spring 2012 - actra toronto

SPRING 2012 Volume 21 • Issue 1 T H E M A G A Z I N E F R O M

Anatomy of a WinnerRick Mercer

MEET THE 2012 AWARD NOMINEES • TV’S HIT LOST GIRL

PERFORMERS • ACTRA Toronto2

In this Issueof your union magazine

PerformersThe magazine from ACTRA TorontoVolume 21 * Issue 1 * Spring 2012

PUBLISHERDavid Gale • [email protected]

EDITORChris Owens • [email protected]

STAFF EDITORKaren Woolridge • [email protected]

EDITORIAL COMMITTEEHeather Allin, David Gale, Art Hindle, Chris Owens, Karl Pruner, Brian Topp, Karen Woolridge

DESIGN and LAYOUTErick Querci • Creative Process Designwww.creativeprocessdesign.ca

ADVERTISING SALESKaren [email protected] 416!461!4627

CONTRIBUTORSHeather Allin, K.C. Collins, David GaleArt Hindle, Tracey Hoyt, Clare JohnstonMitchell Lazar, Chris Owens, Karen WoolridgeRichard Young

ADDRESS EDITORIAL CORRESPONDENCE TO:Performers magazinec/o ACTRA Toronto 625 Church Street, Suite 200Toronto, ON M4Y 2G1Fax: "416# [email protected]

JOIN THE TEAMIf you’re an ACTRA Toronto Member and want to write an article or contribute original artwork or photos, we’d love to hear from you. Send an email to:[email protected].

Printed in Canada by union labour at Thistle Printing.

THE NEXT COPY DEADLINE IS

April 15, 2012

The magazine invites members to submit notices of births, marriages, obituaries and letters to the editor. Article submissions must be sent via email to [email protected]. We reserve the right to edit or omit any material for length, style, content or possible legal ramifications.

Performers magazine is published three times a year by ACTRA Toronto. The views expressed in unsolicited and solicited articles are not necessarily the views of ACTRAToronto, its council or this committee.

Publications Mail Agreement number 40069134

ISSN 1911!4974

www.actratoronto.com

Heather Allin K.C. Collins David Gale Art Hindle Tracey Hoyt Clare Johnston Mitchell Lazar Chris Owens Karen Woolridge Richard Young

Anatomy of a WinnerThe Rick Merceer Interview

by David Gale Page 4

President’s Message

Page 3

The Nominees Are...edited by Chris Owens and Karen Woolridge

Page 10

On Mic!by Tracey Hoyt

Page 14

Lost Girl, Found Hitby K.C. CollinsPage 16

Ask a Stewardby Clare Johnston

1

Rolling the Dice with Low-Budget Film?by Art Hindle

Page 22

Members News

Page 24

Who’s Who at ACTRA Toronto

Page 26

Welcome New Members

Page 28

Happy Birthday, Baby! 10th Anniversary of the ACTRA Awards inToronto.

Page 29

Lives Lived

Page 30

(COVER PHOTO)Rick MercerPhoto: www.mckennaphoto.com

Pho

to: w

ww

.mck

enna

phot

o.co

m

CONTRIBUTORS:

I know that all Toronto members join me in wel-coming your new 2012-2014 ACTRA TorontoCouncil. It is thrilling to have performers likeChris Potter, Leah Pinsent and K.C. Collinsjoin us at the table. Also new are KirstenBishopric and Shereen Airth. !ey joined 15returning Councillors. We say goodbye withgratitude to Eli Goree, Lisa Jai, Steve Lucescu,Lynn MacKenzie and Austin Schatz. A"er 20years on Council, 10 of them as our VP Finance,I will miss Austin’s humor, depth of history andknowledge, but above all, I will miss his supportand wisdom. I know he will forever be a part ofthis union.

Your new Council took o#ce at the Januarymeeting and immediately went to work creatingthe ACTRA Toronto Operating Plan for 2012-2013. Titled Solidarity is Power, our new “OpPlan” de$nes four areas of focus for our work to-gether in the year ahead: Bargaining, Advocacy,Education and Outreach and Administrationand Operating Initiatives. I’ll mention a fewhighlights but the plan lays out an impressiveagenda and I encourage you to hear it presentedin detail at ACTRA Toronto’s plenary meeting atthe February Members Conference.

Political Advocacy has never been more impor-tant and we plan to engage all levels of govern-ment to ensure that our industry remainscompetitive and that work opportunities for our

members continue to grow. At the municipallevel, we need to make sure that Toronto stays“$lm-friendly” and is properly promoted as acentre of creative excellence. Provincially, we willwork to keep Ontario competitive as a produc-tion centre through provincial tax credits, in-vestment in creative industries and better Statusof the Artist legislation. Federally, we will sup-port ACTRA National and stand up for Cana-dian content on our screens, for appropriate andstable funding for the Canadian Media Fund,CBC, Tele$lm and NFB, for creators’ rights andfor fair compensation for intellectual property.

Education and Outreach initiatives range fromnew and streamlined Member training courses,school presentations, recruiting and organizingprograms aimed at new members and engagersand celebrating our union’s history and ourmembers’ achievements. Much of this work isdone in our committees: Act Your Age (AYA),ACTRA Additional Background Performers(AABP) Caucus, Awards, Archives, Conferences,Diversity, Stunt, Toronto ACTRA Women’sCommittee (TAWC), Voice, Young EmergingActors Assembly (YEAA).

On the Administration and Operating side, weare working to improve every level of our serviceto members and to reduce bottlenecks and redtape. If it’s worth doing, it’s worth doing betterand we will.

But our most important work this year will beBargaining. !e current term of our biggestagreement, the Independent Production Agree-ment (IPA), will expire in December. We areseeking stability in the industry and a fair con-tract for performers with an early start to nego-tiations.

ACTRA’s package of IPA bargaining proposals isput together a"er careful consultation withstakeholders and members in every category. Welistened to your suggestions in focus groups andin our [email protected] email “suggestionbox.” We heard from actors, agents, apprentices,background performers, diverse performers,On-Set Liaison O#cers, parents and minors, se-ries leads and regulars, stunt performers,Toronto ACTRA Women’s Committee and voiceperformers. We’re all in this together and to-gether we’ll get a good deal. !is year’s OperatingPlan title says it all. Solidarity is Power. We cando anything if we do it together. As we go to thetable this year, I ask you to stay informed, stayengaged and support your union and yourbargaining committee. !

Your president,

Heather AllinSpring, 2012

SPRING • 2012 3Heather Allin K.C. Collins David Gale Art Hindle Tracey Hoyt Clare Johnston Mitchell Lazar Chris Owens Karen Woolridge Richard Young

Heather Allin President, ACTRA Toronto

PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE

Outgoing ACTRA Toronto Council 2009-2011 Standing Left to Right: Jack Newman, John Nelles, David Sparrow, Theresa Tova, David Macniven, David Gale, Shawn Lawrence, Brian Topp (Executive Director), Austin Schatz, Lynn MacKenzie, Steve Lucescu, Don Lamoreux, Ferne Downey, Shereen Airth, Richard Hardacre Seated Left to Right: Nicole St. Martin, Karen Ivany, Art Hindle, Heather Allin (President), Wendy Crewson, Taborah Johnson, Jani Lauzon, Spirit Synott Missing: Eli Goree, Lisa Jai, Colin Mochrie, Eric Peterson

Solidarity is Power


Anatomy of a

Winner“Since The Rick Mercer Report started I always have the samesuit. I always have the same haircut. I always have a black tie.

!ere’s no deviation from the brand.”

same Hugo Boss Black suit

same haircut

same black tie

same white shirt

NEW!ACTRA Toronto Award

of Excellence

SPRING • 2012 5

Anatomy of a

Winner

THE RICK MERCER INTERVIEW

RickMercer

chats about life, career, weightlessness, politics and self-branding

Pho

to: w

ww

.mck

enna

phot

o.co

m

Trying to pin down the roving Rick Mercer is only marginally easierwhen he lives in your ‘hood. I was lucky to catch the multi-award winningstar of Made in Canada and !e Rick Mercer Report during a rare weeko%. In my dining room, over a mug of strong co%ee and a plate of pastries,I chatted candidly with ACTRA Toronto’s 2012 Award of Excellence winnerabout his life, career, weightlessness, politics and self-branding in star-wary Canada. We started the interview with politics.

DAVID:Do you think actors can make good lobbyists?

RICK:Like Paul Gross, Peter Keleghan and Sonja Smits, I’ve done a few tripsto Ottawa with ACTRA to talk to a cabinet minister and we’ve got anextra little bonus there. !e Association of Anesthesiologists can’t go,“Can you send one of your star anesthesiologists up to have a cocktailparty with an MP?” So certainly there’s a place where we can use our starpower.

DAVID:At what age did you start reading the newspaper and getting madat it?

RICK:Oh, I always did that. Politics was my baseball. It was something that myfather and I shared and still do; we talk current a%airs. I loved doing thatwith my father when I was a kid. I had to be aware of what was going on.

DAVID:Do you remember getting your ACTRA card?

RICK:Dad would be driving to work and there’d be people on the radio doingcommentaries and they would drive my father crazy. When I was aboutseventeen, I thought I should start doing them. I worked as a dishwasherin a café and the radio producer used to come in every day and I wouldalways ask him if I could do a commentary and he would say no. Hisargument was, “Who’s going to listen to commentary about provincialpolitics from a seventeen year old?” One day he relented and he let me doit. I got $75 dollars. Turns out I had a deep voice and I didn’t sound likeI was seventeen so he let me do more. !ey weren’t particularly good butthat’s how I got my ACTRA card at CBC Radio in St. John’s.

DAVID:When you were growing up was there a performer who you madeyou say, “I want to do that!”

RICK:Absolutely! Tommy Sexton (CODCO). !ere was a TV show, !e Won-derful Grand Band. It was produced in Newfoundland at CBC. More peoplewatched that show in Newfoundland than watched Dallas. So they werethe biggest stars in the universe and they were doing comedy aboutNewfoundland. I worshipped that show. And Tommy Sexton and GregMalone were the two comedians. Tommy was the one that I was obsessedwith and I thought, “!at should be me up there.”

DAVID:When did you start doing your own comedy shows?

RICK:When I was in high school. I was in a sketch comedy troupe: Corey andWade’s Playhouse.

DAVID:Did you ever get to work with Tommy?

RICK:I got to know him as a friend and he would come to our comedy shows,which was like the biggest star in the world coming to our show. It’s hardto imagine. We had a star system in Newfoundland.

DAVID:You’ve ranted about bullying. Was that your experience?

RICK:I’ve talked about bullying twice on the show, both times inspired by thedeath of a young Canadian (who) happened to be gay. As a gay man,I related somewhat to the situation. !at said, I was never bullied whenI was a kid and I wasn’t out in high school either. We didn’t have gay-straight alliances, we had the drama club. It’s been interesting to see theresponse from those rants. Obviously, it’s a serious problem across thecountry and it’s not just gay and lesbian and trans kids, it’s all sorts of kidswho are being bullied for whatever reason. It’s nothing like when I was akid because at least (then) you could go home and you were safe. Nowwith cyber bullying there’s no escape from it and as a result kids aretaking their lives. At the same time, at the end of the day, I’m a comedyshow, so it’s very much of a departure to talk about that type of issue, butit’s something I feel very passionate about. !e last bullying rant has goneviral and if I could have anything I’ve ever done on the show (go) viral itwould be that one because I think the conversation is important.


The

RickMercerInterview

with David Gale

7SPRING • 2012

Zero Gravity…probablythe greatest example ofsomething that I got to dosimply because of my job.

““

Pho

to: w

ww

.mck

enna

phot

o.co

m

DAVID: Is it possible to become a household namein English Canada without putting yourname in the title of your show?

RICK: My very $rst stage show, which was a one-man-show at the National Arts Centre, was calledRick Mercer’s Show Me !e Button I’ll Push It orCharles Lynch Must Die. And the NAC, whowere tremendous to my career, had a policythat no writer or actor’s name would go abovethe title. My partner and producer GeraldLunz said, “!e title is: Rick Mercer’s ShowMe...” It was the $rst time we threatened towalk away from an arrangement, and in fact myname has been in everything ever since. Peoplemay not believe it but I don’t have that big an ego.It’s really not about that; it is about branding.

DAVID:We recently focused on branding in our FallMembers Conference.

RICK:Gerald is a branding fanatic. To the pointthat since The Rick Mercer Report started I al-

ways have the same suit. I always have the samehaircut. I always have a black tie. !ere’s no de-viation from the brand.

DAVID:Producers maintain all the power if thereis no name recognition for the actors.

RICK:We’re not in the business of producing otherpeople’s shows, with other stars, but if we were,it would be $scally irresponsible not to turnyour star into a STAR. I am very aware of thefact that I put my name in the shows for thatvery reason.

DAVID:Do you have much involvement in the bizof the biz?

RICK:Ninety-eight percent of my work is done for thecompany that Gerald and I own. We are theproducers of the RMR.

DAVID:Would you advise actors to produce?

RICK:!at's what I've done. But I wouldn't suggest itto everyone. !ere were a number of things thathappened in my career where I realized it wasintegral. I was involved in a project, Talking toAmericans, and the producers of that show madeo% like bandits and I didn’t. It was clear to methat I would never work with those producersagain, and that would never happen again.

DAVID:What do you think about the rumours theConservatives are going to privatize theCBC?

RICK:There’s always been talk. The CBC’s a verygood target. That doesn’t necessarily meanthat they will do anything. Attacking the CBC isone of the most successful fundraising direct mailcampaigns (for the Conservatives) in the last cou-ple of years, even more successful than the long-gun registry.

DAVID:Do you think that the CRTC should bemore demanding of the private broad-casters?

RICK:I’m a $rm believer in the Canadian contentrules and I think we’ve proved time and timeagain that Canadians will watch great Canadiantelevision. However, it’s not as pro$table assimulcasting American programs. And if thegovernment doesn’t mandate the private broad-casters, they simply won’t do it.

DAVID:Your show is fantastically Canadian.

RICK:We’re unapologetically Canadian. We’re absurd.I don’t think we’ve ever licensed a piece of musicthat’s not Canadian. We’re pretty protectionist.

DAVID:What’s the most amazing experienceyou’ve had on your show?

RICK:One of the great things about show business isthat occasionally you get access to situationsthat civilians don’t get. Zero gravity was some-thing I wanted to do when I was a kid and Iquickly learned that the only way to do it wasto become an astronaut and that wasn’t on thetable so I forgot about it. !en I got to do it be-cause of the show. You can only do it if you’re


I love dabbling in politics and I lovedoing sketches where I get to fall down.

““

Pho

to: w

ww

.mck

enna

phot

o.co

m

in partnership with the space program. In factbecause of the plane’s manoeuvers there is noplace in the world where it’s commercially avail-able. Even if you took out your cheque book, it’sjust not possible. That was probably the great-est example of something that I got to dosimply because of my job.

DAVID:How long were you in zero gravity?

RICK:Twenty-three seconds and we did it 15 times.

DAVID: Just 23 seconds?

RICK:Twenty-three seconds is a long time when there’szero gravity. Most people think it would be likefloating. It’s not; it’s like gravity’s disap-peared. Nothing weighs anything. And then yougo from zero gravity to weighing six or eighthundred pounds. It’s pretty spectacular.

DAVID:You do so many varied things on yourshow.

RICK:We created a show where I get it all out of mysystem. I love the traveling around and doing apiece with lobster fishermen, I love dabblingin politics and I love doing sketches where I getto fall down. !at’s all I ever wanted to do and Iget to do them all in the one show. I came fromthe theatre but I wasn’t one of those performerswho ended up on television. I always wantedto be on television.

DAVID:Who makes you laugh?

RICK:Pat McKenna, Kathryn Greenwood, TeresaPavlinek, Janet Van de Graa!. But I’m lucky towork with lots of funny Canadians on my show.

DAVID:Do you ever get nervous meeting celebsanymore?

RICK:!e more you meet you realize they’re no dif-ferent than anyone else. But then sometimes, likein the instance of meeting Rick Hansen (it’s dif-ferent). He was always a personal hero of mine

and all of his accomplishments and the chal-lenges that he faces have nothing to do with theway I’ve lived my life. But he turned out to bemore impressive than I ever could have imag-ined. !at’s when you get nervous, when you’remeeting someone you have a great amount ofrespect for.

What I didn’t tell Rick over coffee andcroissants was how nervous I felt the firsttime I met him. It’s no surprise that thisyear’s Award of Excellence winner, RickMercer, Canada’s national son, got one ofhis biggest thrills defying gravity like thehuge star that he is. !

Actor, voice performer, writer,director and teacher, David Galeis the award-winning host ofW Network's Loving Spoonfuls.He serves as ACTRA Toronto'sV P C o m m u n i c a t i o n s a n d Publisher of Performers Magazine.

SPRING • 2012 9

Clockwise from top left: Made in Canada L to R: Leah Pinsent, Peter Keleghan, Dan Lett, Rick Mercer; The Rick Mercer Report, Zero Gravity sketch;Rick Mercer and Shirley Douglas at the 2007 ACTRA Awards in Toronto; Lobbying in Ottawa 2003 L to R: Paul Gross, Rick Mercer, Wendy Crewson, Sonja Smits.


...and the nomineesare...

Jayne Eastwood Jennifer Irwin Amy Price-Francis Ellen Wong

Jayne EastwoodDown the Road Again • Role: Betty

Gemini Award for Dangerous Offender: The Marlene MooreStory. Earle Grey Award. Genie nomination for Night Friend.Vancouver Film Critics Circle Award nomination for Real Time.Gemini nominations for This is Wonderland and Billable Hours(with the ensemble). Film: Moon Point, Servitude, St. Roz,Cooper’s Camera, Hairspray, Monkey Warfare, Chicago, Goin’Down the Road. TV: Little Mosque on the Prairie, Train 48, StreetLegal, Maniac Mansion, SCTV, King of Kensington. Voice: Babarand the Adventures of Badou, Best Ed, For Better or Worse, TheCare Bears Family. Currently: Dark Star Hollow¸ The Story ofLuke. Live Comedy: Women Fully Clothed.

“The only reason I got this role was because I did the same role40 years ago. Mind you they could have gone for a JayneEastwood type. It was strange playing a character who had beenestablished in the original movie. I kept thinking, ‘What wouldBetty be like now?’ The original character was just a dumbwaitress really, but this character 40 years later had developedas a human being, so it was a weird mix of remembering whoshe was then and what I was playing now.

It was amazing doing this film on so many levels. The greatmemories of what the original film meant to all of us, being to-gether again, but tragically losing Cayle Chernin, my good friendof so many years, before the movie opened. It’s hard to thinkabout her being gone. Then of course we did the film withoutPaul Bradley. We all missed him so much. We did nothing buttell Paul Bradley stories and they were doozies.

Being nominated is amazing. Mind you I don't deserve it, noway no how. Are you kidding? Actually I wanted to be on thejury this year. I love that job. I love to see what great talent wehave in this country.”

Jennifer IrwinMichael: Tuesdays & Thursdays – “Small Talk”Role: Sammy Dunbar

Gemini nomination: Slings and Arrows. Canadian ComedyAwards nominations: Less Than Kind, Slings and Arrows,Superstar. Film: No Strings Attached, Bad Teacher, Dog Park,Blues Brothers 2000, Mrs. Winterbourne. TV: Raising Hope,

Breaking In, Party Down, Lie to Me, Eastbound & Down, StillStanding, The Gavin Crawford Show, The Ellen Show, The RedGreen Show. Voice: Crash Canyon. Second City Alum.

“I felt very lucky to be part of Michael: Tuesdays & Thursdays.I loved every second of being able to work with old friends whoalso happen to be some of the most talented actors and writ-ers and directors working today. To be nominated alongsidesuch terrific performers this year is icing on the cake! Thankyou very much ACTRA.”

Tommie-Amber PirieMichael: Tuesdays & Thursdays – “Vomiting” Role: Claire Webb

Film: New Year, Stripped Naked, The Trotsky. TV appearances:King, Another Man’s Wife, My Babysitter’s a Vampire, RookieBlue, Living in Your Car, The Border, 18 to Life. Other: 17 yearsas a competitive figure skater.

“I loved playing Claire so much. So so much. She has a vulner-ability to her that she exposes, which I love. She's not afraid.And she tells it like it is. Claire is the dream of what I wish Icould be. Being nominated for an ACTRA award is such an ho-nour. Truly so lovely that people think that Claire rocks just asmuch as I do. I am pumped that the show is getting the recog-nition it deserves. The brainpower and endless hard work ofBob Martin, Don McKellar, Matt Watts, and producers SariFriedland and Niv Fichman is unreal. They hustled to make thisshow happen with integrity.”

Amy Price-FrancisKing – “Lori Gilbert” • Role: Jessica King

Film: Cake, Alien Tracker. TV: Grey’s Anatomy, Criminal Minds,Chicago Code, Life Unexpected, The Mentalist, Nip/Tuck, TheCleaner, 24, Californication, Medium, Rumours, Corner Gas, Tilt,Show Me Yours, Snakes & Ladders, Train 48, Tracker. Other:National Theatre School

“What a lovely surprise! And what a testament to the manyfolks in every department who bust their chops in creating,housing, building, and supporting the character, all the while,making me appear much better than I am."

Ellen WongSilent Cargo • Role: Daiyu

Nominated for 2011 Spike TV Scream Award. Film: Scott Pil-grim vs. the World. TV: Combat Hospital, Unnatural History,Dino Dan; Runaway, This is Wonderland. Web: Home is Wherethe Hans Are. Named one of 10 Young Hot Asian Stars to Watchby MTV’s nextmovie.com

“Silent Cargo is a very special film about hopes and dreams;hope that in a world filled with personal battles and globalwars, dreams for new beginnings can still come true. The sub-ject of human smuggling is a continuing global issue that israrely ever told from the perspective of those who have beensmuggled. The script, written by the wonderful Svet Rouskov,is a story about the courage and bravery of those who contin-ually defy fear in hopes of reaching a dream. After reading thescript, I instantly felt a connection to the characters; however,there was also a story closer to home that really connected meto the role of Daiyu: the story of my own parents’ escape fromwar-torn Cambodia. I somehow felt that I already understoodDaiyu after having been told countless times about myown parents’ journeys for a better life. This connection, andworking alongside the amazing cast and brilliant team, pluscollaborating with Adam Azimov, a truly inspiring and talenteddirector, is what made filming a challenging opportunity thatwas incredibly worthwhile.

I think as actors, we are always striving to tell stories that moveus, and we desire and welcome a challenge because we oftencan discover great things about ourselves along the way; that’swhat I love about being an actor. This nomination is immenselyappreciated, and I feel truly honoured to be recognized amongsta group of well-respected, amazing, and inspiring actors.ACTRA’s constant support and encouragement is what makesthis crazy profession completely doable. Thank you sincerely! Iam boundlessly grateful to my peers for the recognition inSilent Cargo, and would really love to give my heartfelt thanksto ACTRA for the nomination.”

SPRING • 2012 11

Outstanding Performance - Female

Jayne Eastwood Jennifer Irwin Amy Price-Francis Ellen WongTommie-Amber Pirie

Clé BennettFlashpoint – “A Day in the Life” • Role: Rafik Rousseau

2 Gemini Awards for Guns and The Line. Film: Barney’s Version¸How She Move. TV: Breakout Kings, My Babysitter’s a Vampire,The Listener, Republic of Doyle, Shattered, Lost Girl, Crash &Burn. Voice: Razzberry Jazzberry Jam, Total Drama Island.Currently: Kim’s Convenience at Soulpepper.

“I liked how Raf had a different approach to policing. He had asmooth, easy-going way about him that allowed him to con-nect with others. Working on Flashpoint is gruelling at times,but it can also be rewarding. It's a great show, so I was happyto join the cast of Flashpoint for Season 4.

An award is always special when it comes from those whotruly understand.”

Shawn DoyleJohn A: Birth of a Country • Role: John A. Macdonald

Previous ACTRA Award winner (Toronto) for The Eleventh Hour.Gemini Award for The Robber Bride. Gemini nominations forEight Days to Live, The Eleventh Hour, A Killing Spring, The City.Best known for Big Love and Endgame. Film: Grown Up MovieStar, Sabah, Frequency. TV: Lost, Lie to Me, Desperate House-wives, 24, C.S.I., Numb3rs. Currently: The Disappeared, King,Republic Of Doyle. Originally from Newfoundland.

“At first, the idea of playing John A. was more than a littledaunting. My prep for the movie was really about letting go ofthis pressure to live up to everyone's (and my own) expecta-tions and find my way to a human being, as opposed to thisiconic figure. In the end, I just tried to let Bruce Smith's greatscript do the heavy lifting. That task was made easier by anamazing director who allowed me to fail (over & over again) anda cast that was PERFECT. The original title of this movie wasThe Rivals, as it's essentially a love story between John A andGeorge Brown. Peter Outerbridge, a friend and hero, came intothe first read-thru with such confidence and ferocity that I un-derstood very quickly I had to either jump off the cliff or beswallowed whole. Any success I may have had with theperformance is due in no small part to acting opposite such anintelligent, thoughtful and powerful actor. A career highlight.”

Peter OuterbridgeJohn A: Birth of a Country • Role: George Brown

10 Gemini nominations for Deadliest Sea, ReGenesis, This isWonderland, Chasing Cain, Captive Heart: The James MinkStory, The Outer Limits. 2 Genie nominations: Marine Life andKissed. Also known for Men with Brooms, Better thanChocolate, 24, Trudeau, Murdoch Mysteries and Road toAvonlea. Currently: Bomb Girls.

“It is an honour to be recognized for your work; a greaterhonour when that work is recognized by your peers. I humblyand sincerely thank you.”

Eric PetersonBilly Bishop Goes to War • Role: Billy Bishop

Member of the Order of Canada. ACTRA Toronto Award ofExcellence. Earle Grey Award. Gemini Awards for Corner Gas,Street Legal. Gemini nominations for This is Wonderland.Canadian Comedy Award nomination for Corner Gas. Film: TheSleep Room. TV: Dan for Mayor, Murdoch Mysteries, Republic ofDoyle, The Ron James Show, Trudeau (Tommy Douglas), Slingsand Arrows. Voice: Care Bears Family, Droids, Ewoks. Online:The Casting Room. Originally from Saskatchewan.

“I’m very happy and pleased and humbled and a bit f***d upand honoured by this nomination from an organisation that I socherish and admire.”

Christopher PlummerBarrymore • Role: John Barrymore

Companion of the Order of Canada. Oscar nominations for TheLast Station and Beginners. Emmy Awards for Madeline¸ ArthurHailey’s The Moneychangers. Genie Award for Murder byDecree. For Beginners: Golden Globe Award, Critics ChoiceMovie Award, Hollywood Film Festival Award, LA Film CriticsAssociation Award, National Board of Review Award, Online FilmCritics Award, Southeastern Film Critics Association Award,Toronto Film Critics Association Award, Gotham Award (sharedwith ensemble). Boston Society of Film Critics Award, LA FilmCritics Association Award, National Society of Film CriticsAward for The Insider. Method Fest Award (with ensemble),Palm Beach International Film Festival Award for Man in theChair. National Board of Review Award (with ensemble) forNicholas Nickleby. 35 more nominations. Also known for: Girlwith the Dragon Tattoo, The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus,Up, Ararat, A Beautiful Mind, Malcolm X, The Amateur, TheSilent Partner, The Thorn Birds, The Sound of Music. Voice:Madeline, Counterstrike. Currently: Five Good Years.


Outstanding Performance - Male

Clé Bennett

Christopher Plummer

Shawn Doyle Peter Outerbridge Eric Peterson Stacey DePass Robbie FitzRoy ` Billy MacLellan Miles Johnson Miklos Perlus

Stacey DePassThe Adventures of Chuck & Friends – “Boomer the Snow Plow”Role: Boomer

Gemini nomination (ensemble) for Ruby Gloom. Gemini nomi-nation (ensemble) for 6 Teen. ACTRA Nomination for RubyGloom. Film: The Tuxedo, Ham & Cheese. TV: Secret Santa,Martin and Lewis, The Bobroom, Comedy Now. Voice: Rob TheRobot, Ruby Gloom, Turbo Dogs, Harry and his Bucket Full ofDinosaurs, Pillars of Freedom, 6Teen, Bob and Doug, Brace-face, My Friend Rabbit, What It's Like Being Alone, Odd JobJack, Captain Flamingo. Video Games: Power Stone, BakuganBattle Brawlers.

“I am absolutely thrilled! I feel very grateful to do this kind ofwork and even more so to be nominated. What an honour!!”

Robbie FitzRoyStella and Sam – “Box Builders” • Role: Owen

The Santa Suit, Commercials. Special Skills: Swimming, Fish-ing, Making Model Trains, Dinosaurs, Classic Rock Music

“Doing voice work is fun because it is cool when the cartooncharacter has your voice and no one knows it is you. I reallyliked the other voice actors I worked with on Stella and Sam,and all the people at Kitchen Sync. They are my friends. WhenI found out I was nominated I was really surprised.”

Billy MacLellanAfghanada – “The Promise” • Role: Lucas “Chucky” Manson

Gemini nomination for ReGenesis. Previous ACTRA Award nom-inee for Afghanada. Film: Please Kill Mr. Know it All, Hello Oc-tober. TV: Bomb Girls, Lost Girl, Flashpoint (multiplecharacters), Combat Hospital, Republic of Doyle, Heartland, InSecurity, Rookie Blue, The Border, ReGenesis (multiple char-acters), Murdoch Mysteries, Warriors of Terra, Slings and Ar-rows. Writer: Afghanada. Writer/Producer/Director: Betweenthe Mountain and the Shore. Cinematographer: Hamlet: Solo.Other: National Theatre School. Originally from Cape Breton.

“I landed the role of Chucky in 2006. We were slated for fourepisodes. 103 episodes and six years later, it has been re-markable to get to work with some of the best actors andwriters in the country. I got to see my character grow over six seasons. It's pretty rarethat as an actor you get to see that. I am gonna miss Lucas"Chucky" Manson.

Jenny Young, Paul Fauteux and I had no idea what we were infor when we signed on to do Afghanada. And when you workwith people for six years, you really get to grow with them, asartists and as people. We got to work with hundreds of ACTRAmembers over 103 episodes. I can't tell you how grateful I am.

Getting nominated by ACTRA, for a Canadian story, on CBC, play-ing a Canadian soldier accompanying one of his fallen brothershome, for the Remembrance Day episode, what an honour.”

Rachel MarcusStella and Sam – “Night Fairies” • Role: StellaGemini Nominee for Stella and Sam, Booky’s Crush, Booky andthe Secret Santa. Film: The Dogfather. TV: Being Erica (YoungErica), The Devil’s Teardrop, Vacation with Derek, Rick MercerReport. Voice: Wild Kratts, Peep and the Big Wide World,Stoked.

“Being nominated for an ACTRA Award for playing Stella is socool; being cast as Stella was amazing, but nothing comparedto playing her. Bringing these great stories to life lets me tapinto my inter-adventurer! I get to entertain young kids and en-courage them to use their imaginations, AND work with theamazing people at Radical Sheep. What more could I ask for?

I'm so thankful for all the work I've been able to do and for allthe great people I've met along the way. This acting thing... it'sa dream come true!”

Miles JohnsonStella and Sam – “Night Fairies” • Role: Sam

Gemini Nominee for Stella and Sam. Commercials, Looping.Special Interests: Science, Engineering

“The script we auditioned with was "Box Builders" where Samand his sidekick, Owen, with Stella's help, make all kinds ofimaginative things out of cardboard boxes. To help Miles getinto the role, I (his mother) made a robot out of a box we hadat home and we took it to the audition.

What Miles likes best about playing Sam is reading the scriptslike a story and saying "C'mon Fred." Oh, and Pad Thai forlunch!

Director Susan Hart's ability to calmly and patiently elicit suchgood performances from Miles is impressive. Meeting the au-thor, Marie-Louise Gay, was also a highlight.

We're thrilled that Miles and Rachel have been nominated to-gether because the magic of the show is really the interactionof their two characters and how well their two voices are suitedto the parts.” — Carolyn Johnson, Miles’ Mom

Miklos PerlusSidekick – “Eric Squared” • Role: Eric Needles

6Teen, Jim Button, Inside the Osmonds, Student Bodies, High-lander, Road to Avonlea. As a writer: Instant Star, Degrassi:TNG, WGC Award with James Hurst for Degrassi: TNG (“MercyStreet”). Other: Head of Development, Kids & Scripted atmarblemedia. Married father of two boys.

"Voicing Eric Needles on Sidekick has been a dream come truefor me. Not only do I get to work with some of the best per-formers, producers, directors, writers, animators, and techni-cians in the world, but I get to be a Saturday morning cartoon!My 10- year-old self is very proud.”

SPRING • 2012 13

Outstanding Performance - Voice

Rachel Marcus

Shawn Doyle Peter Outerbridge Eric Peterson Stacey DePass Robbie FitzRoy ` Billy MacLellan Miles Johnson Miklos Perlus

Perhaps because I’m a voice actor I’m more obsessed about thisthan most, but I am constantly inspired by the abundance ofACTRA Toronto talent voicing my daily routine.

On CBC Radio, Jeremy Harris promotes programs like the suc-cessful drama series Afghanada, which features Paul Fauteux,Billy MacLellan and Jenny Young. On the small screen, DavidBerni is the voice of HBO Canada; Caroly Larson is the femalepromo voice for CTV and Rique Franks provides the smoky voiceof Showcase.

In the commercial world, the hilarious Carlos Diaz portrays thebu% animated spokesman El Tabador for Koodo. Aaron Tager’sendearing narration of a national Cheese campaign makes meyearn to be $ve again. Ray Landry and Fred Napoli move me asthe voices of Toronto Rehab and Royal Canadian Mint.

It’s an incredibly deep voice pool here in the big city. Despite avery rough year for all of us in 2008, we’re still alive and well. AsI write this, there are 20 animation projects in production. I’m notjust talking about long-running successes like Arthur and Maxand Ruby, but a fresh crop, including Mike the Knight and MonsterMath Squad. Returning for a second season, among others, areAlmost Naked Animals and !e New Adventures of Babar.

I’m thrilled to voice recurring roles on the adorable pre-schoolseries !e Cat in the Hat Knows A Lot about !at! Check out theEnglish-speaking territories that Cat currently airs in: Canada, theU.S., Australia, New Zealand, !e UK and Armed Forces Basesoutside of the U.S. Our little show is not alone. Canada has con-sistently produced internationally successful children’s program-ming. Remember Bob and Margaret? How about Franklin theTurtle and Total Drama Island?

What makes our marketplace unique is the number and diversityof opportunities we have. We are fortunate to consistently workat a national level on projects with exceptional production values.Also, the talent here is incredibly diverse, not just culturally, butin terms of age-range and special skills. Young members NissaeIsen (My Big, Big Friend) and her sister Tajja Isen (Super Why!),hot young actor Clé Bennett (Razzberry Jazzberry Jam), 2010ACTRA Toronto Outstanding Performance - Voice Award winner/comic savant Sean Cullen and our beloved Gordon Pinsent,a.k.a. King Babar, to name just a few of our richly talented voiceperformers.

We have lots to celebrate. At the 2010 Gemini Awards, voice nom-inees for Animation/Children’s Programming included ACTRAToronto members Jamie Watson (Peep and !e Big Wide World)Sean Cullen and Cory Doran (Jimmy Two Shoes) and KristinBooth (Producing Parker). The big winner for AnimationPerformance was Kim Cattrall (Producing Parker).

I’m looking forward to celebrating the nominees for all theACTRA Performance Awards in February. I am so grateful to myridiculously talented voice peer Adrian Truss for helping to makethe Outstanding Performance - Voice Award a reality. You can bet

that I’ll be there in fully warmed-up voice tocheer everyone on. !

Tracey Hoyt has recurring roles on the Family Channelseries Really Me and in the animated series !e Cat In!e Hat Knows A Lot About !at! A busy commercialvoice performer, Tracey is also the Director/Instructorat Pirate Voice in Toronto.

SPRING • 2012 15

Celebrating ACTRA Toronto’s Voice Performers by Tracey Hoyt

Carlos Diaz and his famous Koodo mascot Gordon Pinsent and the lovable King Babar Kim Cattrall and Award-winner Producing Parker

SPRING • 2012 17

The main cast of Lost Girl L to R: Rick Howland, K.C. Collins, Kris Holden-Ried,Anna Silk, Ksenia Solo, Zoie Palmer

by K.C. Collins

Phot

os co

urte

sy of

Sha

w Me

dia

Season 1, Episode 1. We open on Bo, a beautifulstranger, working at a bar, servingdrinks to a would-be pickup artistlooking to spike hers. Or anyone’s for that matter. A"er slighting his advances, Bo happensupon the creep once more in an elevator with a young woman,Kenzi. Evidently, the man had opted for an easier target. A"erKenzi quickly succumbs to the not-so-love drug, Bo invites theman for one, tiny, little kiss. She drains the life from him in onemoment of passion. Our Succubus is revealed. A series is born.And I’m hooked.

Having become such a fan, I o"en think about how my role onthis original, unique and sexy series almost never came to be.

I’m in L.A. throwing together a nice vegan meal (it was tastier thanit sounds) when I get a call from my agent about a couple ofauditions. One of them was for a new sci-$ original series thatShowcase was doing. “Hmm… I love Showcase, but Sci-$? Notmy thing.” Not usually what an agent wants to hear, but, luckily, Ihave one that gets me. We chatted and before I knew it I was intown at the ACTRA Awards (I’m looking at my trophy as I writethis), and before long, I’m the best-dressed Sci-fi character ontelevision. (What? Well, that’s the rumour, at least.)

Fast forward a year and a half. Lost Girl debuts as the mostwatched scripted premiere in Showcase history and goes on tobecome the highest rated program ever to air on Showcase, withSeason 1 setting a record that would eventually be topped bySeason 2. I’m not usually one to be raving about the way Canadianbroadcasters promote our hard work, but Showcase (Shaw Media)and Prodigy Pictures have impressed me. Made me feel proud tobe a Canadian artist! !e show’s popularity has spread so much

that even my Grandma watches the show. And no, it’s not becauseI’m in it.

!e Hollywood Reporter’s list of the most pirated TV shows hadLost Girl at number 9! !e people obviously want it and now moreof them are getting it… legally. Syfy has picked up the series forthe UK, Australia and the U.S. The series’ smart, interactiveapproach has drawn a legion of followers on Twitter, Facebookand Website exclusives.

!e series stars Anna Silk as Bo, a succubus - a mythical creaturethat craves the sexual energy of others. She uses it to heal,manipulate and render opponents obedient. Before knowing whoor what she was, Bo survived on her abilities to seduce, leavingone town for the next, each time her powers got the better of her…or someone else. A"er being discovered by the governing powersof her species, the Fae, she slowly begins to learn the history andorigins of her powers. Her natural gi"s impress even the eldest ofher kind, making her a desired possession of both the Light andDark sides of the Fae. A"er defying both sides and choosing toreside in the middle, Bo, with her supernatural powers, works to-gether with the equally impressive criminal gi"s of her Humanally Kenzi, to help Humans and Fae alike. Asked if she’s surprisedby the success of Lost Girl, Silk says, “I knew during the pilot thatLost Girl was a very unique show with a special cast, but this is atough industry, so you never know how things will turn out. Luckilywe have a very loyal, devoted and vocal audience who have reallyembraced the show and all of the characters.” Silk does astoundingwork, making Bo desirable, intriguing, intelligent and entertainingall at once. Fans have fallen hard for her natural curvaceous beauty.

Kris Holden-Ried is Dyson, Bo’s Light Fae love interest. He’s aFae o#cer who hides in plain sight as a Human police detectivethat solves Fae crimes. A character of great strength and intuition,Dyson toes the line between desire and duty, as his understandingof Fae politics forces him to keep his feelings for Bo hidden,though it is not a well-kept secret. Kris plays this character to


Rick Howland Zoie Palmer Kris Holden-Ried Anna Silk K.C. Collins Ksenia Solo

perfection, masking his true form, a wolf-shi!er, beneath thefaçade of a brooding, dedicated cop. Holden-Ried says he enjoys[getting] “to explore a superhuman side to a character. It pushesme both physically and mentally.” Not to mention, he has me, Det.Hale, as his partner.

Ksenia Solo plays Kenzi, a role for which she was awarded a Geminifor Season 1. It’s fitting that this is one of the only Humancharacters of the show’s main cast, because Ksenia reaches eachcompartment of human emotion needed to make Kenzi theendearing and absorbing character she’s become. Kenzi may bestbe described as a street-wise and resourceful hustler, clever beyondher years. Before the "rst episode of Season 1 is halfway through,we watch her li! wallets, stowaway beneath moving cars andspeak #uent Russian, while switching wigs a few times as well.“Kenzi is the bravest character I’ve ever played,” says Solo, “Evenin the moments where she’s scared out of her mind, she will stillstare evil straight in the eye and "ght with everything she’s got. Iadmire that about her and am constantly learning from her.” Kenziis a true survivor who has developed an array of talents and a networkthat becomes the lifeline that enables Bo to remain free of thestrict hierarchy of the Fae.

$ere’s nothing like a love triangle to cause con#ict so I’m suremany fans and viewers were pleased to discover that Bo’sromantic relationships were not reserved solely for Dyson (SorryKris). Another interest bared itself in the form of Lauren, analluring Human doctor and scientist employed by the Fae andplayed by the extremely talented Zoie Palmer. Her connectionwith Bo is instant and intriguing. The Light Fae set out to useLauren to manipulate and control Bo, but Lauren’s motives turngenuine as she helps Bo avoid trouble and control her hunger. $ischaracter is very much in line with Lost Girl’s theme of dividedsides and inner struggles faced by individuals pitted against eachother in the ongoing con#ict between the Light and Dark Fae.Palmer "nds this role to be di%erent from others she’s played. “I’m

SPRING • 2012 19

“I knew during thepilot that Lost Girlwas a veryunique showwith a specialcast, but thisis a tough industry, soyou neverknow howthings willturn out.”

Kris Holden-Ried Anna Silk K.C. Collins Ksenia Solo


more o"en cast as characters who are more gregarious and out-going than Lauren, who comes o%, at $rst glance, as reserved andtentative.”

Rick Howland is Trick, the mysterious, neutral Light Fae who hasestablished equal terms with elders on both sides of the Fae. Heoperates what looks like a pub but is revealed to be a neutral meet-ing place for both Light and Dark Fae. He is constantly monitoringthe pawns in the game between both sides, his approach beingone of strategy. He uses tact to maintain the balance and keep thepeace. His ability to reason and negotiate sometimes seems to bethe only thing that stands between them and disaster. Howlandhandles his role with charm and strength and says he connectedwith it from the very beginning. “It’s great!” says Howland. “I wasable to relate to the casting breakdown of the character right away.I said this is mine and I set out to get it. I feel blessed to be playingTrick and being a part of this amazing show.” I’m glad he’s the onethat has to spew all that Fae fable academia and not me. He’s a joyto watch.

As for myself, I play Det. Hale, the ultimate bachelor. He’s probablythe $rst male Siren on TV… maybe in existence. Hale is more thanmeets the eye as viewers learn in Season 2. While he might comeacross as a sidekick, he de$nitely leaves his own footprints on theshow. Hale has a connection with Kenzi that fans just love and ifit were up to them, Hale wouldn’t be a bachelor for long. I’ve foundmyself nervous, excited, sad and downright cracking up in everyepisode. Forget what I said earlier about Sci-$ not being my thing.I love it and I absolutely love being a part of this show! I considerthe cast and crew as family.

In the quickly evolving world of Sci-$, writer Michelle Lovrettahas created an environment unique unto itself. !is fast-movingshow juggles many rich characters and storylines withoutappearing confused or schizophrenic. !e skillfully interwovenpaths of the Human and Fae worlds create a very palpable existencein which we can take these characters in so many di%erent ways.Like other well-written Sci-$ shows, it’s the characters that shapethe story. We care about them, and, particularly with this show, Ifeel as though the audience learns the story at the same pace asthe characters themselves, giving it an engrossing, interactive feel.Lost Girl has a little something for everyone and as we’re seeing inSeason 2, it’s only getting better. !

K.C. Collins was nominated for a Gemini for

Doomstown and won an ACTRA Award for Guns. He

has also had recurring roles in Crash & Burn and ZOS.

K.C.

Ksenia Solo

Rick Howland and Anna Silk

K.C. Collins and Kris Holden-Ried

SPRING • 2012 21

Q: In case of an accident on set, what should I do?

Ask a StewardClare Johnston is a Steward in the IPA department.

She also stewards the Audio Code.

I Practice

SAFESETS!

By and large, the Toronto entertainmentindustry is relatively free of accidents butthere have been a few very unfortunateincidents in the past few months, resultingin injuries to performers. !is is a wake-upcall to us all - to remember that a set is aworkplace and there are various kinds ofhazards of which we must be aware.

If you have a concern about safety on set- ASK. While everyone feels the pressureto get the shot and keep on schedule, a rea-sonable safety question should not beviewed as burdensome by Production.

If you do have an accident, howeverminor, either on set or on your way to set,you should report it to an AD and see thedesignated Health and Safety rep whoshould be listed on the callsheet. Even ifyou have, for example, tripped over a cable,but not been hurt, reporting the incidentenables the employer to take action to pre-vent someone else from su%ering a moreserious injury.

If you are injured but don’t need to betaken to hospital, ask to see the setmedic. Find out about the Production’saccident injury insurance and start theprocess of !lling out the incident reportand insurance forms. All ACTRA com-mercial productions in Ontario automati-cally use ACTRA Fraternal’s Accident onSet insurance. Independent $lm and TVproductions are required to have workers’compensation or equivalent insurance.

Production needs to complete and submit

an incident report to the insurer and thereis usually a 2-3 day timeframe withinwhich to do so. !is doesn’t mean they as-sess ‘blame’ – it’s much more ‘just the facts,ma’am.’ !at way, if you need to $le a claimfor income replacement while you recover,or you wish to be reimbursed for treatmentor prescription costs, the insurer will havea $le on your incident. And don’t forget tocall your Steward, so they can follow upon the case too and make sure you get thecoverage to which you are entitled.

For your own protection, documenteverything. Try to take note of the namesof the crew members you speak to and themedical personnel who examine you. Evenif your injuries are minor and you aren’ttaken to hospital, you should see your owndoctor as soon as possible. If your condi-tion worsens days or even months later, aprompt initial visit will enable your doctorto report on the e%ects of the original inci-dent. Whether you are seen by a doctor atthe hospital or your family doctor, requestthe doctor’s report in writing. You willmost likely have to pay for it, but it isabsolutely necessary to process a claim.

!e professionalism and diligence of ourmembers and of our sister unions andguilds allow most days on set to pass with-out incident. !e Ontario Ministry ofLabour publishes Safety Guidelines for theFilm and Television Industry in Ontarioonline. !ese guidelines set the safety stan-dards which $lm and TV employers mustmeet. !e guidelines were created with

input from ACTRA and other $lm and TVunions, the producers’ association, $lm of-$ces and the Ministry of Labour, whocomprise the Section 21 Health and SafetyAdvisory Committee. !e Committeemeets regularly to discuss on-set safetyissues and to develop policy to minimiseincidents. It’s a good idea to have a read ofthe Guidelines. www."lmsafety.ca/guidelines.html

Safety is everyone’s concern. Be aware andobservant. Our workplaces are wildlyvaried but some of the more commonhazards include slip and fall risks, airborneand environmental issues, allergies andmedical concerns, physical injuries, vehiclesafety, safe behaviour around workinganimals, concerns speci$c to minors, andrisky action that should only be performedby a stunt performer. If you see somethingthat looks questionable, don’t be shy –speak up. Be helpful, respectful and patientand most problems will be resolved. !

• If you have a concern – ASK• Report accidents to an AD

and the Health and Safety Rep• See the medic• Start filling out accident/

injury insurance forms • Call your Steward• Document everything• Get Doctor’s report in writing


BOOK

BRO’S

TRUCKPITCHFREE

CASTING

CONTACTACTRA

RENT-A-

WRECK

KOSH

ERN

UD

ESCEN

E INTH

E CAN

BEAUTYCORNER

MOM’SCREDIT CARD

DAD’SCREDIT CARD

PROFESSIONAL

ACTORGETS TH

E JOBDON

E

HAPPY

WRITERS

AUDITIONS

BOOK

STAR

publicity

ACT

RA

Con

tracts

HIR

E CR

EW

BR

OTH

ER

NEED

S

TR

UCK

HELPFROMACTRA

(MOVE FORWARD2 PACES)

UNFORSEEN EXPENSES

EXCELLENT

VIOLENCE IN THE CAN

HAPPY ACTORS

HOMEEDITINGSWEET!

Art Hindle

I’ve done more than a few low budget $lms with $rst time $lmmakers.And I’m always out there advocating that all new $lmmakers “goACTRA.” So it occurred to me that it might be useful to put together akind of quick snapshot of the advantages of making a $lm with uniontalent and give it to you, so that when a new $lmmaker asks you the samequestion, “Why should I go union?”, you’ll have some answers for them.

Of course, as professional actors it sometimes seems like a dumb ques-tion to us. Why should you use professional actors? I mean, isn’t theanswer obvious? Because they’re professional.

Q: Why should I “go ACTRA?” A: Spending what money you have on the on-screen performances is really the best

decision you could make.You’ve worked hard to pull together a great script, a crackerjack cinematographer, a more-than-willing crew and the best camera and equipment you can a%ord. If you then go out and hire non-professional, inexperienced actors, here’s what could happen. A"er you’ve wrapped the shoot andyour very talented editor starts to cut it together, you could discover an unavoidable and costlytruth. You don’t have a ‘realized’ performance. You saved money on non-union actors, but youwasted the money you spent on your crew because now your movie is unwatchable! And if this isyour $rst $lm, the chances of you being able to raise enough money for your next $lm with that$rst mistake as your calling card ….

!at’s a good start to the conversation. !en you can run down this list of the advantages of usingprofessional talent:

The Advantages of Using Professional ActorsHappy Actors – con$dent they’re on a safe, professional set and they’re going to get paid on time. Professional Actors – hitting their marks, repeating takes as though it’s the $rst time, 3 takes andthey’re done, no need to go into overtime.Happy writers – professional actors don’t just become the character, they also know how to arc thestorytelling through performance.Save money on Casting Directors – free talent databases for producers who “go ACTRA.” No Lawsuits - safety, insurance, all part of a union set.No Lawyers - contracts provided by ACTRA. Publicity value – In the Q & A a"er the festival screening, who does the audience want to talk to?What about the journalists? Exactly.Distribution deal – Hey, you just might get an actor who is already famous even though you’re not. (Yet.)No sketchy nude scenes – professionals know how to get it done without compromising any-one’s dignity. Union rules tell you how to do it.Excellent Violence – stunts priced, sourced and executed safely by professionals.Help – from ACTRA. Spreadsheets that do the math.Good Training – learning how to do stu% with ACTRA that you’ll need sooner or later to get taxcredits and government funding.

So there you go. You have my permission to cut it out and carry it with you. And I’llclose with my version of something I once heard Linda Kash say –“Sure we cost money. But we’re worth it!”

SPRING • 2012 23

Rolling the Dice withLow Budget Film?

by Art HindleRE-SHOOT

SCRIPT

TAKI

NG

IT O

N TH

E

ROAD

FILM

FEST

NOLAWYER

NOLAWSUITS

GO

OD

TRAI

NING

FO

R

NE

XT

FIL

M

DIS

TR

I-

BU

TIO

N

DE

AL

GO

OD

PRES

S

SLEE

P!

WRI

TESE

QU

EL

Casting RoomWeb SeriesACTRA Toronto member Naomi Snieckus isout to improve the audition experience for all,producing and acting in a fun little web seriescalled !e Casting Room Web Series. !e seriesdemonstrates some classic mistakes actorsshould avoid in an audition from the point ofview of a Casting Director. Auditioning withunusual ineptitude for real casting honchoStephanie Gorin are Eric Peterson, Jayne East-wood, Marty Adams, Al Sapienza, CharlotteArnold, Deb McGrath, Ennis Esmer, JoeMotiki and others. Check in frequently as newepisodes are posted. Yet another story of aresourceful member self-producing. And the serieshas now found a home on FunnyorDie.com. John Stoneham Sr. will be presented with the

Award for Achievement in Stunt Specialities atthe plenary in February.

Performers magazine asked Stunt performer,Coordinator and chair of the Stunt committee,Shelley Cook to tell us a story about John. “!isguy was for real, a cowboy, stunt guy, singer,actor. John has reinvented himself and been oneof the most inspiring personalities and free spiritsI have had the pleasure to work with. He is atrue ‘old school’ stunt guy, a one-of-a-kind spiritand I can't think of anyone that deserves thislifetime achievement award more. A friend, astunt guy, a cowboy!”

“One time, Dwayne McLean and I were in theGolf Dome hitting balls. It was January, oneyear long gone, huge snowstorm, middle of theday. We were unemployed, trying to stay busyas stunt guys do. !e place is full of guys hittingballs. I hear, “Baby!” and turn around. It waslike an old John Wayne movie! Johnny comes

through the door completely decked out in‘Clint Eastwood’ attire: long coat, cowboy boots,scarf and a ten gallon hat! As he approached us,the snow on his hat and shoulders created this‘cloud of dust.’ Needless to say, he had the fullattention of the Dome! He picked me up andswung me around, gave Dwayne a manly greet-ing and proceeded to grab the golf club andstart hitting balls. ‘Now this is a story!’ he said,and told us he had landed a radio show and hadjust cut a ‘single’ of his new song.”

John Stoneham Sr. hasbeen working in the in-dustry for nearly fourdecades. His long résuméincludes Charles Bronsonmovies, Due South,Johnny Mnemonic, X-Men, and most recentlyCronenberg’s Cosmopolis.


MembersNews

Naomi Snieckus

John Stoneham Sr. honoured with Achievement in Stunt Specialities Award

John Stoneham Sr. Photo: Earl Reinink

Shelley Cook

Are you One to Watch?ACTRA Toronto’s Young Emerging Actors Assembly (YEAA)launched its “Ones to Watch” program (OTW) this fall. Periodically,YEAA’s OTW will shine a spotlight on the hottest young Canadianrising stars (playing age 17-27) though press releases to media aswell as highlighting them on the YEAA.ca website.

“It’s like an Early Warning System to help identify tomorrow’sCanadian icons today!” says YEAA chair Bryn McAuley, once thevoice of Caillou and now the voice of Roxy on Crash Canyon.

YEAA’s $rst OTW Spotlight was on ACTRA Award nomineeTommie-Amber Pirie, Matt Watts’ love interest on CBC’sMichael: Tuesdays and !ursdays. She also appears in TMN's Livingin Your Car, CBC's !e Border, and Global/ABC's Rookie Blue.Pirie also played Jay Baruchel’s sister in the feature $lm !e Trotsky.

YEAA has been making an impact this year through the OTWprogram, organizing mixers between actors and student $lm-makers, innovative sessions at ACTRA conferences, and having apresence at $lm festivals such at TIFF and Reel Asian. We are forg-ing a powerful community for young actors and $lmmakers tonetwork and share resources.

"YEAA is an inspiration,” says Heather Allin, President ofACTRA Toronto. “!is upcoming generation of performers willbecome both the faces of Canadian entertainment and theactivists for our union and industry.”

If you're an actor who plays in the age range of 17-27 and you havean upcoming or current $lm or television project and want a boostof media coverage, submit yourself to the OTW program! Go toYEAA.ca, then “Ones to Watch”, then “Submit Yourself.”

Richard Young, YEAA Committee Member

SPRING • 2012 25

The youngestproducer?!e $lm industry has played an importantpart in my life from an early age. I startedacting at the age of 3½, upon a suggestionby my aunt who is in the advertisingbusiness. As a kid, acting is a fun experi-ence and for some of us child actors it becomesa stepping stone for continuing in thisbusiness as an adult.

I learned very quickly that to survive inthis business you need to learn to wearmany hats. You need to have various sources of work available to you so thatwhen you aren’t working in front of the camera you can work behind thecamera as a director, for instance. !roughout my various acting experiencesI developed a keen interest in directing and this is now my other “hat.”

To help develop my interest, I enrolled in an evening program called !e FilmStudent through a local college. Within the parameter of developing a ten-minute short $lm, I wrote, produced and directed a mystery $lm titled Cryp-togram. !e script was written with one of my acting coaches, Marvin Karon,in mind for the lead role. Since he was an ACTRA member and being anACTRA member myself, I researched ACTRA Toronto’s Co-op program andwith the guidance of ACTRA, this $lm was produced under a Co-op Agree-ment. Being able to produce this short $lm under this Agreement gave me accessto eight great ACTRA members who helped make this short $lm what it istoday. At the age of 16, I believe I was the youngest Producer to have made a$lm under this Agreement.

It took eleven months to complete the $lm from initial concept to post production.During this process, I was the youngest crew member on set who had to some-times learn to make quick decisions while relying on the years of experience ofmy cast and crew. Cryptogram was my $rst short $lm. It was broadcast onRogers TV this fall on !e Film Student, a series that showcases the achieve-ments of ten young $lmmakers.!is experience helped me realize that I’m justas passionate about film directing as I am about acting and I have just beenaccepted into the Tisch School of the Arts at NYU for the fall of 2012.

Mitchell Lazar, age 17

Tommie-Amber Pirie

AYA WinterludeCabaretAct Your Age held its annual cabaret atPerforming Arts Lodge on Dec. 19.Organized around a Winter theme, thecabaret featured songs and stories fromsuch stalwarts as Nonnie Gri#n, PattiGail Peaker, Susan Cox, JenniferHiggin, Jessica Booker, FlorenceCarenza, Chris Kelk, Valeri Kay, RozFeldman, Tony Fletcher, and RenéeStein and Don Berns. Hosted by$eresa Tova, accompanied by RobertLatimer-Cornell and with lights andsound by Austin Schatz, the eveningwas a warm seasonal reminder of thejoys of community.

Renée Stein and Don Berns perform a number from Cabaret

PRESIDENT Heather Allin [email protected] PRESIDENT Karl Pruner [email protected] NATIONAL PRESIDENT Ferne Downey [email protected], FINANCE David MacNiven [email protected], INTERNAL AFFAIRS Theresa Tova [email protected], EXTERNAL AFFAIRS Art Hindle [email protected], COMMUNICATIONS David Gale [email protected], MEMBER SERVICES David Sparrow [email protected] MEMBER-AT-LARGE Wendy Crewson [email protected]

Shereen Airth [email protected] Bishopric [email protected]. Collins [email protected] Hardacre [email protected] Ivany [email protected] Johnson [email protected] Lamoreux [email protected] Lauzon [email protected] Mochrie [email protected] Nelles [email protected] Newman [email protected] Peterson [email protected] Pinsent [email protected] Potter [email protected] St. Martin [email protected] Synott [email protected]

Caucus chairs, member advocates and ombudsman:Shereen Airth, Apprentice Advocate [email protected], ext. 6621Jim Usatis, Additional Background Performer Chair [email protected] Taborah Johnson, Children’s Advocate [email protected] Lauzon, Diversity [email protected], ext. 6618Shelley Cook, Stunt Committee Chair [email protected] Shawn Lawrence, Ombudsman [email protected], ext. 6604

ACTRA TorontoGeneral contact informationTel: 416-928-2278 or toll free [email protected] Church Street, Toronto, Ontario, M4Y 2G1

Commercial Agreement InterpretationsJudy Barefoot, Director, Tel: 416-642-6705Kelly Davis, Steward, Tel: 416-642-6707Cathy Wendt, Steward, Tel: 416-642-6714

Commercial Audition Callback Inquires Claudette Allen Tel: 416-642-6713

Commercial Cheque Inquiries Terri Black, Examiner, Tel: 416-642-6744Lyn Franklin, Examiner, Tel: 416-642-6730Brenda Smith, Examiner, Tel: 416-642-6729

Commercial Payment Inquiries Tammy Boyer, Coordinator, Tel: 416-642-6739Tereza Olivero, Coordinator, Tel: 416-642-6731

Communications and OrganizingKarl Pruner, Director, Tel: 416-644-1506Karen Woolridge, Public Relations Officer, Tel: 416-642-6710Janesse Leung, Public Relations Officer - Web, Tel: 416-642-6747Laura McKelvey, Organizer, Tel: 416-642-6728

Finance and AdministrationKaren Ritson, Director, Tel: 416-642-6722

Independent Production Agreement (IPA), CBC TV& Radio, CTV, City-TV, Global and TVO AgreementsSue Milling, Director, Tel: 416-642-6719Indra Escobar, Senior Advisor, Tel: 416-642-6702Erin Phillips, Steward: IPA, CityTV, CTV, VISION,TIP, Documentaries, Industrials, Reality TV, Tel: 416-642-6738 (Maternity Leave) Barbara Larose, Steward: IPA, CFC, Co-op, Student Films, UAP. Staff Liaison: Minors, Background Performers, Tel: 416-642-6712Noreen Murphy, Steward: IPA, Animation, Dubbing,New Media, Pilots, Series, Docs, Industrials, Video Games. Staff Liaison: Digital, Voice Performers,Tel: 416-642-6708Richard Todd, Steward: IPA, CBC, Global, NFB, TVO,Staff Liaison, Health and Safety, Stunts, Tel: 416-642-6716Clare Johnston, Steward: IPA, Features, Series,Audio Code. Staff Liaison: YEAA, Puppeteers, Tel: 416-642-6746Cindy Ramjattan, Steward: IPA, Animation, CityTV,CTV, TIP, Reality, VisionTV

Toronto Indie ProductionTasso Lakas, TIP Coordinator, Tel: 416-642-6733

Member Training Intensive & Gordon Pinsent Studio BookingsStephanie Stevenson, Administrative Assistant, Tel: 416-642-6735

Membership Department Dues & Permit PaymentsContact: Membership Department Tel: 416-928-2278Karl Pruner, Director

ACTRA TorontoCouncil Who’sWho

ACTRATorontoStaff is

here for YOUwith

Uswww.actratoronto.com


SPRING • 2012 27

“A man travels the world overin search of what he needsand returns home to find it.” ~ George Moore

RE/MAX Hallmark Realty Ltd., Brokerage

2237 Queen Street East, Toronto, ON M4E 1G1

Belynda Blyth Sales Representative

Your Key to Success

Bus: 416-699-9292Cell: [email protected] member since 1985

Purchase Renew Refinance

ActorsHelping

Actors

[email protected]

John RobinsonMortgage Agent

lic.# M08007880ACTRA Member since 1985

lic.#10680

Make family memories in your new home.

Byron AbalosChristine AckerleyCraig AlanEmily AlataloJoshua Albrecht!omas AldersonKaleb AlexanderTasawar AliKarl AngRosario ArceAndre H. ArrudaChristian AttiehLisa AugusteAndrew AustinLucas AzevedoAlanna BaleAustin BallDerek BarnesRon BaschLindsey BatesCarl BauerJonah BayAva BeauneSimon A. BedardMarilyn Lesley BellfontaineDeepika BhargavaGary BiggarMadeleine BissonAidan Black AllenNicholas BodeMichèle BogdanowiczLukasz BoronJerritt BoyceRhonda BrewsterBrian BridgerAsha Brom$eldJared BrookesVanessa BrozeCameron E BrysonGiuseppe F. BucceriMark Peter BurnsRick Bye

Vince CarlinSimon CasanovaSaara ChaudryJaeden ChengTrevor CollKatie CoseniJulia CourseCassandra CroppoAileen CullenTerry CzerlauFrancois X DagenaisEric DanielTodd !omas DarkMillie DavisLorella De FilippisSebastian Mark De GrandisDanny DeakinAlexandra DebellisJason DetheridgeEnrico Di FedeVictor N DolhaiHarry DoupeUrsula DraytonRoxanna DunlopAlexandre DuongAngela DuscioKotama EstallMargaret Ann EvansTye EvansBrad EverettMichael Paul FarrellAaron FeigenbaumAlexandria FergusonSamantha FletcherPatrick ForanGinette GaskinMilda GecaiteZahir GilaniDylan GitalisKathy GlassfordHalle GoralKate Gordon

GracekayaJack GrantSophie GrantPeter GrayAudra Yulanda GrayLiam GreenEric HansonBryan HindleMarci T. HouseDevon HylandPhil HynesRichard JamesLaszlo JankovichFilip JeremicLamar JohnsonBrook JonesZion Joubert JohnsonEmmanuel KabongoRafael KalamatJennifer KardashTeiya KasaharaEmma KerrSiavash KhavarnejadAndy KingBrett KingswellIsabelle KiralyGreg KomorowskiTyler KostykAdrienne KressFrancis La FreniereJacky LaiPhil LamPascal LangdaleElena LauKaren LeachJulian LewisOlya LimarenkaRyan Charles LindseyMasha LizdekDonal LogueAdriana LongoMiranda Lukane

Charles LuuMark LuuLance LuuTanya LynneLindsay LyonMark MacraeSamantha MadelyJohn MailletMilan MalisicGui MansillaHelen MaraNastassia MarkiewiczPamela MarsMena MassoudClaire MazerolleKatelyn MccullochBrendan MckeiganAndrew McleanJohn MeinStefne MercedesJaxon MerceyPatrick MichelacciBrian MifsudJoshua MilkoPhilip MoranBrock MorganPaige MoylesStephan MuccioVanessa Mu%Colin MunchMackenzie MunroAdam MurcianoChris MurrayMary Giang Nguyen-CostaAlan NormanNicole NorsworthyKeliyah OgiamienAlexandra OrdolisCole OsborneCassie OwocAlex OzerovAndrew ParkRj ParrishBrooke PastuchBill PearsonAvery PearsonG. Alex PedrazaKathy PhillipsCraig Pike

Christina PisanoJade PooleCraig PorrittCienna PrendergastDina PuglieseJonathan PurvisJim RalphDevon RamsdenPaul ReedMichael James ReganAndy ReidMichael ReventarMargot RoessleinJordan RosenbergIan RosenbergJoseph RossMackenzie RossIstan RozumnySerena RyderChance SabouriDale SammsJoey SantarossaErika SantillanaKassandra SantosSteven ShehoriDebra ShermanR.J. SkinnerClarke SmithEamon StocksEmery TaylorJoshua TeixeiraTanisha !ammavongsaMichael !omasAmanda !omsonNed TigheMeg TillyCourtney TinneyEva Vanden HeuvelJohan VargasKate VickerySimeon VivianJordan WalkerKevin Jake WalkerEloisa WeberSamson Weiss WillisKevin WhalenGabriel WhiteTaylor WhittakerMarshall WilliamsBreanna WillisBarry WilsonJonah WinebergQuisha WintRyan WynneJe% YungManolis Zontanos


29

10 years of ACTRA Awards in Toronto winners

2003Kristen ThomsonShawn DoyleGordon Pinsent

2004Diane D'AquilaBrent CarverSonja Smits

2005Richard ChevalleauKristin ThomsonPaul Gross

2006Samantha WeinsteinTom McCamusSarah Polley

2007Gordon PinsentMaria del MarLen CarlsonWendy Crewson

2008Matt WattsCaroline CaveAaron PooleEric Peterson

2009Nicholas CampbellRosemary DunsmoreJamie WatsonPeter Keleghan

2010K.C. CollinsKathleen MunroeJulie LemieuxColin Mochrie

2011Maury ChaykinMolly ParkerTracy WrightSean CullenFiona Reid

HappyBirthday,Baby

Shawn Doyle & Kristen Thomson Tom McCamus Diane D’Aquila Jamie Watson Paul Gross

Brent Carver Julie Lemieux Erick Peterson Rosemary Dunsmore Aaron Poole

Caroline Cave Nicholas Campbell Fiona Reid Sonja Smits K.C. Collins

Sarah Polley & Samantha Weinstein Maury Chaykin Len Carlson Kathleen Munroe Maria del Mar

Peter Keleghan Molly Parker & Tracy Wright Richard Chevalleau Sean Cullen Matt Watts

SPRING • 2012

Gordon Pinsent & Wendy Crewson

Colin Mochrie

John Neville, O.B.E. C.M.

I remember when I was finishing theatre school, unsure of what kindof career I would have, auditioning for John while he was directing atthe NAC.

One of my pieces was Aston in Pinter’s !e Caretaker - a character I loved,but one that my teachers told me I would never be cast as. As I must havelooked all of 16 at the time, it was a fair enough assumption. I apologizedto John a"er doing the piece and told him my teachers' concerns, and hesmiled with that warm twinkle he had and said, "I’d cast you ... all depends onhow you cast the others, doesn't it?" And with that he opened my eyes toa whole new way of looking at things, an inclusionary way that hasin'uenced my own casting of actors ever since I started directing.

Years a"er that episode I was playing the lead in a terrible production of!e Government Inspector at !eatre Plus, and I was so despondent aboutthe production that I stayed in my dressing room drinking vodkaopening night, not going up to the party. John came down to mydressing room and told me to get my ass up to the party. I moaned aboutmy “bad” performance and he said, “Never let them see the whites of youreyes ... get up there and be a gracious host.”

Again years later, when we were both acting in a marvelous StratfordYoung Company Loves Labours Lost, I remember the day that directorMichael Langham threw a challenge down to John, a week before open-ing, asking him to completely rethink his part. Oh, the politics of the lookbetween them! !e next day John came in with this extraordinary andcomplete creation, a Don Armado of extreme vulnerability and grace ...I guess as good a de$nition of John as any.

David Ferry$rst appeared in the Globe and Mail, November 28, 2011


Frank Aldous, Joel Aldred, Jack Anthony, Joan Barrett, Christine Bennett, Bob Clout Kenneth Fralick, Bradley Garrick, George Hevenor, Al Kozlik, Lew Lewis Patrick Liboiroiv, Gertrude Magnatta, Bob Morrison, Charles Oberdorf Gerry Salsberg, Dan Van Wyck, Ratch Wallace, John Weir

John BaylissAfter several years of increasingly debilitating health, John died atapproximately 2:30 p.m., July 4th, 2011 in Mt. Sinai Hospital, Toronto.

John’s early childhood reads like an episode of a PBS MasterpieceContemporary. He was born April 4th, 1942, in Australia, just twomonths a!er his British parents had "ed the Japanese invasion ofMalaysia. His father quickly returned to active duty with the Royal Navyand his mother, with young John in tow, traveled from Australia, by sea,road and rail, to South Africa, Kenya, Cairo and #nally England.

John always had an eye for the ladies but he adored none as much as hismother.

$e family returned to Penang, Malaysia a!er the war, where his father wasan educator for what was then called “$e Colonial Service.” $e British Em-pire was rapidly devolving and the life of luxurious houses and servants wasover for the family. $ey returned to England and in 1959 immigrated toAlberta. John tried a stint as a commissioned o%cer with the Royal CanadianRegiment but a!er two years decided “the life” was not for him.

John developed an interest in the theatre and, after winning severalscholarships, moved to Toronto in 1968, the year I met him, determinedto become an actor. He did exceptionally well and was a brilliant talent inall media. I’ve never met anyone who could “cold read” a page, in anyaccent or dialect, and make it live more than he.

John and I worked together on stage and TV many times over the yearsand became friends because of a shared sense of humour. John was a silentlaugher and I so enjoyed watching his handsome, patrician face, redolent (howhe loved that word) with breeding suddenly morph into a squeezed sponge atthe sight or sound of something that tickled the funny bone.

I still chuckle at his iconic and highly remunerative commercial, yes thatone. John rants on and on with a deadpan expression all the whilecatching a repeatedly levitating bottle of grape juice. John was sobrilliant at what he did for a living that he made it all look easy. Just theway it should be.

John, my friend, to the next squeezing of the sponge.

Jim Swan

Dorothy GardnerDorothy Gardner, former Head of Casting for CBC, died of a stroke onAugust 8, 2011 in the arms of her husband, ACTRA Toronto member,David Gardner and their daughter Jenny. Born in Edinburgh in 1926,she studied acting at the London Guildhall of Music and Drama. Shecame to Canada in 1956 and began working as a script assistant to direc-tor David Gardner at CBC in 1960. During the course of her career shewas instrumental in launching the acting careers of many well-knownperformers working today. She cast the Quentin Durgens series, Em-pire Inc., Chasing Rainbows, Bethune, Termini Station, Zero Patience andLilies among many other projects. She taught acting at Sheridan College,Equity Showcase and National $eatre School. She was a frequent nom-inator for the Dora Mavor Moore Awards. Dorothy was the recipient of theAcademy Achievement Award at the 2001 Geminis for her exceptionalcontribution to the Canadian Film and Television Industry. Dorothy andDavid were frequently seen together attending theatre until her death.She was possessed of a keen eye for performance and adored actors who,in turn, adored her. She is sadly missed.

SPRING • 2012 31

John Bayliss

Dorothy and David Gardnercirca 1967

Canada Post Corporat ionPubl icat ion Mai l Agreement No.

40070196

Printed in Canada

ACTRA Toronto Performers625 Church Street, 2nd floorToronto,ONM4Y 2G1

Get up o! your seat! Get writing, get speaking and getacting at our "Hands On" themedFebruary Conference. Co-ops, Performance Capture, PR, Web Series, Reels, Self-Taping, Power Directors, Executive Plenary andmore! Breakfast with ArsinéeKhanjian, Lunch with Rick Mercerand Gavin Crawford and Party with YEAA...

3 daysyou do not want to miss!

February 22 to 24

For more information, check out www.actratoronto.com

Winter Members’ Conference

Arsinée Khanjian

spring 2012 - actra toronto

Documents