Culture

Canadian actors, producers reach deal?

by Kaitlin | February 16, 2007 at 03:47 pm

1044 views | 10 Recommendations | 1 comment

**UPDATE 02/21: The new deal has been officially released, and according to CBC, both sides are happy about it. The deal has even been called "innovative" in the manner in which it decided the tricky internet clause. Happy ending, it seems! It may also set a precedent for similar talks to take place in the States later this year. Right on, ACTRA!**

**UPDATE 02/16: The deal has now been stalled by American counterparts to ACTRA who are not siding with Canada on the clause in the new deal that deals with...you guessed it...the internet. American studios are apparently not happy with the part of the deal that addresses renumeration for performances intended for the internet. I, for one, am not surprised that the Americans are being cagey over this clause, nor am I surprised that the US has such a pull on ACTRA. Any actors out there with an opinion?**

At the centre of this battle is a struggle for actors to be paid properly for work showcased and distributed electronically--that is, through the internet. No word yet on how things settled out, but it's surely one in a series of battles to come related to creative endeavours in the new digital age.

The Alliance of Canadian Cinema, Television and Radio Artists (ACTRA), which represents 21,000 actors from across the country, verbally agreed with Canadian and Hollywood producers to end the dispute Friday afternoon.

Jeff Brinton, the spokesman for the Canadian Film & Television Production Association, said some details still need to be ironed out and the deal is subject to ratification, but an agreement is essentially in place.

Terms of the deal were not immediately available.

Wages and internet rights have been at the centre of a bitter battle between Canadian actors and producers that began in October and reached a head when ACTRA called a strike on Jan. 8.

0 See all footage | View Slideshow

Share: email story | add to any | | facebook | stumbleupon

recommend Sign In or Join to post comments

Jordan Yerman

flagged this story as Good Stuff

at 10:48 on February 17th, 2007

At NowPublic, this is high praise from NowPublic editors! Your story is now on the home page for awhile, and everywhere else the “good stuff” box shows up.

Meanwhile, BC's famed tax credits for film production are at risk.

Many thanks for your great work.