On Production

In this special episode of On Production, we welcome back film finance expert Will French to unpack a headline-grabbing development in the film world. Following a recent social media post from President Trump proposing a 100% tariff on foreign-made films, Will offers an in-depth look at the potential impact and consequences for the domestic and global film industries.

With decades of experience pioneering U.S. film tax credits and structuring finance for major productions, Will brings unique insight into the complex economics at play—from international labor costs and incentives to making the case on tax reforms that can truly bring production back to domestic soil. He explains the history of how production has shifted overseas in pursuit of more competitive tax rebates and lower costs, and how a tariff might—or might not—stem that tide.

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 Jijo Reed, Emmy Award-winning producer and founder of Sugar Studios, a full-service post-production house. With a career spanning over 60 feature films, Jijo talks about how his background as a drummer informs his approach to editing, and how Sugar’s in-house team fosters trust, speed, and synergy. We also explore how emerging technologies like AI are streamlining workflows—while Jijo emphasizes that true storytelling still depends on human intuition and collaboration.

Join us to hear about the nuts and bolts of post-production and what it truly means to finish a project strong.

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/

Emily Best, founder and CEO of Seed&Spark, shares how her journey from theater to filmmaking led to launching one of the most successful crowdfunding platforms for independent creators. We dive into what makes Seed&Spark stand out, why audience-building is essential, and how creators can build sustainable careers outside the Hollywood system. Emily also gives us a glimpse into the future of film distribution and why democratizing storytelling means more than just access—it’s about collective power.

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 Cary Woodworth, an actor-turned-producer and the founder of Legacy Pictures and Maverick, who has built a career navigating the complexities of global content creation and international co-productions.

In this conversation, Cary shares his experiences managing productions across continents. He discusses the leadership skills required to balance creative passion with the logistical realities of production, the differences between Hollywood and the Chinese film industry, and even offers his unique insights on AI’s growing influence on the rise of storytelling formats emerging from Asia.

If you’re interested to know what it takes to succeed in an increasingly global industry, this episode is for you!

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 executive producer Kristen V. Carter as she shares how she balances creativity, leadership, and social impact in the media. From producing music specials on PBS and docuseries on HBO Max to working with Kevin Hart and Ava DuVernay, Kristen has built a career rooted in authenticity and purpose.

Kristen discusses how she navigates high-stakes productions, makes tough calls on projects that don’t align with her mission, and champions Black Joy in storytelling. She also dives into her work with Trust Your Magic and Who You Know, two platforms dedicated to mentorship and networking for creatives of color.

If you're looking for insights on building a meaningful and sustainable creative career, this episode is for you.

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 West Virginia’s emerging film industry with David and Megan from the West Virginia Development Office and Film Office. These industry leaders discuss how the state is positioning itself as an attractive destination for filmmakers through comprehensive support programs and competitive incentives.

The conversation dives into the state’s tax incentive program and their extensive location database. David and Megan highlight the state’s unique geographic versatility, strong workforce development initiatives, and collaborative relationships with neighboring film hubs. They also discuss their hands-on approach to supporting productions of all sizes, from major features to independent films.

Join us for an enlightening discussion about the unexpected opportunities and resources available to filmmakers in the Mountain State, where traditional hospitality meets modern film infrastructure.

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 Marc Iserlis, Head of Film at Republic, who shares how their platform is transforming entertainment financing by enabling everyday fans to become legitimate investors in film projects. With his background in traditional film financing and current role pioneering crowd investing, Marc offers valuable insights into this new approach to funding creative projects.

The discussion explores Republic’s successful launches, including the Pressman Film slate raising $1.85 million and Skybound Entertainment’s remarkable $18 million campaign. Marc details how the platform differs from traditional crowdfunding by offering actual equity stakes to unaccredited investors, while also creating built-in audiences for projects. He explains the platform’s unique ability to provide both initial investment opportunities and secondary market trading through blockchain technology.

Join us for an enlightening conversation about the future of film financing and how Republic is creating new pathways for fans to invest in the entertainment they love.

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 Tony Gapastione, founder of Bravemaker, a nonprofit film arts organization dedicated to fostering community dialogue through film. A former actor turned filmmaker, Tony shares how a personal loss led him to create an organization focused on mentoring diverse voices and supporting meaningful storytelling.

Tony discusses Bravemaker’s impact on local communities through monthly film screenings, educational programs, and their annual film festival in Redwood City. He shares his journey in producing his own feature film and details the challenges of running a nonprofit arts organization in today’s climate. Join us on this episode to learn about how storytelling, community, and social impact intersect in contemporary filmmaking.

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/

On this Halloween special of On Production, we sit down with Stephen Follows, a film industry data researcher, to discuss his latest project, HorrorMovieReport.com. Stephen dives into the current surge in horror film production, exploring the factors driving this unprecedented boom and the evolving landscape of the genre.

The episode covers a wide range of topics, including the dominance of American horror films, the rise of Asian horror cinema, and the increasing prevalence of aquatic monsters in horror movies. Stephen also shares insights on the profitability of horror films, the impact of digital tools on the genre, and effective strategies for maximizing audience engagement.

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 speak with Herman Phillips, an innovative film producer and the creator of Cinapse, a groundbreaking production management software. Herman shares insights from his journey in the film industry and explains how his experiences on major sets like The Mandalorian inspired him to develop technology that revolutionizes production workflows.

Herman discusses the challenges faced by production teams using outdated scheduling methods and how Cinapse addresses these issues. He highlights key features of the software, including real-time collaboration, episodic scheduling logic, and upcoming functionalities like unit day breaks and automated schedule comparisons. Herman also touches on Cinapse’s adoption by major studios and its expansion into the European market.

Tune in for a deep dive into the future of film production technology and how Cinapse is transforming the industry’s approach to scheduling and management.

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/