Sargent-Disc Production Card

Tagged: Production Accounting, Production Services

The Sargent-Disc (SD) Production Card was launched as a specific solution to minimise the need for large cash payments on the production of World War Z. Sargent-Disc fully understood the needs of this production and the desire to reduce cash usage, as a result of John Sargent's (Founder of Sargent-Disc) first hand experience having been robbed at gunpoint while filming on location in the Bahamas on the James Bond movie The Spy Who Loved Me.

"Cash is an anathema with its associated problems of security and insurance. I was held at gunpoint in the middle of the night and forced to open a safe before being left tied up face down on the floor. Life would have been easier had cards been available at that time." - John Sargent (Founder, Sargent-Disc).

Solution

Based on their industry knowledge Sargent-Disc evaluated several options and chose Barclaycard to work with them on a solution to these challenges. The result was a bespoke solution for the UK Film and Entertainment Industry: The Sargent-Disc Production Card. The solution was up and running in time for the production of World War Z.

The Production Card combines Sargent-Disc's customer service and understanding of production, with Barclaycard's payment infrastructure and online reporting platform. The Production Card can be used for all Euro and Sterling purchases and provides around the clock support and access to reports and statements 24/7.

Following the successful use of the Production Card on World War Z, Paramount Pictures returned to the UK to film Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit and Sargent-Disc were again chosen to provide the same solution for handling high volume cash payments on the production.

Challenges

The key challenges for the Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit production team were:

• Keeping a detailed and efficient record of the large numbers of cash payments could be time consuming.
• The wardobe department had to source and purchase items themselves rather than work with a costume house due to the contemporary nature of the film.
• Many retailers were unable to accept or reimburse cash payments for wardrobe items and this posed a problem as wardrobe purchases often needed to be exchanged.
• Security concern for employees travelling with thousands of pounds in cash to make transactions.

By using the Sargent-Disc Production Card, the production team were provided with a safe and secure alternative to handling cash. Sargent-Disc arranged the cards required with pre-set limits on each. This enabled the production team to purchase wardrobe items with ease, with the added benefits of fraud protection and insurance cover for lost or stolen cards.

"Working with Sargent-Disc was an amazing, first class experience" - Tommy Harper, Executive Producer Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit

Administration

The administration and management of the cards was handled by Sargent-Disc, ensuring the regular and timely payments of balances to guarantee the required level of spend was always available. By managing the Production Card, Sargent-Disc was able to provide regular statements and reports to facilitate accurate production accounting and financial management.

"Sargent-Disc provided excellent support demonstrating their expert knowledge of production. They understood the time frames and ensured queries were dealt with quickly and efficiently." - Stephen C Earner, Production Accountant Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit

Following a very positive response to the launch of the Production Card, Sargent-Disc is now providing the service to a wide range of high budget and independent feature films and TV shows. Recent projects include Red 2, Hercules, Dracula and Da Vinci's Demons.

Find out more

If you would like to find out more on the Production Card and how Sargent-Disc can support you with your production, please email production@sargent-disc.com or contact us here >

Images Copyright 2013 Paramount Pictures