Production schedules never slow down. The stress and constant hustle of a
12-hour day on the set can make even the most laid-back cast or crew member
loose their cool. State-of-the-art trailers and dressing rooms, craft service
menus that cater to everyone’s dietary needs and wants, and even divine massage
therapy services are becoming the norm these days, not the exception.
Adriana Aguiar of Adriana’s Star Services has supplied trailers, motor homes
and portable bathrooms to the production community for eight years. She has
worked with MIA Films, Chelsea Pictures and Backyard Productions among many
others. Adriana tells us that the trailer and portable dressing room industry
has changed a great deal in the last few years. Especially, she says, in terms
of the kinds of onboard equipment that clients expect.
“The industry has become a lot more sophisticated. These days, our trailers
and motor homes must come equipped with DSL, satellite dishes and plasma TVs, in
addition to the leather sofas, professional make up areas, hardwood floors and
skylights. Stars just want better services in general.”
It used to be that a stop at the Craft Service table was a way to fuel up or
pass the time in between shots. In a world where everyone seems to be on some
kind of special diet, the production catering community has had to step up to
the plate. The guys at Big Screen Cuisine have been in business since 1989,
providing food on the set of “When Harry Met Sally,” “Friends,” “West Wing,”
“Collateral,” ER,” and “Will and Grace,” to name just a few. Owner, Scott
Floman, tells us that his company has had more and more requests for low-fat,
low-carb and other special dietary menus, especially in the past few years.
Despite all of these dietary considerations, however, efficiency, says Floman,
is still the name of the game when providing food for the production
community.
“The most important thing in the studio industry is to be on time,” Floman
told us. “I do not care how good your food is, if you can’t make it to the set
on time, there will be problems. There are times when we’ve been given a
two-hour notice to prepare food for 100 people.” Three words that Floman’s team,
which is headed up by executive chef Oscar Garay, can’t do business without:
“Fast, Fresh and Consistent.”
After a few long, hot hours in elaborate prosthetic make-up, or in between
setting up shots for the trained llama who has forgoten his training, few people
would turn down a moment or two of relaxation with an experienced and respected
massage therapist like Tanja Barnes. Barnes has worked in the entertainment
industry for eight years providing a wide variety of massage therapies,
including La Stone Therapy, the Hawaiian massage technique of Lomi Lomi, Body
Rolling, as well as the more traditional Swedish and Anma Shiatsu. According to
Barnes, massage isn’t just for the celebrities on the set.
“Massage is something for every ‘body’ in that everybody can benefit form
touch. Studies show that massage can enhance productivity and creativity, so I
try to get my hands on as many people as I can in order to facilitate highly
artistic productivity on the set.”
Tanja reveals that not everyone is comfortable taking time out and getting a
full table massage in front of the entire cast and crew, so she also offers
chair massages.
“I find that most everybody on set feels more comfortable taking five in a
chair, where the recipient can also field questions or can look up from the face
rest to participate in the production and its development.”
Tanja, who refers to herself as a “bodyworker” told us that she has worked
with some of the most influential people in Hollywood, and respecting the
privacy of her clients is her number one priority. Although she herself won’t
give away whose muscles she has soothed, she says that her clients aren’t always
so tight-lipped. “You see,” says Barnes, “I work very intimately with people
because I touch a person, kneading tense muscles for an extended period of time.
Because of that, my clients come to relax with me and may tell me things that
they don’t want anyone else to know.”
www.adrianastar.com
www.tanjabarnes.com
Big Screen Cuisine: 818-526-0009
