About This Project

Mount Rainier – Crew Management Solutions

Overview

Mount Rainier is a robust and innovative solution designed to optimize crew management in film and television productions. Inspired by the success of the Rainforest and Lindis Pass solutions, Mount Rainier was developed during the lockdown to address the challenges faced by crew members across departments, including contract management, timecard handling, and financial accuracy. The solution is named in honor of Amazon’s founder Jeff Bezos, and draws inspiration from Mount Rainier, a prominent landmark near Seattle, where Amazon’s headquarters are located.

The Challenge

Managing crews in film production involves a high degree of complexity. Crew members traditionally filled out timecards manually using Excel templates, which had to account for specific industry calculations such as overtime, double time, continuous and non-continuous hours. This manual process was time-consuming and prone to errors, affecting not only the crew but also the accounting and production departments.

The Solution: Mount Rainier

Automated Timecard Calculation

The system automatically generates timecards based on each crew member’s work hours and contract details, applying overtime, double time, and break rules, eliminating the need for manual input.

Centralized Contract Management

Crew contracts are stored securely, including specific rates, GST information, and other financial details.

Daily Production Reports (DPR)

Mount Rainier allows for the quick generation of daily financial reports, providing production teams with real-time cost insights and ensuring full control over crew expenses.

Automated Weekly Account Report

Based on daily reports, the system automatically generates weekly financial reports, giving the UPM and financial controllers a consolidated and accurate view of crew costs without having to review stacks of individual timecards.

Benefits and Results

Time Optimization

By automating timecards and reports, Mount Rainier saves valuable time for crew members, accounting departments, and heads of departments. The time previously spent on manual entry and document review is now transformed into a streamlined and precise process.

Error Reduction

The solution eliminates the common errors associated with manually filled timecards, where crew members may forget exact work hours and miscalculate overtime and pay.

Simplified Communication

The system automatically emails timecards and reports to crew members and relevant departments, ensuring that all parties have access to up-to-date information without the need for manual communication or review of physical documents.

Integration with Accounting Software

Once the data is organized, the system can export the information directly into accounting software, further optimizing the process and reducing the workload for the financial team.

Design and Identity

Mount Rainier is named after the iconic mountain in Seattle, the home of Amazon’s headquarters, as a tribute to Jeff Bezos’ impact on technology and innovation. The solution reflects Amazon’s pioneering spirit, focusing on efficiency, speed, and automation, bringing those same values to the film industry.

Conclusion

Mount Rainier – Crew Management Solutions transforms crew management in film productions by automating manual processes and ensuring accuracy in time calculations, contracts, and financial reporting. By implementing this solution, productions can save time, reduce costs, and enhance the efficiency of managing all crew members. With its tribute to Jeff Bezos and Amazon’s innovative spirit, Mount Rainier is poised to revolutionize crew management in the entertainment industry.

Watch the Demo

Explore the full capabilities of Mount Rainier with our upcoming video demonstration, where we show how this solution can streamline your crew management process. Stay tuned!