For Immediate Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

ACTRA NATIONAL WOMEN’S COMMITTEE BEGINS PRODUCTION ON WOMEN SEEN IN VANCOUVER

TORONTO, ON (August 3, 2016) -- The ACTRA National Women’s Committee begins production on the two-city shoot of its new short film Women Seen in Vancouver on Saturday, August 6. Filming in Vancouver will last one day with two additional days of filming to follow in Toronto in the fall.

A nation-wide collaborative effort of the ACTRA National Women’s Committee, Women Seen will take a comedic look at how women are underrepresented in all areas of screen- based media, most notably: as protagonists; behind the scenes in creative, writing and directorial roles; and in key technical roles. While telling the stories of realities faced by women in the film and television industry, the film will also show solutions for change.

“I’m thrilled to be part of such a ground-breaking film at such an important time in our struggle for more balanced gender opportunities not just in the film and television industry, but in many sectors,” said ACTRA Member and Women Seen director Amanda Tapping.

“Without the support of ACTRA and the many other screen-based unions plus our numerous industry sponsors and partners, this film would not have been possible,” said ACTRA National Women’s Committee Chair and Women Seen Producer and Executive Producer Heather Allin. “This is our opportunity to showcase some of the issues faced by women working in the film and television industry, and provide audiences and decision- makers with pathways for change.”

The all-female cast and crew include members of: ACTRA; IATSE locals 891, 669 and 667; DGC BC; and Teamsters. See backgrounder and biographies of Vancouver-based cast members for full details.

About the ACTRA National Women’s Committee The ACTRA National Women’s Committee has a mandate to explore the issues of all female ACTRA Members, raise awareness of these issues, and support women both within ACTRA and the industry.

About ACTRA ACTRA (Alliance of Canadian Cinema, Television and Radio Artists) is the national union of professional performers working in the English-language recorded media in Canada. ACTRA represents the interests of 23,000 members across the country – the foundation of Canada’s highly-acclaimed professional performing community.

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Media contact: Jennifer McGibbon, ACTRA National Public Relations Officer, Tel: 416-489-1311 ext. 4008 Email: [email protected]

Background information on Women Seen

The Team Women Seen is being produced, filmed, crewed and performed by a team of diverse women, including award-winning performers. Written by comedian and writer Elvira Kurt and directed by Amanda Tapping (Sanctuary, Van Helsing, X Company), the project is produced and executive produced by the Committee’s chair, actor and advocate Heather Allin (The Listener, Small Town Murder Songs), and collaboratively-supported by Committee members from across the country.

Release Date Women Seen is expected to be released in early 2017 as an advocacy tool to increase viewership and interest in the issues explored in the film. The short film will be made available at no cost to key decision-makers in the film and television industry as well as screen-based unions and guilds, production companies, the industry’s training sectors, film festivals and the general public as an advocacy tool to increase viewership and interest in the issues explored in the film.