Life & Work with Sedef Degirmenci

Today we’d like to introduce you to Sedef Degirmenci.

Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
I moved to LA in 2015 and while I was waiting for my work permit, I decided to take accounting courses. As soon as I was able to work I started at Entertainment Partners in 2017 as a Paymaster who processes payments for cast and crew for TV shows and movies. Every year I got promotions and become Senior Paymaster at the end of 2019, and processed payments for Netflix, FOX, Warner Brothers, Universal, Sony, Apple TV, etc. After almost four years, I decided to move to the other side of the business and become a payroll accountant and worked project base at Fremantle, Apple TV, CBS. Since Nov. 1st, 2021, I’m with Walt Disney Motion Pictures Productions and working as a Post Payroll Accountant. Currently working on 5-6 different shows and it’s great to see them either on screen or Disney+. I did a post for Rescue Rangers, Hocus Pocus 2, and Disenchanted. There are more projects that I’m currently working on, but since they are not released yet, I cannot reveal names. I always wanted to be an actress when I was a little girl, maybe I couldn’t but being in Hollywood and seeing my name on screen one way or another makes me super excited and proud. Each project is like my baby, and each time I’m given a show, I get super energized.

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Not all the time.. especially after I left Entertainment Partners during COVID, which was a stable job, I struggled to find a job as a freelance payroll accountant, first of all I knew the rules and agreements but I had no experience about the process as a payroll accountant. I was lucky to get my first job at Fremantle where I struggle a little bit since I was supposed to take on whole different responsibilities, and it was only for 8 weeks, after that I had to start all over again and look for projects. As a woman with no family support, in a whole different country, I had some sleepless nights thinking about the future and not knowing what to do or what to expect. I could go back to Entertainment Partners but I wanted to see all my options before I give up my hopes to become a payroll accountant, After I proved myself finding projects weren’t easy 🙂 The hardest one was the very first step.

Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
At Walt Disney, my department takes over the project once the shooting is over, I’m taking care of the payroll side of the project until wrap. I’m processing payments for Music, Sound, Assistant Editors, Producers, Post Supervisors, VFX crew, and SAG actors who perform ADR in other words looping, sometimes Directors for their final payments… When needed, I also process some reshoot payroll as well. I must say I feel pretty confident about paying Editors, and in our industry they say ” If you can pay an editor, you can pay everyone” it’s one of the hardest and complicated departments, I must say.

The part that sets me apart from others I guess, I know the game, I’m good with the contracts, I’m open to learning new things every day, I care my people, Thursday is a payday in the production payroll world, and I do not hesitate to go above and beyond for everyone to get paid on time and to be consistent about it. Another thing is I really do love my job, knowing I’m helping people somehow so they can pay their bills, rents and survive is my huge motive. When I solve someone’s problem, I get this satisfaction and that feeling keeps me going,

When I get appreciation, or like I said, see my name on screen, I feel really proud, and when I look at the past and see how I achieve all this in 6 years, makes me really grateful.

Are there any apps, books, podcasts, blogs or other resources you think our readers should check out?
Yes! I do meditation daily, I use Headspace, smiling mind and youtube.

This year I’m trying to focus on more being in the moment. I struggled from anxiety in the past, and all this summer I read books about conscious and read books like It didn’t Start With You (Mark Wolynn), Didn’t See That Coming (Rachel Hollis), Power of Now (Eckhart Tolle), and currently reading my dearest friend’s mom Nilgun Canel’s book ” Cave of Forgotten Dreams” It’s really mind opening to see how we stop thinking out of the box with age and how we can get our creativity back

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sedefikko/

Image Credits
For the personal one, photo credit Emrah Zengin