Union profile

ACTRA

National union of professional performers in English-language recorded media (outside BC, where UBCP/ACTRA is the autonomous branch). Represents actors, background performers, choreographers, dancers, singers, puppeteers, stunt coordinators and stunt performers.

Additional Background Performer (AABP): 15 days worked
Apprentice credit (background route): 1,600 hours
Apprentice: 1 qualifying credits
Full Member: 3 qualifying credits
Application fee: $75
Typical dues: 2.25% of earnings
Operates in: 12 provinces & territories

How to qualify

Additional Background Performer (AABP): 15 days worked. 15 days as a background performer on union productions in the 12 months before you apply. $30 to join and $30 a year. AABP members pledge to work union productions only.
Apprentice credit (background route): 1,600 hours. 1,600 background hours (200 days) worked as an AABP member earns your first Apprentice credit. Hours count from your AABP initiation date.
Apprentice: 1 qualifying credits. One qualifying work permit (a principal, acting or stunt role; one permit is one credit, however many days it covers), or a recognized acting program in the past year. Background permits don't count, except the one credit earned through the background route.
Full Member: 3 qualifying credits. Three qualifying work permits or credits. Background permits don't count. After your third qualifying permit you must join as a Full member.

Requirements

Canadian citizen or permanent resident
Apprentice routes: graduate of an eligible acting program (apply within one year), a qualifying role on an ACTRA production, Additional Background Performer status, or a reciprocal agreement (e.g. Canadian Actors' Equity Association)
Ontario, Background: AABP: 15 work days as a background performer on union productions in the 12 months immediately before you apply
Ontario, Background: AABP: proof of Canadian citizenship or permanent resident status (passport or birth certificate)
Ontario, Background: AABP: $30 initiation fee
Ontario, Background: AABP members pledge to perform only in union productions and may not be submitted for non-union work
Ontario, Background: Apprentice credit, background route: 200 days or 1,600 background hours worked as an AABP member

Application fee: $75 Apprentice administration fee, paid yearly. Full membership has a one-time $1,600 initiation fee; permit fees and the first $75 Apprentice fee come off it.

Dues: Full members: $195 basic annual dues plus 2.25% working dues on gross earnings, combined maximum $4,000 a year.

Awaiting confirmation: coverage in the territories. Check with the union before relying on it.

Application process

Check the "join ACTRA" box on a qualifying work permit; there is a 6-week window to join as an Apprentice
Pay the $75 Apprentice fee and complete the new-member orientation
Ontario, Background: AABP: complete, print and sign the application form and email it to info@actratoronto.com with your 15 vouchers, proof of citizenship or PR status, and the $30 fee
Ontario, Background: AABP vouchers: exactly 15, from the last 12 months, in date order (oldest first), fully legible, no duplicates and no non-union vouchers
Ontario, Background: AABP vouchers: wardrobe calls and COVID testing do not count as work days. A lost or damaged voucher can be replaced by a pay stub or payroll report
Ontario, Background: Apprentice (background route): send a computer-filled spreadsheet of your productions with numbered vouchers in the same order. The first 15 are the vouchers you joined on
Ontario, Background: Counting hours: claim 8 if you were paid for 8; past 8, take an hour off each voucher for lunch; no travel, lunch or wardrobe time; union work only
Ontario, Background: Rounding: hours go to the quarter hour (from January 2019, :06 rounds to .00, :12 and :18 to .25, :24, :30 and :36 to .50, :42 and :48 to .75, :54 to the next hour)
Ontario, Background: ACTRA Toronto replies by email within two to three weeks. Applications short of 1,600 hours are not considered

Contact

Website: www.actra.ca

Alberta · ACTRA Alberta · alberta@actra.ca · 403-228-3123
Manitoba · ACTRA Manitoba
New Brunswick · ACTRA Maritimes
Newfoundland and Labrador · ACTRA Newfoundland/Labrador
Nova Scotia · ACTRA Maritimes
Ontario · ACTRA Toronto and ACTRA Ottawa branches
Prince Edward Island · ACTRA Maritimes
Quebec · ACTRA Montreal (English-language work)
Saskatchewan · ACTRA Saskatchewan

Departments ACTRA represents

Actors
Background Performers
Choreographers
Dancers
Singers
Puppeteers
Stunt Coordinators
Stunt Performers

Wage rates

ACTRA minimum rates — the minimum for every position, and when overtime starts.

Member benefits

Health Insurance
Retirement Plan
Collective Bargaining

Operates in Alberta, Manitoba, New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, Northwest Territories, Nova Scotia, Nunavut, Ontario, Prince Edward Island, Quebec, Saskatchewan, Yukon.

Track your progress to ACTRA

Log each production in CineArch and it counts your hours, days and credits toward ACTRA automatically.

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