The world of entertainment payroll is unique, complex, and always evolving. From the earliest days of Hollywood to the rise of streaming platforms, every paycheck reflects decades of union negotiations and contract enforcement. For anyone looking to enter this field, the layers of union rules, collective bargaining agreements, and compliance requirements can be intimidating. That is why the FTV Graduate Program Crash Course series was created.

This new series of beginner-friendly, free training courses introduces the fundamentals of entertainment payroll in a simple and approachable format. Each course is designed to give new learners a clear foundation in payroll concepts for film, television, and streaming productions. Whether you are brand new to payroll, transitioning from another accounting role, or curious about how the industry operates, the Crash Course series provides the confidence to take your first steps.

Why FTV Created the Crash Course Series

The FTV Graduate Program fills a critical gap in entertainment payroll training. While our advanced programs dive deep into wage structures, benefit contributions, and detailed contract interpretation, many learners need a structured entry point. The Crash Course series offers exactly that: short courses that explain the big picture before you move on to advanced union payroll processing.

Each course in the series is short, accessible, and focused on one concept at a time. The lessons avoid unnecessary jargon, provide clear examples, and highlight how these concepts connect to payroll compliance. Think of the Crash Course series as a free introduction to the FTV Graduate Program and a practical way to learn the essentials before investing in more advanced courses.

The First Crash Course: Intro to Union Payroll

The first offering in the series is Intro to Union Payroll, a guided introduction to the labor foundations of the entertainment industry. This course answers key questions such as: What is a union? Why did unions form in Hollywood? Who do they represent today?

The course then walks through the five major entertainment unions: the Writers Guild of America (WGA), Directors Guild of America (DGA), SAG-AFTRA, the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE), and the Teamsters. Each union has its own jurisdiction, but together they represent nearly every position in film, television, and streaming.

Learners are also introduced to collective bargaining agreements (CBAs). These agreements are contracts between unions and producers that establish wages, benefits, hours, and conditions of work. They are the rulebooks that payroll professionals must follow. The course explains how CBAs developed, why they are central to compliance, and how they led to the growth of specialized payroll companies in Hollywood.

By the end of the course, learners will understand how unions, CBAs, and payroll compliance connect. This free course also sets the stage for advanced training with Entertainment Payroll Concepts or Union Payroll Processing, two of the most popular FTV Graduate Program courses.

Why Entertainment Payroll Knowledge Matters

Unlike traditional payroll, film and TV payroll involves far more than tracking hours and issuing checks. Every paycheck must reflect detailed rules negotiated in union contracts. These rules include minimum wages, overtime triggers, penalties for missed meals or insufficient rest, and required contributions to pension and health plans.

Even small mistakes can lead to union grievances, benefit fund audits, or production delays. For example, failing to apply a turnaround penalty for a crew member or miscalculating residuals for a performer can quickly escalate into costly disputes. By understanding the structure of entertainment payroll, new professionals gain the skills to prevent errors and keep productions in compliance.

The Crash Course series makes this knowledge accessible and practical. It is not only for payroll coordinators or accountants, but also for producers, coordinators, and executives who want to understand how labor and payroll interact in entertainment.

Experience the FTV Graduate Program

The Crash Course series is designed to give learners a preview of the depth and quality of the FTV Graduate Program. These free courses let you experience our self-paced, interactive training platform while building skills that apply directly to the workplace.

If you continue on to our advanced courses, you will already have the foundation needed to succeed. But even if you only complete the free courses, you will walk away with valuable knowledge about how entertainment unions and payroll systems work together.

What’s Coming Next in the Crash Course Series

The first course, Intro to Union Payroll, is only the beginning. Upcoming free Crash Courses will cover:

• Penalties – How to recognize, calculate, and apply common penalties such as meal penalties and turnaround violations.
• Fringes – A breakdown of health, pension, and other fringe benefit contributions, and how they are calculated.
• Industry Concepts – An overview of the classifications, workflows, and terminology that drive entertainment payroll.

Each Crash Course is free, short enough to complete in one sitting, and focused on real-world application. They are designed to build confidence while introducing key concepts that every payroll professional should understand.

Stay Connected

The best way to access new Crash Courses is to sign up for the FTV Consulting newsletter. Subscribers receive early access to new courses, updates on industry trends, and exclusive discounts on advanced training programs. By joining the newsletter, you will always know when the next Crash Course becomes available.

Final Thoughts

The FTV Graduate Program Crash Course series is more than a set of free classes. It is an entry point into the world of union payroll processing and entertainment payroll compliance. The first course, Intro to Union Payroll, provides a clear overview of unions, collective bargaining agreements, and how payroll ensures compliance with those contracts.



If you are exploring a career in entertainment payroll or simply want to strengthen your knowledge of the industry, this series is the perfect place to begin. Start today with Intro to Union Payroll and stay tuned for more Crash Courses on penalties, fringes, and industry concepts.