GOVERNMENT IGNORES FILM, TV & DIGITAL MEDIA JOBS
Budget fails to build key "Jobs of the Future"

March 3 - Toronto - Despite claiming to build "Jobs of the Future," the Harper Conservatives' budget ignores the economic potential of Canada's film, TV and digital media industry and in fact proposes selling Canadian jobs to foreign conglomerates.   -more-

SOME GOOD NEWS / MORE BAD NEWS IN THRONE SPEECH
Increased foreign ownership threatens Canadian culture and future of Canadian broadcasting

March 3 - Today's Speech from the Throne could have a major impact on Canadian arts and culture industry. Canadian performers applaud digital economy strategy but condemn foreign ownership threat.   -more-

ACTRA celebrates Shirley Douglas on International Women's Day

March 3 - The National ACTRA Women's Committee celebrates Shirley Douglas in our spotlight for International Women's Day. "Shirley is a role model and an inspiration to women performers across the country," said Christine Willes, Chair of the ACTRA National Women's Committee.   -more-

MAKING CANADIAN FILMS AMERICAN NOT THE PATH TO SUCCESS
We have to get over this national inferiority complex

February 22, 2010 - Canadian stars are incensed to hear that once again, Telefilm Canada is considering using taxpayer's money to buy Hollywood talent. In a weekend CBC News report, Telefilm Chair Michel Roy said he is urging Heritage Canada to change the rules to allow more U.S. actors to take leading roles in government-supported feature films.   -more-

ACTRA speaks at Digital Economy roundtable

February 12, 2010 - ACTRA's National Executive Director Stephen Waddell presented ACTRA's views on "Copyright, Intellectual Property Protection and the Future of Broadcasting in the Internet Age" at the Liberal Caucus's roundtable in Ottawa on February 11.   Read the presentation here

ACTRA ELECTS NEW NATIONAL EXECUTIVE

February 8, 2010 - ACTRA's National Council has elected a new National Executive and Treasurer to join National President Ferne Downey and Vice President Tyrone Benskin to form ACTRA's elected leadership. The new team includes a mix of experience and new energy from across the country.   -more-

PERFORMERS CALL ON CRTC TO PUT MORE CANADA IN PRIME TIME
"Don't let the broadcasters' and cables' slap-fest hijack the agenda"

November 25 - Canadian performers appeared before the CRTC today to urge the regulator to focus on getting more Canadian programming in prime time as the regulator re-writes its TV policy. TV stars Wendy Crewson, Nicholas Campbell and ACTRA National President Ferne Downey called on the CRTC to make broadcasters meet their obligations under the Broadcasting Act by forcing them to invest more in Canadian drama and give it a place in their primetime schedules.    -more-

HERITAGE MINISTER MUST STAND UP FOR CANADIAN TV

November 19 - Canadian performers are urging Heritage Minister James Moore to stand up for Canadian TV, after the government hinted it's set to overrule upcoming CRTC decisions. "If the Heritage Minister is prepared to start telling the CRTC what to do, then we hope he'll stand up for the right of Canadians to access Canadian content on our airwaves and make sure we aren't being fleeced by big cable," said Ferne Downey, ACTRA National President.    -more-

Sure, 'local TV matters,' but so does Canadian programming
By ROBB WELLS, Oct. 17, 2009
Content seems to get lost in the fight between broadcasters and cable firms

Ever wonder why we have Canadian cable companies and Canadian broadcasters, if all they air is American programming and still charge us a fortune? Couldn't we just cut out the middle-man and pay NBC directly for their TV shows? OK, I'm being facetious. But with cable bills on the rise, broadcasters threatening to close local stations and less Canadian programming on TV, lots of Canadians are asking themselves these questions.   -more-