ACTRA#1048 Spring'02/2.2Rm
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Spring 2002 The Alliance of Canadian Cinema, Television and Radio Artists Clockwise from centre: Thor Bishopric (National President, ACTRA), Kent McCord (National Treasurer, SAG), Arne Gundersen (Eastern Region Vice-President, Actors Equity – U.S.), Sandy Winsby (Vice-President External, Going global: Canadian Actors’ Equity Association), Freddie Pyne (National President, Equity – U.K.), John Connolly (National President, AFTRA), Allison Enright (National Organiser, ACTRA hosts Global Protection of Performers New Zealand Actors’ Equity), Susan Lyons (National President, Media, Entertainment and Arts Alliance – Australia). international meeting P 6 A new home for ACTRA’s Women in the Director’s Chair ACTRA organizer turns another John Drainie Award at the Workshop: three actors share non-union commercial into a Banff Television Festival p 5 their experiences p 12 union shoot p 17 Going global to protect performers Thor Bishopric Dear Fellow Members, Online as some of the best tools we’ve put This issue of InterACTRA focuses on into the hands of our members in many these topics. Read about our successes, In January, your newly elected National years. such as ACTRA Performers’ Rights Council met to review ACTRA’s Our unity, focus and discipline have Society and ACTRA’s John Drainie accomplishments and plan the direction made us the most powerful organization in Award. Find out more about our ACTRA for our union in 2002. Reviewing what the film and television industry in Canada. community: Face to Face Online, the we’ve done is not an unpleasant task, as In my opinion, we are the most dynamic Women in the Director’s Chair Workshop, our organization has accomplished a great and forward-thinking performers’ union in and the inspiring diversity initiatives deal recently. A year-and-a-half ago, the world. happening in our branches. ACTRA’s National Council took a bold And we’ll need to be dynamic and You’ll also find out more about step and adopted the ACTRA Plan, a five- forward-thinking. There are decisions ACTRA’s role in public policy. We know year plan that commits us to stay focused being made that will affect our that our industry has become a global on our three key areas of activity – organization, and more importantly, affect industry, and in response to that reality bargaining, organizing and member the ability of our members to make a and the continued hyperbole around so- services. We’ve stuck to our plan and living in the entertainment industry: called ‘runaway production,’ ACTRA achieved some great results. threats of countervailing tariffs, SAG’s initiated an international meeting of In the area of bargaining, we successfully Global Rule One, Revenue Canada’s performers’ unions to discuss our rights on renegotiated the IPA despite difficult consideration of changing the status of the the global stage – GPOP – the Global economic times, achieving reasonable self-employed artist, Canadian content Protection of Performers. Read about general increases and expanded rules, co-production treaties, and GPOP in this issue. recognition in the important area of digital immigration guidelines governing the It’s clear that there are many challenges media. In organizing, our National entry of foreign workers. and opportunities ahead. ACTRA looks organizers are defending our turf and To face these challenges, we’ll need to forward to facing them – your union is actively seeking new jurisdiction for consolidate our gains, continue to build on better prepared than ever before. ACTRA, creating work opportunities for the pride and solidarity of our community our membership. In the area of services, and engage as never before in the public we count our new website and Face to Face policy areas that affect performers. ACTRA National Council 2002 (British Columbia), Seán Mulcahy (Toronto), Austin Schatz (National President), Maria Bircher (Montreal), Jennifer (Names in bold are members of ACTRA National Executive) (Toronto), Kate Robbins (alt. for John Juliani, British Wigmore (Toronto), Michael Miranda (Toronto), Brian Back row: Christie MacFadyen (Toronto), Barry Blake Columbia), Jefferson Mappin (National Vice-President), Gromoff (Calgary), Aidan Devine (Toronto), Howard Storey (Ottawa), Ferne Downey (Toronto), Mike Burns Bob Collins (alt. for John Evans, Toronto), Mack Furlong (alt. (British Columbia). Front row: Jamie Bradley (National (Saskatchewan), David Macniven (Toronto), Jon Baggaley for Glenn Downey, Newfoundland and Labrador). Treasurer), Richard Hardacre (Toronto) Absent: Wayne (alternate for Colin MacLean, Edmonton), Peter Partridge Middle Row: Susie Almgren (Montreal), Thor Bishopric Nicklas (Manitoba), Anne Marie Scheffler (Toronto). 2 InterACTRA SPRING 2002 In this issue of InterACTRA... AFTRA thanks ACTRA for Bargaining Commercial Agreement Negotiations; IPA and CBC agreements ratified; support during Network ACTRA Performer Rate Card for IPA 2002-2003 .................................... 4 Television Code negotiations ACTRA’s John Drainie Award Dear Stephen, moves to the Banff Television Festival in 2002. Past recipients were honoured We would like to take this opportunity to thank you for at a reception announcing the move.... 5 taking time out of your schedule to observe our recent Network Television Code negotiations. Our efforts, along with your and President Bishopric’s participation, proved a Cover story: ACTRA hosts GPOP, great success, and ACTRA’s presence at these talks was an a meeting of performers’ unions from extraordinary show of solidarity. around the world: a kickstart to ‘bigger- picture’ thinking on the international On behalf of the 75,000 members of AFTRA, thank you rights of performers again for being a part of this important process. by Jamie Bradley................................... 6 Fraternally, Branch News ................................................................................... 9 John P. Connolly Shelby Scott National President Co-Chair, Negotiating Committee Women in the Director’s Chair Workshop 2002 Greg Hessinger Tom Wiggin from the actor perspective National Executive Director Co-Chair, Negotiating Committee by Kerry Segal and Shaker Paleja with photos by Gail Maurice ........... 12 ACTRA member profiles Vik Sahay and Jennifer Overton........... 15 Write to InterACTRA Who’s Who at ACTRA .................................................................. 16 Have a story idea? Want to get involved? Send us an email at [email protected] or write to us c/o ACTRA’s National Office, Organizing 625 Church Street, Suite 300, Toronto, ON M4Y 2G1 Updates from ACTRA’s national and digital media organizers.............. 17 Applause ACTRA Members named to Order of Canada; Kiefer Sutherland wins Golden Globe; Genie Awards .......................... 19 Spring 2002 Volume 8, Issue 1 Farewell Goodbye to Frank Shuster and Peter Gzowski................... 20 InterACTRA is an official quarterly Editorial Advisory Committee: publication of ACTRA (Alliance of Thor Bishopric, Stephen Waddell, Canadian Cinema, Television and Radio Brian Gromoff, David Macniven, Artists), a Canadian union of performers Kim Hume Policy Issues Canadian content production in decline ................... 21 affiliated to the Canadian Labour Contributors Congress and the International Lorraine Ansell, Maria Bircher, Barry Federation of Actors. Behind-the-scenes Blake, Jamie Bradley, Mike Burns, ACTRA’s role in selecting Canadian InterACTRA is free of charge to all Marlene Cahill, Laurie Cook, Sharon ACTRA Members. Davidson, Don Dudar, Mack Furlong, films for the foreign-language All contents are copyright © 2002 ACTRA. Richard Hardacre, Matt Holland, Tom Oscar race .................................. 22 All rights are reserved and contents, in Jackson, John Juliani, Sharon Killey, whole or in part, may not be reprinted Terrence La Brosse Ross, Christie without permission. The points of view MacFadyen, Dan Mackenzie, Rob ACTRA PRS expressed do not necessarily represent Macklin, Gail Maurice, Garry Neil, The ‘collection agency’ that works for performers............................... 23 those of ACTRA. Wayne Nicklas, Shaker Paleja, Gary Saxe, Anne Marie Scheffler, Kerry Please return any undelivered mail to: Segal, Bill Siggins, Howard Swinson, ACTRA Thom Tapley, Gary Vermeir, Mercedes 625 Church Street, Suite 300, Watson, Carol Whiteman A starry night at Toronto, Ontario M4Y 2G1 Cover photo: Carol Racicot PHONE 1-800-387-3516 or (416) 489-1311 the Genie Awards Design: Joss Maclennan Design, Toronto FAX (416) 489-8076 Printed in Canada by: Thistle Printing by Anne Marie Scheffler ..... 24 www.actra.ca [email protected] Publications Mail Agreement #40069134 C SPRING 2002 InterACTRA 3 Photo by André Leduc Commercials Negotiations a Challenge Stephen Waddell National Executive Director n mid-January 2002, ACTRA formally commenced re-negotiation of the INational Commercials Agreement with ACTRA Members ratify IPA and management represented by the Institute of Communications and Advertising (ICA) and CBC Agreements by over 97% the Association of Canadian Advertisers (ACA). Following an extensive membership In December 2001, ACTRA members ratified a renewed Independent Production consultation process, your ACTRA National Agreement (IPA) by an overwhelming majority of 97%. The renewed IPA will ensure Negotiating Committee developed a stability in the Canadian film and television marketplace and enhance employment streamlined package of proposals that the opportunities for Canadian performers. ACTRA Committee proudly presented