The Member Education Portal for ACTRA Toronto
Designed for ACTRA Toronto Full Members, this course will cover the basics of working under the Independent Production Agreement (IPA), which covers a majority of Film, Television and Digital Media productions shot by ACTRA Toronto members.
There are 5 modules. The entire course takes approximately 1.25 hours to complete.
What will this course cover?
-IPA Basics
-IPA Forms
-IPA Performer Pay Stub
This course introduces (or re-introduces) you to the ins-and-outs of the Independent Production Agreement (IPA) which covers many types of film, television and digital media productions that ACTRA Toronto performers work on.
| Module 1 | ACTRA Toronto Full Member IPA Refresh: Introduction | |
|---|---|---|
| Unit 1 | Full Member IPA Refresh: Course Navigation | |
| Unit 2 | Full Member IPA Refresh: Saving Your Progress and Modules | |
| Unit 3 | Full Member IPA Refresh: Course Troubleshooting/ Contacting ACTRA Toronto | |
| Unit 4 | Full Member IPA Refresh: Welcome | |
| Unit 5 | Standing up for You: ACTRA Toronto Business Representatives | |
| Module 2 | IPA Basics | |
| Unit 1 | IPA Basics: Introduction | |
| Unit 2 | IPA Performance Categories | |
| Unit 3 | IPA Performance Rates: Hourly, Daily and Meal Breaks | |
| Unit 4 | IPA Performer Categories and Rates Part 1 Quiz | |
| Unit 5 | IPA Performance Rates: Makeup and Travel | |
| Unit 6 | IPA Performance Rates: Other | |
| Unit 7 | IPA Performer Categories and Rates Part 2 Quiz | |
| Unit 8 | IPA Use Fees | |
| Unit 9 | IPA Use Fees Quiz | |
| Unit 10 | IPA Basics: Conclusion | |
| Module 3 | IPA Forms | |
| Unit 1 | IPA Forms: Introduction | |
| Unit 2 | IPA Performer Contract | |
| Unit 3 | IPA Work Report (Time Sheet) | |
| Unit 4 | IPA Background Vouchers | |
| Unit 5 | IPA Forms Quiz | |
| Unit 6 | IPA Forms: Conclusion | |
| Module 4 | IPA Performer Pay Stub | |
| Unit 1 | IPA Performer Pay Stub: Introduction | |
| Unit 2 | What's Included on a Pay Stub | |
| Unit 3 | Reading an IPA Pay Stub Part 1 | |
| Unit 4 | Reading an IPA Pay Stub Part 2 | |
| Unit 5 | Reading an IPA Pay Stub Quiz | |
| Unit 6 | IPA Performer Pay Stub: Conclusion | |
| Module 5 | ACTRA Toronto Full Member IPA Refresh: Conclusion | |
| Unit 1 | ACTRA Toronto Full Member IPA Refresh: Course Conclusion |
Money Management Basics for Performers is ACTRA Toronto’s e-learning course to help performers develop financial literacy and financial planning skills. There are 16 modules. The entire course will take approximately XX hours to complete.
What will this course cover?
-Financial Literacy
-Financial Planning
-Performers as Independent Contractors (for tax purposes)
-Expenses for Performers
-IPA Basics
-IPA Forms
-IPA Performer Pay Stub
-NCA Basics
-NCA Commercial Engagement Contract
-NCA Performer Pay Stub
-Contributions and Deductions
-Filing Your Taxes
-Banks, Credit Unions and Their Services
-The Cost of Credit
Designed for ACTRA Toronto Apprentice Members, this course will not only introduce you to what ACTRA and ACTRA Toronto are and what they can do for you, but to also teach you about your rights and responsibilities as an ACTRA Apprentice Member. There are 14 modules. The entire course will take approximately 5 hours to complete.
What will this course cover?
-ACTRA and ACTRA Toronto 101
-ACTRA and You
-ACTRA Apprentices and Full Members
-Working on Set
-IPA Basics
-IPA Forms
-IPA Paystubs
-NCA Basics
-NCA Commercial Engagement Contract
-NCA Paystubs
-Get Involved: Build a Career, Build Your Union
-Casting Tools, Education and More
Money Management Basics for Performers is ACTRA Toronto’s e-learning course to help performers develop financial literacy and financial planning skills. There are 16 modules. The entire course will take approximately XX hours to complete.
What will this course cover?
-Financial Literacy
-Financial Planning
-Performers as Independent Contractors (for tax purposes)
-Expenses for Performers
-IPA Basics
-IPA Forms
-IPA Performer Pay Stub
-NCA Basics
-NCA Commercial Engagement Contract
-NCA Performer Pay Stub
-Contributions and Deductions
-Filing Your Taxes
-Banks, Credit Unions and Their Services
-The Cost of Credit
Designed for ACTRA Toronto ACTRA Additional Background Performer (AABP) Members, this course will not only introduce you to what ACTRA and ACTRA Toronto are and what they can do for you, but to also teach you about your rights and responsibilities as an AABP Member. There are 10 modules. The entire course will take approximately 2.5 hours to complete.
What will this course cover?
-ACTRA and ACTRA Toronto 101
-ACTRA and You
-ACTRA Apprentices and Full Members
-Working on Set
-IPA Basics
-IPA Forms
-IPA Paystubs
-NCA Basics
-NCA Commercial Engagement Contract
-NCA Paystubs
-Get Involved: Build a Career, Build Your Union
-Casting Tools, Education and More
These courses introduce you to ACTRA Toronto's various agreements, including the IPA and NCA, signed with producers in Film, TV, Digital Media and Commercials. We also offer e-learning courses that help performers develop financial literacy and financial planning skills.
: :Click on any title to begin
:CLICK A PAGE NUMBER TO NAVIGATE
ACTRA Toronto Factsheets are a great source of information about ACTRA Toronto policies, procedures and the many benefits of membership.
ACTRA’s contracts are administered and enforced by staff Business Representatives. Commercial Business Representatives deal with NCA issues and IPA Business Representatives with film, television, animation, web, gaming, audio and everything else. Go to the Staff Directory page on our website for the names and contact information for our Business Representatives.
If you have a problem on a specific production, go to the What’s Shooting page to find out the Business Representative’s name and contact information for that particular production and email them with the details.
On-Set Liaison Officers (called OSLOs) are full ACTRA members who visit sets by Business Representative’s request, typically if there are minors, stunts or large numbers of background performers. OSLOs are not qualified to interpret the agreements. They function as the eyes and ears of the Business Representative and report back to them.
ACTRA Performers Rights’ Society (PRS) administers the payment of residual monies owed to members for the re-use of their work. You can arrange for direct deposit of these payments to your bank account or, alternatively, choose to receive one paper cheque per year with all your residual earnings combined.
ACTRA Toronto communicates with its members in several ways:
Periodically, ACTRA Toronto sends e-mail newsletters to inform you about your membership status, upcoming union events and other industry and union issues. Voting credentials for union elections and ratification referenda are also communicated by email. Under ACTRA's National By-Laws, consenting to receive union email and other communications is a condition of ACTRA membership, so it’s very important to keep ACTRA informed of your current email address and update it as it changes.
The ACTRA Toronto website has much of what you need to know and is fully searchable. Popular sections include the What’s Shooting page and the Agents Directory.
ACTRA Toronto publishes an online magazine called Performers Online .
ACTRA Toronto has a YouTube account for union advocacy videos, a Facebook page a Twitter account and an Instagram account. Stay connected with your community of fellow performers through Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube
CLICK A PAGE NUMBER TO NAVIGATE
CLICK A PAGE NUMBER TO NAVIGATE
ACTRA is governed by the ACTRA National Constitution and ACTRA National By-Laws. The Toronto branch also has its own ACTRA Toronto By-Laws. These rules and procedures determine how members, Council and Councillors should comport themselves. Democracy and member rule are the guiding principles.
https://www.actratoronto.com/constitution-and-bylaws/
https://www.actratoronto.com/operating-plan/
ACTRA Toronto is a democratic union run by working actors who make up our Council. They make the decisions and policies which staff implements.
Council is comprised of 24 elected full ACTRA members. They serve for a two-year term. Councillors volunteer their time for modest honoraria. Council meets monthly and Council meeting minutes are posted on our website.
The executive officers of ACTRA Toronto Council consist of: the President; the immediate Past President; the Treasurer; up to five other officers and the Executive Director, who is an officer of ACTRA Toronto Council with voice but no vote. The officers of ACTRA Toronto Council are commonly referred to collectively as the ACTRA Toronto Executive Committee.
There are many ways you can participate, the most important of which is voting in Council elections, agreement ratifications and referenda.
Any full member in good standing may run in a Council election.
ACTRA Toronto has several committees you might be interested to join: ACTRA Additional Background Caucus, Act Your Age (senior performers), Apprentice Caucus, Awards Committee, Child Performers, Conference Committee, Diversity Committee, Finance Committee, Full Member Background Committee, Parade Committee, Stunt Committee, The Toronto ACTRA Women’s Committee, Voice Committee and the Young Emerging Actors’ Assembly (for those who play 17-30).
Serving on a Committee is rewarding and helps you connect with other members.
ACTRA Toronto takes part in two important city parades: The Labour Day Parade and the Pride Parade. The Labour Day Parade takes place annually on the first Monday of September. We participate in the walk with other unions and have been recognized in the past as the parade’s “most spirited” participants.
ACTRA Toronto revels in the annual June Pride Parade in solidarity with our many LGBTQ+ members who are represented by ACTRA Toronto's outACTRAto Committee.
April is an important month to watch for the notice that your annual dues are payable. Falling behind on your dues could result in suspension from the membership and require you to start the joining process all over again. Don’t let forgetfulness put your hard-earned membership at risk.
Apprentices are sent renewal notices on the anniversary date of their joining.
When you move, change agents, phone number or email address, email membership@actratoronto.com with the details. And remember to notify AFBS of changes to your contact information too.
CLICK A PAGE NUMBER TO NAVIGATE
CLICK A PAGE NUMBER TO NAVIGATE
Creative Arts Financial (CAF) is a cooperatively run banking institution serving the entertainment industry.
The credit union is a community of your peers in the creative arts, managed and staffed by financial service professionals. As a cooperative organization, a credit union thinks about you differently than a bank does.
Creative Arts Financial (CAF) understands the entertainment industry and the people in it and offers its members a full-service lineup, competitive rates and true family feeling. At Creative Arts Financial, identifying yourself as a professional working in the entertainment industry is the beginning of a financial conversation, not the end.
The AFC provides emergency financial aid to assist cultural workers in recovering from an illness, injury or other circumstances causing severe economic and personal hardship.
The AFC is the lifeline for Canada’s entertainment industry. Over 10,000 professional members of the industry from all over Canada and in the fields of film & TV, theatre, music and dance have been helped by the AFC.
ACTRA Toronto has an Agents Directory available on our website. Only agencies which have joined the Entertainment Industry Coalition (EIC) and have signed the Code of Ethical Conduct are listed on the Directory.
ACTRA does not endorse or recommend talent agencies. When looking for a reputable agency, start with the Agents Directory but ask your peers for a recommendation.
All ACTRA Toronto productions must have workplace accident insurance in place to cover you, in the event that you are injured on set. The Accident on Set plan, administered by AFBS, is currently the most widely used such plan.
Actors are not expected to perform their own stunts. ACTRA’s Stunt Coordinators are second to none and safely coordinate all stunts on ACTRA sets. All stunts are performed by qualified Stunt Performers.
https://www.actratoronto.com/committees/stunt-committee/
ACTRA has negotiated provisions to protect performers from unsafe working conditions in all our contracts. Additionally, we participate together with producers and other audio-visual unions in a Ministry of Labour Section 21 Committee to address general industry safety concerns.
AFBS offers a counselling service to members and their families. The service is provided by Sheppell.fgi.
afbs.ca/members-insurance-program/member-and-family-assistance-program
Child Performers are served by our Children’s Advocate. Information sessions are held periodically to educate parents of child performers, whether union or non-union, on the risks behind the glamour.
Read ACTRA Toronto's Parents’ Guide for Child Performers
actratoronto.com/child-performers/
Making a living in this business is tough. Senior artists can really struggle. ACTRA and AFBS research shows that performer incomes decline in middle age, women before men. That’s why ACTRA is a proud supporter of the Performing Artists Lodge which provides geared-to-income housing for senior performers. Many more such housing options are needed. ACTRA also assists the Canadian Senior Artists’ Resource Network with research, communications and programs.
CLICK A PAGE NUMBER TO NAVIGATE