How far can one cold email take you? Turns out… pretty far.

In this episode of Beyond the Budget, Bishop Porter sits down with Tim McDaniel, a production accountant who broke into the entertainment industry with zero connections—just persistence and a willingness to start at the bottom.

That one cold email landed him a gig on “Southland” and kickstarted a career that’s led to major projects like “Euphoria,” “Big Little Lies,” “Insecure,” and “The Sympathizer”. Tim shares the realities of leading finance teams on high-stakes productions, how he adapted during the industry's shift to digital workflows, and why training the next generation of crew is one of the most important parts of the job.

Key insights from this episode:

• How production experience builds better accountants
• Adapting to digital workflows post-COVID
• What it takes to manage a team on a high-stakes show

Chapters:
(00:00) Meet Tim McDaniel

(03:06) Getting started in film through cold calls and unpaid internships

(04:14) Transitioning from production to accounting

(10:18) Teaching the next generation through IATSE training programs

(13:46) How COVID accelerated the shift to digital

(18:12) Managing remote teams and finding your stride

(22:19) How to break into the industry and get hired

(26:19) Rapid-fire questions with Tim

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Brad Field traded combat boots for call sheets, building a career that took him from the US military to blockbuster sets like “Bird Box,” “Knives Out,” and “The Book of Boba Fett.”

In this episode of Beyond the Budget, Bishop Porter talks with Brad about his unexpected journey into production accounting, from serving as a security detail on “Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice” to clerking in Boston and eventually managing multimillion-dollar budgets.

Brad shares lessons learned on both studio features and indie films, why incentives and attention to detail matter, and how platforms like PSL+ and MediaWeb change the job. He also reflects on working alongside his wife, a production supervisor on “The Mandalorian and Ahsoka,” and offers advice for anyone trying to break into the business.

Key insights from this episode:

• How military logistics translate to production workflows
• Tips for taking your first lead accountant role
• Why low-budget projects build high-level skills

Chapters:
(00:00) Meet Brad Field

(01:15) How security jobs led to Hollywood

(03:41) Breaking into accounting through data entry

(06:06) Lessons from clerking on big features

(08:26) Making the leap to second assistant

(10:13) What to expect when keying indies

(12:57) Managing payroll solo on a flipped show

(18:19) Why hard work creates lasting momentum

(21:26) Rapid fire with Brad Field

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Behind every successful TV series is a carefully managed budget.

In this episode of Beyond the Budget, production accountant Amy Wohl takes us through the art of block budgeting. This strategy ensures that large-scale productions stay financially on track. She shares her expertise on how block budgeting differs from the dynamic, fast-paced budgets of streaming platforms. Amy reflects on the industry’s pre-COVID days, sharing how production accounting has evolved since then.

Key insights from this episode:

• How block budgeting impacts production scheduling and spending
• Networking tips for aspiring production accountants
• Key differences between half-hour and one-hour TV shows

Chapters:
(00:00) Meet Amy Wohl

(03:36) The stability of freelance production accounting

(05:47) Half-hour vs one-hour budgeting differences

(07:12) TV trivia and more

(09:16) Shooting episode blocks

(12:48) Connections in the entertainment industry

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Learn more on https://castandcrew.com/

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