On Production Podcast: Mastering the Art of Production Management with Tony Low
In a recent episode of On Production by Wrapbook, host Cameron Woodward sits down with Tony Low, President of CMS Productions, to discuss the evolution of production finance, union compliance, and how CMS helps production companies stay lean, legal, and profitable.
With a career that spans agency leadership, live global events, and commercial production, Tony brings a rare blend of operational and creative insight. Here's a recap of the key lessons and stories from this informative conversation...
From CFO to CMS: Tony’s Journey
Tony began as a CPA and entertainment business manager before taking on leadership roles at Saatchi & Saatchi, AKQA, and a band apart. Along the way, he supported iconic productions, including the Live Earth concerts and Quentin Tarantino’s commercial division.
Eventually, one client’s need to hire SAG-AFTRA talent without signing the union agreement led Tony to create CMS Productions... a company that now offers both union signatory services and back-office production support across the industry.
5 Production Management Lessons from Tony Low
1. Creative Companies Need Operational Backbone
Tony notes that while creative energy fuels great content, most agencies, brands, and small producers struggle with operations. CMS steps in to manage:
Payroll and compliance
Petty cash and credit cards
Purchase orders, insurance, and union contracts
The result... faster turnaround, cleaner accounting, and fewer production delays.
2. Union Signatory Services Prevent Chaos
Many shoots attempt to go non-union until crew members report the job. This forces a last-minute “flip,” driving up costs and jeopardizing timelines.
Tony’s advice... secure a signatory before things go sideways. CMS makes it possible for non-signatory companies to work with SAG-AFTRA and IATSE talent without signing the contracts themselves.
3. Production Budgets Are Tighter Than Ever
The era of open-checkbook productions is long gone. Agencies and brands want high-quality content delivered for less... often with celebrity talent and global reach.
CMS helps... by offering flexible back-office support that scales with production volume, allowing creatives to focus on craft while CMS handles the logistics.
4. Reliable Financial Reporting Is a Competitive Edge
Tony stresses the importance of:
Accurate bookkeeping
Cashflow forecasting
Weekly or monthly reviews
Why it matters... financial data tells the truth about a company’s health. When creative shops pay attention to the numbers, they make better decisions and stay profitable.
5. Case Studies: From the CDC to Deutsch LA
For the CDC’s anti-smoking campaign, a director used CMS to manage a major production independently—capturing more revenue and avoiding the overhead of a traditional production company.
At Deutsch LA, CMS supports in-house production arm Steelhead, helping them operate quickly without navigating their holding company’s red tape.
These examples... show how CMS empowers both indie creators and enterprise agencies to manage union productions with ease.
Looking Ahead: CMS and the Future of Production
Tony sees clear trends reshaping the industry:
More agencies and brands are producing content in-house
Budgets are shrinking, but volume is increasing
Global shoots are becoming the norm, with CMS even helping cover union labor abroad (as on the film Ferrari)
CMS is ready... to support clients through every twist of the evolving production landscape.
Final Thoughts... Passion Drives It All
Tony closes with this advice: be passionate about the industry. At CMS, everyone—from accountants to coordinators—is immersed in film, TV, and celebrity culture. Weekly team meetings even include show-and-tells of the latest CMS-backed campaigns.
