Apprentice Membership Program
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The Apprentice Membership Program is an exciting avenue opening up career opportunities for thousands of non-ACTRA members just like you! Through the Apprentice Membership Program, you can now signal your intention to become a full ACTRA Member and start your membership working for you right away.
The Benefits
Your Apprentice Membership Card immediately opens up potentially lucrative performing opportunities for you by ensuring your eligibility for all ACTRA work including previously restricted background performing in film, television and commercials as well as radio commercials. As an Apprentice Member you become eligible for placement in ACTRA's renowned talent catalogues, Face to Face Online and the Maritimes Talent Directory.
Within ACTRA, you will receive all the applicable rights, privileges and mailings of a full Member including full non-voting participation in ACTRA Membership meetings.
More important, though, as an Apprentice Member you automatically join the professional ranks of your peers performing in film, television and radio.
Eligibility
If you hold at least one work permit, you are eligible to become an Apprentice Member. This includes work permits for principal and acting roles as well as stunt but excludes work permits issued for background performing. There is a $75.00 initiation fee plus an annual fee of $75.00 that you would pay upon becoming an Apprentice Member.
Applying for Apprentice Membership Status
To become an Apprentice Member, drop by our Branch office, fill out a short application and sign a declaration that it is your intention to become a full ACTRA Member. Upon signing and becoming an Apprentice Member you will receive your Apprentice Member's Card, copies of the ACTRA Constitution and By-Laws plus other information materials to assist you in your chosen career. You will also be given the date and time of the next New Members's meeting (which are held twice monthly). you must attend a New Member's meeting to receive your member number.
If it is impossible for you to come in, call the Branch Office and we'll mail you the required information. Your agent cannot sign you up for the Program.
Becoming a Full Member
Once you become an Apprentice Member, your next step on the performer's career path is to assemble the body of work, signified by work permits, necessary to advance to full Membership status. You will require six work permits to be eligible to apply for full membership status. Because ACTRA firmly believes that a career in our profession should be equally accessible to all persons, we have established that three eligible work permits are sufficient for visible minorities and disabled performers to become full Members.
Professional Obligations
Apprentice Members, like full Members, do have certain obligations towards themselves and their colleagues. Full details on these are available at the Branch Office but here are some of the most important:
Apprentice Members must obtain and pay for work permits until such time as they become Full Members.
Like Full Members, Apprentice Members may not accept non-ACTRA work in film, television and radio. You may only do ACTRA films, television and radio programs, commercials, industrial and corporate videos and audio tapes and digital media projects.
Considering the many avenues of opportunity that Apprentice Membership status opens for you, that's really no restriction at all. Apprentice Members may accept non-union theatre work since ACTRA's reciprocal agreement with Canadian Actors' Equity only applies to Full Members.
Choose Now to Make Performing Your Career
The Apprentice Member program is clearly the path of choice for performers serious about their acting careers. It is important that all performers stand together to raise professional standards, stamp out exploitation of non-union performers and improve performers' wages and working conditions. As an Apprentice Member, you play a leading role in making a career in performing more accessible, enjoyable and profitable for all of us.
The decision to embark on a career performing as an ACTRA Member is not one to be taken lightly. Please call the Maritimes Branch office if you have any questions, comments or concerns about the Apprentice Membership Program.
We look forward to warmly inviting you into our ranks.
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