By Shereen Airth
Background Advocate Shereen Airth also volunteers as an On-Set Liaison Officer (OSLO). She has noticed that some parents and guardians of child performers working in the background don’t realize their kids are covered by minors’ rules, too. They are!
All of our most vulnerable performers are protected by ACTRA’s collective agreements, such as the Independent Production Agreement (IPA) or the National Commercial Agreement (NCA) and by Ontario’s Protecting Child Performers Act.
These are some of the areas covered:
- WORK HOURS
- TUTORING
- SUPERVISION
- REST, SNACKS & PLAY
- NIGHT SHOOTS
- INCOME PROTECTION
CHILD ADVOCATE:
“All child performers are covered,” says ACTRA Toronto’s Child Advocate, Christina Collins, “regardless of whether they have lines or are working in background. Come out to one of our parent education seminars, if you want to learn more.”
“All child performers are covered,” says ACTRA Toronto’s Child Advocate, Christina Collins, “regardless of whether they have lines or are working in background. Come out to one of our parent education seminars, if you want to learn more.”
The Child Advocate holds regular education seminars open to all parents and guardians of child performers and those thinking about entering the industry. Please send Christina an email (childadvocate@actratoronto.com) to get on the waiting list.
You can also download The Stage Parent Survival Guide for free. It is a useful tool and a fun read!
Do you have a question about the minors’ rules on a specific production? We are here for you and we have answers. Find the name of the Business Rep for a specific production by calling 416-928-2278 or looking here.
You are your child’s best advocate. Production sets are massive, with hundreds of unknowns and moving parts — equipment, people, traffic, firearms, special effects, animals and more! Our most vulnerable performers are your most valued asset.
Shereen Airth is ACTRA Toronto’s Background Advocate and an OSLO. She works as a background performer.
MORE:
- ACTRA Toronto’s Child Performers’ Page
- Burden Reduction Act 2017, Schedule 13 (amends some provisions of the Protecting Child Performers Act
- Parents have a responsibility under both the Protecting Child Performers Act and the Trustee Act to ensure their children’s earnings are protected. On ACTRA productions, 25 per cent of a child’s earnings over the first $5,000 are held in trust by the ACTRA Performers’ Rights Society’s (PRS) Minors’ Trust until the performer turns 18.
