Brad Field traded combat boots for call sheets, building a career that took him from the US military to blockbuster sets like “Bird Box,” “Knives Out,” and “The Book of Boba Fett.”
In this episode of Beyond the Budget,
Bishop Porter talks with Brad about his unexpected journey into production accounting, from serving as a security detail on “Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice” to clerking in Boston and eventually managing multimillion-dollar budgets.
Brad shares lessons learned on both studio features and indie films, why incentives and attention to detail matter, and how platforms like PSL+ and MediaWeb change the job. He also reflects on working alongside his wife, a production supervisor on “The Mandalorian and Ahsoka,” and offers advice for anyone trying to break into the business.
Key insights from this episode:
- How military logistics translate to production workflows
- Tips for taking your first lead accountant role
- Why low-budget projects build high-level skills
Chapters: (
00:00) Meet Brad Field
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01:15) How security jobs led to Hollywood
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03:41) Breaking into accounting through data entry
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06:06) Lessons from clerking on big features
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08:26) Making the leap to second assistant
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10:13) What to expect when keying indies
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12:57) Managing payroll solo on a flipped show
(
18:19) Why hard work creates lasting momentum
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21:26) Rapid fire with Brad Field
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