Under the Independent Production Agreement (IPA) covering film and television work, children under the age of 12 may only work 8 hours plus one hour for lunch. Under the National Commercial Agreement (NCA), the same applies to children aged 15 and under.
Exceptions are made for children aged 12 to 15 under certain circumstances. Time spent under hot lights varies according to age. Please check the agreement your child is working under for more details.
Minimum fees are outlined in the various ACTRA agreements. Never let your child work without a signed contract in place. With the completion of a contracted role, payments will flow either to you or your child’s agent. Income tax is not generally deducted at source and the agent’s commission is based on gross fees. Other deductions will include contributions to the insurance and retirement plan with the ACTRA Fraternal Benefit Society (AFBS), ACTRA member dues, and the minors’ trust fund.
A talent agent is contracted to arrange auditions and negotiate contracts for your child. Be sure the agent you select is legitimate and ethical. A list of agents can be found on your ACTRA Branch’s website. Look for agencies that are either members of TAMAC (Talent Agents and Managers Association of Canada), members of the CTAG/EICAA (EIC Agency Association), or that have signed the EIC Code of Ethics. Be very cautious of agencies that offer guarantees of work or try to sell you courses, photos, services or demand up-front fees. Legitimate agents only make money if your child actually works as a performer.
Your child’s agent will call you with the time and place, and details such as the names of the project, director, producer, casting director and ad agency if it’s a commercial audition. Keep a work diary to record this information; this will become very important should your child be booked. Take special note of shoot dates and inform your agent immediately of any scheduling conflict. Otherwise your child will be expected to be available on the shoot dates. Auditions must be held a reasonable length of time after school hours. Always arrive 10 to 15 minutes early and make sure you’ve read the breakdowns and scripts that your agent has provided. If you’re attending a commercial audition, remember to fill out the ACTRA sign-in sheets.
A parent or guardian of a child under 16 must be at the studio or accessible to the child at all times when the child is on set and must go with the child to and from the set or location. Stay with your child at all times.
If your child is going to miss more than two school days in a given week, the IPA requires that productions provide a qualified on-set tutor for your child. You will be responsible for coordinating work assignments between the school and set. Production is obliged to provide the curriculum outlined by your child’s principal.