This show goes beyond the basics of production, uncovering the expertise and stories that drive the entertainment industry From big-name industry leaders to behind-the-scenes pros, each episode reveals how different aspects of production, from financing to performance, come together to create something extraordinary.
Start+ (Onboarding) and Hours+ (Timekeeping) Just Got a Serious Upgrade (Part 2)
Production moves fast, and your tools should too.
In this episode of Master Your Craft, host Shannon Cruz (https://www.linkedin.com/in/shanncruz93/) is joined by Cast & Crew (https://www.castandcrew.com/)’s Alex Bair (https://www.linkedin.com/in/alex-bair-558b23359/), Director of Product Solutions, and Kody Schmidt (https://www.linkedin.com/in/kody-schmidt/), Product Manager for Hours+ (Timekeeping). They discuss the biggest 2025 Hours+ (Timekeeping) updates designed to help production accountants move faster, stay compliant, and get more done with less stress.
From real-time cap tracking to flexible approval workflows and timecard overrides, these new tools put more control in the hands of production teams where it belongs.
Key insights from this episode:
Leveraging automation for smarter production finance
How to fix timecard issues fast without breaking your workflow
The impact of proactive cap tracking on crew and compliance
Chapters:
(00:00) Meet Alex Bair and Kody Schmidt
(01:25) The most impactful updates coming to Hours+ this year
(03:05) Approval workflows made for self-service
(05:44) Allowance cap tracking in real time
(08:11) East Coast incentives and compliance features
(11:02) Enabling flexibility and efficiency in production workflows
(16:02) Hours+ for international productions
(17:58) Future plans for Hours+ in 2026
(19:55) Rapid-fire round: How Alex and Kody work and unwind
Want a tailored 15-20 minute product walkthrough? Check out this link: https://info.castandcrew.com/2025-product-recap
Follow us on our socials:
Learn more on https://castandcrew.com/ (https://www.castandcrew.com/)
Facebook: https://facebook.com/CastCrew (https://facebook.com/CastCrew)
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LinkedIn: https:/linkedin.com/company/castcrew/ (https://www.linkedin.com/company/castcrew/)
X: https://x.com/CastAndCrewNews (https://x.com/CastAndCrewNews)
9 Dec 2025
Start+ and Hours+ Just Got A Serious Upgrade (Part 1)
Workflows should work for you, not the other way around.
In this episode of Master Your Craft, host Shannon Cruz (https://www.linkedin.com/in/shanncruz93/) is joined by Cast & Crew (https://www.castandcrew.com/)’s Alex Bair (https://www.linkedin.com/in/alex-bair-558b23359/), Director of Product Solutions, and Jim Gomez (https://www.linkedin.com/in/jim-gomez-7991b6a2/), Product Manager for Start+, to explore how the latest Start+ updates will make it easier to manage production at scale.
Smarter onboarding, international deal support, and customizable approval workflows are just a few of the new features designed to reduce delays, increase flexibility, and keep production moving wherever it happens.
Key insights from this episode:
How Start+ simplifies onboarding for SAG and international crew
Why unified logins reduce friction for department heads and admins
How self-service workflows enable faster approvals
Chapters:
(00:00) Meet Alex Bair and Jim Gomez
(01:23) Above-the-line onboarding goes digital
(04:07) How one login makes work easier
(07:43) Approval workflows you can edit yourself
(11:23) Start+ and the future of global onboarding
(13:59) Form exports built for more efficient crew tracking
(20:01) Designing Start+ with users in mind
(21:43) What’s next for SAG workflows and agent approvals
(23:36) Rapid-fire round: Travel dreams and life hacks
Want a tailored 15-20 minute product walkthrough? Check out this link: https://info.castandcrew.com/2025-product-recap
Follow us on our socials:
Learn more on https://castandcrew.com/ (https://www.castandcrew.com/)
Facebook: https://facebook.com/CastCrew (https://facebook.com/CastCrew)
Instagram: https://instagram.com/castandcrewllc/ (https://instagram.com/castandcrewllc/)
LinkedIn: https:/linkedin.com/company/castcrew/ (https://www.linkedin.com/company/castcrew/)
X: https://x.com/CastAndCrewNews (https://x.com/CastAndCrewNews)
14 Oct 2025
Why Production Teams Rely on PSL+ Real-Time Sync With DPO and Eved
Manual entry. Chasing email approvals. Cross-checking systems. For production accountants, the small inefficiencies add up fast.
In this episode of Master Your Craft, host Stacy Keeter (https://www.linkedin.com/in/stacy-keeter-1b2ab87/) sits down with Kirsten Thayer (https://www.linkedin.com/in/kirstenvenselthayer/), VP of User Experience at Cast & Crew (https://www.castandcrew.com/), to explore how PSL+, DPO integration, and a powerful new partnership with Eved are removing those friction points.
They talk about how connected workflows, real-time syncing, and mobile-ready approvals are streamlining production finance and making life easier for teams everywhere.
Key insights from this episode:
How PSL+ and DPO work together to reduce double entry
What mobile approvals mean for crews on the move
How Eved enables fast, compliant global payments
Chapters:
(00:00) Meet Kirsten Thayer
(01:28) Real-time syncing and approvals across systems
(02:20) Mobile approvals speeding up decisions in the field
(03:42) How Eved enables seamless international payments
(06:41) Tracking spending and vendor visibility with Eved
(08:44) Future vision for Cast & Crew integrations
(11:12) What mastering your craft means to Kirsten
Follow us on our socials:
Learn more on https://castandcrew.com/ (https://www.castandcrew.com/)
Facebook: https://facebook.com/CastCrew (https://facebook.com/CastCrew)
Instagram: https://instagram.com/castandcrewllc/ (https://instagram.com/castandcrewllc/)
LinkedIn: https:/linkedin.com/company/castcrew/ (https://www.linkedin.com/company/castcrew/)
X: https://x.com/CastAndCrewNews (https://x.com/CastAndCrewNews)
30 Jul 2025
Why Production Pros Rely on Showbiz Budgeting With Jeff Beckerman
The old way of working on budgets involved emailing files, waiting for feedback, and sorting through conflicting versions. This made collaboration more complicated than it needed to be.
In this episode of Master Your Craft, host Steve Bizenov (https://www.linkedin.com/in/stevebizenov/) is joined by Jeff Beckerman (https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeffbeckerman/), Head of Production at Rain the Growth Agency (https://www.rainforgrowth.com/), to discuss how Showbiz Budgeting simplifies commercial production. From cloud-based collaboration to customizable templates, they dive into the Showbiz Budgeting features that make production accounting more efficient for today’s shoots.
Key insights from this episode:
Key features of Showbiz Budgeting that save time
How phases help you manage multiple budget versions
The role of templates in scaling commercial shoots
Chapters:
(00:00) Meet Jeff Beckerman
(02:14) Production budgeting software for real-time collaboration
(06:06) Showbiz Budgeting’s use cases in production accounting
Follow us on our socials:
Learn more on https://castandcrew.com/ (https://www.castandcrew.com/)
Facebook: https://facebook.com/CastCrew (https://facebook.com/CastCrew)
Instagram: https://instagram.com/castandcrewllc/ (https://instagram.com/castandcrewllc/)
LinkedIn: https:/linkedin.com/company/castcrew/ (https://www.linkedin.com/company/castcrew/)
X: https://x.com/CastAndCrewNews (https://x.com/CastAndCrewNews)
16 Jul 2025
Fixing the Friction in Commercial Production With Nate Gibson
Commercial production has always run on paperwork—scripts, call sheets, timecards. But then Covid happened, and everything changed.
In this episode, Jesse Perez (https://www.linkedin.com/in/jesse-perez-7b580885/) talks with Nate Gibson (https://www.linkedin.com/in/nathaniel-gibson-a86406118/) about how that disruption led to a digital transformation. What started as a pandemic workaround has evolved into a smarter, mobile-first solution helping productions move faster, stay compliant, and lighten the load for crews.
Key insights from this episode:
Why user-first design matters in payroll
The role of mobile tools in modern commercial production
Why production tech must evolve with the industry
Chapters:
(00:00) Meet Nate Gibson
(00:31) Creating a digital solution for entertainment production
(05:30) Streamlining timecards and processes for crew members
(10:10) Keeping the human touch in a tech-first world
(11:31) Balancing security and customization in tech
(13:38) Rapid-fire questions for Nate
(15:39) What does it mean to be a master of your craft?
Follow us on our socials:
Learn more on https://castandcrew.com/ (https://www.castandcrew.com/)
Facebook: https://facebook.com/CastCrew (https://facebook.com/CastCrew)
Instagram: https://instagram.com/castandcrewllc/ (https://instagram.com/castandcrewllc/)
LinkedIn: https:/linkedin.com/company/castcrew/ (https://www.linkedin.com/company/castcrew/)
X: https://x.com/CastAndCrewNews (https://x.com/CastAndCrewNews)
2 Jul 2025
Streamlining Payroll for Live Theater With Sarah Galbraith and Ryan Lympus
Payroll experts Sarah Galbraith and Ryan Lympus discuss the complexities of live theater payroll, including union rules and technology, ensuring performers are paid accurately.
18 Jun 2025
Staying Ahead of Tax Trends With Joe Gutierrez
Payroll Tax Manager Joe Gutierrez discusses how to stay informed about changing tax regulations, emerging tech, and automation in payroll workflows, highlighting the importance of accuracy in payroll tax, in this interview.
4 Jun 2025
Managing Rights and AI in Modern Advertising With Rori Floyd and Mark Egmon
Rori Floyd and Mark Egmon from The TEAM Companies discuss the challenges advertisers face with AI, offshore production, and rights management, emphasizing how business affairs keep content compliant; this is an interview.
22 May 2025
This is Master Your Craft
The "Master Your Craft" podcast explores the entertainment industry by revealing how financing and performance unite to create extraordinary productions.
Who has been a guest on Master Your Craft
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Sarah Galbraith
Ryan Lympus
Joe Gutierrez
Rori Floyd
Mark Egmon
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