Oh, Hi! found their operating system with Wrapbook
Independent films don’t come with infrastructure.
They come with a budget that barely stretches far enough, a tax credit that determines geography, and a team willing to believe in the project. So when producer Dan Clifton set out to make Oh, Hi!—a three-million-dollar, independently financed union feature shot over 22 days in upstate New York—there was no studio back office waiting to absorb inefficiencies.
Originally titled Ojai, the film was meant to shoot in Ojai, California. But when the California tax credit didn’t materialize, the production relocated to upstate New York to make the financing work. The move reshaped everything from logistics to housing to workflow, and reinforced just how lean the operation would need to be. There would be no traditional office, no built-in infrastructure—just a small team determined to make the movie happen.
“We were in a barn in the middle of nowhere with Starlink processing payroll,” Dan says.
In Wrapbook, Dan found a platform built for action—one that would give him the ability to run essential financial workflows himself without relying on an intermediary—all while empowering his team with full financial visibility and control.
Independent films don’t come with infrastructure.
They come with a budget that barely stretches far enough, a tax credit that determines geography, and a team willing to believe in the project. So when producer Dan Clifton set out to make Oh, Hi!—a three-million-dollar, independently financed union feature shot over 22 days in upstate New York—there was no studio back office waiting to absorb inefficiencies.
Originally titled Ojai, the film was meant to shoot in Ojai, California. But when the California tax credit didn’t materialize, the production relocated to upstate New York to make the financing work. The move reshaped everything from logistics to housing to workflow, and reinforced just how lean the operation would need to be. There would be no traditional office, no built-in infrastructure—just a small team determined to make the movie happen.
“We were in a barn in the middle of nowhere with Starlink processing payroll,” Dan says.
In Wrapbook, Dan found a platform built for action—one that would give him the ability to run essential financial workflows himself without relying on an intermediary—all while empowering his team with full financial visibility and control.
Before Wrapbook: Limited Oversight, Constant Friction
Over the years, Dan had worked with nearly every major payroll company. The choice typically came down to accountant preference or studio infrastructure, but the experience was always the same.
“I was always frustrated with the lack of oversight and the lack of tech. Everything felt cumbersome. You never had the full picture.”
Reports were outdated. Information lived in silos. If Dan needed to confirm a payment, check fringes, or prepare documentation for an audit, he had to ask someone else to pull it.
And on independent films, once production wraps, that “someone else” is often already on another show. That dependency slowed everything down; Dan knew he needed to find something better.
Enter Wrapbook.
Before Wrapbook: Limited Oversight, Constant Friction
Over the years, Dan had worked with nearly every major payroll company. The choice typically came down to accountant preference or studio infrastructure, but the experience was always the same.
“I was always frustrated with the lack of oversight and the lack of tech. Everything felt cumbersome. You never had the full picture.”
Reports were outdated. Information lived in silos. If Dan needed to confirm a payment, check fringes, or prepare documentation for an audit, he had to ask someone else to pull it.
And on independent films, once production wraps, that “someone else” is often already on another show. That dependency slowed everything down; Dan knew he needed to find something better.
Enter Wrapbook.
Before Wrapbook: Limited Oversight, Constant Friction
Over the years, Dan had worked with nearly every major payroll company. The choice typically came down to accountant preference or studio infrastructure, but the experience was always the same.
“I was always frustrated with the lack of oversight and the lack of tech. Everything felt cumbersome. You never had the full picture.”
Reports were outdated. Information lived in silos. If Dan needed to confirm a payment, check fringes, or prepare documentation for an audit, he had to ask someone else to pull it.
And on independent films, once production wraps, that “someone else” is often already on another show. That dependency slowed everything down; Dan knew he needed to find something better.
Enter Wrapbook.
Before Wrapbook: Limited Oversight, Constant Friction
Over the years, Dan had worked with nearly every major payroll company. The choice typically came down to accountant preference or studio infrastructure, but the experience was always the same.
“I was always frustrated with the lack of oversight and the lack of tech. Everything felt cumbersome. You never had the full picture.”
Reports were outdated. Information lived in silos. If Dan needed to confirm a payment, check fringes, or prepare documentation for an audit, he had to ask someone else to pull it.
And on independent films, once production wraps, that “someone else” is often already on another show. That dependency slowed everything down; Dan knew he needed to find something better.
Enter Wrapbook.
Operational Control on Set
On Oh, Hi!, Wrapbook quickly became the operating system of the production’s finances. With no central office, onboarding and payroll had to happen in real time—on location.
This meant the production coordinator onboarded crew directly into Wrapbook, the 2nd AD onboarded extras on site, and payroll approvals happened inside the platform.
Wrapbook made it easy. Because Wrapbook is built to give users control over their essential financial workflows—not just visibility into them—Dan could approve payroll himself. He didn’t need to call a rep for every adjustment or wait days to get a clear picture of spend. It was all right there at his fingertips.
“If there’s any issue, I can instantly find any employee and see how much they were paid, what their fringes were. I can just dip in and do it.”
With such a tight budget, Dan knew he would need to operate with just one bookkeeper, not the two or three accountants that would be more typical for this kind of union feature. Wrapbook helped him do that effectively, saving his production an estimated $50,000-$60,000.
“In a day and age where everything has to be on screen, you just can’t waste money on back office. With Wrapbook, almost every dollar was on screen.”
Wrapbook didn’t just make payroll easier. It made the entire financial workflow lighter.
Operational Control on Set
On Oh, Hi!, Wrapbook quickly became the operating system of the production’s finances. With no central office, onboarding and payroll had to happen in real time—on location.
This meant the production coordinator onboarded crew directly into Wrapbook, the 2nd AD onboarded extras on site, and payroll approvals happened inside the platform.
Wrapbook made it easy. Because Wrapbook is built to give users control over their essential financial workflows—not just visibility into them—Dan could approve payroll himself. He didn’t need to call a rep for every adjustment or wait days to get a clear picture of spend. It was all right there at his fingertips.
“If there’s any issue, I can instantly find any employee and see how much they were paid, what their fringes were. I can just dip in and do it.”
With such a tight budget, Dan knew he would need to operate with just one bookkeeper, not the two or three accountants that would be more typical for this kind of union feature. Wrapbook helped him do that effectively, saving his production an estimated $50,000-$60,000.
“In a day and age where everything has to be on screen, you just can’t waste money on back office. With Wrapbook, almost every dollar was on screen.”
Wrapbook didn’t just make payroll easier. It made the entire financial workflow lighter.
Operational Control on Set
On Oh, Hi!, Wrapbook quickly became the operating system of the production’s finances. With no central office, onboarding and payroll had to happen in real time—on location.
This meant the production coordinator onboarded crew directly into Wrapbook, the 2nd AD onboarded extras on site, and payroll approvals happened inside the platform.
Wrapbook made it easy. Because Wrapbook is built to give users control over their essential financial workflows—not just visibility into them—Dan could approve payroll himself. He didn’t need to call a rep for every adjustment or wait days to get a clear picture of spend. It was all right there at his fingertips.
“If there’s any issue, I can instantly find any employee and see how much they were paid, what their fringes were. I can just dip in and do it.”
With such a tight budget, Dan knew he would need to operate with just one bookkeeper, not the two or three accountants that would be more typical for this kind of union feature. Wrapbook helped him do that effectively, saving his production an estimated $50,000-$60,000.
“In a day and age where everything has to be on screen, you just can’t waste money on back office. With Wrapbook, almost every dollar was on screen.”
Wrapbook didn’t just make payroll easier. It made the entire financial workflow lighter.
Bird’s-eye Visibility
On set, Wrapbook enabled speed. From a producer’s perspective, it enabled control. From a single login, Dan could:
- See integrated cost reports in real time
- Pull any payroll report on demand
- Verify payments and fringes
- Track union-specific nuances like portal-to-portal and meal penalties
“With Wrapbook, you kind of have this God-view.”
He didn’t have to enter a separate accounting system. He didn’t have to wait for someone to send a PDF. He just had seamless, total visibility into his production’s financial health.
Instead of emailing an accountant, Dan could handle documentation directly inside the platform himself. This was especially important on projects like Oh, Hi! that move quickly; on smaller indie films, accountants are often on to the next project before a need arises.
“With my old provider, I had to be like… I know you’re working on this other job, but can you spend a Saturday pulling stuff for me? All that’s gone now.”
This level of instant access to financial data—which is unique to Wrapbook—makes life easier for both Dan and his accountants. For their part, accountants aren’t wasting time acting as an intermediary, giving them time back in their day to focus on the high-level work they were actually hired to do. And for independent producers like Dan, self-serve access isn’t just a form of convenience; it’s operational leverage—leverage that’s just as important after wrap.
Confidence After Wrap
Producing doesn’t end when the final cut hits screens. Insurance audits surface months later. Union questions arise years later. Rights revert. Library titles regain value. Documentation becomes critical long after the crew has moved on. Says Dan, “I’m filing tax returns on movies I did five years ago.”
This is where Wrapbook’s centralized record-keeping becomes foundational.
“Any show that I’ve done with Wrapbook, everything is there,” Dan says. “DGA audit? Great, here it is. SAG. Insurance. It’s all there… You can always find everything within five minutes.”
That archival confidence changes the long-term risk profile of independent films. Instead of hoping paperwork can be reconstructed, Dan knows it’s accessible.
For producers building careers—and libraries—that permanence matters.
Bird’s-eye Visibility
On set, Wrapbook enabled speed. From a producer’s perspective, it enabled control. From a single login, Dan could:
- See integrated cost reports in real time
- Pull any payroll report on demand
- Verify payments and fringes
- Track union-specific nuances like portal-to-portal and meal penalties
“With Wrapbook, you kind of have this God-view.”
He didn’t have to enter a separate accounting system. He didn’t have to wait for someone to send a PDF. He just had seamless, total visibility into his production’s financial health.
Instead of emailing an accountant, Dan could handle documentation directly inside the platform himself. This was especially important on projects like Oh, Hi! that move quickly; on smaller indie films, accountants are often on to the next project before a need arises.
“With my old provider, I had to be like… I know you’re working on this other job, but can you spend a Saturday pulling stuff for me? All that’s gone now.”
This level of instant access to financial data—which is unique to Wrapbook—makes life easier for both Dan and his accountants. For their part, accountants aren’t wasting time acting as an intermediary, giving them time back in their day to focus on the high-level work they were actually hired to do. And for independent producers like Dan, self-serve access isn’t just a form of convenience; it’s operational leverage—leverage that’s just as important after wrap.
Confidence After Wrap
Producing doesn’t end when the final cut hits screens. Insurance audits surface months later. Union questions arise years later. Rights revert. Library titles regain value. Documentation becomes critical long after the crew has moved on. Says Dan, “I’m filing tax returns on movies I did five years ago.”
This is where Wrapbook’s centralized record-keeping becomes foundational.
“Any show that I’ve done with Wrapbook, everything is there,” Dan says. “DGA audit? Great, here it is. SAG. Insurance. It’s all there… You can always find everything within five minutes.”
That archival confidence changes the long-term risk profile of independent films. Instead of hoping paperwork can be reconstructed, Dan knows it’s accessible.
For producers building careers—and libraries—that permanence matters.
Bird’s-eye Visibility
On set, Wrapbook enabled speed. From a producer’s perspective, it enabled control. From a single login, Dan could:
- See integrated cost reports in real time
- Pull any payroll report on demand
- Verify payments and fringes
- Track union-specific nuances like portal-to-portal and meal penalties
“With Wrapbook, you kind of have this God-view.”
He didn’t have to enter a separate accounting system. He didn’t have to wait for someone to send a PDF. He just had seamless, total visibility into his production’s financial health.
Instead of emailing an accountant, Dan could handle documentation directly inside the platform himself. This was especially important on projects like Oh, Hi! that move quickly; on smaller indie films, accountants are often on to the next project before a need arises.
“With my old provider, I had to be like… I know you’re working on this other job, but can you spend a Saturday pulling stuff for me? All that’s gone now.”
This level of instant access to financial data—which is unique to Wrapbook—makes life easier for both Dan and his accountants. For their part, accountants aren’t wasting time acting as an intermediary, giving them time back in their day to focus on the high-level work they were actually hired to do. And for independent producers like Dan, self-serve access isn’t just a form of convenience; it’s operational leverage—leverage that’s just as important after wrap.
Confidence After Wrap
Producing doesn’t end when the final cut hits screens. Insurance audits surface months later. Union questions arise years later. Rights revert. Library titles regain value. Documentation becomes critical long after the crew has moved on. Says Dan, “I’m filing tax returns on movies I did five years ago.”
This is where Wrapbook’s centralized record-keeping becomes foundational.
“Any show that I’ve done with Wrapbook, everything is there,” Dan says. “DGA audit? Great, here it is. SAG. Insurance. It’s all there… You can always find everything within five minutes.”
That archival confidence changes the long-term risk profile of independent films. Instead of hoping paperwork can be reconstructed, Dan knows it’s accessible.
For producers building careers—and libraries—that permanence matters.
Bird’s-eye Visibility
On set, Wrapbook enabled speed. From a producer’s perspective, it enabled control. From a single login, Dan could:
- See integrated cost reports in real time
- Pull any payroll report on demand
- Verify payments and fringes
- Track union-specific nuances like portal-to-portal and meal penalties
“With Wrapbook, you kind of have this God-view.”
He didn’t have to enter a separate accounting system. He didn’t have to wait for someone to send a PDF. He just had seamless, total visibility into his production’s financial health.
Instead of emailing an accountant, Dan could handle documentation directly inside the platform himself. This was especially important on projects like Oh, Hi! that move quickly; on smaller indie films, accountants are often on to the next project before a need arises.
“With my old provider, I had to be like… I know you’re working on this other job, but can you spend a Saturday pulling stuff for me? All that’s gone now.”
This level of instant access to financial data—which is unique to Wrapbook—makes life easier for both Dan and his accountants. For their part, accountants aren’t wasting time acting as an intermediary, giving them time back in their day to focus on the high-level work they were actually hired to do. And for independent producers like Dan, self-serve access isn’t just a form of convenience; it’s operational leverage—leverage that’s just as important after wrap.
Confidence After Wrap
Producing doesn’t end when the final cut hits screens. Insurance audits surface months later. Union questions arise years later. Rights revert. Library titles regain value. Documentation becomes critical long after the crew has moved on. Says Dan, “I’m filing tax returns on movies I did five years ago.”
This is where Wrapbook’s centralized record-keeping becomes foundational.
“Any show that I’ve done with Wrapbook, everything is there,” Dan says. “DGA audit? Great, here it is. SAG. Insurance. It’s all there… You can always find everything within five minutes.”
That archival confidence changes the long-term risk profile of independent films. Instead of hoping paperwork can be reconstructed, Dan knows it’s accessible.
For producers building careers—and libraries—that permanence matters.
A System of Action for Independent Film
What changed for Dan on Oh, Hi! wasn’t just the payroll provider; it was the operating model.
Wrapbook became Oh, Hi’s system of action: a place where production finance didn’t just live, but where it moved. On set, that meant onboarding crew in real time and approving payroll from a barn in upstate New York. From his laptop, it meant pulling cost reports instantly and handling audits without calling a rep. And years down the line, it will mean knowing every record is still accessible within minutes.
“Wrapbook is the system that has the most control overall,” Dan says. “You can always find everything.”
For independent producers, that control creates momentum. When finance is something you can actively run—not just request access to—more dollars stay on screen and creatives stay focused on the work.
On Oh, Hi!, Wrapbook didn’t just process payroll. It became the system of action that kept the whole production moving.
A System of Action for Independent Film
What changed for Dan on Oh, Hi! wasn’t just the payroll provider; it was the operating model.
Wrapbook became Oh, Hi’s system of action: a place where production finance didn’t just live, but where it moved. On set, that meant onboarding crew in real time and approving payroll from a barn in upstate New York. From his laptop, it meant pulling cost reports instantly and handling audits without calling a rep. And years down the line, it will mean knowing every record is still accessible within minutes.
“Wrapbook is the system that has the most control overall,” Dan says. “You can always find everything.”
For independent producers, that control creates momentum. When finance is something you can actively run—not just request access to—more dollars stay on screen and creatives stay focused on the work.
On Oh, Hi!, Wrapbook didn’t just process payroll. It became the system of action that kept the whole production moving.
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