About
In recent years, film and television production has expanded significantly due to the ever-increasing outlets for entertainment, especially streaming services like Netflix, HBOMax, Disney+, Apple TV, Paramount +. This has resulted in a shortage of qualified production accounting professionals. In some cases, existing crews are being promoted too quickly and given responsibilities for which they have not received training nor support. Many people outside the industry do not know this profession exists as a career option for their future. If they do know about it, they do not know someone on the inside to get them in.
School of Production Accounting (SPA) was created to take on this challenge. We will provide hand’s-on training to teach the skills specific to the various positions in a production accounting office.
For those currently working in Production Accounting, we will provide hand’s on training to give you the skills and confidence to advance to the next level.
For those working in finance in other industries, SPA will provide specialized training so you may bring your existing skill set to this exciting and dynamic profession.
For those who are recent graduates, we can provide the specific training to start you on your path to a career in entertainment.
For those who want to be a part of this thriving industry, but didn’t know someone or know how to break in, this training and your newly acquired skills will make you a valuable candidate and open doors to a new career.
Biographies
Ida Lee Henderson
Ida Lee Henderson has been a sought-after Production Accountant for both film and television for many years. She worked both domestically and internationally, with projects taking her to Canada, Malaysia, Australia, and Namibia. Her projects include the films “Rudy” for TriStar, “The Siege” and Tim Burton’s “Planet of the Apes’ for 20th Century Fox, and television shows “Brothers and Sisters” for ABC and “Rizzoli and Isles” for Warner Horizon. She is known within the profession for teaching and training those who show potential for advancement. Many of her former assistants have gone on to become successful Key Accountants and Studio Executives. She has conducted skill-building courses and created materials to assist working accounting assistants improve and standardize their work.
With a highly focused approach on practical skills development and real-world experience, Ida Lee’s training and mentorship methods are designed to equip her trainees with a strong foundation in the fundamentals of production accounting and financial management. Utilizing hands-on learning, Ida Lee ensures that her trainees receive the necessary knowledge and expertise to excel in the complex world of production accounting.
As a precursor to the School of Production Accounting, Ida Lee created an on-line, entry-level Production Accounting course for the California Film Commission. This course is only available to California residents via the Career Pathways program. The course is designed to train participants in the skills required to begin an entry-level position in a production accounting office immediately after graduation. The program has been very successful with many graduates currently working in their chosen field of production accounting.
Kurt Woolner
Kurt Woolner started in the film industry as a Production Accountant working for many great filmmakers including Francis Ford Coppola and Martin Scorcese. He joined Film Finances, Inc in 1984, helping to build the company into the pre-eminent Completion Bond company in the world. He became Co-owner, Co-President and Co-Chairman of Film Finances in 2007 and retained these roles until his retirement from the company in 2018. During Kurt’s tenure at Film Finances the company launched the CASHet Card which has become the industry leading Digital pay solution and an invaluable tool for production accountants. Kurt remains co-owner of CASHet Card and is actively involved in this companies continuing development and growth. After retiring from Film Finances Kurt became a guest lecturer at the UCLA Producers program and math teacher to elementary students in the LAUSD. Kurt’s career long involvement with production accounting and his passion for education are perfect complements to his role with the formation and operation of School Of Production Accounting.