Just the FAQs…

The major disruption to our industry caused by the pandemic has meant lots of questions from members and, in turn, lots of answers, resources and links to useful information, provided by elected leaders, professional staff, outside experts and industry allies. The problem is those answers are sprinkled all over the website which can make finding your answer a little like finding a needle in the proverbial haystack. So, here is a haystack free list of places where you can find answers.
UNDERSTANDING YOUR CHEQUE – A PRIMER
Need help understanding the various lines on your pay stub? Check out our Understanding Your Cheque page.
MISSING PAYMENTS?
We are currently receiving a very high volume of calls and emails. If you are missing a payment, or believe your payment is incorrect, check out our Missing Payments page for a list of steps to take before calling ACTRA.
ACTRA TORONTO ONLINE TOWN HALLS
(from the ACTRA Toronto Online Town Halls page)
Since the early days of the pandemic in March, ACTRA Toronto has scheduled frequent online Town Hall meetings to update members about breaking news that affects our industry and work opportunities and to provide an opportunity for members to hear their questions answered by their elected union leaders, professional staff and expert panellists. (For links to recordings of the Town Halls, visit the Online Town Halls page.)
COVID-19 RESOURCES
(from Coronavirus Updates page)
We encourage all members to follow the advice of health professionals. We appreciate that the current situation is cause for concern and anxiety and are grateful for steps performers are taking to look after each other — providing support to those who are particularly vulnerable in these times.
Links to helpful resources are organized by category below. Click on the category tile to display/hide the list of links in the category.
- Public Health Agency of Canada
- Ontario Ministry of Health: The 2019 Novel Coronavirus
- Toronto Public Health: Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19 Page)
- Telehealth Ontario can be reached at 1-866-797-0000
- Telehealth Ontario TTY can be reached at 1-866-797-0007
- World Health Organization
- WSPS (Workplace Safety & Prevention Services)
- Canada Emergency Response Benefit
- Canada Recovery Benefit (CRB)
- Canada Recovery Sickness Benefit (CRSB)
- Canada Recovery Caregiving Benefit (CRCB)
- Ontario Emergency Assistance Program
- CRA YouTube Videos (Sign up for My Account, Get ready to do your taxes and more.)
- AFC COVID-19 GUIDE
- Best Practices - Voice Studios
- ACTRA Toronto's COVID 19 Best Practices page
- ACTRA Spotlight – Stories about ACTRA Toronto member volunteerism, union activism and professional development during COVID-19!
- Ontario Film Commission – Professional Development & Learning Resources
- CBC List of Helpful Links for Artists and Freelancers
- Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre - COVID-19 Fraud
COVID-19 BEST PRACTICES FAQ
(from the COVID-19 Best Practices page)
The Film and television industry health and safety during COVID-19 Guideline, prepared by the Section 21 Film and Television Health and Safety Advisory Committee has now been amended (as of November 24, 2020) by the Ministry of Labour, Training and Skills Development. ACTRA Toronto has prepared the following highlights for Performers. Please refer to the complete Ministry Guideline document (as well as the Amendment Summary document) for complete information.
Read our FAQ for Performers (gold tab at the bottom of this FAQ) for more tips on how to return to work safely and responsibly.
Click on any section to display/hide the relevant guidelines.
- Productions should identify the management persons chiefly responsible for enforcing COVID-19 prevention/response and provide the contact information if workers have concerns.
- To help stop the spread of COVID-19, everyone should comply with the requirements under the Occupational Health and Safety Act and with associated regulations and public health directives issued by the Chief Medical Officer of Health.
- All workers should be provided and required to review the Guideline, and relevant production policies and protocols prior to commencing work.
- All workers should be trained by a qualified person on the Guideline and Production safety policy, the proper use of personal protective equipment, disinfection techniques and handwashing/sanitization techniques.
- Productions should consider the additional time and supports needed to carry out these duties.
- Prevention methods in order of effectiveness:
- Physical distancing
- Physical barriers
- Enhanced handwashing and personal hygiene
- Use of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
- Reporting health concerns to employer and public health
- Workers should be aware of the symptoms of COVID-19. COVID-19 can be spread person to person through close contact, including while at work.
- Workers should self-screen before coming to work.
- Workers should not attend the workplace if they are symptomatic or required to isolate due to a quarantine order or direction from public health.
- Productions should have a procedure in place if someone symptomatic attends the workplace.
- Workers who are symptomatic or is aware that someone in the workplace is symptomatic should report it to Production and notify their union.
- Returning to work for previously symptomatic workers may require clearance from Production, health care providers, and the local public health unit.
- Screening should take place before individuals are allowed entry into the workplace.
- Individuals may be required to answer a health questionnaire.
- Temperature testing with a contactless thermometer may be required in addition to the health questionnaire.
- There should be a protocol to manage when individuals do not pass the screening.
- There should be a system to identify persons who have passed the screening.
- At the time of writing, the government of Ontario’s online self-assessment tool lists the following symptoms: Additional symptoms may be identified as we learn more about COVID-19.
- Fever (feeling hot to the touch, a temperature of 37.8 degrees Celsius or higher)
- Chills
- Cough that's new or worsening (continuous, more than usual)
- Barking cough, making a whistling noise when breathing (croup)
- Shortness of breath (out of breath, unable to breathe deeply)
- Difficulty swallowing
- Runny nose (not related to seasonal allergies or other known causes or conditions)
- Stuffy or congested nose (not related to seasonal allergies or other known causes or conditions)
- Lost sense of taste or smell
- Pink eye(conjunctivitis)
- Headache that’s unusual or long lasting
- Digestive issues (nausea/vomiting, diarrhea, stomach pain)
- Muscle aches
- Extreme tiredness that is unusual (fatigue, lack of energy)
- Falling down often
- For young children and infants: sluggishness or lack of appetite
- Workers who have symptoms related to COVID-19 should be sent home. The symptoms of COVID-19 are similar to other illnesses, like the cold and flu. Workers exhibiting any symptoms (regardless of whether the illness has been confirmed) are required to be sent home. Public Health Ontario has provided helpful guidance on self-monitoring and self-isolation.
- In addition, employers should advise these workers to complete the online self-assessment or call either:
- Telehealth: 1-866-797-0000
- Their primary care provider (for example, family physician)
- Handwashing or sanitizing stations should be available.
- Remote auditions are highly encouraged.
- If absolutely required, in-person auditions should avoid open calls and "go-sees".
- In-person auditions must allow for physical distancing through a variety of means:
- Scheduling longer times between auditions to avoid congestion
- Reducing the number of people in the audition room
- Asking performers to wait outside (e.g. In their vehicle) until called to come inside
- Ensuring waiting spaces are large enough to allow for physical distancing
- Reduced physical paperwork, more digital paperwork
- No shared paper sides
- Disinfecting any surfaces or props touched by a performer between auditions
- Rehearsals and table reads should be done remotely if possible.
- If remote rehearsals and table reads are not possible, physical distancing and the prevention methods listed above should be utilized to ensure performer health & safety.
For further information, see the Best Practices – Voice Studios page.
- Voice recording should be done remotely if possible.
- Producers should consider supplying disinfected recording kits to performers to assist with remote recordings.
- If remote voice recordings are not possible, physical distancing and the prevention methods listed above should be utilized to ensure performer health & safety.
- Avoid any group recording sessions, if possible.
- Disinfect all surfaces and equipment performers come into contact with before and after each session.
- Allow performers to bring their own headphones.
- Divide workers (e.g. cast and crew) into pods with processes as to how to access, and who will access, the different areas.
- Limit the sets and offices to essential personnel only – for example, implementing "closed-set" rules.
- Avoid or limit large crowd scenes.
- Use boom microphones instead of LAV microphones.
- Wherever possible, have performers perform tasks that would usually require a worker to be closer than 2 metres from the performer – for example, instructing performers how, and allowing them, to wire themselves for sound/put on their own LAV microphones.
- Provide single-occupancy dressing rooms.
- Performers should be directed while maintaining physical distance of at least 2 metres. Avoid touching or physically moving performers into position.
- Provide background holding and change areas that allow for physical distancing, including arranging for background holding to be outdoors, if possible (and weather permitting).
- Require any individuals who interact with a performer at a distance of less than 2 metres to wear a mask and face shield and wash/sanitize hands.
- Where performers agree to touch one another during a scene, performers must wash or sanitize their hands immediately before and after each take.
- Limit the repetition of physical touching, as much as possible.
- Permit the performer handling a prop to reset the prop between takes.
- Provide sufficient washroom facilities, handwashing/sanitizing stations, receptacles for disposable personal protective equipment, etc., for the number of workers, and work that will be performed, on the site.
- Allocate time to adequately clean and disinfect stunt equipment.
- Require any individuals who interact with a performer at a distance of less than 2 metres to wear a mask and face shield and wash/sanitize hands.
- Where performers agree to touch one another during a scene, performers must wash or sanitize their hands immediately before and after each take.
- Limit the repetition of physical touching, as much as possible.
- Extra care and consideration should be given when child performers and their parents/guardians will be on set.
- Interaction between child performers and others should be limited as much as possible.
- If possible, a separate holding area should be provided for child performers.
- Virtual/remote tutoring should be considered.
- When possible, tutoring locations should not be used for other purposes. Tutoring locations should be appropriately disinfected in between each use.
- Minimal styling will be provided for child performers.
- Handwashing or sanitizing stations should be available in or close to food service areas.
- All individuals should wash their hands before and after entering.
- Physical distancing should be maintained. Measures may include staggered mealtimes, floor markings, and different eating areas.
- Foods should be individually packaged.
- Bring food and a water bottle from home if possible, there may not be food offered on some sets.
- All individuals should put their garbage directly into bins and not leave it for others to clean up.
- Access to craft truck for food servers only
- Disposable plates, bowls, etc. and individually packaged cutlery should be used.
- Protocols will be in place to maintain a physical distance of at least 2 metres within hair, make-up and wardrobe facilities, as possible. Such protocols may include:
- Establishing and posting a maximum number of individuals who may be present in a trailer or change area
- Limiting the number of performers that may be in a space receiving styling at a time
- Placing workstations at least 2 metres apart
- Scheduling make-up tests and fittings to avoid overlap/congestion
- Adequately vent all work areas.
- No eating or drinking in the hair/make-up/wardrobe area when work is being done on performers.
- Handwashing or sanitizing stations should be available in or close to hair/make-up/wardrobe areas.
- Stylists working on performers should wash or sanitize their hands before and after working on a performer.
- Some performers may be requested to do their own hair/make-up/touch-ups while being directed, from a distance, by a stylist/artist.
- Have separate supplies (e.g. make-up, applicators, brushes, hair pins, etc.) for each individual cast member and store these supplies in separately marked bags.
- Avoid sharing make-up between performers.
- Use disposable applicators, brushes, etc., when possible.
- Mix make-up on disposable palettes, when possible.
- De-pot make-up, where possible.
- Provide disposable single-use chair covers for each performer.
- Disinfect wardrobe items regularly, for example, before/after each use and before/after being placed in storage.
- Bag costumes separately by performer.
- Have separate wardrobe pieces for stunt performers, doubles.
- Utilize underdressed second skin costumes to limit direct contact with wardrobe pieces.
- Masks should be worn in vehicles when multiple individuals are present, even if physical distancing can be maintained.
- Provide hand sanitizer and cleaning supplies in all passenger vehicles where individuals will be seated.
- Keep the windows down in the vehicle, weather permitting, to improve air circulation.
- No eating or drinking in passenger vehicles any time that a passenger is present.
- All items that a passenger brings into a vehicle, including any garbage, should be removed by that individual, and not left for the driver, or anyone else, to clean up.
- Regularly disinfect all frequent touchpoints such as door handles and window buttons.
- Disposable seat covers should be available in passenger vehicles and individuals must dispose of their own seat cover.
- All vehicles will be thoroughly disinfected at the start or end of each day.
- Workplace COVID-19 protocols should include plans to address whether, and the extent to which diagnostic testing of cast and appropriate crew will take place. Where it is appropriate based on significantly negative public health indicators (e.g. high weekly incidence rates) at the time and in the area that production is operating, production should implement regular diagnostic testing for appropriate individuals. Any diagnostic testing should adhere to guidance from applicable public health authorities.
- If your concerns are related to COVID-19, there will be a designated person responsible for enforcing the production’s COVID-19 health and safety policy. Check the call sheet for their contact information.
- If your issue concerns an intimate scene, assistance may be available from the intimacy coordinator if one has been engaged by the production.
- If this is an emergency, you have the right to refuse unsafe work. The Occupational Health and Safety Act gives workers the right to refuse work that they believe is unsafe to themselves or others. Workers who believe they are endangered by workplace violence may also refuse work. The specific procedure to follow in order to establish a work refusal may be found here.
- During office hours – 416-928-2278 or (toll-free) 1-877-913-2278
- 24/7 at HAVEN Helpline – 1-855-201-7823
- Non-emergency afterhours – afterhours@actratoronto.com
COVID-19 RESPONSE FAQ
(this FAQ is linked to the COVID-19 Best Practices page)
HOW TO USE THIS FAQ
- The FAQ is organized by category.
- Click on the relevant category below.
- Click on a question in any category to display/hide the answer.
Information about the COVID-19 pandemic changes hourly. Members are encouraged to visit and bookmark our Coronavirus Updates page. We will update this list of Frequently Asked Questions on a regular basis.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTION CATEGORIES
Click on a category to display/hide the questions
The Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB) began accepting applications on April 6th.
You can apply for CERB through your My CRA Account or an automated toll-free line: 1-800-959-2019 or 1-800-959-2041.
Some eligibility details:
If you have earned at least $5,000 in 2019 and have lost a job or had a booking cancelled because of COVID-19, you are eligible. CERB benefits cover the period from March 15th to October 3rd.
On April 15 th, the government expanded the eligibility criteria to "allow people to earn up to $1,000 per month while collecting the CERB." For clarity, one can earn up to $1000 while still earning full CERB. (i.e. $3000 total)
There’s no limit on the amount of royalty payments for past works (i.e. those produced by artists before the crisis) that an artist may get while receiving the CERB. Someone receiving the CERB may get paid up to $1,000 a month from other sources of income, without penalty or losing their eligibility (and again, royalty payments aren’t included in that category and may be earned on top of the $1,000). This change was made retroactive to March 15, 2020.
UPDATE – Thursday, August 20, 2020
CERB EXTENSION:
CERB is extended for another four-week period (to September 27) at the current amount of $500/week ($2,000/month), which brings the maximum payment period to 28 weeks.UPDATE – Sunday, September 27th, 2020
The CERB has now ended.
The CRA is continuing to accept and process retroactive applications for period 7 (August 30 to September 26, 2020). You can continue to apply retroactively for this period only through the CRA’s My Account or automated toll-free phone line.
The CRA is aiming to issue payments for retroactive applications within our service standard of 3-5 business days for direct deposit and 10-12 business days for cheques, however, in some cases it will take longer for payments to be issued.
The Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB) gives financial support to employed and self-employed Canadians who are directly affected by COVID-19.
If you are eligible, you can receive $2,000 for a 4-week period (the same as $500 a week).
UPDATE – Wednesday, September 30, 2020
CANADA RECOVERY BENEFIT:
After CERB's expiry on September 27, individuals who do not qualify for EI can apply for the Canada Recovery Benefit (CRB).
The Canada Recovery Benefit (CRB) gives income support to employed and self-employed individuals who are directly affected by COVID-19 and are not entitled to Employment Insurance (EI) benefits. The CRB is administered by the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA).
If you are eligible for the CRB, you can receive $1,000 ($900 after taxes withheld) for a 2-week period.
If your situation continues past 2 weeks, you will need to apply again. You may apply up to a total of 13 eligibility periods (26 weeks) between September 27, 2020 and September 25, 2021.
CRB application is now open.
CANADA RECOVERY SICKNESS BENEFIT (CRSB):
The Canada Recovery Sickness Benefit (CRSB) gives income support to employed and self-employed individuals who are unable to work because they're sick or need to self-isolate due to COVID-19, or have an underlying health condition that puts them at greater risk of getting COVID-19. The CRSB is administered by the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA).
If you're eligible for the CRSB, you can receive $500 ($450 after taxes withheld) for a 1-week period.
If your situation continues past 1 week, you will need to apply again. You may apply up to a total of 2 weeks between September 27, 2020 and September 25, 2021.
CANADA RECOVERY CAREGIVING BENEFIT:
The Canada Recovery Caregiving Benefit (CRCB) gives income support to employed and self-employed individuals who are unable to work because they must care for their child under 12 years old or a family member who needs supervised care. This applies if their school, regular program or facility is closed or unavailable to them due to COVID-19, or because they're sick, self-isolating, or at risk of serious health complications due to COVID-19. The CRCB is administered by the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA).
If you're eligible for the CRCB, your household can receive $500 ($450 after taxes withheld) for each 1-week period.
If your situation continues past 1 week, you will need to apply again. You may apply up to a total of 26 weeks between September 27, 2020 and September 25, 2021.
For many Engagers and Advertisers, it has become common practice to engage alternate Principal (PP) and Silent-on-Camera (SOC) Performers as Standby Performers in case the booked PPs and SOCs cannot work due to illness. This is an additional safety precaution undertaken by Production to ensure a safe set. These Performers are booked, contracted, paid a minimum rate of $511.50 and requested to remain at home on the shoot day. On the day of the shoot, they are released from their booking within an hour or so from the call time. ACTRA Toronto has been clear with Production that this rate is a minimum rate subject to negotiation as with any other rate in the NCA and to be sure to make the Agent/Performer aware of and accept the SB rate being offered.
Definition – Article 207:
Standby (SB) Background Performer is a Performer who is on call, at a place designated by the Engager, to participate in place of another person. Once a Standby is required to perform, he/she shall be upgraded in category as follows:
If a performance is not recorded or preserved, the Standby’s category shall nonetheless be upgraded to the category of performance fulfilled, and the Standby shall be paid the Session Fee only for that category of performance. There shall be no residual payments.
If the performance is recorded or preserved, the Standby’s category shall be elevated to the category performed and the Standby shall be paid the applicable Session Fee and residual fees.
When a Standby is not required to participate as a Performer, he/ she shall nonetheless be paid a Standby fee per commercial.
Stay healthy! Follow the recommendations of Public Health agencies.
Check your inbox and the Coronavirus Updates page regularly.
Read all member communications thoroughly before calling or emailing for clarification.
Free up staff time for member service by reducing telephone traffic to the ACTRA Toronto office as much as possible. Make use of the website instead. For example, most of the forms you need are available here:
Paperwork
Visit the How to Start Volunteering page at Volunteer Toronto for ideas.
ACTRA TORONTO SPOTLIGHT
(from the ACTRA Toronto Resources Tab of the COVID-19 Resources section of the Coronavirus Updates page)
To help us through the lockdown, we turned our #ACTRAspotlight on great Canadian content to enjoy at home. Maybe we can’t get together yet but we can #KeepWatchingCanadian together!
Check out ACTRA Toronto Spotlight for various links to Canadian shows, films, streaming services and other cultural content of interest to members, including our ACTRA Toronto@Work interview series in which working actors share their experience of the new realities of working during the pandemic. We update the ACTRA Toronto Spotlight page content regularly so, please check back often!