Member in Focus:
Julia Hutchison

We recently caught up with PGGB Member Julia Hutchison, a 1st Assistant Accountant with over 10 years of experience in the Film & TV industry. Julia began her career as an Office Production Assistant in Toronto and has since worked on high-profile productions such as Suicide Squad, Wicked: For Good and Enola Holmes.

Most recently, Julia worked on Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man, following Cillian Murphy as Tommy Shelby and his son, played by Barry Keoghan. Julia told us about her experiences working on the film and her role in helping bring it from concept to screen.

Hello Julia, congratulations on the release of Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man! You worked on it as a 1st Assistant Accountant. What can you tell us about the film?

The Peaky Blinders film was a unique production to work on since it was essentially a road show with various filming locations up north. The shooting crew were frequently on the move to the next filming location, whereas the Accounts office stayed fixed at our Production Office around Edgware Road in Central London.

What was it like working behind the scenes with the production team?

The production team was a pleasant bunch to work with. Their background was from independent projects, which was a different transition for me since I come from the studio world. Adapting to new teams is part of working as a freelancer, and you must be able to adjust expectations and workflows.

Peaky Blinders was mainly filmed in Birmingham / the West Midlands - can you tell us a bit more about filming in this region?

I had no direct experience with filming in Birmingham/the West Midlands because my office did not move from Central London. We had maps of the United Kingdom displayed around the office to help us keep track of the filming locations and for the regional cost tagging that was required of us.

Can you share any highlights or interesting stories from filming?

The highlights for me were getting to work with my coworkers, who made the long days enjoyable as a group. We were removed from the action on set, but had each other to make memorable memories with.

Were there any specific challenges you faced, and how did you overcome them?

All shows have their challenges, and one must take those experiences as growth opportunities to be better prepared for the next one. I was grateful to have been a part of this project that gave back in more ways than one when it came to learning.

Could you tell us a bit more about the role of a 1st Assistant Accountant and what you do on a daily or weekly basis?

The role of a 1st Assistant Accountant varies from project to project depending on the needs of the department. On Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man, I was in charge of the above-the-line payrolls, and I oversaw the below-the-line payrolls by reviewing the work of the two payroll accountants on staff. VAT returns, bank reconciliations, batch checking and journals are tasks that a 1st Assistant would handle. In my current job as a 1st Assistant, I also take care of the banking by uploading the payments for release. If there is a focus on payroll, then those deadlines need to be met at the start of the week to turn the payroll around with the payroll company. Reviewing the work of the team is a daily task, as is the banking.

What skills or qualities do you think are essential for succeeding in this role?

An essential skill to be a successful 1st Assistant Accountant is a strong attention to detail. Having an eagle eye to point out discrepancies is important because much of the work is focused on reviewing the work of the department from accounts payable, payroll and the company credit cards. A 1st Assistant Accountant needs to be an effective communicator to get their deadlines across to their team. One must be approachable and fair to create a cohesive working environment for crew members in all departments. 

Could you share how you started off in the industry?

I started off in the industry as an Office Production Assistant in Toronto, Ontario. I got recruited into the Accounts department on the film Suicide Squad, since the group on that project had another upcoming film which they wanted me to be a part of. It’s been over ten years since then, and I look forward to continued growth in the industry.

New Film Releases

Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man

Netflix, BBC Film, Nebulastar & more

PGGB Members:

Karolina Majka – 2nd Unit Production Coordinator 

Sheerin Khosrowshahi-Miandoab – 2nd Unit Production Manager

Hannah Godwin – Executive in Charge of Production

Stephanie Winter – Production Coordinator 

Marie Dong Wilcock – Financial Controller 

Julia Hutchison – 1st Assistant Accountant 

Joe Kotroczo – Production Executive  

Artur Surma – VFX Accountant 

PGGB Partners and Affiliates:

Panavision, CAMA, BCD Media & Entertainment, Audiolink, Sara Putt Associates, FTVE Group, Entertainment Partners, Team Engine, CallTime Company Recruitment Ltd, Creative Wales, Shepperton Studios (Pinewood Studios Group), Space Studios Manchester, Screen Manchester, Pholex, Loop Talent, Filming in England, Sargent Disc, CineArk, Cinelab Film & Digital, Partners 4 Production

Project Hail Mary

Amazon MGM Studios, Pascal Pictures, General Admission & more

PGGB Members:

Cristiano D'Urso – Financial Controller 

Saad Chaudhry – Accounts Assistant 

Giles Barnett – Production Accountant

Pamela Joyce – Unit Production Manager 

Camilla Stephenson – Supervising Location Manager

PGGB Partners and Affiliates:

Supply 2 Location, BCD Media & Entertainment, Audiolink, Sara Putt Associates, Entertainment Partners, Media Insurance Brokers, CallTime Company Recruitment Ltd, Mission Digital, Shepperton Studios (Pinewood Studios Group), Hertfordshire Film Office, SK Media Rooms, BTP Professional Bird & Pest Control, Pholex, Loop Talent, Filming in England, Sargent Disc, CineArk, ARRI Rental

Midwinter Break

Family Affair Films, Film4, Shoebox Films

PGGB Members:

Tristin Norwell – Post Executive

PGGB Partners and Affiliates:

Sara Putt Associates, Screen Scotland