Commercials (NCA)
Welcome to ACTRA Toronto’s National Commercial Agreement (NCA) page. The following should provide an easy to follow guide and a basic understanding of the NCA when producing commercials in Toronto using performers. We encourage you to call and/or email us with any questions. We are pleased to assist prior to production when your agency is in the creative/planning stage with respect to the application of the NCA to your project. As well, we are available to assist with the calculation of talent costs for both session and use.
Downloadable forms provided via this site are in static or fillable pdf format and require Adobe Reader. Contact us if you require an alternate format. PDFs are marked with an icon.
Accessing the Agreements: Becoming a Signatory
STEP

Just a little bit of paperwork
To work with ACTRA Toronto performers you need to be a signatory engager to an ACTRA Toronto Agreement. Here is the form you’ll need:
STEP

Send us the completed documents
Email the documents to our commercial department.
We will contact you to assist you further with your production
Additional Information and Documents
Auditions
Here’s a quick summary of some things to keep in mind when it’s time to audition.
- Audition sign-in time sheets Part A, must be completed at every audition. See below.
- The 1st audition: if Performer is dismissed within one hour of their call time – there is no compensation.
- In your first audition, if you are detained beyond one hour, the rate is $84.50/$86.00/$87.50 per hour or part thereof.
- For the 2nd and subsequent auditions (under 1 hour), the callback fee is $50. If detained beyond 1 hour you receive an additional $25 per half hour.
- Producers are required to fax audition sign in sheets to ACTRA within 48 hrs. of the audition.
- It is the Engagers’ responsibility to pay callback auditions fees to ACTRA within 20 days of the date of the audition.
- No gang casting allowed (auditioning multiple performers for same role at same time).
- A Performer “hold” (as a tentative booking device) is not permitted.
Casting Paperwork
Preference of Engagement
Under the terms of the NCA, preference of engagement is given to members of ACTRA (including full, apprentice, and ACTRA Additional Background Performer members)
- If after auditions the Engager establishes that a Performer of the type required is not available within the ACTRA membership, upon provision by the Engager to ACTRA of details of all Performers auditioned or considered, ACTRA shall issue a work permit for the engagement of a Canadian non-member in a commercial.
- Please be sure to refer to the terms of Section 7 regarding permitting non-resident performers.
Intent to Produce
Prior to Production, the Engager is responsible for submitting a completed Intent to Produce (App. C below) to their nearest ACTRA office.
Pre-Production Paperwork
- Intent to Produce
- Intent to Produce (exclusions only)
- Parental Audition Consent
- Declaration of Parent in the Engagement of Minors
- Chaperone Form and Emergency Medical Authorization Form
- Minors' Trust Deductions
- Commercial Work Permit Application (NCA)
- Work Permit Fees
(Email completed Work Permit Applications to commercialpermits@actratoronto.com.)
Agreements & Rates
- 2022-2023 NCA Rates
- Digital Residual Use
- Canada/ US Calculations 2403 including Appendix A
- TV & Digital Session Fees (1202)
- 2017-2020 National Commercial Agreement
- 2022-2023 Memorandum of Agreement (PDF)
- ACTRA Toronto All-Inclusive Radio Contract & Limited Letter Of Adherence (with rates)
- ACTRA Commercial Cost Estimator
- ACTRAonline Opportunity Pilot Project (AOPP)
- AOPP (Side Letter No. 7)
- ACTRAonlinecommercials.ca
- Transfer of Rights
- Joint Bulletin Digital Media Use
- NCA Cycle Finder
- Background Performers Reference – Industry Markers
- Accident on Set Outside of Canada – NCA bulletin
Stunts
Need to find a Stunt Coordinator?
ACTRA Toronto maintains a list of Stunt Co-ordinators who:
- have been members of ACTRA or a comparable film and television union (for example SAG, AFTRA, UK Equity) for at least ten years;
- have worked at least 425 days as a stunt performer under an ACTRA or comparable union contract; and
- are at least 28 years of age.
To request a copy of the list, please send an email to: stuntcommittee@actratoronto.com
Contract & Payments
Contract
Performers should be provided with their contract prior to the commencement of their work session. Contracts must be completed in full. Check that production info, dates, and work hours are accurate.
At the end of the work session, Performers should sign and take a photo of their completed contract upon completion of their session and email the photo to nca@actratoronto.com.
- Performer Contract:
- NCA Performance Contract 2017-2020 (available on request)
Payments
Under the NCA, Performers are compensated for their work on set (the “making of” the production) through session payments and again for their exposure to the viewers when the ad is broadcast or distributed (the “use” of the production) through residual payments.
- Session Payments:
- Residual Payments: