The Antiquity of Checks
/ Annika Howe 2
When’s the last time you used a VHS deck? Or dial-up internet?
In my opinion, checks as a form of payment should go the way of those obsolete technologies.
Perhaps it’s because I’ve grown up partly in Germany, where bank transfers are Gang und Gebe - routine - but I avoid writing checks whenever possible.
In recent years, I’ve been relying on ACH (automatic checking deposits) or wire transfers to pay both crew and vendors. (*We’ll have a larger discussion on paying crew via payroll soon too.)
Here’s why:
There is no waiting for the oft-unreliable mail.
There is no waiting for a check to clearYou don’t need to have stamps or an envelope on hand, just a laptop and internet.
Crew is paid same day (if you have the same bank) or within 2-3 days, without having to make a trip to the bank.
Just make sure to email a confirmation of the payment to individuals so they know the payment has been made.
Fellow producers, how to you handle payment?
Fellow crew, how do you prefer to be paid - besides in full and immediately?
Explore this month’s featured photography open calls, grants, and awards with deadlines in October 2025. From color and portraiture to experimental and humanitarian photography, these opportunities invite submissions from artists and photographers around the world.
September brings a wide range of opportunities for photographers at every stage of their practice. From landscape and monochrome showcases to grants supporting environmental and documentary work, this month offers chances to exhibit, publish, and fund your vision. Explore the open calls, awards, and grants currently accepting submissions.
Every month, we spotlight creative opportunities across the photography world — from open calls and juried exhibitions to international awards. Whether you're building your portfolio, seeking recognition, or looking to connect with new communities, here’s what’s open this August.
Looking to elevate your photography practice this year? These open calls and award competitions offer unique pathways to international recognition, funding, exhibitions, and career-building exposure. Whether you’re building your portfolio, ready to publish a project, or looking to connect with curators and industry professionals—these opportunities are designed to support and spotlight your work on a global stage.
June is packed with opportunities to spotlight and support emerging creatives. From leadership fellowships to global awards, these programs offer mentorship, visibility, and real backing for those ready to grow their impact.
As we celebrate Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, I want to take this opportunity to honor the rich cultural tapestry that AAPI creatives bring to our industry. Their diverse perspectives, unique storytelling approaches, and artistic innovations continue to transform creative spaces—yet too often, these contributions remain underrecognized and undervalued.
For those of us in leadership positions, here are practical steps we can take to make our sets, studios, and creative spaces more inclusive.
As May marks Better Hearing & Speech Month, I find myself reflecting on the incredible diversity of talent in our creative community and the importance of ensuring everyone's voice—literally and figuratively—can be heard. Communication is the foundation of storytelling, and as creatives, we have a responsibility to make our industry accessible to all, including those with hearing and speech differences.
When you're managing multiple creative ventures simultaneously, your communication tools need to be both visually stunning and functionally powerful. As the founder of HoweHaus Productions, TheProducer.com, and The Business of Creativity, I've spent years refining systems that allow me to maintain meaningful connections with diverse audience groups while upholding the visual excellence my industry demands.
Providing equitable access to funding, mentorship, and exposure is essential for supporting Indigenous creators, whose cultural contribution enriches the arts locally and globally. This curated selection highlights grants, artist opportunities, and directories specifically designed to uplift Indigenous photographers, visual artists, and storytellers, as well as those whose experiences intersect with other underrepresented communities.