According To A Source, Here's Exactly What The 'Succession' Cast Eats On Set
The series finale of HBO's acclaimed series Succession is only a month away. For four seasons, viewers followed the chaotic lives of the Roy family. We've laughed, cried, and cringed while watching the Emmy award-winning series and will miss tuning in on Sunday nights.
Beyond the buzz surrounding the show itself, there is plenty of speculation surrounding the off-screen lives of the cast. From the brashness of Brian Cox to Jeremy Strong's quirky commitment to getting into character, viewers everywhere are curious about what the cast does when the cameras stop rolling.
We caught up with Marcia Rivas of Rolling Table, a craft service company based in New York City, to chat about her experience working on the set of Succession. Rivas is a long time veteran of the industry and has spent decades on some of the most exciting movie and television sets.
She first started working alongside her parents in high school between semesters. One of the first experiences Rivas remembers is baking a cake on set of the 1998 film Stepmom, starring Julia Roberts and Susan Sarandon.
Since then, Rivas' experience in craft services has evolved from a summer job to a full time career. Her business, Rolling Table, works closely with HBO and has been part of the productions for Entourage, Sex and the City, and True Detective.
So naturally, when the set of Succession needed a craft services provider, Rivas was an obvious choice. "Someone recommended me for the job, so I joined at the beginning of season two," she says.
The Cast Loves Baked Goods & Energy Drinks
Part of her job involves developing strong relationships with the cast and crew. "I always get to know the crew first and ask what they like. They become like sisters and brothers to me," Rivas says. "After three years, I know exactly what they want to eat."
Those preferences inform Rivas' shopping list, which varies depending on the weather and the location of the shoot. "I wake up in the morning and plan where I'm shopping. I always visit local bakeries and supermarkets, and for Succession I had the budget and freedom to explore," she says.
When shoots happened in Brooklyn, Rivas would pick up breakfast from the famous Peter Pan Donut Shop. She would pick up bagels in Astoria when the team was filming in Queens. On cold winter days, she'd treat the crew to warm cups of hot chocolate.
But two items in particular were always available on set no matter what: Diet Coke and Celsius. The cast and crew loved the drinks so much that it became a joke on set. "I would take a photo of a Celsius truck on the street and send it to them, saying 'Don't worry, I've got you covered,'" Rivas says.
Kieran Culkin Has Specific Coffee Preferences
Working on the set of Succession allowed Rivas to develop relationships with several cast members. One of her favorite memories was chatting with Kieran Culkin, who plays Roman Roy, about all things coffee.
"Kieran loves coffee freshly brewed, and he likes a strong dark roast," she says. "I always talked to him about where the coffee was from. He loved learning about it."
Rivas also loved to talk about food with Hiam Abbass, who plays the role of Marcia Roy. "The last week of filming [season four], Hiam gave me a cookbook about Middle Eastern food. She's so wonderful," she says.
They Work On Locations All Over New York City
Rivas loved to take care of everyone on set, earning herself the nickname "Mama Marcia." She worked in a variety of environments, some easier than others, to keep the cast and crew fed.
One of her favorite locations was in the World Trade Center, where she served food on the 69th floor. Other times, Rivas had to brave the biting cold and intense wind. To keep herself and the team warm, she loved making cozy soups.
A memory she will always remember is fighting off a swarm of pigeons trying to eat her food. "I told the team to hurry and eat fast, and they came over and helped fight off the pigeons."
Even with 14 hour days and intense weather, Rivas says she'll look back on her time at Succession fondly. "I still text them because they've become my brothers and sisters. I'll always care about them," she says. "I'm sad it's the last season, but it was an amazing experience."
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