Meet Lorraine

Lorraine has been a production accountant for 37 years, having gotten her start in 1986 on the original “21 Jumpstreet” television series. She grew up in British Columbia, Canada and attended Vancouver Community College. After college, Lorraine was working as a controller for a local five-star restauranteur and a friend approached her about an accounting opening in the film and television industry and she hasn’t looked back since. Among the many projects on which she has worked are “Macgyver,” “Legends of the Fall,” “X-Files,” “Survivor” and “The Dark Tower.”

What was your favorite project and why? That is a tough question as I have several. I would probably pick “Legends of the Fall.” It was a high-class project with a beautiful script, a high-profile director, high profile actors and was a period piece with interesting landscapes and locations and very beautiful costumes. It was made in the old style of film production and shot on film, everything was very organized, the crew was experienced, and it was a pleasure to work with everyone on the set.

What is the best part of being a production accountant? The production environment is exciting and provides the opportunity to continually meet so many interesting people. I like the diversity of moving from project to project, with each one providing new challenges and new experiences. I really enjoy being a part of the production process from the initial stages… reading the script, budgeting and meeting with the producers, PMs and HODs, and interacting with the agents representing the cast. Attending production meetings gives a great insight into the whole process, and there are times when the environment is collaborative, and I am able to contribute some of my thoughts and insights on various production matters. More recently I have been traveling for film projects and I really enjoy meeting and working with foreign crews and immersing myself in other cultures. In other countries the production process can be quite different from North America, some things good, some things not so good. It’s an opportunity for me to challenge myself and contribute to production in different ways.

What advice would you give someone starting out in the profession? Take your time learning as much as you can with each position you are in. Don’t be so ambitious that you move up too quickly. When done properly, the production process is complex and works best when each and every crew member knows their job well. Be prepared to work hard with long hours. Find a mentor and ask questions! Be flexible and open to learning to do your job in different ways. If you need help, ask for it! See everyone on the production as one team as one community. Be a useful part of the team and strive to do your job to the best of your ability. It is a high-pressure environment so be patient, kind, compassionate and courteous to all your production colleagues. If you see someone that is struggling, help them.