ACTRA Maritimes Blog

ACTRA NEGOTIATES NEW DEAL WITH THE NFB

Canadian performers represented by ACTRA have concluded negotiations and reached a tentative settlement on a new collective bargaining agreement with the National Film Board of Canada.

In addition to increasing minimum fees and fringes over a four-year term, ACTRA successfully negotiated provisions for production and use of NFB product in new media.
 
“We have an agreement in principle, and as ACTRA’s chief negotiator, I am pleased with this tentative deal,” said Stephen Waddell, ACTRA’s National Executive Director. “The deal we have reached with the NFB is subject to approval by our National Executive and our members who are eligible to vote.” More »

ACTRA Dues Increase Approved

December 20, 2007 – ACTRA members have voted to approve the dues change proposed in the most recent constitutional referendum. These changes will put our ACTRA branches in a more stable financial situation and allow ACTRA to build strength following the first strike in our 65 year history.

The dues change was approved by 66.1%.  A total of 13,521 ballots were mailed out to Full ACTRA members on November 21, 2007. In the Maritimes, 76.9% of ballots received were in favour of the increases. More »

New National Councillor elected

It was a squeaker.

Nigel Bennett has been elected to a two-year term as ACTRA Maritimes’ National Councillor.  

139 votes were counted (representing 38% of the membership eligible to vote.) Of these, Nigel received 72 votes and Kelly Peck received 67. 

21 spoiled ballots were not counted.

Current National Councillor and National Vice-president Jamie Bradley will complete his term mid-January at the next National Executive meeting.   Nigel will attend the next Branch Council meeting on January 14th and then make his debut as our Branch’s representative when he attends the next National Council meeting the first week of February. 

Congratulations  to Nigel and many thanks to Kelly for putting his name forward.  Kelly will continue to serve the membership as a member of Branch Council.

As well, thanks to Returning Officer Shannon Lynch and scrutineer John O’Keefe for counting, checking and double-checking the vote!

Maritimes member get Golden Globe nom!

Maritimes member Ellen Page has been nominated for a Golden Globe for her work on the feature comedy Juno.

Once again, Ellen has made us proud! 

Efforts are afoot to organize a party on the night of the presentation so that all her fellow Maritimes members can watch her win her well-deserved honour.  Stay tuned!

Notice – Member info stolen

This is to inform you that the premises of Filmworks Casting were burgled Dec. 17th. The thieves stole all of Sheila’s camera equipment, some cash and a computer. The computer contains the deal memos for residual-category (i.e. non-background) performers in film and television (not commercials) from the past four years.  This means that a great deal of performer personal information (names, addresses, Social Insurance Numbers) is now in the wrong hands. 

The Commercial Crime section of the RCMP advises that members be vigilant in reviewing all financial reports and bank statements over the next few weeks to ensure that the thieves are not using this information to make bogus transactions or otherwise misappropriate identities. 

Our sincere sympathy goes out to Sheila – as well as our prayers that the thieves will be caught and the equipment recovered. 

Ricky Joins the Fight for Canadian Programming

By EARL MCRAE, OTTAWA SUN
Oh, the terror of it.

The Westin Hotel is a-swarming with uniformed cops and private security guards because a horde of scented potentates in lovely clothes called the Canadian Association of Broadcasters are petrified by a terrorist organization of actors, directors, and writers called ACTRA, well-known and feared for its history of brutal torture, kidnapping, and killing.

“Do you have a pass?” demands a security yob as I cross the lobby.

“No. I’m looking for a washroom.”

“Sorry, you can’t be here.”

Brilliant yob. I might be an ACTRA suicide bomber heading for a washroom to set my timer.

There are more cops and guards inside the hotel than outside where some 300 members of ACTRA — obviously concealing knives, grenades, and bombs under their clothes — are marching up and down the sidewalk, the CAB conventioneers shaking in fear over their vicious life-snuffing signs saying Support Canadian Programming On TV and their chants “More Canada On TV.”

No doubt the intelligence wing of the terrified, elitist CAB discovered that two of the smelly, protesting terrorists upset at the Canadian Association of Broadcasters selling out its soul to less-costly, canned, Yankee drama at the expense of true north strong and free drama are Julian and Ricky, the crude, rude, scary, get-outta-my-face stars of Trailer Park Boys, and, omigod, what if they kidnap, torture, and kill us? More »

ACTRA CHALLENGES BROADCASTERS TO PUT MORE CANADA ON TV

Ottawa – November 5, 2007 – Canadian stars and hundreds of ACTRA members and supporters told Canada’s private broadcasters to put more Canada on TV. ACTRA’s demonstration outside the Canadian Association of Broadcasters’ convention in Ottawa included well-known Canadian stars Eric Peterson (Corner Gas), Julie Stewart (Cold Squad), Maritimes members Robb Wells and John Paul Tremblay (Trailer Park Boys), ACTRA’s National President Richard Hardacre and ACTRA Toronto President Karl Pruner.

“Those people call themselves Canadian broadcasters. I say that’s a name you have to earn, and you don’t earn it by producing zero one-hour dramatic shows and signing over Canada’s primetime to a different country,” said Peterson.

“Last year, Canada’s English-language broadcasters spent almost $500 million in Hollywood and a grand total of $40 million on Canadian dramas. For every dollar they spend on drama in Canada, they spent 12 dollars in Hollywood. It’s time for more Canada on Canadian TV,” said Stewart.

“Become real Canadian broadcasters. Produce real Canadian shows, and show them on TV when Canadians are watching,” said Wells.

“The people of Canada deserve to see themselves and their own stories on their own airwaves,” said Tremblay.

“We’re here today to tell broadcasters, the CRTC and Canadians that we need more Canadian drama on TV. If we don’t speak up, we stand to lose our airwaves to Hollywood. Our culture and our country are too important to stay silent. It’s time for action by the CRTC and by the broadcasters,” said Hardacre.

ACTRA has been calling for regulations requiring Canada’s private broadcasters to spend at least 7% of their advertising revenues on new Canadian English-language drama programming and to schedule at least two hours more of Canadian dramas in real primetime (Sunday to Thursday, 7:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m.)

Maritimes member Ellen Page’s Star on the Rise

 Ellen Page and Michael Cera in Juno.

PETER HOWELL – MOVIE CRITIC The Toronto Star

There’s a scene in Juno, the movie that will make Ellen Page an international star, where her teen title character is getting parental heat for getting knocked up.

How could this have happened? the parents demand. She’s not that kind of girl.

“I don’t really know what kind of girl I am,” Juno replies.

Consider it good acting. In real life, Halifax native Page, 20, knows exactly what she’s about, as she serenely handles her press chores in the midst of the Toronto International Film Festival. More »

Intro to Voiceover Workshop

Instructor Thelma Farmer

So, you’ve survived a few auditions and maybe done a gig or two. Now you want to know more and are looking for a fun, safe environment where you can explore the skills and techniques necessary for voice acting….well here it is..

The ACTRA Maritimes Training Committee is pleased to offer an Introduction to Voice Over.

Working with ACTRA Maritimes member and experienced voice artist Thelma Farmer and one of Halifax’s most respected audio producers, John Rosborough of RPM Studios, you’ll explore voice acting fundamentals including: studio etiquette, breath and microphone technique, controlling nervousness, script interpretation, acting choices, the characters that live within you and much more… More »

Nominations sought for National Councillor

Branch Council is seeking nominations for the position of National Councillor.

The National Councillor represents ACTRA Maritimes on the National Council – the body which sets policy for ACTRA nationally.   The term of National Councillor is two years.  The position involves meetings at the National headquarters in Toronto at least twice a year, as well as occasional conference call meetings.  The National Council is responsible for keeping up-to-date on activities and events which occur at National, will be required to participate in committee work and is responsible for reporting to Branch Council and the Maritimes membership.   The National Councillor, once elected, automatically becomes a member of ACTRA Maritimes Branch Council and is therefore required to attend the monthly Council meetings and participate in committee work.

Our current National Councillor is Jamie Bradley.  Jamie has served as such for ten years, during which time he has been National Treasurer and (currently) the National Vice-president.

The Branch Council election procedure follows. To nominate a candidate, the nominator must be a full member in good standing.  The candidate for National Councillor must also be a full member in good standing.  The nomination form must be signed by both the nominator and the nominee. More »