On Production

We sit down with Amy Denning Winfrey, a highly regarded payroll accountant whose career journey took her from production assistant to supervising payroll accountant. Winfrey shares candid insights into the world of payroll accounting, reflecting on the challenges, responsibilities, and often-overlooked importance of this critical role in film production.

The conversation explores the evolution of payroll practices, from traditional processes to today’s digital systems, and how these tools have transformed the way productions operate. Winfrey highlights the impact of remote work on payroll management, the need for updated contracts to provide clarity, and why strong payroll coordination can ultimately make or break a production.

Alongside guest host Emily Rice, the discussion emphasizes the importance of community, mentorship, and recognition among production accountants. From training newcomers to building networks that provide valuable resources, both Winfrey and Rice underscore how teaching, sharing knowledge, and supporting one another are vital for the health of the industry.

Listeners will also gain perspective on the realities of hiring practices, the undervaluation of payroll accountants, and why having a reliable payroll coordinator is non-negotiable. This episode shines a light on the professionals who keep productions running smoothly behind the scenes and reminds us of the human connections that sustain the industry.

About Wrapbook

Wrapbook is a smart, intuitive platform that makes production payroll and accounting easier, faster, and more secure. We provide a unified payroll platform that seamlessly connects your entire team—production, accounting, cast, and crew—all in one place.

Wrapbook empowers production teams to manage projects, pay cast and crew, track expenses, and generate data-driven insights, while enabling workers to manage timecards, track pay, and onboard to new projects from any device. Wrapbook brings clarity and dependability to production payroll, while increasing the productivity of your whole team.

For crew: The Wrapbook app eliminates the headaches of production payroll by providing a fast, transparent, and secure solution for workers to complete startwork, submit timecards, and track pay.

Trusted by companies of all sizes, Wrapbook powers payroll for some of the industry’s top production companies, including SMUGGLER, Tuff, and GhostRobot. Our growing team of 250+ people includes entertainment and technology experts from SAG-AFTRA, DGA, IATSE, Teamsters, Amazon, Microsoft, Facebook, and more.

Wrapbook is backed by top-tier investors, including Jeffrey Katzenberg’s WndrCo, Andreessen Horowitz, and A* Capital.

Get started at https://www.wrapbook.com/

We head to Fort Worth, Texas—a city that’s quickly becoming a key player in the film world. We sit down with Taylor Hardy, Commissioner at the Fort Worth Film Commission and Director of Video Content at Visit Fort Worth, to explore how this once-overlooked city has transformed into a go-to destination for major productions like 1883, Lawmen: Bass Reeves, and even music videos from artists like Kendrick Lamar.

Taylor shares how it all started. Back in 2015, Fort Worth didn’t even have a film office. Fast forward to today, and it’s hosting large-scale productions and attracting top-tier talent. Taylor walks us through that journey—from scouting locations herself as an intern to building a film-friendly culture rooted in community, collaboration, and a can-do attitude.

Taylor highlights the city’s hands-on approach—from helping with scouting and permits to offering hotel rebates and travel support. She also touches on the city's new training initiative, the Fort Worth Film Collaborative, which helps locals jump into film work by applying existing skills to the production world. With over 200 students already enrolled, it’s a clear sign of the city’s investment in long-term industry growth.

Taylor also breaks down the state’s revamped film incentive program and shares how Fort Worth helps productions access these benefits while also offering additional support through local programs and community outreach.

Whether you're a producer looking for a new filming location, a filmmaker navigating state incentives, or someone building out a local crew, this episode is a must-listen.

About Wrapbook

Wrapbook is a smart, intuitive platform that makes production payroll and accounting easier, faster, and more secure. We provide a unified payroll platform that seamlessly connects your entire team—production, accounting, cast, and crew—all in one place.

Wrapbook empowers production teams to manage projects, pay cast and crew, track expenses, and generate data-driven insights, while enabling workers to manage timecards, track pay, and onboard to new projects from any device. Wrapbook brings clarity and dependability to production payroll, while increasing the productivity of your whole team.

For crew: The Wrapbook app eliminates the headaches of production payroll by providing a fast, transparent, and secure solution for workers to complete startwork, submit timecards, and track pay.

Trusted by companies of all sizes, Wrapbook powers payroll for some of the industry’s top production companies, including SMUGGLER, Tuff, and GhostRobot. Our growing team of 250+ people includes entertainment and technology experts from SAG-AFTRA, DGA, IATSE, Teamsters, Amazon, Microsoft, Facebook, and more.

Wrapbook is backed by top-tier investors, including Jeffrey Katzenberg’s WndrCo, Andreessen Horowitz, and A* Capital.

Get started at https://www.wrapbook.com/

We dive into the gritty and electrifying world of independent horror filmmaking with director and producer Joe Begos. Known for his visually arresting style and commitment to practical, in-camera effects, Joe shares the unfiltered story of how he built a career outside the traditional studio system.

Joe walks us through his unconventional path, from early childhood fascination with horror to the decision to skip film school and make movies the hard way. He recounts the experience of making his first feature on credit cards and pure hustle to create a film that landed on a major festival stage and launched his career. That same DIY ethos carried through to his next projects, where he refined his skills not just as a director, but as a producer, cinematographer, and even editor, learning every part of the process.

Throughout the conversation, Joe opens up about the evolving challenges of staying independent while growing as an artist. From raising money and managing crew to navigating creative control and working within tight budgets, he offers an honest look at what it takes to keep your vision intact in a collaborative—and often unpredictable—industry. He shares how each film pushed him to learn something new, and how embracing limitations often led to his most creative breakthroughs.

We also explore Joe’s latest film, Jimmy and Stiggs, a deeply personal project built almost entirely in his apartment over four years. What began as a response to the creative paralysis of the pandemic became a full-fledged feature, and now slated for a wide theatrical release through a major new distribution label. Join us for a raw and inspiring conversation where we explore what it truly means to stay creative and resourceful throughout the ups and downs of production.

About Wrapbook

Wrapbook is a smart, intuitive platform that makes production payroll and accounting easier, faster, and more secure. We provide a unified payroll platform that seamlessly connects your entire team—production, accounting, cast, and crew—all in one place.

Wrapbook empowers production teams to manage projects, pay cast and crew, track expenses, and generate data-driven insights, while enabling workers to manage timecards, track pay, and onboard to new projects from any device. Wrapbook brings clarity and dependability to production payroll, while increasing the productivity of your whole team.

For crew: The Wrapbook app eliminates the headaches of production payroll by providing a fast, transparent, and secure solution for workers to complete startwork, submit timecards, and track pay.

Trusted by companies of all sizes, Wrapbook powers payroll for some of the industry’s top production companies, including SMUGGLER, Tuff, and GhostRobot. Our growing team of 250+ people includes entertainment and technology experts from SAG-AFTRA, DGA, IATSE, Teamsters, Amazon, Microsoft, Facebook, and more.

Wrapbook is backed by top-tier investors, including Jeffrey Katzenberg’s WndrCo, Andreessen Horowitz, and A* Capital.

Get started at https://www.wrapbook.com/

We explore the evolving landscape of interactive storytelling with Elliot Wolf, executive producer of Prime Video’s On Call and co-founder of Wolf Games. With a strong background in television and a deep appreciation for narrative craft, Elliot shares how he’s bringing storytelling into new territory with Public Eye, an upcoming AI-assisted daily murder mystery game. Designed to offer players a fresh case every day, Public Eye blends traditional storytelling with new technology, allowing users to step into the role of detective and work through immersive investigations.

Elliot walks us through the creative and technical process behind the game’s development, including how AI tools help generate dynamic content while preserving story structure and character consistency. He explains how Public Eye maintains a balance between player choice and narrative coherence, and how personalization can make interactive experiences more engaging.

The conversation also highlights how generative AI is influencing creative workflows, especially in areas like writing, design, and game development. Rather than replacing human input, Elliot emphasizes how AI can support creators by enhancing productivity and enabling new formats. He also shares his thoughts on how these developments could complement more traditional media, potentially offering new ways for audiences to engage with stories and characters between major content releases.

Whether you're interested in gaming, storytelling, or the future of entertainment, this is an episode you wouldn’t want to miss.

About Wrapbook

Wrapbook is a smart, intuitive platform that makes production payroll and accounting easier, faster, and more secure. We provide a unified payroll platform that seamlessly connects your entire team—production, accounting, cast, and crew—all in one place.

Wrapbook empowers production teams to manage projects, pay cast and crew, track expenses, and generate data-driven insights, while enabling workers to manage timecards, track pay, and onboard to new projects from any device. Wrapbook brings clarity and dependability to production payroll, while increasing the productivity of your whole team.

For crew: The Wrapbook app eliminates the headaches of production payroll by providing a fast, transparent, and secure solution for workers to complete startwork, submit timecards, and track pay.

Trusted by companies of all sizes, Wrapbook powers payroll for some of the industry’s top production companies, including SMUGGLER, Tuff, and GhostRobot. Our growing team of 250+ people includes entertainment and technology experts from SAG-AFTRA, DGA, IATSE, Teamsters, Amazon, Microsoft, Facebook, and more.

Wrapbook is backed by top-tier investors, including Jeffrey Katzenberg’s WndrCo, Andreessen Horowitz, and A* Capital.

Get started at https://www.wrapbook.com/

We explore how technology is transforming filmmaking workflows with John Trefry, CEO of 4WT Media. John shares how his early experiences building content teams at tech startups like Mahalo and DocStock shaped his unique approach to production—one that merges creative storytelling with the operational efficiencies of the tech world.

The conversation dives deep into how modern tools are being used to streamline tasks across different stages of production. John outlines how these technologies are not just hype—they’re solving real problems and saving time, especially for independent filmmakers. He also shares practical use cases, like using AI to generate pitch materials or evaluate new software, and why being early to adopt these tools can be a game-changer for content creators.

We cover everything from film financing to the shifting dynamics of indie film sales and festival runs. And in a forward-looking close, John imagines a future where storytelling could become a personalized, immersive experience—without losing the human heart behind the work.

Whether you’re a filmmaker curious about AI, or a producer looking to future-proof your workflow, this episode is a must-listen.

About Wrapbook

Wrapbook is a smart, intuitive platform that makes production payroll and accounting easier, faster, and more secure. We provide a unified payroll platform that seamlessly connects your entire team—production, accounting, cast, and crew—all in one place.

Wrapbook empowers production teams to manage projects, pay cast and crew, track expenses, and generate data-driven insights, while enabling workers to manage timecards, track pay, and onboard to new projects from any device. Wrapbook brings clarity and dependability to production payroll, while increasing the productivity of your whole team.

For crew: The Wrapbook app eliminates the headaches of production payroll by providing a fast, transparent, and secure solution for workers to complete startwork, submit timecards, and track pay.

Trusted by companies of all sizes, Wrapbook powers payroll for some of the industry’s top production companies, including SMUGGLER, Tuff, and GhostRobot. Our growing team of 250+ people includes entertainment and technology experts from SAG-AFTRA, DGA, IATSE, Teamsters, Amazon, Microsoft, Facebook, and more.

Wrapbook is backed by top-tier investors, including Jeffrey Katzenberg’s WndrCo, Andreessen Horowitz, and A* Capital.

Get started at https://www.wrapbook.com/

We sit down with Emmy-winning TV producer Clara Plestis, whose work as an executive at Smart Dog Media, helped redefine what family-friendly television can be. Clara has been instrumental in shaping formats that blend high-concept experimentation with broad appeal, from AI-powered dating shows to variety competitions. Her work demonstrates that entertainment aimed at mass audiences doesn't have to be safe or predictable—it can be surprising, ambitious, and culturally resonant.

Clara walks us through the creative decisions behind Song vs. Dance, a Japanese-American co-production that combines performance, gaming, and visual flair into a highly original competition format. She also opens up about the bold choices behind Love by AI, a provocative dating experiment that hands matchmaking—and even the date experience itself—over to artificial intelligence. Through these shows, Clara reveals what it really takes to push fresh concepts through the development process: a deep understanding of global markets, strong format discipline, and the confidence to take calculated risks.

Join us for a deep dive into Clara’s process and what she sees on the horizon for television development.

About Wrapbook

Wrapbook is a smart, intuitive platform that makes production payroll and accounting easier, faster, and more secure. We provide a unified payroll platform that seamlessly connects your entire team—production, accounting, cast, and crew—all in one place.

Wrapbook empowers production teams to manage projects, pay cast and crew, track expenses, and generate data-driven insights, while enabling workers to manage timecards, track pay, and onboard to new projects from any device. Wrapbook brings clarity and dependability to production payroll, while increasing the productivity of your whole team.

For crew: The Wrapbook app eliminates the headaches of production payroll by providing a fast, transparent, and secure solution for workers to complete startwork, submit timecards, and track pay.

Trusted by companies of all sizes, Wrapbook powers payroll for some of the industry’s top production companies, including SMUGGLER, Tuff, and GhostRobot. Our growing team of 250+ people includes entertainment and technology experts from SAG-AFTRA, DGA, IATSE, Teamsters, Amazon, Microsoft, Facebook, and more.

Wrapbook is backed by top-tier investors, including Jeffrey Katzenberg’s WndrCo, Andreessen Horowitz, and A* Capital.

Get started at https://www.wrapbook.com/

W sit down with Hugh Calveley, founder of Flow Capture (formerly Moxion), to discuss how a personal frustration on set evolved into a powerful cloud-based collaboration platform. From his early days as part of a film crew in New Zealand to building a production tool trusted by industry giants like Amazon Studios, Hugh shares the hard lessons of introducing new technology to an industry known for its time-honored methods–until a bold leap of faith from producer Barrie Osborne helped launch his platform onto major studio productions.

We dive into the design and engineering choices that make Flow Capture stand out— microservices and real-time parallel processing that enabled lightning-fast workflows and personalized viewing formats.He also debunks myths around cloud security, arguing that centralized, enterprise-grade encryption is far safer than scattered, poorly protected assets.

Looking ahead, Hugh paints an inspiring picture of AI’s role in production—from intelligently breaking down scripts to unlocking vast archives of reusable footage—he offers a glimpse into a future where production is faster, smarter, and more creative than ever before.

To learn more about Flow Capture, visit: https://www.autodesk.com/ca-en/products/flow-capture/overview

About Wrapbook

Wrapbook is a smart, intuitive platform that makes production payroll and accounting easier, faster, and more secure. We provide a unified payroll platform that seamlessly connects your entire team—production, accounting, cast, and crew—all in one place.

Wrapbook empowers production teams to manage projects, pay cast and crew, track expenses, and generate data-driven insights, while enabling workers to manage timecards, track pay, and onboard to new projects from any device. Wrapbook brings clarity and dependability to production payroll, while increasing the productivity of your whole team.

For crew: The Wrapbook app eliminates the headaches of production payroll by providing a fast, transparent, and secure solution for workers to complete startwork, submit timecards, and track pay.

Trusted by companies of all sizes, Wrapbook powers payroll for some of the industry’s top production companies, including SMUGGLER, Tuff, and GhostRobot. Our growing team of 250+ people includes entertainment and technology experts from SAG-AFTRA, DGA, IATSE, Teamsters, Amazon, Microsoft, Facebook, and more.

Wrapbook is backed by top-tier investors, including Jeffrey Katzenberg’s WndrCo, Andreessen Horowitz, and A* Capital.

Get started at https://www.wrapbook.com/

We dive into the evolving world of content distribution and indie streaming with Bonnie Bruderer, founder and CEO of Binge Networks. A leader in the OTT space, Bonnie shares her unconventional path from corporate marketing and motivational coaching to launching a global streaming platform that champions independent filmmakers.

She discusses how her early experiences producing her own talk show led to the realization that distribution was the true bottleneck for content creators. That insight sparked the creation of Binge Networks, which now helps thousands of filmmakers and producers distribute and monetize their work across platforms like Roku, Apple TV, Amazon Fire, and dozens more.

Bonnie unpacks common misconceptions about monetization, the realities of today’s streaming economics, and the importance of creators retaining control over their rights. She also reflects on how coaching shaped her leadership style, why adaptability has been crucial to her success, and offers practical advice to filmmakers seeking long-term sustainability in a competitive landscape.Tune in for an inspiring conversation with a media entrepreneur who’s building the future of streaming, one creator at a time.

About Wrapbook

Wrapbook is a smart, intuitive platform that makes production payroll and accounting easier, faster, and more secure. We provide a unified payroll platform that seamlessly connects your entire team—production, accounting, cast, and crew—all in one place.

Wrapbook empowers production teams to manage projects, pay cast and crew, track expenses, and generate data-driven insights, while enabling workers to manage timecards, track pay, and onboard to new projects from any device. Wrapbook brings clarity and dependability to production payroll, while increasing the productivity of your whole team.

For crew: The Wrapbook app eliminates the headaches of production payroll by providing a fast, transparent, and secure solution for workers to complete startwork, submit timecards, and track pay.

Trusted by companies of all sizes, Wrapbook powers payroll for some of the industry’s top production companies, including SMUGGLER, Tuff, and GhostRobot. Our growing team of 250+ people includes entertainment and technology experts from SAG-AFTRA, DGA, IATSE, Teamsters, Amazon, Microsoft, Facebook, and more.

Wrapbook is backed by top-tier investors, including Jeffrey Katzenberg’s WndrCo, Andreessen Horowitz, and A* Capital.

Get started at https://www.wrapbook.com/

We explore the world of script collaboration with Emmy-winning technologist and CEO of Scripto, Josh Kline. He shares how his early work with Digital Dailies revolutionized how directors review footage, and how those lessons now inform his work modernizing script collaboration. He explains the deep limitations of traditional formats like PDFs and highlights how platforms like Scripto bring real-time version control, security, and inter-operability into the writer’s room. From late-night TV to feature films, Josh talks about the collaborative demands of different production environments and how cloud-based workflows are streamlining everything from on-the-fly rewrites to executive approvals.

Josh also reflects on the growing role of automation and AI in the production process, emphasizing that while tools can accelerate workflows, human judgment remains irreplaceable.

About Wrapbook

Wrapbook is a smart, intuitive platform that makes production payroll and accounting easier, faster, and more secure. We provide a unified payroll platform that seamlessly connects your entire team—production, accounting, cast, and crew—all in one place.

Wrapbook empowers production teams to manage projects, pay cast and crew, track expenses, and generate data-driven insights, while enabling workers to manage timecards, track pay, and onboard to new projects from any device. Wrapbook brings clarity and dependability to production payroll, while increasing the productivity of your whole team.

For crew: The Wrapbook app eliminates the headaches of production payroll by providing a fast, transparent, and secure solution for workers to complete startwork, submit timecards, and track pay.

Trusted by companies of all sizes, Wrapbook powers payroll for some of the industry’s top production companies, including SMUGGLER, Tuff, and GhostRobot. Our growing team of 250+ people includes entertainment and technology experts from SAG-AFTRA, DGA, IATSE, Teamsters, Amazon, Microsoft, Facebook, and more.

Wrapbook is backed by top-tier investors, including Jeffrey Katzenberg’s WndrCo, Andreessen Horowitz, and A* Capital.

Get started at https://www.wrapbook.com/

We explore how artificial intelligence is transforming post-production workflows with Lucas Igel, CEO and founder of Kino AI. A former MIT student and indie documentarian, Lucas shares how his early experiences editing his documentary exposed him to the inefficiencies of traditional editing and inspired the creation of Kino.

In our conversation, Lucas explains how Kino’s search mirrors the creative process while balancing precision and serendipity. He shares insights from building a high-performance, on-premise system shaped by his time at SpaceX and JPL, where security and speed were non-negotiable.

We also dive into the creative implications of AI-assisted editing. Lucas discusses how Kino empowers filmmakers, not by replacing their judgment, but by removing bottlenecks and making space for daring storytelling. He addresses concerns about homogenization and AI ethics, advocating for tools that amplify taste.

Join us on this episode for a compelling discussion about the future of editing, the role of AI as collaborator, and how thoughtful technology can expand access to cinematic expression.

About Wrapbook

Wrapbook is a smart, intuitive platform that makes production payroll and accounting easier, faster, and more secure. We provide a unified payroll platform that seamlessly connects your entire team—production, accounting, cast, and crew—all in one place.

Wrapbook empowers production teams to manage projects, pay cast and crew, track expenses, and generate data-driven insights, while enabling workers to manage timecards, track pay, and onboard to new projects from any device. Wrapbook brings clarity and dependability to production payroll, while increasing the productivity of your whole team.

For crew: The Wrapbook app eliminates the headaches of production payroll by providing a fast, transparent, and secure solution for workers to complete startwork, submit timecards, and track pay.

Trusted by companies of all sizes, Wrapbook powers payroll for some of the industry’s top production companies, including SMUGGLER, Tuff, and GhostRobot. Our growing team of 250+ people includes entertainment and technology experts from SAG-AFTRA, DGA, IATSE, Teamsters, Amazon, Microsoft, Facebook, and more.

Wrapbook is backed by top-tier investors, including Jeffrey Katzenberg’s WndrCo, Andreessen Horowitz, and A* Capital.

Get started at https://www.wrapbook.com/