Meet Daniel

Daniel has been in production accounting for more than 20 years. He spent his formative years in Detroit and then moved to sunny Santa Monica, CA, where he attended Santa Monica College. His career in the entertainment industry began in front of the camera as an extra on many shows in the 90s, as well as producing and starring in his own independent film. A friend of his was working on the television show “Party of Five” at Sony and asked if he wanted to come into the office to visit. A few weeks later he interviewed for an accounting clerk position for the film “S.W.A.T.” and the rest, as they say, is history! Among the projects he was worked on are “Memories of a Geisha,” “Spider-Man 3,” “Moneyball,” “Avatar” and “John Carter.”

What was your favorite project and why? “John Carter” was one of the most difficult projects I’ve ever worked on. It was brutal… but as fate would have it, I met my wife while filming in Utah and Arizona. We’ve been together for over 13 years. Without “John Carter,” we may have never met! Thanks Disney.

What is the best part of being a production accountant? Even after all these years and all the projects and all the extremely hard work, it still amazes me how many folks it takes to bring an idea to the big (or little) screen. I’m extremely proud of the locations I’ve traveled to for work, and I’ve met some great people. Being in this business opens the doors to so many opportunities and I’ve learned something from each project I’ve worked on. I work in finance, but production accounting gives you a different perspective on the inner workings of what drives a film or television show to the end result. And working in post-production widens that lens just a bit further. But I would be lying if I didn’t admit I love receiving swag! It’s the best.

What advice would you give someone starting out in the profession?  I would tell someone to make sure they act like a sponge diving into a pool. There are so many moving parts in this industry, and it’s important to absorb it all. If you can, work in different departments to have a much wider range of understanding of the entire picture. Ask questions often. Don’t be afraid of the hard work; it’s always worth it in the end. And last, but not least, do not forget we have the opportunity in this business to entertain the greater public. We create an escape into a made-up world of sometimes fantasy, cartoons, sci-fi and so much more. We are a part of our culture that entertains and amazes people. We are so fortunate!