(July 5, 2017 / 13:20:30) 103208-1 ACTRA-summer-2017_p01.pdf .1 ACTRA ACTRA MAGAZINE SUMMER 2017 (July 5, 2017 / 13:20:31) 103208-1 ACTRA-summer-2017_p02.pdf .1 The Friendly Giant’s opening for each show started with the camera panning over a small model of a village and continuing up the giant’s big boot while he said, “Look up, waaaaay up!” then he would invite everyone to come visit him and his friends in his castle. Show creator Bob Homme played the giant named ‘Friendly,’ and Rod Coneybeare was the puppeteer for both ‘Jerome’ the giraffe and ‘Rusty’ ACTRA.75 the rooster. Over 3,000 episodes of the popular CBC children’s program aired between 1958 and 1985. Mark your calendars! We’re celebrating ACTRA’s 75th year anniversary in 2018! We’rePhoto:We’re CBC Still Photo Collection/Robert Ragsdale. celebrating!celebrating! (July 5, 2017 / 13:20:32) 103208-1 ACTRA-summer-2017_p03.pdf .1 Contents We all—as individuals, as performers—bring something to it. You’re advancing the game, you’re making something PAGE 8 better, you’re creating an opportunity, you’re going down a new path. Ferne Downey, page 22 4 President’s Message Introducing David Sparrow PAGE 14 6 Adapting to Digital Disruption By Stephen Waddell 8 ReconciliACTION By Candy Palmater On the cover are Mohawk Girls 14 Men of Action stars Maika Harper, Jenny Pudavick, Q & A with Rob Hayter & Mike Scherer Heather White and Brittany LeBorgne. By Angelica Lisk-Hann Pictured here is Eugene Brave Rock. 20 Political Action, Strength in Numbers Check out Candy Palmater’s feature By Elliott Anderson story on page 8 about our new 22 Ferne Downey’s “exit” interview generation of Indigenous performers. By Jeremy Webb Cover photo courtesy of Rezolutions Films. Photo: Éric Myre. 24 ACTRA’s Woman of the Year Q & A with Tina Keeper 26 Applause 30 WIDC celebrating 20 empowering years PAGE 22 By Carol Whiteman 32 Farewells (July 5, 2017 / 13:20:33) 103208-1 ACTRA-summer-2017_p04.pdf .1 MEET YOUR NEW PRESIDENT Simplifying and raised the bar and took us forcefully on to the modernizing our international stage. Her work as President Facing our of FIA and her efforts to build a stronger agreements, and how relationship with SAG-AFTRA have made our industry partners us stronger and allowed us to punch way challenges above our weight. I am glad she will remain can access them, will part of our leadership team as Past Presi- dent where she will be able to continue to make us stronger as share her wisdom and help guide my steps head on we move further into in the early going. By David Sparrow I know our work empowering performers ACTRA National President the 21st century. and promoting Canadian culture will never be done, but I believe there are exciting Hello ACTRAvists across Canada. We have work; and to continue to improve our skills using social media and YouTube; times ahead for ACTRA over the next 75 a great union! For almost 75 years, members own union solidarity in every corner of our and much, much more. Your Councils have years and beyond. And, as Canada celebrates just like us have worked hard to build a wonderful country. been busy anticipating the future and 150 years, we must recognize the history strong and active recorded media industry For many years now, my goals around adapting to it while also making sure you of this land is thousands of years old and in Canada. We bring life to Canadian ideas our Council tables have been to champion are properly and fairly compensated when the stories of this land are just as old and and voices, and we project our culture and success for the middle-class actor, to ensure you work. must be told. That is part of the important, stories to the world. Our work results in a your union card is not a barrier to your This year the theme for the Canadian inclusive work we must do together. Yes, I stronger Canadian identity and a stronger creativity and to improve work opportun- Labour Congress Convention was “Working am optimistic about our future as a union, national economy. These are the messages ities for every member of ACTRA no mat- for a Fair Future,” and that’s what we do and as a cultural voice and leader in Canada. we bring to governments at every level from ter where they call home. Simplifying and every day at ACTRA. The approved CLC I know when we stand together and face St. John’s to Vancouver . modernizing our agreements and how our resolution on Media, Culture and Communi- challenges head-on, we can make a differ- industry partners can access them will cations included components specific to ence. I know when we have unity of purpose Artists matter. They make a difference. make us stronger as we move further into the work done by ACTRA members, with and focus on our primary goals, we can Culture matters. It is our legacy. the 21st century—because regional issues Alvin Sanders, Ayla Lukic-Roman and achieve great things. If you have a construct- Canadian performers brand and market are National issues and local challenges myself stepping up to speak passionately ive idea or concern, please do not hesitate Canada across the globe. demand National support. at the Convention about these issues. Clara to contact me directly. I look forward to work- We have been working hard together too. Pasieka spoke about the issues faced by ing with you. Thanks for your confidence. My name is David Sparrow and I am hum- We have prioritized gender and diversity precarious workers—especially how young bled to join our Vice President, Alvin Sanders, equity on screens and in our own govern- performers are affected. The resolution An ACTRA member since 1992, David Sparrow has our Treasurer, Theresa Tova, and National ance; we secured a 105 per cent prepayment on Women’s Economic Justice was passed, served on ACTRA National Council since 2007 and as Councillors from across the land to lead for IPA work produced for the Internet; with Ferne Downey speaking about critical a member of several ACTRA negotiating teams. With over our union of professional performers over we fought to reinstate a full session fee for issues affecting all women workers. 100 Canadian and U.S. film the next two years. We have a lot of work to made-for-commercial work; we created I want to shine a light on the work of the and TV credits, and extensive experience in commercials do to ensure our contracts and business flexible pilot projects to promote voice work; excellent Ferne Downey. She served as our and animation, David is equally at home in front of practices keep pace with evolving technol- we developed a Digital Self-Promotion National President for eight years. She has the camera or behind the ogy; to address the growth of non-union Guideline so members can market their been an example and an inspiration. She microphone. David is also a proud member of EQUITY and SAG-AFTRA. 4 ACTRA MAGAZINE (July 5, 2017 / 13:20:33) 103208-1 ACTRA-summer-2017_p05.pdf .1 President’s Message The ACTRA delegation represented our member- ship and the Canadian cultural sector proudly, and professionally promot- ed our ‘Go ACTRA, Go Union’ campaign among more than 3,000 Canadian workers at the 2017 Cana- dian Labour Congress Con- vention in Toronto. Clock- wise from top left: Candy Palmater delivered an in- spirational speech to CLC delegates; Clara Pasieka spoke in support of precar- ious workers; David Sparrow talked to delegates about the benefits of hiring pro- fessional performers; Alvin Sanders spread our ‘Go union’ message to CLC del- egates; Dom Fiore, Sedina Fiati and Barry Blake. SUMMER 2017 5 (July 5, 2017 / 13:20:34) 103208-1 ACTRA-summer-2017_p06.pdf .1 Digital platforms 1999, ACTRA was the first performers’ union have made it easier in the world to cover digital advertising in Adapting its NCA. For six years, ACTRA agreed to a to reach both wide digital media pilot project that provided reduced rates and Use fees to encourage and narrowly-targeted the engagement of ACTRA members. That to Digital audiences; but digital experiment ended in the last NCA, and the results are that engagement of ACTRA mem- has also drastically bers in digital ads have steadily increased. disrupted advertising What has now become clear to ACTRA and Disruption our industry partners is that in this round nationally and inter- of bargaining, we have to simplify and mod- By Stephen Waddell nationally. ernize the NCA to create an agreement that suits the way business is conducted today— search, click and hire. We know we have the best performers in the business, but now we have to make it easier to engage the best. The digital revolution has taken over our Today, advertisers are laser-focussed that maintains ACTRA members’ profes- In addition to developing a simplified, lives, made it easy to access information on: controlling and limiting their ad dol- sional advantage in commercial production streamlined commercial agreement, we’ve and content, and buy products online. It lars; engaging experienced production while balancing the needs of today’s adver- been working hard on ACTRAonline, our has changed the way we communicate consultants to bottom-line their budgets; tising world. digital portal to hiring ACTRA. and engage in social interaction. This new employing non-signatory digital media, Digital platforms have made it easier to ACTRAonline will not only allow com- digital era has had a tremendous impact not full-service agencies; and even produ- reach both wide and narrowly-targeted panies to cast talented ACTRA performers on individuals, on society; on the way busi- cing in-house—creating content that can audiences; but digital has also drastically online, it will make it easy for those com- ness is conducted, particularly with respect be made into multiple ads for use on mul- disrupted advertising nationally and panies to become signatory to the NCA, to advertising.