There’s no getting around it – production accounting is a complex, high-pressure process. That’s why Ease offers you a number of accounting training courses that give you the practical skills and experience you need to manage your budgets, cost reports and other demands.
UPCOMING FILM ACCOUNTING 101 COURSES
REGISTER NOW:
Los Angeles: May 19 & 20, 2012
Toronto: June 2 & 3, 2012
Note: By clicking these links, you will be leaving the Ease site
and will be sent directly to the instructor’s private site.
Whether you’re new to the business, an assistant, a CPA or a producer, you’ll find a course that’s designed specifically with your needs in mind. From Film Accounting 101 to Auditing for Professionals, all courses are led by instructor John Gaskin, ranked among the industry’s most experienced instructors with more than 25 years of experience working on 45 productions in five countries. For your convenience, courses are offered in a variety of formats including Weekend Workshops, Live Online Sessions, and Self-Study On-Demand Training.
A brief description of our three most popular courses follows. For more information on these and other courses, including registration, dates, locations and fees, please submit your request using the form below, or contact John Gaskin at jgaskin@easeentertainment.com or 416-579-6249.
Film Accounting 101
Description
This is the defining course for the fundamentals of Film Accounting. The course is a very practical hands-on workshop of two intensive 10-hour days, followed by a series of seven Live On-Line Training sessions. It’s the toughest course we offer, so bring your roller skates! We’ll start from the ground up, practicing all activities associated with an assistant accountant (from the bottom level up), gaining a thorough practical understanding of the entertainment general ledger software. Finally, the online training sessions bring you into a senior level of Film Accounting and managing the Film Budget and Cost Report (the financial statements of film productions).
Objectives
Participants will understand and have practiced the duties of an assistant film accountant with the confidence that he/she CAN not only perform the tasks expected of them without extensive training, but also with an understanding of the cost control points of any film or television production. (Line Producers and Public Accountants will understand the background to their duties in controlling or auditing production costs.) Participants will be able to communicate to experienced Film Accountants and Producers convincingly, simply by telling them (showing them) what they have practiced to perfection in this workshop.
Who Should Attend
Anyone who has tried to find work as a film accountant and has found it difficult to break in, regardless of their previous training, experience or education. If you have a high aptitude with figures, a strong desire, and some basic skills in Excel and Word software, you qualify. This course has also been well utilized by Line Producers who want to strengthen their abilities to manage costs of a larger film production, and Public Accountants who need to audit the books and records of a film or television production.
Production Managing Film Budgets and Costs
Description
The Film Budget is made transparent through a series of very practical applications with much participation by the attendees. The course also includes an examination of the methods used by industry leading budgeting software. The Weekly Cost Report is thoroughly reviewed through a series of very practical analysis applications that enable the attendee to manage or audit this very important report. Again, there is much participation by the attendees through a series of practical drills. The Cost Control Systems is new to this workshop. It is a simple, but very practical, review of the six basic accounting control processes which the Line Producer or Auditor needs to know. The forms used in the industry are reviewed and the common controls are examined for application.
Objectives
Participants will identify and practice the specific ways to manage & make changes to film budgets, and present the film production costs in such a way as to be able to defend, challenge and manipulate both the film budget and the universally standard cost report without being tongue-tied.
Who Should Attend
Aspiring Producers, Production Managers, Line Producers, Production Keys, etc. Public Accountants (who will audit the final Cost Report) to be able to understand the terminology & methodology of the Film Industry. Assistant Film Accountants can use the material in this workshop as a way to upgrade to a Key Film Accountant.
Film Accounting and Auditing for Professionals
Description
This workshop will present the industry specific accounting and auditing practices of the Film Production Industry. Participants will be introduced to the full film industry business cycle — development, production, distribution, revenue sharing — with an emphasis on the production and tax incentives audit stage.
Objectives
Participants will understand the practices, terminologies and methodologies specific to the Film Industry. The workshop counts as Continuing Professional Education.
Who Should Attend
Public Accountants & Professional Accountants/Bookkeepers, CPA’s, and any other professional accountants looking to learn more about the film industry – especially how to audit the cost report for tax incentives.
For more information on these and other courses, including registration information, dates, locations and fees, please complete and submit a request below, or contact John Gaskin directly at jgaskin@easeentertainment.com or 416-579-6249.