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As the only payroll provider with next-gen technology, Wrapbook’s commitment to the cutting edge should come as no surprise. Our passion for innovation is built into every facet of our culture, including our podcast, On Production.
Hosted by Wrapbook co-founder Cameron Woodward, each episode of On Production digs into exactly what it takes to stay ahead of the curve through conversations with experts from every corner of the production industry. In this post, we want to highlight a few of those conversations about one of our favorite topics: entertainment technology.
Join us below for a whirlwind tour of On Production’s latest offerings and explore what industry experts have to say about the frontier of tech in entertainment.
Cutting edge tech and entertainment have gone hand in hand since the earliest days of cinema, but production management tools have often lagged woefully behind. Fundamental tasks like payroll, budgeting, and building a schedule are frequently the last to respond to technological innovation.
Producer Herman Phillips is trying to change that with Cinapse. Inspired by his experiences on major sets like The Mandalorian, Phillips decided to bring the future of filmmaking into the production office by developing a groundbreaking production management software built to streamline collaborative scheduling.
We spoke with Phillips about the challenges of outdated scheduling methods and how new entertainment technology can make them a thing of the past.
Using Cinapse as a real-world case study, our conversation takes listeners on a deep dive into tech and entertainment. Phillips walks us through how key features of Cinapse—like real-time collaboration and episodic scheduling logic—are transforming the standards of production management.
Efficiency is the unsung hero of tech in entertainment. While futuristic VFX solutions understandably grab headlines, the most disruptive entertainment tech often focuses simply on trimming time, cost, and stress.
Luke DeBoer created SetHero to wrangle the chaos of life on set. The company began as an effort to simplify call sheet management and has since flourished into a versatile communication solution, changing the way productions collect and share critical information.
DeBoer joined us for an episode of On Production to discuss his path from indie filmmaker to founder and CEO of an ambitious entertainment tech startup.
He and Cameron break down the obstacles of running an efficient set by traditional means and explore how digital tools can shift that paradigm. DeBoer walks us through his entrepreneurial journey to mine strategies for increasing productivity and discover ways that entertainment technology can make a real impact on your next production.
The production industry operates on a shoot-by-shoot basis. Crew members jump from job to job multiple times in a given year. On top of the inherent scheduling challenges of a freelance lifestyle, individual crew members must also bear responsibility for an enormous amount of administrative labor outside the scope of their actual employment.
Rob Weidner co-founded ShowCal to revolutionize the traditional approach to basic crew organization. The tool streamlines administration for filmmakers by making it easier to manage bookings, schedules, and correspondence.
Weidner chatted with us about the intersection of craft and tech in entertainment. He charted his path from behind the camera to the front lines of tech entrepreneurship, breaking down how a filmmaking career with credits on major motion pictures like Black Panther and Sonic the Hedgehog inspired him to develop an innovative new tool.
Listen to Weidner’s episode to discover how entertainment tech breakthroughs like ShowCal are shaping the future of production from the bottom up.
From typewriters to software suites, screenwriting tools have typically evolved in lockstep with standard word processing methods.
While the technological history of the written word is certainly awe-inspiring, the unique challenges of the screenwriter’s craft have been little more than an afterthought in most software development cycles. Screenwriting tools have been slow to innovate beyond the basics of formatting.
Today, that’s changing. Developers like Guy Goldstein, Founder and CEO of WriterDuet, are driving the industry forward with digital tools carefully and deliberately designed for screenwriters. Features like version tracking and real-time, collaborative editing knock down tedious barriers to creativity, enabling an experience that is both more powerful and more efficient than before.
Goldstein dropped in for an episode of On Production in which he and Cameron explore how modern tools can help filmmakers tell better stories. Goldstein outlines his vision of a future in which innovations in artificial intelligence enhance creativity instead of replacing human writers. He highlights the creative potential of tools like character analysis, script visualization, and analytical feedback on story elements.
As entertainment technology continues to evolve, new production methods emerge to challenge traditional paradigms. Augmented and virtual reality tools can expand the boundaries of filmmaking and further blur the line between digital and analog production.
Aaron Gordon, Executive Producer and Founder of Optic Sky Productions, believes that technologies like AR, VR, and the use of 3D digital assets are good omens for the production industry. To Gordon, emerging entertainment tech reflects ongoing growth and a capacity for adaptation in the filmmaking business as a whole.
Gordon sat down with On Production for a conversation about the changing landscape of digital production. We discuss the impact of emerging tech on the current and future state of production. Gordon illustrates the exciting opportunities of virtual production with insights from some of his most memorable professional experiences.
How is it that traditional tools and methods become “traditional” in the first place? In most cases, the main reason is that they simply work. Time itself has validated many aspects of filmmaking that may seem outdated at a glance.
Professionals like Marc Longberg think that the best tech often enhances those old-school solutions instead of replacing them whole cloth. A seasoned producer and Wrapbook’s own Senior Customer Success Manager, Longberg advocates for a blend of tech and tradition to achieve optimal production results.
In this episode of On Production, Longberg joins us to highlight the critical importance of adaptability and flexibility. He shines his experience as a producer through the lens of his current role at Wrapbook to outline how fundamental practices like budgeting and resource management hold the keys to production success.
The state of entertainment technology is rapidly evolving. Here at Wrapbook, we’re excited to discover the solutions of the future and continue leveraging next-gen tech to empower teams to achieve success faster.
Tune into On Production for more expert insight on the entertainment industry or check out What’s New in Wrapbook to find out how we’re putting tomorrow’s tools in filmmaker’s hands today.
At Wrapbook, we pride ourselves on providing outstanding free resources to producers and their crews, but this post is for informational purposes only as of the date above. The content on our website is not intended to provide and should not be relied on for legal, accounting, or tax advice. You should consult with your own legal, accounting, or tax advisors to determine how this general information may apply to your specific circumstances.
Loring is a Los Angeles-based writer, director, and creative producer. His work has been commissioned by a diverse range of clients- from Havas Worldwide to Wisecrack, inc.- and has been screened around the world. Through a background that blends project development with physical production across multiple formats, Loring has developed a uniquely eclectic skillset as a visual storyteller.
