I feel I have a lot to learn. Great video, as usual

Wait? I can get paid for lunch? That’s a win win!

Great info! I even watched it and I'm in Australia! We need an IATSE equivalent here, we only have the MEAA (Media Entertainment and Arts Alliance) which covers actors, journalists, crew etc and despite it having been very useful recently with overturning the cancelling of a film incentive fund called the Made in NSW, to attract offshore productions to NSW, it really is useless for crew when it comes to upholding production to rates, conditions and that sort of thing.

Hey Dave, great Videos. I've been a DGA AD for 8 years, and now teaching Set safety at college level. I've been using some of your videos for my students! Maybe I can shed some light on your NDB Questions of why ADs ask for that (near the end of the video). In my experience it comes from a back and forth between a request to start earlier, vs the UPM (unit production manager) not not wanting to pay the meal penalty. A good example: The day isn't scheduled to be a 12 day overall, so the UPM has no problem with Grips coming in 30 mins early to get setup and do what they need. Doesn't cost them anything over their budget EXCEPT if they hit Meal Pens now. So they basically say, yes you can come in early as long as you NDB. Even though practically speaking you don't really ever have time to take 30 minutes exactly as you expressed. But the Key Grip or the Best boys usually agree to it because in the long run, sneaking in a burrito after you're set up (say 70 minutes after call) is more effective and less stressful then having to come in at call and bust your tail to get ready in time. The ADs are the ones asking for this sure, but it's almost always comes from a mandate from above. (Again in my personal experience). Hopefully that helps. Cheers!

Missed ur videos buddy! I have a question though, what is union and non union? Is it some form of regulation in the US?

Some of this applies to California only, especially non-union and things like meal penalties, because of the labor laws there. Whereas other states don't have as strong laws, so you might not get meal penalties unless you tell production when negotiating. As far as Grace, technically, by contract, they're supposed to ask the keys if they can go into grace, not just we're going into grace. Also depending on where you are, once they call grace, if the slate changes, grace is over and they have to buy the penalty. In other areas of the country, they're not as strict. Technically a meal is 30min sit down, not just grabbing a breakfast burrito or a slice of pizza and going back to work, doesn't reset the meal penalty clock.

Bon appetit!

Question about Grace- Doesnt production need to ASK for grace, not CALL grace? In other words, the crew has the power to grant or veto grace. I’ve never seen it happen but my understanding was that they’re asking crews permission to go :12 more.

My God, lunch is complicated. I need a lunch manager... :)

And now for the most important rules of all. :)

Star Wars reference…

I've never heard about sacrificing a meal penalty because you had an NDB. More like they shouldn't have to pay you an NDB because they gave you a meal and restarted the 6 hour clock. Does it vary by Local?

Hi Dave, hope you can do a review of the new Matthews Grip Rail vs the regular speed pipe you’ve done tutorials here on the channel. Curious if they are functionally any better or worse. If they’re worth a purchase if starting to assemble a working set vs regular speed pipe (Matthews markets it as saving on cutting and destroying speed pipes). Thank you!

How do you handle non-union employers that call for grace?

YO ARE YOU BACK?!

Woo-hoo! Did you miss me? For lunch, today, I just had a potted meat sandwich, a deviled egg, half a pickle, and a quart of prune juice. Mmmm! Mmmm! Not really, of course. Looks like Hollywood is treating you okay. Seriously, I think you'll make it pretty far up the hierarchical chain. You seem like an intelligent, decent guy.

What about a 2nd meal on a non union crew? If they feed you but you don't sit down for 30 minutes. Shouldn't that be a meal penalty? Or since it is non union they can get away with it?