The Impact of Technology in Film Accounting: A Deep Dive into Creative Total Media's Solutions

In the rapidly evolving landscape of the film and television industry, efficient financial management is more critical than ever. As productions grow in scale and complexity, traditional accounting methods, often reliant on spreadsheets, paper-based processes, and manual reconciliations are no longer sufficient to handle the intricate financial structures of modern media projects. From managing multiple budgets across international locations to tracking royalties and talent payments, the financial demands of today’s productions require sophisticated, technology-driven solutions.

Creative Total Media, a certified Microsoft Dynamics 365 partner, stands at the forefront of this transformation by offering specialised software solutions tailored to the unique needs of the media sector. Their integrated suite of tools, Just-TV, Just-ROYALTIES, Just-TALENT, and advanced reporting features empowers production teams to navigate the complex world of film accounting with greater accuracy, efficiency, and transparency.

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Just-TV: Revolutionising Production Accounting

At the heart of Creative Total Media’s offering is Just-TV, the company’s flagship production accounting software designed specifically for the TV and film industry. Built on the robust foundation of Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central, Just-TV serves as a central hub for all financial and production data, consolidating information into a single, cloud-based platform.

This unified system enables real-time cost tracking, allowing production accountants to monitor expenses as they occur, rather than waiting for periodic reports or reconciliations. With automated reporting features, Just-TV streamlines the preparation of cost reports, budget summaries, and forecasts, reducing the time and effort required for manual data entry and ensuring that information is always up-to-date and accurate.

For production teams, this means greater control over budgets, improved cash flow visibility, and the ability to make proactive decisions that keep projects on track. By integrating financial and production data in one place, Just-TV eliminates silos and fosters collaboration across departments, helping producers, accountants, and executives stay aligned on the financial health of a production at every stage.

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Just-ROYALTIES: Simplifying Royalty Reporting

Managing royalties is a notoriously complex and time-consuming process in the media industry, especially when dealing with multiple titles, territories, and contractual terms. Just-ROYALTIES addresses this challenge by offering a comprehensive solution for royalty reporting and distribution.

The software automates the entire royalty management workflow, ingesting sales and usage data, applying contractual rules, calculating payments, and generating statements with minimal manual input. By ensuring accuracy and transparency, Just-ROYALTIES reduces the risk of errors that often arise from spreadsheet-based tracking and manual calculations.

This automation not only saves time but also fosters trust among stakeholders, as artists, rights holders, and partners can rely on accurate and timely royalty distributions. Whether managing complex film library deals or handling music royalties across platforms, Just-ROYALTIES simplifies the process, freeing up teams to focus on creative and strategic work rather than administrative burdens.

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Just-TALENT: Streamlining Talent Management

The film and television industry thrives on talent, but managing talent-related financials can be a logistical challenge. Just-TALENT offers a robust platform for handling all aspects of talent financial management, from contract administration to payment processing.

With Just-TALENT, production teams can manage complex contractual arrangements, track deliverables, and ensure that payments to actors, writers, directors, and other talent are accurate, timely, and compliant with contractual terms. This system not only reduces the risk of late or incorrect payments which can damage relationships and reputations but also helps maintain accurate records for audits, residual calculations, and future projects.

By centralising all talent financials in one system, Just-TALENT promotes accountability and efficiency, enabling production companies to build stronger, more reliable partnerships with talent and their representatives.

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Advanced Reporting with Cosmos and Jet Reports

Accurate and timely reporting is the backbone of effective financial management in any industry, but especially in the fast-paced world of film and television. Creative Total Media integrates powerful reporting tools like Cosmos and Jet Reports into its suite of solutions, offering real-time financial insights within a familiar and user-friendly environment.

These tools allow users to create both simple and complex reports directly within Microsoft Excel, leveraging live data from the system. Whether producing detailed cost reports, cash flow statements, or profit analyses, finance teams can access the information they need without the delays and risks associated with manual data gathering.

The ability to generate up-to-the-minute reports empowers production teams to make informed decisions, anticipate challenges, and keep projects financially healthy. By reducing reliance on static reports and spreadsheets, Cosmos and Jet Reports increase agility and support a culture of proactive, data driven decision making.

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Embracing AI with AI Copilot

Looking ahead, artificial intelligence is becoming an essential tool for media companies aiming to stay ahead in an increasingly complex financial environment. Creative Total Media integrates AI Copilot into its software solutions to help automate routine tasks, uncover predictive insights, and support strategic planning.

AI Copilot can assist with tasks such as drafting reports, flagging anomalies in financial data, and forecasting budget trends based on historical patterns. By leveraging AI, production companies can make smarter decisions faster, optimising resource allocation, identifying potential risks before they escalate, and improving overall financial performance.

The integration of AI also signals a shift toward more intuitive, human-centric tools that help teams work smarter, not harder. As AI capabilities evolve, production companies can expect even greater efficiencies and deeper insights from their accounting systems.

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Sustainability and Automation Features

Understanding the growing importance of sustainability, Creative Total Media includes features that promote environmentally friendly practices. The software's automation capabilities reduce paper usage by digitalising documents and workflows. Additionally, tools for expense management, document distribution, and vendor payments are designed to streamline operations, reduce waste, and promote sustainable practices.

Comprehensive Support and Services

Beyond software solutions, Creative Total Media offers a range of services to ensure successful implementation and ongoing support. These services include discovery sessions, data migration, training, user acceptance testing (UAT), deployment, and customisation. By providing end-to-end support, the company ensures that clients can fully leverage their software solutions for optimal financial management.

Conclusion

Creative Total Media stands at the forefront of technological innovation in film accounting. By offering specialised software solutions like Just-TV, Just-ROYALTIES, and Just-TALENT, the company addresses the unique financial challenges of the media industry. With integrated tools for reporting, AI-driven insights, and a commitment to sustainability, Creative Total Media empowers production companies to manage their finances with greater efficiency, accuracy, and foresight.

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