CrewStart v2

CrewStart Version 2 has officially landed! Our teams have been hard at work behind the scenes, building on your feedback and refining the platform to make it faster, cleaner, and easier to use than ever before.

This update introduces a new modern framework that boosts performance and sets us up for even more improvements in the future. Alongside this, we’ve rolled out a range of user experience (UX) and interface (UI) enhancements designed to streamline navigation, improve speed, and create a more intuitive experience across the system.

Once enabled, you’ll notice these changes straight away, from a refreshed look and feel, to smoother interactions on key screens, including the All Projects page when you first log in.

CrewStart All Projects Page

One of the biggest improvements in Version 2 is the enhanced filter functionality. Filters are now faster, clearer, and more consistent across all screens, making it easier to find exactly what you need, when you need it.

“Everyone is a fan of the new search functions. Its easier to find and filter to your needs. The interface seems faster to use and clearer to use.” – Rob Herring, 7 Miles Out

New Advanced Filter

Selecting due dates for your envelopes is now quicker and more intuitive. We’ve added multiple smart options that automatically input dates for you, reduce clicks and help you move through tasks with ease.

Due Date Smart Options
'Save to Profile' Signature

We’ve also simplified the way you can save your signature. After drawing it, just click ‘Save to profile’ to store your signature for future use, no extra steps required!

A brand‑new feature allows you to pin the ‘Form Validation’ pop‑up while completing an envelope. This makes it easy to see what information is still required, and you can jump directly to each item by clicking on it. Quicker, clearer, and easier to complete your details.

Form Validation Pinned

We’ve refreshed several icons across CrewStart to make their purpose clearer. Take a look at the guide below to see how some familiar icons have evolved.

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CrewStart Version 2 is available to switch on now, with full rollout coming soon. Ready to try it out? Enabling the upgrade is quick and easy:

  1. Navigate to User Profile from the main menu and select the Beta Features tab.
  2. Toggle CrewStart v2 on (or off if needed), then click Update Settings.

That’s it! Once enabled, you can continue using CrewStart as usual, now with all the performance and usability improvements of Version 2.

Switch on v2

If you have feedback on CrewStart Version 2, or ideas for features you’d love to see in the future, we’d love to hear from you. Please email us at sales@sargent-disc.com.

Behind The Budget Line – Gerry Tyrrell

Article By Immy Mohr

Career Journey

I’ve only recently jumped the fence into Film and TV.  Prior to that, I spent over 25 years in industries where precision, speed, and stakeholder trust were probably every bit as critical as they are on a production.

I began in Treasury, managing daily positions for currency and interbank dealers. It was a very early lesson in the true cost of cash and the sensitivities of cashflow!

I left to pursue my ACCA qualification, studying at night while managing financial accounting for Whirlpool’s Nordic operations.  This role taught me how to partner across diverse European teams and currencies.

From there I moved into high-value medical equipment. It was hands-on: I built budgets and costing models to support complex manufacturing operations.  To put it in perspective, in my first healthcare role we produced critical-care ventilators with an annual production cost of USD $ 200m.  Two of devices ended up on the set of E.R. !

Working in medical technology, you’re helping to create products that save lives – but it also means navigating strict regulatory and commercial environments.  I later supported a company that designed and manufactured retinal imaging devices before deciding to leave the sector in 2021.   I’d achieved a lot and it felt like the right time.  

It was an opportunity to ask: “What would I do, and what can I bring?” I’d always had an interest in stagecraft, so I explored options in screen.  The NFTS Diploma in Production Accounting provided the bridge, which I completed in early 2023.  After some ad hoc budget work, I landed my first screen industry job with Mammoth Screen on their shoot for Agatha Christie’s Murder is Easy.

I really enjoy it. There are so many parallels with my previous roles, especially in how you engage with production teams, non-finance departments and stakeholders to get the best outcome for the production and the production company behind it.

Most Memorable Production

The first job with Mammoth Screen really stuck with me. Great team, strong art department, and being a ’50s period piece, the set decoration and costume were brilliant.

It proved my transferrable skills worked in a fast-paced environment. Sometimes it’s just about being transparent – even a one-liner to an email: “Here’s the risk, here’s the mitigation.”  That kind of communication keeps everyone aligned and informed.

Accounts are the first line of defence for areas with huge consequences at Company level – from Money Laundering and GDPR to the incoming Failure to Prevent Fraud offence (from 1st Sept). Large companies and their subsidiaries all fall within scope, so Accounts need the space to support this as well as the production.

Mammoth Screen’s accounting manual and delegated authority worked well. It gave flexibility at production level, and was actively supported at head-office.  That really resonated with me: you tailor your controls to the size of the team. If there are only got three or four in accounts, you can’t run an exhaustive control framework, but you can still protect stakeholders and maintain compliance.

What I Love About the Role

I get to engage, learn and contribute at all levels of the production.  My first port of call is usually the co-ordinators – they’re on board early, they spend money early, and they need support.  Once you engage, there’s less chance of them going off-piste.  It’s a bit like the factory floor:  people will come to you if they have an issue or spot a risk. Sometimes it’s as simple as a WhatsApp check-in, sometimes it’s a more strategic conversation tied to the schedule and budget.  Those approaches help build trust and keep the production moving.

Digital Transformation

At different points in my career, I’ve worked with two exceptional manufacturing directors who championed Lean principles.   It was striking to see how they empowered these complex organisations to flex and absorb change at short notice – without extra headcount or capacity.

I brought that mindset into finance:  mapping processes, removing waste steps, and focusing my team on value-adding activity.  In production finance, I apply the same approach: set workflows up correctly from the start, make them scalable, and ensure each touchpoint counts. 

Whether in a factory or a production, the aim is the same – remove bottlenecks, free people to apply themselves effectively, and keep things moving at pace.  Always reflect and adapt:  Ask colleagues outside Accounts how the process is working – they’re your most important customers.

I’m a champion for Digital Transformation.  Finance isn’t naturally directly value-adding, so you have to find ways to make it so, whether that’s through insight or partnering with other departments. Going digital frees capacity.

On Mint (House Productions/Fearless Minds), I used the DPO and PSL integration and coached people to raise POs with consistent language. That text flowed through PO, invoice validation, matching, and into PSL. So, when someone searched the ledger or DPO, the same reference was there from start to finish. It was only entered once – no rekeying, no duplication. 

I’d explored OCR technology outside screen, where our AP team handled 45,000 invoices annually. Back then the licence cost far outweighed the benefit. This time, the tech was accessible and it made a real difference. It gave the team space to focus on value-adding work and deliver a clean handover.

Other departments have embraced tech to move faster, but finance can lag behind, often running workflows originally designed for paper.  Digital transformation is a real opportunity.

Tools of the Trade

My favourite tool is probably Excel.  I’ve done a lot of forensic work where linked systems were not present, often establishing insight for the first time before building repeatable reporting.

I’ve learned to be cautious about overengineering.  If you build something too complex, you become the sole point of support, and that’s a risk both for you and the production company. When spreadsheets replace what should be repeatable system processes – especially with macros or VBA – it’s a sign the core reporting systems need to improve.

Advice for Newcomers

You’ll feel loyal to the person who brought you in, and that’s natural, but don’t be afraid to move on. New teams, processes, budgets and availability of cash will stretch you, help you grow, and push you out of your comfort zone. Pick up new skills and ways of working, and carry the ones that fit with you.  Engage early, be approachable and available – it makes everything smoother.  That advice is not unique to screen – it applies everywhere.

Quick Fire Round:

Go to office snack?

Our craft team from Department Q made amazing millionaire shortbread, but off the shelf it’s a bourbon cream.

Excel or Google Sheets?

Excel.

Your dream production to work on?

In high school I dreamed of working for Jim Henson, so if another Muppets film came along, I’d jump at it. The Muppet Movie was the first film I ever saw on the big screen, and the “Turn Left at the Fork in the Road” gag has stuck with me since.

World Day for Cultural Diversity

Last week was World Day for Cultural Diversity, and our teams are celebrated the rich diversity that makes us who we are here at Sargent-Disc. We kicked off the week by testing our team’s flag smarts with a fun game of Flag Bingo and we definitely have some flag experts here!

To keep the fun going, we had a mid-week Global Food Potluck, and let’s just say, our teams are stuffed with some absolutely amazing dishes from around the world! 🍛🍲

We’re so proud to celebrate the diversity that makes our team, and the world, so unique. How are you celebrating cultural diversity?

Sargent Disc at Cannes 2025

The team was excited to be back in France last week for the opening weekend of the 78th Festival de Cannes. Sargent-Disc got involved in several great events that brought international delegates together.

At the 2025 Cannes Film Festival, several British productions have garnered significant attention, showcasing the UK’s diverse cinematic talent.

Harry Lighton’s Pillion, a BFI backed production, received the festivals longest standing ovation, averaging 7.3 minutes, making it one of the most warmly received films of the festival. Premiering in the Un Certain Regard section, the film is nominated for both the Caméra d’Or and Queer Palm. Akinola Davis Jr’s My Fathers Shadow, also showcased Un Certain Regard and nominated for the Caméra d’Or, is being celebrated for its intimate storytelling and cultural significance as the first Nigerian film to be selected for Cannes’ Official Selection. My Fathers Shadow is also backed by the BFI and was developed by BBC Film.

The Caméra d’Or, which recognises the best first feature film, will be awarded on Saturday, May 24.

The Sargent-Disc International Producers Reception

This year marked the 10th anniversary of the Sargent-Disc International Producers Reception, held at the Members Club, Plage du Festival on Saturday 17th May! It’s was a landmark year as it is also the 10th anniversary of DPO (Digital Purchase Order) and the launch of APA. Read more about the exciting new feature here.

 It was amazing to catch up with familiar faces and meet some new ones too, all over a fun evening of drinks, chats, and great company! Huge thanks to everyone who came along, we hope you enjoyed it as much as we did (and that your shoes survived the sand)!

Special thanks to our partners of the reception the British Film Commission, Canadian Media Producers Association, Fédération Internationale des Associations de Producteurs de Films Independent Film and Television Alliance, Producers Alliance for Cinema and Television, Production Guild of Great Britain, Screen Australia, Screen Producers Ireland and New Zealand Film Commission for their support with the event.

If you missed any contact information or would just like to reach out to us please email marketing@sargent-disc.com

Women in Film and Television Brunch

We were proud to once again sponsor the annual Women in Film and Television (WFTV) brunch, hosted aboard the very stylish Coutts boat on Sunday 18th May. It was a brilliant chance for women, whether seasoned pros or just starting out, to connect, share insights, and chat about the ever-evolving world of film and TV (with a pretty great view, too!)

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Speed Dating for Entertainment Industry Professionals

This year, Cast & Crew and Sargent Disc proudly sponsored the 2nd annual Speed Dating for Entertainment Industry Professionals, brilliantly organised by the fabulous Vinca Jarrett. Filled with rapid-fire questions and professional sparks, it was a lively, energising event brimming with fun, connection, and creative chemistry.

Production Guild Of Great Britain Talent Showcase 2025

We were proud to have supported The Production Guild of Great Britain’s annual PGGB Talent Showcase last week. During the event, the winner of the third annual Duke of Edinburgh Film & TV Inclusion Award was announced. Launched in 2022, this initiative highlights the inspiring work of organizations and individuals promoting talent inclusion in the UK screen production workforce. This year’s award goes to the Sara Putt Associates Trainee Scheme & Foundation! The award was presented by HRH The Duke of Edinburgh to Laurily Adams, Nicola Lees, and Kelly Spearman at The InterContinental Hotel in London. The winner was selected by a jury from PGGB’s Equality, Diversity & Inclusion Committee.

The evening was made even more special for the Sargent-Disc team and our guests with the chance to meet HRH The Duke of Edinburgh.

Founded 12 years ago, the Sara Putt Associates Trainee Scheme & Foundation aims to support new and diverse talent in the film and TV industry. This scheme helps trainees develop essential skills through workshops and events, providing them with valuable industry access. Additionally, the formation of the Foundation has expanded the talent pipeline, enabling individuals who might not otherwise have opportunities to enter the industry, enhancing diversity and representation.

The evening also featured an insightful panel discussion on the impact of inclusion in the industry, expertly hosted by the brilliant Ria Hebden. It was an inspiring reminder of the importance of diversity and representation in film and television.

All photographs by Theo Wood.

UK Launch of AP Automation

On November 20th, we were thrilled to host the UK launch of AP Automation—a ground breaking new feature in DPO that transforms how productions manage their accounts payable processes. The event began with an engaging showcase of the feature, followed by a audience Q&A session. We want to express our heartfelt thanks to everyone who attended and contributed insightful questions to the discussion.

After the presentation, attendees had the chance to network over some canapés and drinks, while also exploring the new system hands-on. Laptops were set up around the room, allowing participants to experience AP Automation first hand and discover how it simplifies and streamlines AP workflows.

So, what is AP Automation? The innovative new DPO feature is designed to significantly reduce the time and effort that currently goes into traditional AP processes. By automatically suggesting best match purchase orders for invoices sent directly to DPO, users can shift their focus to higher-value activities, while DPO handles the tedious work—such as data entry, document collation, and approval routing.

With PO and AP approvals integrated into DPO, as well as seamless integration into PSL+, productions can benefit from a one-stop-shop approval workflow. This streamlined process not only enhances efficiency but also improves visibility, enabling departments to track the real-time status of invoices and purchase orders with ease. The result? Faster, more transparent approvals that keep your production running smoothly.

If you’d like to see AP Automation in action or learn more about its integration with PSL+, we’d love to hear from you! Contact us at sales@sargent-disc.com to schedule a demo or for more information.

Celebrating Talent – Production Guild Awards 2024!

The 2024 PGGB Awards are a celebration of the depth and breadth of talent working within the UK production industry. Launching the evening in style, sponsors Cast & Crew, Sargent-Disc’s parent company, was delighted to welcome guests to the pre-Awards reception.

 

Award nominees across the six categories were a roll call of the best talent working within our industry.  The winners all stressed the importance of the production team to deliver the very best work, and the quality of the talent they work alongside.

 

Producer, David Heyman (Barbie, Wonka and Paddington) was presented with the ‘Contribution to the Industry Award’ for his incredible body of work which includes all eight Harry Potter features, the three Fantastic Beasts movies, Paddington, Barbie and Wonka.  He thanked the Guild and said, “This has been a really challenging period for the film and television industries in the UK – we’ve had COVID, we’ve had the strikes, and the economy in general has been struggling, to put it mildly. But I feel we’re turning a corner.”

 

“Next year, I think more productions will start up and more will come to the UK because it’s the best place in the world to make films and TV shows.”

 

Cast & Crew with Sargent-Disc hosted a table, and with our guests, we toasted the nominees and winners.  We were delighted that Sargent-Disc founder Marija Sargent was able to join us, whom with the late John Sargent, won the 2018 PGGB ‘Contribution to the Industry’ Award.

Courtesy of The Production Guild of Great Britain

Congratulations to all the nominees and winners!

The 2024 winners were:

Contribution to the Industry – David Heyman

Production Team of the Year, Film – Wonka

Production Team of the Year, HETV – Supacell

Inspiration Award – Georgette Turner

Diversity and Inclusion – Valeria Bullo

Spotlight on New Talent – Marc Ronnie

Courtesy of The Production Guild of Great Britain

Congratulations to the Edinburgh TV Festival 2024!

Patrick Spence – Producer AC Chapter One; Monica Dolan – actress; Sarah McKenzie, Business Development Sargent-Disc

Cast & Crew was delighted to be the headline sponsor of the Edinburgh TV Awards 2024 for the third year running at the Edinburgh TV Festival.

Another inspiring Festival, the 2024 edition shone the spotlight on several key issues including the social make-up of the work force and reduced production budgets. It also celebrated the incredible depth of talent, creative and crew, within the British industry.

The pain felt by company closures was clearly acknowledged. However, many industry insiders such as Patrick Holland (Banijay UK), Charlotte Moore (BBC), Nicola Shindler (Quay Street) and Ian Katz (C4) expressed a long held view that there were just too many indies to be sustainable.

This ‘resizing’ of the workforce is likely to make it harder for working class people to enter the industry and build their careers. Both James Graham during his McTaggart Memorial Lecture and Carol Vorderman in her Alternative McTaggart Lecture highlighted how serious an issue this is for the future of the industry. They spoke about the detrimental impact of only 8% of those working in television coming from a working-class background – in terms of content, representation and workplace role models. Several participants feel that the TV Access Project (TAP) is making a difference. It’s importance was also flagged up by Julie Clark, ITV Studios, Director of Production Drama during her Sargent-Disc International Women’s Day In Conversation. With the support of the broadcasters and streamers it is having a real impact, but more work needs to be done.

The extent of talent and creativity within the UK television industry along with the current financial challenges were clearly evidenced in so many of the festival sessions. For instance, ‘Back From the Brink: Reimagining The Future of Television’, the ‘Spotlight On …….’ series with ITV, BBC, Netflix, C4, Warner Brothers;  ‘Will.I.Am: AI and The Future of Creativity’ supported by his AI assistant, ‘Saving Mr Bates: The Future of Factual Drama’ and many more.

The Festival’s major celebration of this creativity was the 90 minute 2024 Edinburgh TV Awards which showcased the best of the previous year’s British and international productions. Cast & Crew was honoured to support the event. Sargent-Disc, Cast & Crew’s UK company, was proud to Chair the ‘Best Drama’ and ‘Best International Drama’ judging panels and to present the best Drama Award to the very deserving winner ‘Mr Bates v the Post Office’. It was a thrill to realise Sargent-Disc had provided payroll, production accounting and Digital Production Office services to so many of the nominated productions

Congratulations to all the nominees and winners!

Patrick Spence and Monica Dolan accepting Best Drama Award for Mr Bates v the Post Office.

The 2024 winners were:

Outstanding Achievement Award:
Martin Lewis

 

Channel of the Year:
ITV1

 

Production Company of the Year:
Studio Lambert

 

Best Drama:
‘Mr Bates vs The Post Office’ – ITV Studios and Little Gem for ITV1

 

Best International Drama:
‘The Bear’ – FX Productions for Disney+

 

Best TV Actor – Comedy:
Bridget Christie in ‘The Change’

 

Best TV Actor – Drama:
Monica Dolan in ‘Mr Bates vs The Post Office’

 

Climate Impact Award:
‘The Great Climate Fight’ – Keo Films Ltd for Channel 4

 

Best Comedy Series:
‘Big Boys’ – Roughcut TV for Channel 4

 

Small Indie of the Year:
Hardcash Productions

 

Best TV Presenter Entertainment:
Graham Norton – ‘The Graham Norton Show’

 

Best TV Presenter Factual: Nadifa Mohamed – ‘Britain’s Human Zoos’

 

Breakthrough Performance:
Dylan Thomas Smith in ‘G’wed’

 

Best Documentary:
‘Once Upon a Time in Northern Ireland’ – Keo Films & Walk on Air Films for BBC Two & BBC Northern Ireland

 

Best On Demand Service:
BBC iPlayer

 

Best Entertainment Series:
‘The Traitors’ – Studio Lambert for BBC One

 

Best Popular Factual Series:
‘Sort Your Life Out’ – Optomen for BBC One

 

Production Group of The Year:
Banijay UK

 

TV Moment of the Year:
‘Hairy Bikers Coming Home for Christmas’

 

What a fantastic year it’s been!

Sargent-Disc Rolls Out Okta

What is Okta?

Okta, an integrated identity and mobility management system, allows users to connect to applications securely from any devices 24/7 using multi-factor authentication (MFA).

Benefits of logging in via Okta

  • Greater security when logging in using multi-factor authentication
  • More authentication options including password, push notification, and Okta code verify are available
  • Biometrics or facial recognition can be setup on Okta Verify and using push notifications you can log in without needing a password each time
  • Okta will allow single sign on to be rolled out in future across all SD applications
  • Okta will allow federation so that Studios can manage their own user logins from their own Okta tenant
  • For more information about Okta click here.

Please see below guides for how to log in for the first time and set up the Okta Verify app.

Migration Guide
Login Guide

How to install the Okta app

For a short video on Okta and how to install the app check out the below video or click here

FAQs

A: Okta, an integrated identity and mobility management system, allowing users to connect to applications securely from any devices 24/7 using multi-factor authentication (MFA).

Okta supports the following web browsers: Microsoft Edge, Firefox, Safari and Chrome.

This new sign–on process is security that relies on more than just your password, and is similar to what most financial institutions employ to protect your personally identifiable information. In short, MFA is a better way to secure your account.

Yes, MFA is an important part of Sargent-Disc’s commitment to security and protection of your documents and is required to access your account beginning September 22, 2024. MFA adds the additional necessary security that is necessary to protect your account against today’s sophisticated cyber threats.

You will receive a message to say your account has been locked and will be automatically unlocked after 30 minutes.

Okta Verify is a multifactor authentication (MFA) app that allows users to confirm their identity when they sign in to their Okta account.

To install Okta Verify, please refer to the below video/ guides:

 

Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DZu–diVQCg            

 

Apple: https://support.sargent-disc.com/portal/en/kb/articles/review-2-downloading-okta-verify-app-apple

 

Android: https://support.sargent-disc.com/portal/en/kb/articles/review-2-downloading-okta-verify-app-android

If you’ve forgotten your password when migrating your account to Okta, please refer to the following guide:

 

https://support.sargent-disc.com/portal/en/kb/articles/review-2-payslip-forgot-password-during-okta-migration

If you’ve forgotten your password when logging in (after account has been migrated) refer to either of the following guides:

 

Forgot Password with Okta Verify app installed:  https://support.sargent-disc.com/portal/en/kb/articles/review-2-forgot-password-with-okta-verify-app

 

Forgot Password without Okta Verify installed:  https://support.sargent-disc.com/portal/en/kb/articles/review-2-forgot-password-without-okta-verify-app

Correct! A password will no longer be needed to sign into SD applications if you have the Okta Verify app installed with biometrics enabled.

Want to know how to install the app / setup biometrics? Refer to FAQ: What is Okta Verify app / how do I install this?

On the SD login page, click the ‘Forgotten username’ tab and enter the required fields to be sent an email to recover your username.

Yes! Follow the guide on how to setup Okta Verify once logged into your account: https://support.sargent-disc.com/portal/en/kb/articles/review-2-setup-okta-verify-app-later-after-account-has-been-migrated  

Please contact our Customer Support team for further assistance. Our Customer Support team can be reached by calling 01753 639007 or emailing support@sargent-disc.com

For any errors received during migration or sign in process, please contact our Customer Support team with the error code.

Okta allows you to have more than one device linked to your account. You can setup additional mobile numbers / additional devices on Okta Verify.

Refer to the following guide: https://support.sargent-disc.com/portal/en/kb/articles/review-2-link-additional-devices-to-account        

When migrating your account via your mobile device, you will be given two options to setup Okta Verify (via email and text). It is important you have the Okta Verify app installed before going through this process.

 

Via email: https://support.sargent-disc.com/portal/en/kb/articles/review-2-okta-verify-setup-on-a-mobile-device-email-option

 

Via text: https://support.sargent-disc.com/portal/en/kb/articles/review-2-okta-setup-on-a-mobile-device-text-option