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IN THIS ISSUE
ACTRA MANITOBA’S 2014 AGM JUNE 10
President and National Councillor’s report
Treasurer’s report
Political Action report
Training Activities report
PAL Winnipeg report
Women’s Committee report
Jump wins the MIP Golden Boy Award
What is the Victor Cowie Award?
Introducing Fred Penner
Rhonda Barker, Guest Speaker
Why should you sign up for Casting Workbook
The Fairness Works campaign
Outstanding Performance Awards 2014
Stephen Waddell interview
The Quebec industry tax credit cuts
California film tax credits
Congratulations to our Members
Manitoba Members @ Work
AGM Photo Album
Welcome to Tim
Nhlazane, joining the
Council as Member-atLarge
TALIA PURA, ACTRA MANITOBA
PRESIDENT AND NATIONAL
COUNCILLOR, PRESENTS HER YEARLY
REPORT ON LOCAL AND NATIONAL
HAPPENINGS.
I have been most honoured to represent you at
the National Council and work for you, as the
President of our local Branch Council, for another
year. Thank you to all members who came out to
our AGM on June 10. I was pleased to see so
many Members in attendance. We presented the
TREASURER TI
HALLAS GIVES US
ANOTHER
ENCOURAGING
Vic Cowie Lifetime Achievement Award to the
FINANCIAL REPORT
fabulous Fred Penner, who greeted us, cheered
ACTRA Manitoba
on by his daughter Danika and Fred Penner’s
Treasurer, Ti Hallas,
Place producer, Lesley Oswald.
reported that we have
had another year of very
We also revised several by-laws, most notably
combining the roles of President and National
Councillor, and placing a three-term limit on the
position (six years), with a four-term (eight years)
limit set for all other positions.
Rhonda Baker, of Buffalo Gals, was our guest
speaker, giving us a welcome glimpse into some
‘behind-the-scene’ practices within our industry.
Congratulations to Andrew Cecon, for his MIP,
Jump, winner of the Golden Boy award, as
selected by jury from our seventh annual MIP
Showcase.
For next year’s festival, we are again offering
grants to our filmmakers – up to $1000 for up to 7
filmmakers. Ask Rob for details. And -- outside of
the granting program, we are again encouraging
the making of iMIPs-- one-shot, two-minute films
made on a personal-recording device. This is
within everyone’s grasp, and I would very much
encourage all of you to think about making one.
The next festival will again be held in March.
That’s plenty of time for you to complete your
projects, so, I hope that we will have a lot of them
to view. MIP shorts will soon be available for
viewing on our YouTube channel.
After a very long and barren winter, I am sorry to
acknowledge that this summer is off to a rather
slow start. While there is one project currently in
prep, there are no others in the pipeline.
close budgetary
projections. She noted
that our membership
seems to really like
percentages. In fact, she
went on to say, that
ACTRA AGM attendees
have been know to
“Ooooo” and “Ahhhh” at
hearing percentages
which are particularly
high.
Ti reported that we have
unaudited financial
reports as at the end of
February, 2014 which is
the end of our last
financial year. For the
2013-2014 fiscal year
expenses came in at
$241,817 which is
93.09% of projected
expenses. At that point,
several Members said,
“Ooooo”.
Ti reported that revenues
came in at $249,144
which is 92.84% of
projected
revenues. More
Members said, “Ahhh”.
Hopefully, that is something that will change
Ti continued with the final
soon.
numbers for the year
which are a modest
Remember that it is important for each of us to
surplus of$7,327, but she
understand and react to what we hear coming out
emphasized that at least
of Ottawa these days that affects us. The current
it was a surplus. At the
government is doing everything it can to
end of February, our total
undermine unions. We all know how important
branch surplus was
our union is in keeping our working conditions
$511,000. Many
and contracts strong. You may have seen the
Members said, “Yay!”
second Canadian Labour Congress’s TV
commercials on the theme of ‘Fairness Works’,
Ti concluded her report
reminding the public that unions are good for
by saying that Council
everyone. It is thanks to unions that all workers
has approved a budget
have safer working conditions, maternity benefits
for the current fiscal year
and reasonable wages. In fact, five-day
of 2014-2015 with a
workweeks wouldn’t exist without unions who
similar modest
fought for them. Check out Kevin’s report on
surplus. She added that,
political action, and look out for the Fairness Bus
hopefully, we will be
in a neighbourhood near you this summer. (See,
cheering again, this time
further, Kevin Longfield’s article.) We are also
next year.
very cognizant of the civic elections taking place
soon and support the Winnipeg Labour
Federation’s efforts to elect labour-friendly
candidates. With provincial elections being held in
2015, we are setting up meetings, together with
other players in the film industry, with all parties
and their leaders, to ensure that our needs are
acknowledged and our industry funding remains
strong.
Please mark Friday, September 19. on your
calendar for our next fabulous Gala Awards night.
It will be held at the Met Centre this year, and if
you missed the last one, be sure to attend this
year. Anyone who was there can tell you what a
great party it was. (The nominees are listed
further.)
POLITICAL ACTION
CHAIR, KEVIN
LONGFIELD , GIVES
US A HEADS UP ON
Let’s talk about the Performers' Rights Society
projects and collects your residuals. As of this
THINGS POLITICAL ON
THE MUNICIPAL AND
PROVINCIAL SCENES
September, all payments will be made by direct
This past year could be
deposit. If you haven’t signed up, you will only get
described as the calm
your residual cheques once per year. Even if you
before the storm. In the
aren’t sure that you’ll ever get a residual cheque,
next twellve months we
please sign up for direct deposit anyway. It will
will see both a municipal
make Manitoba look good to have all of our
and a provincial election,
members on-board.
with the strong likelihood
(PRS) the department that chases down your old
of a change in
And after you’ve gone on-line to sign up for direct
government at the
deposit, please consider visiting the site of
provincial level and a new
Casting Workbook, and exploring what a great
mayor at the municipal
tool that is. It’s easy and inexpensive, and will
level.
allow you to effortlessly submit your name for
projects that are being cast locally, as well as
ACTRA and organized
projects in other cities that are open to Winnipeg
labour
actors; projects that you won’t even hear about
otherwise.
Your ACTRA Branch
Council for the past few
I wish you all a happy summer, filled with family
years has tried to create
and sunshine, and satisfying days on set!
stronger lines with
organized labour. This
makes sense both at the
VICE-PRESIDENT JAN SKENE REVIEWS
THE YEAR'S TRAINING ACTIVITIES
ACTRA’s training commitment to our Members is
administered and funded through a partnership
with Film Training Manitoba (FTM). It is a unique
program in Canada and one that offers our
Members access to some of the best instructors
and professionals in the nation for an extremely
reasonable (subsidized) fee to the
performer. How the program works (in short) is,
through consultation with the Manitoba
Membership and FTM, we make a list of
instructors/programs we would like to pursue at
philosophical level, since
we are part of organized
labour, and a practical
level. The current federal
governing party has
declared war on
organized labour, and
ACTRA is as threatened
as every Canadian is by
this declaration. National
President Ferne Downey
is on the Canadian
Labour Congress (CLC)
executive and ACTRA
the beginning of each fiscal year (March). FTM
has been busy lobbying
then takes that list, makes inquiries as to
Parliament on labour
availability, fees, etc. and takes over the
issues. Our Branch
administrative and operational aspects of booking
President Talia Pura
instructors and running the workshops (within the
made quite an impression
budget they have allocated for actor training).
at the CLC Annual
General Meeting for both
With that in mind, it is my hope that Members
her performance on the
take full advantage of the opportunities for
silks and in the
training through FTM’s ongoing program and, that
boardroom.
Members keep in constant communication with
ACTRA with suggestions for programming.
At the local level, Brian
Richardson, Rob Macklin
In the 2013-2014 year, the following workshops
and I have attended
were offered:
Winnipeg Labour Council
meetings where

Advance Scene Study with Bret Ratner
candidates for the

Working as a Professional Actor with Paul
municipal elections have
Christie (part of FTM’s Symposium)
been endorsed. I have
also attended Manitoba

Audition Hell with Peter Skagen
Federation of Labour

Scene Study with Gary Yates
(MFL) Affiliate Caucus

Intro to Voice Work – DaCapo

Electronic Casting Workshop with Carmen
(WLC) President,
Kostyk and Glen Hall (Casting Workbook)
attended our last AGM
In addition, ACTRA’s in-house Actors’ Gyms were
extremely successful and well attended. The
instructors were Carmen Kostyk, Gary Yates,
Nicholas Rick, Aaron Merke, Tamara Gorski,
Darren Wall, Mike O’Brien and John Barnard.
In the upcoming year, we have approved funding
for eleven ACTRA Gyms, we have completed one
very successful workshop with Tamara Gorsky
and have one coming up on July 5 and 6 with
Brent Fidler—Stillness on the Camera, The Art of
Non-Acting. We will be programming probably
meetings. Dave Sauer,
Winnipeg Labour Council
and reported favourably
to the next WLC meeting
about the enthusiasm
evident in our Council.
It is important that we
keep strong ties to
organized labour. As
mentioned earlier, there
is a good chance that we
might have a change in
government at the
provincial level, and, if
three more before the end of March.
Saskatchewan is any
example, that might put in
jeopardy the tax credits
that make filming in
Manitoba as vibrant as it
is. (See further the article
concerning the possible
cuts to the Quebec film
tax credit.) As the saying
goes, the union makes us
strong.
At a time when unions
and the benefits that flow
from the union movement
are under attack, it is
important to remember
TI HALLAS, ACTRA'S EX-OFICIO
TO THE PAL WINNIPEG BOARD,
BRINGS US UP-TO-DATE ON PLANS
FOR OUR PERFORMING ARTS LODGE
what the labour
movement has brought to
Canadian lives. If you’ve
watched the Stanley Cup,
you have probably seen
Performing Arts Lodge (PAL) Winnipeg has been
working with the Gas Station Arts Centre and the
Old Grace Hospital Housing Co-op to redevelop
the River Avenue and Osborne Street site into a
multi-faceted project that includes a theatre,
commercial space and a housing
component. PAL Winnipeg is dedicated to
providing affordable multi-age housing for those
who need it in the performing and broader arts
community in Winnipeg so they can continue to
ads that make this
case. Keep an eye out
also for the Fairness Bus,
a big green reminder of
the need for tax
fairness. It is coming to a
community near you this
summer, and the folks on
the bus would love to talk
to you.
be highly productive contributors to the vibrancy
of our neighbourhoods for years to come. It is the
arts community “taking care of our own”.
Other local activities
For the past two years or
According to PAL Winnipeg President and
so, we have been
ACTRA Member Rea Kavanagh, June 10 was a
pursuing the idea of
very important day. PAL was making a joint
Status of the Artist
application to the Province for their Request for
Legislation. The
Proposals for Affordable Seniors Housing. On
provincial government
the same evening, PAL made a presentation to
expressed some interest
the Fort Rouge Community Committee for
in the idea at a
rezoning of the site. It was accepted. It now
consultation. Discussions
goes on to the Executive Committee.
continue.
Already PAL has received significant interest in
the housing development and expects to be
making firm commitments for their units by fall. If
you are interested in affordable housing at this
site, we strongly encourage you to become a
member of PAL (only $20!), fill out the Housing
Survey and express an interest in becoming a
resident. Because of the location, the general
public will be very interested in these units and
we want to ensure that all artists in need as well
as any artists in a position to opt for Market Rate
apartments are given first consideration.
JUMP WON THE MOST
OUTSTANDING MIP,
2014
ACTRA Manitoba’s
Golden Goy Award for
TI HALLAS REPORTS ON ACTRA
MANITOBA'S WOMEN'S COMMITTEE
the 2014 Most
Outstanding MemberInitiated Project (MIP)
The ACTRA Manitoba Women’s Committee
was presented to the cast
selected Tina Keeper as its 2013-2014 honoree
and crew of Jump.
to commemorate this year’s International
Women’s Day. On March 10, at the MIP
Congratulations go to the
Festival, Ti Hallas spoke about Tina and praised
cast:
her for her achievements in our industry and
thanked her for her contributions to our
Glen Thompson –
community. “Tina Keeper is an advocate for
Randy
women, for youth, for the arts and for all
Manitobans. She is a Gemini-winning actor, an
activist, a producer and a strong role model. She
has served on the ACTRA Manitoba
Council. She is a former member of the House of
Commons, and is a recipient of the Order of
Michelle Boulet – Clara
Daria Puttaert –
Waitress
Andrew Cecon – Tad the
Manitoba and an Aboriginal Achievement Award.”
IT Guy
and the crew:
Sarah Constable –
Writer, Director and
Editor
Andrew Cecon and
Nicholas Palinka –
Producers
Nicholas Palinka –
Director of Photography
Andrew Cecon – Props
Michelle Boulet –
WHAT IS THE VICTOR COWIE AWARD?
Costumes
In 2006, the ACTRA Manitoba Council decided to
Gislain Kibaga, Rob
set up an award to honour certain
McLaughlan, Andrew
Members. That year, Doreen Brownstone was
Cecon, Claire Friesen –
given the Life Achievement Award.
Sound and Crew
The following year, in memory of Victor Cowie, it
was renamed the Victor Cowie Award for
Outstanding Contributions to the Performing Arts.
Victor Cowie was a long-time Member of ACTRA
and was closely associated with the performing
arts scene in Winnipeg. Professor of literature at
the University of Manitoba, he wrote and
produced a well-received film about university life,
And No Birds Sing, one of the early feature films
produced in Manitoba. He appeared in a great
number of Winnipeg films in an impressive variety
of roles. Actor, writer, director, producer, he was
held in highest regards as a lecturer on
Shakespeare and Milton.
Other recipients of the Victor Cowie Award are
Daphne Korol, Evelyn Anderson, Marilyn
Boyle, Lionel Moore, Olie Alto and Lou Kliman.
JAN SKENE PRESENTS FRED PENNER,
RECIPIENT, VICTOR COWIE AWARD
BRIAN RICHARDSON
SHARES REMINICES
ABOUT HIS FRIEND
FRED PENNER
I first encountered Fred
I am extremely honoured to be presenting our
at one of the Sunday
friend and colleague, Fred Penner, with ACTRA
Cabaret evenings at the
Manitoba’s Victor Cowie Award for Outstanding
Manitoba Theatre
Contribution to the Performing Arts.
Workshop in the old
Exchange Building
Many of you will remember the song Fred sang
which is now part of the
when he appeared from the log at the beginning of
Red River College
every Fred Penner’s Place show. I will sing you a
campus on Princess
bit…
Street. He was
performing with his pal,
What a day, what a day, Filled with surprises What
Al Simmons. What
a day, what a day, Friends by your side,
struck me was that here
was a fellow with a fine
Actually the theme of our presentation is,
musical talent and a
touch of lunacy, a
What a life, what a life, Filled with
wonderful
achievements,
What
a life, what a life, Friends by your side.
combination. The two
of them joined with
several similarly
When introducing Fred on his show recently,
inclined musical chaps
George Stroumboulopoulos called him a “giant” in
and formed the group
the family entertainment world—and he truly
Kornstock. When CBC
is! Fred is a Canadian icon and we are so proud to
was to produce a series
claim him as our own here in Manitoba.
of shows featuring their
band we (meaning
Fred has composed and written the lyrics for
Confidential Exchange,
hundreds of songs, produced twelve children’s
the comedy troupe of
albums for which he has been recognized
which I was a member)
throughout North America with numerous awards
were invited to join the
including eight Juno nominations and two Juno
show. When asked,
awards and as a four-time recipient of the US
Fred was immediately
Parents’ Choice Award. Fred has performed for
able to sing the title
literally millions of children over the years. He has
song of the show,
also “treaded the boards” throughout his career—
Buffalo Chips. I could
most recently starring in MTYP’s cross-country tour
not help commenting
of The Cat Came Back. Fred will reprise his role of
that Fred is always
Captain Hook in Peter Pan this winter at
willing to sing at any
MTYP. And these are just two of many.
excuse.
Fred is a humanitarian of the highest order having
Fred and Al were
travelled to Zambia in 2005 with World Vision and
longtime pals and both
working with Unesco, Unicef and performing for
are tall fellows, they
almost every charity event that ever was. He has
both take an unusual
been honoured with the Order or Canada and the
size of shoe, 13. So,
Order of Manitoba. And through all of this he and
whenever either came
Odette raised four wonderful children—Kendra,
upon a pair of shoes in
Danica, Haley and Damian—and now he is a
that size that he liked
Grandpa as well.
he would buy two pairs
so they could each
We, the Members of ACTRA Manitoba, are
have a decent pair.
honouring Fred tonight specifically for the incredible
Over the years Fred
body of work he created under ACTRA’s
and I had occasion to
jurisdiction. His national television series, Fred
perform together,
Penner’s Place, was seen on CBC for 12
sometimes in work I
seasons—close to 900 shows in the can. Many of
had written. He always
our Members and other local musicians were
brought a lively spirit,
featured on Fred Penner’s Place—Al Simmons,
his musicality, and his
Stan Lesk, Judy Cook, Heidi Hunter, Tracy Dahl,
touch of lunacy to bear
Jake Chenier to name a few. But I doubt there is
on whatever we did.
anyone in our province who can claim to have had
anywhere near 900 television gigs, never mind
After Kornstock
being the star, the composer, the singer and a hero
disbanded Fred went
to a decade of Fred Heads, and now, through his
looking for a new
live performance to the adult versions of all his
avenue for his
formerly young fans and to their children.
talents. He started by
singing to old folks,
I was privileged to work side by side with Fred for
(they were probably
the last five seasons of his amazing run on Fred
about the age we are
Penner’s Place (well really up and down—I was
now), and then decided
down here—he was up there). I skipped the peach
to perform for the very
velour sweat suit era, and the psychedelic button
young folks. It was
up shirt era and started in during the signature vest
there he found the
stage. (Do some you-tubing, you’’ll see what I
perfect niche for his
mean.)
talent and interest. He
has followed his ethics
Fashion anomalies aside, watching Fred work was
and principles and
truly inspiring. Although it may have looked like a
brought them to bear on
smooth little show (thanks to Lesley Oswald, the
his work. The
producer), the schedule and production side of
youngsters he once
putting the show together was gruelling. Fred
sang to are grown up
would arrive early each morning with the songs of
now and, curiously, he
the episode written, or re-worked and ready to
still performs for them,
rehearse with the band and often a guest
only on university
performer; he had his lines down pat and set off to
campuses and bars
do most shoots in one or two takes—with three to
where they still sing
four cameras live switching, and a live band. This
along.
was not an easy task. There were forest dust,
prickly trees, out-of-control bark chips, nasty little
A few years ago Fred
puppets (and puppeteers—me), props hell, thinning
was in Saskatoon at the
hair lines, and many last-minute crisis that had to
same time I was. He
be sorted out while remaining still calm, on
was performing at a
schedule, on task and in tune.
Green Festival. I was
there with Green Kids
Fred always remained true to his ideals and drew
and our veggie oil
on his incredible talent and generous personality to
powered bus. In the
give the very best of himself. He focused solely on
evening we got together
the integrity of the show knowing that his child
for a beer at the
audiences always came first. He never lost site of
Bessborough Hotel, the
the positive influence he was able to have on
old, grand, railway hotel
children and their families and regarded that as a
that’s a first cousin to
huge responsibility, which he has done with grace
the Hotel Fort Garry. A
and humility and which he continues to do with
group of young women,
each new challenge he takes on. He is the most
close to their thirties I
authentic, and genuine person I have ever met.
would guess, were
sitting together nearby
Fred ended each and every one of his television
in evening wear. They
shows with his song “Take Good Care Of Each
recognized Fred and
Other”.
asked him to have his
picture taken with
Take good care of each other,
That’s
them. He graciously
what friends like to do,
Let your
did, so much to their
sister and brother,
that it’s true,
Help you learn
We all need to feel
wanted for the people who we
are,
good care, take good care,
delight. Fred is always
gracious with the public,
a quality I admire. A
So take
Take good care of
each other.
short time after,
Stéphane Dion entered
the room. He too
sought out Fred, only it
Fred, tonight this gathering of your ACTRA brothers
was to ask him to
and sisters are here to pay tribute to you and to
accompany the—at that
take care of you by presenting you with the Victor
time—Liberal leader on
Cowie Award. We are so proud to be able to say
a walkabout at the
you are a Manitoban, we are proud to be able to
Green Festival next
count ourselves amongst your legion of fans and
morning. Again, Fred
we are so proud to be able to call you our friend
graciously accepted the
and our brother.
invitation.
He remains gracious
and very much the
entertainer. Just ask
him to sing and you’ll
see how much!
KEVIN LONGFIELD
EXPLAINS THE
FAIRNESS EXPRESS
VISIT TO
MANITOBA—THE BIG
GREEN BUS
Until August 15,
Manitobans might
notice a large green
bus at public events. It
is part of the National
Union of Public and
General Employees
(NUPGE) Fairness
Works campaign. This
campaign arose from
the economic crisis of
2008. After a acceding
to pressure for a
stimulus program, the
federal government
initiated an austerity
campaign that targeted
unions and public
RHONDA BAKER, GUEST SPEAKER,
AGM
I am Rhonda Baker, Producer, Line Producer,
Supervising Producer, Production Manager and,
since January, 2013, Vice-President of
Production for Buffalo Gal Pictures
I moved to Winnipeg from Regina where I spent
most of my career producing under my own
company. With the elimination in Saskatchewan
of our Film Employment Tax Credit, it meant
relocating to a new territory and for me that was
Manitoba. And I am happy to be here. My past
includes producing several big features such as
Terry Gilliam’s Tideland, The Messengers, that
opened #1 in the U.S. box office in 2007, Faces
In The Crowd, a Canada-France treaty coproduction filmed in Winnipeg, and Aloft, a
Canada-Spain treaty co-production that was in
competition at the Berlin Film Festival in 2014, as
well as television series. My Winnipeg career
started with The Diviners, then on to The Stone
employees. In response
Angel, Strings and Siberia.
to this scapegoating,
NUPGE launched its
Now that I have shared with you that I have
Fairness Works
earned my white and grey hair, I want to tell you
campaign to attack
about the wonders of casting in Winnipeg, or, for
spending cuts,
that matter, casting in general.
privatization, and
targeting of public
When we are putting together a project, there are
sector pensions. Part of
many times when we have partners that call the
this campaign is the
shots on the preliminary casting of the
Income Inequality Bus.
movie. Usually, this is because of our investors
This bus promotes the
and the potential sales that cast names bring to
All Together Now! and
the project. I would love to argue that outside
Together Fairness
talent trumps all, but it is more about “stars” or “A-
Works campaigns. The
listers” or “B-listers”. This assists a distributor in
bus will arrive at a
recouping the investment and sometimes
number of events and
determines who is cast in a movie. It isn’t always
public gatherings,
a level playing field.
including the Winnipeg
Fringe. If you see the
Having done several movies in Manitoba, I can
bus, don’t be shy. The
speak from experience that the talent base here
campaign workers’ goal
is quite outstanding and we don’t have to stray far
is outreach. They want
outside of Manitoba for many of the roles in our
to hear your stories
movies.
about income inequality
and how austerity is
affecting you. They
want your input and
advice, and they want
your enthusiasm and
support. For more
information, and to
learn when the bus
might be coming to a
place near you, go to
www.nupge.ca
I’d like to address why we sometimes cast outside
Winnipeg before casting in Winnipeg. It isn’t
because we lack confidence in your talent, it is
because we are not always the lead producer of a
project. But we do have the ability to encourage
our partners to cast locally, to make them
understand we have talent here and that we
support that talent. It is easier to convince
producers of a movie like Steel and Stilettos, a
Canadian-content movie with a budget under two
million dollars than one like Heaven Is For Real, a
Sony production of twenty-five million dollars.
Local casting is so important to our sales pitch for
the cast available in Manitoba. There has to be a
belief that we can cast the movie from here for
our partners to believe it is true. I’m not going to
pretend that every male actor in Winnipeg can be
Bruce Greenwood or Ryan Reynolds or Ryan
Gosling and every female can be Sarah Polley or
Ellen Page or Rachel McAdams but most times
Stephen Waddell,
National Executive
Director of ACTRA
discusses recent
wins, losses and
challenges that lie
ahead for our
organization
we can’t afford those names so why don’t we turn
PLAYBACK Magazine,
the opportunity to prove it.
to Manitoba talent before we look for other
Canadian choices? The reason I would have to
repeat is that our decisions on casting are usually
impacted by our partners.
I believe that Winnipeg has the talent of the likes
of the stars I named but we just don’t always have
June 26,
2014
Recently I line-produced a dance movie in
Winnipeg. Not only did we “star cast” from
by Playback Staff
outside of Canada, we also hired Canadians
living in LA; but these were dancers. Casting in
While the Canadian
Winnipeg was extensive and we had several
production sector is
sessions. But the producers take their lead from
thriving, new media
the Casting Director on which roles would be
continues to put
easy to cast in the province and roles where we
pressure on Canada's
might have to cast a broader net. Having the
unions, guilds and
Winnipeg casting directors believe in our talent is
professional
also the best chance of landing a role.
associations. Digital
production and
There are times when we have all the right pieces
distribution are
in place and we still cast elsewhere; but in
disrupting known
fairness it can be for reasons outside our
business models and,
control. It can be because the director is familiar
as a result, the
with cast from elsewhere, or the director is from
agreements that bind
elsewhere in Canada and they know the talent
parties within those
available in that province, or it can be a friend-
models are under
relative-favour… All of those do come into play at
stress. However,
certain times.
periods of change are
when unions and guilds
But casting a movie filmed in Manitoba with
thrive, forcing
Manitoba cast gives us the best return on
discussion, compromise
investment because we get provincial and federal
and, optimally,
tax credits on our own talent. This is a sales tool
agreement between
that I use repeatedly and that is why we sign
working parties.
residency declarations and pay our taxes here. I
don’t want you to think you are hired just because
Canadian organizations
you come from here. But you are a marketing
representing screen
tool when producers are selling filming in
industry professionals
Manitoba and we are not embarrassed to say that
discuss recent wins,
we have a lot of talent and it returns us a very
losses and challenges
nice tax incentive.
ahead. We feature an
interview with Stephen
ACTRA has long been known for their IPA and
Waddell, national
producers know the terms and conditions the
executive director of
talent works under. But there are incentives for
ACTRA.
filming outside of Toronto and Vancouver and
these are in place to help us sell filming in parts of
At present, what is/are
the biggest challenge(s)
facing your
membership?
the country where we don’t produce over one
billion dollars of production yearly. Giving us
some perks helps us sell the regions like
Manitoba.
As always, increasing
work opportunities for
Cast and crew are at the mercy of production and
Canada's professional
in many cases unaware of what is brewing and
performers is our
waiting to be green-lit and spring into action. It is
biggest challenge.
a tough position but I can only imagine that
landing a role is so exciting and delivering a great
How are you working to
address that challenge?
performance a highlight for the individual
Organizing our
because I’m aware of how hard your job
jurisdiction. Making it
is. Given that I have no acting talent whatsoever,
simpler to engage
I can appreciate the difficult role you play.
involved. I appreciate and applaud your talent
professional performers
under our
I can honestly say that my boss, Phyllis Lang of
contracts. Pushing for
Buffalo Gal Pictures, and our in-house producer,
more Canadian-scripted
Liz Jarvis, have been supporters of this
programming on all our
community for a couple of decades. They believe
in the talent that exists here and they are the first
screens.
to offer up local talent for our projects. As a
company we work very hard trying to develop or
What were some of
your wins in the last
year?
partner on projects that can film in Manitoba. We
We negotiated an
productions with your talent in our pictures.
have a good relationship with Rob Maclin and
ACTRA and we endeavour to produce quality
excellent collective
agreement with Ubisoft,
one of the world's
largest videogame
developers and
publishers. And we
assisted our B.C. Local
UBCP/ACTRA to
secure a good
settlement in their B.C.
Animation Agreement
negotiations.
What will be the issue
that has the greatest
impact on your
membership in the next
five years?
Given that the new
technologies give
practically anyone the
opportunity to create
recorded product, the
challenge will be to
Why should you sign up for Casting
Workbook - Bradley Sawatzky tells you
why...
ensure that high-quality,
For the cost of a latte a month (which is tax
distinctive Canadian
deductible) the first ten reasons that come to
programming finds
mind:
platforms for audiences
to enjoy. Cutting
- You receive email notices for when a project is
through the formulaic
casting in Winnipeg. You must click this option.
and amateur product
with unique Canadianscripted production will
- You get to see
breakdowns/sides/directors/producers.
become increasingly
- You get to submit for the character(s) you wish.
challenging with the
proliferation of
distribution platforms.
- When an audition is confirmed you are
sent everything in one email. Sides,
script (when available) location, times, etc.
- When producers call a Casting Director about
what actors are available in Winnipeg, CW
showcases actors that’re here.
- When your taped audition is put forward
by casting your headshot and resume
are tagged onto it by the site. If you’re not
on CW a blank bubble appears.
- Their helpline is awesome, and they encourage
you to call.
- This is the industry norm for casting
directors nationally.
- It buys you time. If a notice goes up and you
read that a project takes place in Texarkana, you
can begin prepping that accent sometimes days
before the audition notices are sent out.
- Local Casting Directors Carmen Kotyk
and Jim Heber both utilize it.
California lawmakers could
soon take action to stem
the flight of television and
movie productions to other
states and foreign
countries by renewing and
possibly expanding their
film tax credits.
The Quebec industry is
concerned about proposed
film tax credit cuts—will
Manitoba face similar
threats?
By Mike Gatto, LA Time June 26,
[Should the Manitoba film
industry have to face a
similar situation in the future,
defenders of our film tax
credit will most likely be using
these same arguments
against weakening it.]
2014
California lawmakers could soon
take action to stem the flight of
television and movie productions
to other states and foreign
countries.
Legislation to renew and possibly
expand a 5-year-old state
income-tax break for shooting in
the Golden State cleared a key
state Senate panel… and is only
a few more votes away from
landing on the governor's desk.
The bill, AB 1839… has enjoyed
a smooth ride. It hasn't received a
single "no" vote in two Assembly
committees, the full Assembly
Playback Magazine 19 June,
2014 By Etan Vlesing
The cash-strapped Quebec
government cutting its labourbased film tax credits by 20% has
unleashed a wave of industry
criticism.
“English-language production is
very mobile and risks
disappearing altogether if
Quebec’s tax credits aren’t
competitive enough with those of
other jurisdictions such as
Ontario, British Columbia or the
state of New York,” Janis
and, most recently, the Senate
Ludman, producer and co-
Governance and Finance
president of the Quebec English-
Committee.
Language Production Council
said Thursday in a statement.
But a big question mark remains:
How much money in tax breaks
On June 4, Quebec finance
will the state provide?
minister Carlos Leitao trimmed
the province’s refundable tax
The proposal's authors want to
credit for film and TV production
extend - and possibly expand - a
by one-fifth in value, from a 35%
program that began in 2009 that
tax rebate to 28% when unveiling
has provided $100 million
his latest provincial budget.
annually in tax credits for certain
feature films, made-for-television
And the refundable tax credit for
movies and new television series.
film production services went
from 25% to 20%, again reduced
Some supporters of the bill want
by one-fifth in value.
to increase the total amount
authorized to $400 million. But,
These refundable tax credits,
so far, no dollar figure has been
available beyond Quebec’s 25%
included in the bill.
all-spend tax credit base for
certain unrestricted categories,
The aim is to increase financial
offset labour costs for multimedia
incentives available to the state
and film content produced by a
film commission to encourage
Quebec company, and may be
producers to film in California and
increased when certain
not be lured away by better deals
conditions are met by producers
offered by New York, Louisiana,
for bonuses.
New Mexico and Canada.
But Quebec’s newly-elected
So-called runaway film
government cutting corporate tax
production has reduced California
credits across the board by 20%
feature shoots by nearly half in
has alarm bells ringing in the
the last 15 years and become a
provincial film, TV and digital
serious threat to the legendary
sectors.
movie industry…
“The trust relationship is at risk of
The loss of high-paying jobs and
being broken not only with the
local tax revenue motivated
province’s investors, but also with
movie studios, Southern
foreign investors, especially
California governments,
regarding the long-term
economic development offices
sustainability of the programmes
and service companies, such as
that draw them to Quebec,” said
caterers and payroll firms, to
Jean Ducharme, VP, operations
press for the bigger incentive
at Technicolor in Montreal, in his
program.
own statement.
The need for a new tax credit
In Quebec, as elsewhere, film tax
became even more evident
credits grease the wheels of local
Tuesday when FilmL.A. released
and foreign production, even as
an annual survey that showed
governments everywhere look to
local TV-pilot shoots in Los
cut costs where possible to
Angeles had hit a record low.
balance budgets.
Only 44% of the 203 pilots filmed
nationally were made in the L.A.
Héléne David, minister of culture
area, down from 52% in the
and communications in Quebec,
previous 12 months ending in
has asked industry players to
May, FilmL.A. said.
submit briefs to a parliamentary
commission on Quebec’s tax
Most of the others were shot in
system in September.
New York, Atlanta and the
Canadian cities of Vancouver and
Quebec producers, urging that
Toronto.
film tax credits have a multiplier
effect in bolstering economic
The loss of pilots' business is
activity, urged the provincial
particularly frustrating to
government to abandon short-
Southern California officials
term thinking to achieve a zero
because studios spend millions of
deficit.
dollars on them and employ large
crews. Each pilot costs between
“Cutting back on tax credits in
$6 million and $8 million to make.
cinema and television won’t
reduce Quebec’s deficit; it’ll
The cost of the proposed film tax
increase it!” producer Nicole
credits in the Gatto-Bocanegra
Robert said in a statement.
bill has been left blank while
California lawmakers and Gov.
Jerry Brown finished crafting a
state budget for the spending
“English-language production
is very mobile and risks
disappearing altogether if
year that begins July 1.
Now that Brown has signed the
budget, backers of the bill can
negotiate the size of a renewed
California film tax credit program.
Quebec’s tax credits aren't
competitive enough with
those of other jurisdictions
such as Ontario, British
Columbia or the state of New
York,”
An agreement is expected in time
for an upcoming hearing of the
Senate Appropriations
Committee.
Brown has remained
noncommittal about whether he'd
support a boost in the film tax
credit of any size.
"We have to be careful because
the desires are endless and they
become needs very quickly," the
governor said in January. "There
is a bit of an arms race between
one state and another state. But I
Our sincere thanks
to Mandeep Sodhi for designing
our new SCREEN DOOR
feel very loyal to the movie
industry, and it's part of
California.... We certainly want to
keep as much production as we
possibly can"
Local Winnipeg filmmakers Natalia Longley, Ali Tataryn and Antosia Fiedur
claimed the Audience Choice Award for their ACTRA short film Bloody Mary at this
year’s Crankyfest, a film festival about periods. The award was announced on May
28th in Toronto on Menstrual Hygiene Day.
Ti Hallas’s iMIP The Swimming Lesson won this year’s ACTRA Manitoba Crocus
Award, was shortlisted for the NSI Online Short Film Festival as well as the Gimli
Film Festival Manitoba Shorts Program. It is being broadcast on CBC Manitoba’s
Short Shots Program through the summer.
Euphoria brought home the top award for Best of Show at the Female Eye Film
Festival, a competitive Toronto festival showcasing works from around the world.
Brenda Gorlick was shortlisted for a Winnipeg Arts Council Award in the Investors
Group "Making a Difference" category.
MANITOBA MEMBERS @ WORK
Darcy Fehr, Heaven is for Real, principal; Cashing In, principal; Dark Rainbow,
principal; Daina Leitold, Excorcism of Mary Harley, principal; Intersection,
principal; Mel Marginet, Nurses Union, Stilletoes, principal; Brian Richardson,
MPI, voice; Manitoba Builder Bonds, voice, Mandeep Sodhi, Cashing In,
principal; The Plan, Writer, Cinematographer, Director.
ACTRA AGM 2014 Photo Album
ACTRA MANITOBA, 203-245 McDermot Avenue ● Winnipeg ● MB ● R3B 0S6
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