Production Accountant Credit

There has always been drivers and accountants since movies were made, especially in the studio system in Hollywood. What kind of recognition does it bring tto [sic] have their names in the credits ? Does the fact of having their names displayed have made the films better?

The accounting department is a large department.
by Jennifer Winter
Joined on June 13, 2018
https://getsatisfaction.com/imdb/people/jennifer_winter_g3hvevppq4m3y
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on TCM now (June 20 2018 2:00 AM GS time)
An American in Paris  (1951)
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0043278/
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0043278/reference
Gene Kelly   ...  Jerry Mulligan
Leslie Caron ...  Lise Bouvier
Oscar Levant  ...  Adam Cook 

Box Office
Budget $2,723,903 (estimated) 
Gross United States $4,500,000 

Accounting Department ?? not listed
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OK, how many people would decide to watch a movie or TV show
because some Accountant worked on the production
so they would look that up on IMDb and see what else that Accountant worked on

Accountants not listed on screen ?
How would IMDb find the list of Accountants
for 1930's, 1940's 1950's, 1960's, 1970's, 1980's ...

https://www.imdb.com/search/title?release_date=1930-01-01,2018-12-31
Most Popular Titles Released 1930  to 2018 
4,498,580 titles 
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https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Accountant

Never forget that films are made for the public, not for the "makers". - Vincent Fournols

This issue has been raised again with IMDB as it is high time Accounting got their own department! 

@SamScowcroft​ 4 years since I posted. It was a battle then and its still a battle. It would be nice to be heard.

@jennifer_winter_g3hvevppq4m3y​ right!?!?! If we can get the new request out to as many in and out of our department maybe they will HAVE to listen..... you'd hope.....

https://community-imdb.sprinklr.com/conversations/data-issues-policy-discussions/production-accountant-credit/62f2e79ac5eeb86e2c3788e6

@Vincent_Fournols​ - There are many people in, and out, of production who believe Accountants have very little to do with the creative side of the production.  Indeed, there are many Accountants who do nothing more than bookkeeping on a project, and probably do not interact with the project's overall look.  However, the whole creative process, especially in lower budget project, hinders on the distribution of resources allocated by the budget.  Is an item to be handled by Locations, or by the Art Department?  Is an item Wardrobe, or Props?  Are there funds to shoot an additional day?  All of these questions are answered in the budget and cost reports, which are controlled by the accountants.  In my roll as a Production Accountant, I am often brought into creative meetings to discuss how we can best manage resources to maximize the vision of the Director.  In one case, at the film's presentation at Cannes, the Director spoke at a Q&A praising a creative decision which came from the Accounting Department as an alternative to dropping a scene altogether.  True, no one ever lost an Academy Award because they filled out a Purchase Order incorrectly, but, then again, the project would most likely never have turned out to the quality necessary to get the Academy Award if the accountant was not in the background maximizing resources to the benefit to the whole team.

@Vincent_Fournols​ To clarify: you've never worked or been involved in film or series production?

@Vincent_Fournols​ Thanks Peanutblitz...I was heading there myself.  When someone has experience working in production, they know that there are many parts to the production process.  Some of those "parts" are more "creative" than others; however, this doesn't make them any less necessary to the process.  Without ALL the departments, ESPECIALLY when it comes to the ones overseeing the "MONEY BUSINESS"...productions would come to a standstill or never get off the ground at all. The reason "Cast & Crew" are credited on productions is because they were part of the production process.  Otherwise, the credits would be much shorter and be called "Cast & Creative Only".  I hope I've cleared up what can only be explained as your obvious misconception regarding the importance of every person to the production process. 

@mintyoil45​ Love your answer, thanks!

@Vincent_Fournols​ I think you're missing something with your post.  On almost every show I work on, I am consistently consulted by show runners and producers as to what they can afford, what creative cuts they need to make, how much something is going to cost in order for them to make necessary changes to the scripts or decide what elements such as days, locations, stunt gags, inserts, background, picture cars, wardrobe, set dressing, props, SFX, 2nd Units etc. they can afford without compromising the creative integrity of the stories they want to tell.  At the end of the day, if that doesn't have a direct impact on the creative process, I don't know what does.  PS.  I also have writing and acting credits so I'm very aware of how what accountants do has a direct impact on the creative process.  The movie business is a BUSINESS first and foremost and we are the ones responsible for translating words on the pages of a script to numbers in the ledgers.  Additionally, for the last decade plus, our resumes have been vetted by potential employers against IMDb listings so credits matter more than they ever have.  I hope this illuminates why we're asking for this.

@Marco​ EXACTLY!!!! 

@Ampasstime​ Well said. Without writers or money, the project is just a thought. We're very much a part of the bottom line. Between studio,  investors, producers, legal, agents, other department heads,  it's a constant engagement with creative decisions. Whether a project even returns or not. A great deal relies on our experience and skill set, we problem solve through out so the story can be told. I'm 41 years deep in this industry and know where the bodies are buried more than most.

@Chescalera​ 100%

@Michelle​ I will let my fellow production accountants know.  I really hope this is one step closer to change.  Thank you! 

@SamScowcroft​ I believe it’s just liking the original 

Thanks @Chescalera. I can see the like comments but not like the original. There is also an 'upvotes' thing that i can't work out as well. Will keep looking as this is definitely an issue they need to address!!! :)

@Michelle​ upvotes doesn’t seem to be working. I tried to vote! I definitely agree with Kathy’s post. IMDb is a great resource to see experience of crew member. It would be beneficial to see the whole department categorized together!

Absolutely agree, it is about time Accountants are recognised for the work we do - we are not miscellaneous.

@SamScowcroft​  Hopefully someone from IMDB is seeing the comments about upvotes not working and advise when it's fixed.  Thanks for speaking up for CHANGE!

@Rquigleysmith​ Thanks for supporting us!

@Michelle​ How do we Upvote this? There is no option.

@Michelle​ any chance you can fix the upvote or let us know how to do it? The IMDB community it is not very intuitive and users have to register again even when we are already logged on our own IMDB profile. We want to share this on other social media outlets TIA MG x

That’s a good idea! It took me forever to figure out that I had to create another account for this site. But it would be great to be able to share it.

@Michelle​ hi Michelle, upvotes isn’t working. Is there something special we have to do? Do we have to log in from computer? 
i hope the responses will be enough to encourage a change in title for us :-) since we can’t vote on it 

@kathyriley​ upvotes is boxes next to number right above the comments and Below the views count

its the same color as the background so it’s hard to see. It’s Click box left for up and right for down arrow (don’t clock down lol) 

@SamScowcroft​ Thanks for supporting us!

Totally agree. 
It’s not like we are miscellaneous to the production. 

@Jnixon​  Great points you raise, Josh!  Thanks.

@ChristineLyes​ Thanks for supporting us!

@JakubMalar​ Thanks for supporting us!

@MGonzalez​ Thanks for supporting us!

@diane_harvie​ Thanks for supporting us!