Contact Us

  • Sorry that you're having trouble. Please identify the Online Course with which you need assistance, provide your contact information and a brief description of the problem that you have encountered in the form below and we will contact you as soon as possible. If you require assistance or information that does not relate to our online courses, please contact ACTRA National at 416-489-1311 or toll-free at 1-800-387-3516.
    Please choose one of the following choices:
  • Please enter your name as it appears on your ACTRA Membership Card.
  • Please enter your ACTRA Number as it appears on your ACTRA Membership Card. (i.e., AM-12345, 04-12345, EX-12345)
  • Please enter your telephone number.
  • Please enter a secondary phone (if applicable).
  • Please enter your email address.
  • Please enter a brief comment or description of any issue or concern relating to the Online Course with which you would like assistance. (300 characters max)
ACTRA Education

Member Handbook – 5 – When you need help…

 

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Table of Contents

 

Creative Arts Savings & Credit Union

Have you had difficulty getting a loan or mortgage from a conventional bank? The Creative Arts Savings and Credit Union was formed thanks to the advocacy of well-known Canadian actor, Peter Keleghan, to help arts professionals like you. CASCU offers a full suite of financial products including chequing accounts, savings accounts, mortgages, lines of credit and insurance products.

Creative Arts Savings & Credit Union is a cooperatively run banking institution for the benefit of members of organizations serving the entertainment industry. Unlike the big banks, your credit union cares about and serves only one group — our group — the creative community. When you save here, your money works for you and your fellow credit union members.

At Creative Arts, identifying yourself as a professional working in the entertainment industry is the beginning of a financial conversation, not the end of it!

CASCU-bulletcreativeartscu.com/
 

The AFC

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.

AFC-bulletafchelps.ca
 

Agent Representation

ACTRA Toronto has an Agent Directory available on our website. Only agencies which have joined the Entertainment Industry Coalition (EIC) and have signed the EIC Code of Ethics 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.

AT-bulletactratoronto.com/performers/agents-directory/
 

Safety

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.

AoS-bulletaccidentonset.com/

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.

AT-bulletactratoronto.com/performers/my-union/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.
 

Counselling Services

AFBS offers a counselling service to members and their families. The service is provided by Sheppell.fgi.

AFBS-bulletafbs.ca/members-insurance-program/member-and-family-assistance-program
 

Minors

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.

  • ACTRA child performers have 25 per cent of their earnings deposited to a trust account and invested for their benefit until they turn 18.
  • Tutoring provisions in ACTRA’s contracts protect minors from falling behind in their schooling when they work.
  • Other protections include age-appropriate working hours and guaranteed parental access.
  • Here's a list of handy Tips for Parents of child performers.

AT-bulletactratoronto.com/performers/starting-out/child-performers-2/
 
AT-bulletactratoronto.com/performers/at-work/child-performers/
 

Senior Artists

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.

PAL-Canada-bulletpalcanada.org/
 
CSARN-bulletcsarn-craac.ca/en/index.html
 

CLICK A PAGE NUMBER TO NAVIGATE
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Table of Contents