ACTRA Toronto’s Winter MEMBERS’ CONFERENCE February 21 to 23, 2018 HOW TO REGISTER • the fastest way to register is online: www.actratoronto.com • by fax (416) 928-0429 • or drop off your workshop choices at ACTRA Toronto, 625 Church St., 1st floor Please register by February 19, 2018 All workshops and master classes are subject to change. The conference is FREE to ACTRA Toronto members who register. HOW TO APPLY FOR A MASTER CLASS • Participants should apply at www.actratoronto.com with your photo and résumé and any other requirements for that particular master class. • We encourage performers with disabilities to apply. Master class participants must apply February 12, 2018
FREE ONSITE CHILDCARE IS AVAILABLE! Childcare will be provided by Improv Care. Please visit our website to complete the registration form or call 416-642-6741 for more details. Space is limited and will be booked on a first-come-first-served basis. BOOK EXCHANGE TABLE - Do you have a shelf full of acting technique books and plays from university that are just collecting dust? What about novels or non-fiction? Give them new life by bringing them in to donate or trade them for something new to read! Anyone can grab a book, even without something to trade. Read on, ACTRA!
WINTER CONFERENCE – DAY ONE
Wednesday, February 21, 2018 Ted Rogers School of Management (7th floor, 55 Dundas Street West, Ryerson)
8:30am 9:00am-10:00am
Registration & Breakfast Breakfast with the Cast of Workin’ Moms Currently airing Season 2 on CBC, this runaway hit has not only Moms, but Dads, Aunts, Uncles, Cousins, and everyone else completely hooked! In two minutes, you’ll go from laughing hysterically, to shocked, to tears, and right back to laughing again. This clever and witty show is brutally honest and completely relatable in every way. Come sit in with the cast while they dish out the downlow on this Canadian gem of a show!
24-Hour Co-Op Challenge
Full Day Workshop – 10:15am – 5:30pm
If you've ever dreamed of creating your own work then this session will provide you with the tools, resources and connections to create your own scene in 24 hours or less. Take control of your career, while gaining a comprehensive knowledge of the storytelling process. The session consists of a short workshop, networking and a 24-hour challenge. Selected films will be screened at the plenary. Bring your smartest friends, a script or idea and leave owning your craft. This year, we want to tell dynamic, diverse stories with women in the driver's seat - So build your teams, ensuring your group is comprised of 2 of the 3 keys being a female creative - Producer, Writer, Director. As per ACTRA COOP, all performers must be ACTRA, but you can build your crew with anyone in or out of the union. Participants will be pre-selected. Please see MASTER CLASS application details. PLEASE NOTE THAT THIS WORKSHOP IS A FULL-DAY COMMITMENT
1
Morning – 10:15am – Noon Get in the Room: Headshot Master Class Is your headshot getting you in the room? Join us for a Master Class that will de-mystify the process of getting a headshot that gets you working. Toronto Photographer Denise Grant will share her tips & tricks for getting a Superstar shot. Talent agent Andre Newell of Carrier Talent Management will offer insight into what your agent is looking for, and Toronto Make-up artist
Esther Kieselhof will go through the steps to achieving the perfect, polished make-up look for your brand. Our carefully selected industry professionals will share the secrets to a “Perfect Headshot” in this interactive seminar. Learn a few tricks of the trade and come home with a greater sense of what it takes to make it. You don’t want to miss this. Participants will be pre-selected. Please see MASTER CLASS application details. 2
Nailing the One-Liner Renowned Casting Director Ron Leach, who is celebrating 20 years of teaching his Acting & Auditioning Dynamics courses, will lead this workshop on how to create a full, yet subtle, performance for these tricky (and quick!) types of auditions. Audience members will be selected at random to participate.
3
Crossing the U.S. Border for Auditions and Work D’Alessio Law Group hosts an in-depth information session on artist visas and green cards. We'll go step-by-step through what is needed for the O-1 Artist/Entertainer Visa including getting a petitioner (a.k.a sponsor), job offer, and the 6 criteria test including the press, credits and letters of support. We'll also let you know what you should (and shouldn't) do when crossing the border. The wrong information can hurt your career!
4
Self-Tapes With more and more auditions using self-tapes, actors need to have the tools needed to create an audition that is memorable and that gets you booked. Members are invited to submit a “selftape” audition which will be seen by our panel, which includes a guest coach and casting director. During this Master Class we will work through the do’s and don’ts of self-taping. This session will empower attendees with the knowledge on what it takes to make a great self-tape in a safe-space that allows everyone to learn, create and explore performances constructively. Unlike an in-person audition, a self-tape doesn’t have the same one-on-one dynamic with a reader or casting director, worse yet. . .what if you can’t find a reader. Learn how to overcome the pitfalls of this medium and help you gain a powerful advantage for your next self-tape audition. Hosted by Angelica Alejandro Participants will be pre-selected. Please see MASTER CLASS application details. (Member submissions will be accepted with selected auditions presented in class for review)
12:15pm
Lunch (Courtesy of ACTRA Toronto)
1
Intimacy for the Screen 2.0
Early Afternoon – 1:30pm – 3:15pm
CANCELLED 2
Master Class with Guest Film & Television Director Sudz Sutherland of Hungry Eyes Media Here’s a chance to get up and work with multi-award-winning TV & Film Director Sudz Sutherland, who has directed (and written!) on diverse projects, including Love, Sex & Eating the Bones, Shoot the Messenger and many more. Sudz will direct actors in scenes from episodes he directed, and will give valuable, practical tips on how to prepare, how to audition, what directors are looking for in the room, and how to hit a home run in the big leagues. We can’t wait for this homegrown Director to share his knowledge and expertise with our ACTRA members. This is a Masterclass; participants should apply ahead of time and expect to arrive off-book. Participants will be pre-selected. Please see MASTER CLASS application details.
3
Demystifying the Information – Background, Blacklisting, Blocking and Bananas. Oh my! Open to all AABP, Apprentice and Full Members who choose to work in the Background Category. Come one, come all! Let Staff, fellow Background Performers, and Union Officers correct the misinformation, provide the right answers, and perhaps a little Jeopardy at the end! Moderated by Shereen Airth
4
Taxes as an Artist Please join Certified Professional Accountant Brian Borts as he discusses what’s new In 2018 from CRA and the Federal Budget. For over 30 years Brian has specialized in meeting the accounting & financial needs of those in the arts & entertainment industry. Topics will include: HST/GST, RRSP over- contribution issues/ fines, CRA audits and post assessment reviews, deductible self- employment expenses, US/Canada residential and taxation issues, and new US tax legislation issues. Hosted by Iain Sanderson
1
Late Afternoon – 3:30pm – 5:30pm Masterclass with Director & Producer Adrienne Mitchell Join award-winning and proven dramatic director Adrienne Mitchell of Back Alley Film Productions in an acting master class. During her more than 20 year career, Adrienne has cocreated and directed numerous dramas including episodes of Bellevue, Durham County, Bomb Girls, and Bliss. Participants will be pre-selected. Please see MASTER CLASS application details.
2
Guns on Screen Using guns properly, safely and convincingly with the right style and body language to evoke a character... from cop to criminal! With Stunt Coordinator Angelica Lisk-Hann and Daniel Levinson owner of Rapier Wit Stage Combat School. Hosted by Jackie English.
3
Finding a flexible job as an actor You say to yourself...all this talent and no one is asking...good news... Our skills as actors are valued in many industries. Come and hear about who is hiring and about the job requirements. Panelists will include Greg White Mystery Shopper; Actor, Writer, Coach and founder of Nerve Strategic Inc. Marjorie Malpass, the Interpersonal Skills Teaching Centre (ISTC) at Ryerson University; Julie Brar Actor/Yoga Instructor; Mélanie Bray Actor/SP trainer and patient; Bruce Marshall Actor/Canada Post; and Liz Whitmere Actor/Proofreader. Also on the menu...what does it mean to be a role player, and information on a variety of jobs and how to book them. You will receive a handout with names and contact information.
4
Script Writing 101 In this workshop, moderator and screenwriter, Richard Young asks the question to established writers on a panel, Marvin Kaye (Mr. D., Less than Kind), and Ian Carpenter (Slasher, Sometimes the Good Kill): what were some of the early technical challenges in your writing and how did you deal with them? If you are an actor looking to expand your career into screenwriting or an intermediate writer looking for some interesting professional tips, this workshop will be an educational and entertainment experience for you.
5:30pm – 7:30pm
Wine & Cheese
WINTER CONFERENCE – DAY TWO
Thursday, February 22, 2018 Ted Rogers School of Management (7th floor, 55 Dundas Street West, Ryerson)
9:00am
1
Registration & Breakfast
An Actors Insight
Morning – 9:45am – 11:45am
An Actors Insight is not designed to teach one how to act. It is designed to inform one how to be an actor. You've learned the fundamentals of acting in film or theatre school, but you haven't been told what to do with all those tools once you're set free into the wild and wonderful world of film and television. Getting an agent, how to approach auditioning, head shots, relating to an agent- what do I do when I get a job? - are just some of the areas we'll focus on. Joel Keller will enforce these points and give one the 'proper' tools and mindset to confidently move forward into our ever-elusive industry. Moderated by David Macniven. 2
Social Media 1.0 What is your primary hit? What is your casting identity? What does your online presence convey to agents, casting directors and fans? If the online world overwhelms you and you want to build a community of people who support your work, learn the tools you need to survive the everchanging digital landscape. Lara Harb from thesocialmediaartist.com will share practical tips on: building an actor-friendly website, how to set-up your IMDB page and content strategies to maximize your posts. We will also explore how to create a powerful presence on the ACTRA Online member site and microsites to increase your exposure. This workshop will build a solid foundation and get you ready for Social Media 2.0. Hosted by Angelica Alejandro
3
Get Your Game On! Take a deeper look into preparing and acting for video games with master video game Actress: Ellen Dubin. Learn more of what it takes and what the world of game acting is about. We'll have you on your feet and reading copy to get a flavor of this work. With moderator: John Nelles
4
So you wanna make a movie?
5
Creating your own content is king! Actors are turning to producing to get their stories told and the roles they want. Learn how to get started and what to expect when you embark on your own filmmaking journey... With Dan Lyon from Telefilm and David Miller from A71 Productions. Hosted by Jackie English Self-Care for Performers This panel and workshop combo welcomes Leisa Bellmore, a shiatsu therapist, speaker and researcher working at the Artists’ Health Centre, and MSc candidate in Complementary Medicine
Research; Sara Moncrieff, healer, meditation and yoga instructor, and soul coach; Shivalee Paliwal, kundalini yoga instructor, mindfulness coach, creator of The Push Program - Innovative workshops and coaching designed to increase awareness and to improve attention; and Kyle Buchanan, actor, and nutritionist specializing in healthy weight management and anxiety. Each panelist will offer up their favourite self-care tips with time set aside for discussion and a Q&A period. Following the panel, Shivalee Paliwal will lead participants through a calming breath work and chair yoga sequence - something each performer will easily be able to take with them to work or on set! Shivalee’s workshop will be supported by Sara Moncrieff’s healing expertise as she guides participants toward connecting more deeply with their authentic selves through a grounding mindful meditation practice. Hosted by Samara Stern.
12:00pm 1:15pm to 3:15pm
Lunch (Courtesy of ACTRA Toronto) ACTRA Toronto AGM THE LAW ON SEXUAL HARRASSMENT Panel. Three lawyers provide an overview on the law of sexual harassment: • Labour / Human Rights / OHSA – Victoria Shen, ACTRA Toronto • Criminal Law – Deepa Mattoo, Barbra Schlifer Clinic • Civil Litigation / CICB / Defamation – Anna Matas, Lerners LLP ACTRA Toronto’s Operating Plan & Budget CO-OP Film Screening DOOR PRIZES!!
1
Afternoon – 3:30pm – 5:30pm Improv – Nurturing your creativity as an actor Quick! We need 3 suggestions from the audience: a place of study, a silly profession, and an international food! Okay, we heard: Ted Rogers School of Management (wow, pretty specific), commercial acting (definitely silly), and durian (huh? *) Toronto has been a hotbed of improv and sketch comedy going back to Wayne & Shuster, SCTV and Kids in the Hall. Why do improv comedians get so much work in commercials and on episodic shows? Because this discipline keeps you thinking, making choices and above all, listening to your scene partners - activities that all that read well on camera and make for interesting work. Also, they’re hilarious. Join a group of seasoned improv professionals for a loose workout that will energize your craft and heighten your audition prep. Audience participation is a must. Fun games will lead into structured exercises to put you in the right headspace for performing memorable, enjoyable auditions. *There will be no durian on the premises during this workshop.
2
Social Media 2.0: The PR Experience with Project Four PR Take your personal branding to the next level. Join us as we chat to entertainment publicist Amira de Vera of Project Four PR as she discusses the importance of publicity for emerging artists. How do you manage your social media presence when you’ve booked THE role that could break you? Or when you’ve created the project that could be the next Letterkenny? What can a publicist do for you? Just some of the many questions we’ll be covering in this afternoon’s session. Hosted by Aisha Evelyna.
3
Self-Taping for Voice and Camera, the gear you need and how to use it! Get the skills & tools to record auditions that will actually get you work. The industry has changed and now having a home studio at your disposal is rapidly becoming one of the most powerful weapons in the arsenal of any voice actor who wishes to stay competitive. But do you need a full studio? In the past, you would have used giant reels of tape and edited with razor blades, but fortunately today you don't need to build an addition onto your house or take out a second mortgage to equip yourself with a studio capable of providing auditions, or even broadcast quality audio. We will ease the learning curve and help you design the home recording studio of your dreams, for both on camera and voice. Then we will show you how easy it is to work with your phone or tablet right in our session. Be able to market yourself anywhere in the world and deliver your voice to your clients without leaving the comforts of home. Recording in your pajamas is optional. Join Christian Potenza (voice actor and man about town) and David Stinson (writer, producer, bottle washer) of Switchboard Sessions for a fun and edifying tutorial. This will be a fully interactive session for all levels of experience.
4
Plan to be a better actor by taking control of your money What if we said that learning how to budget and save is not only easier than you think, but can help you be a better actor? Imagine earning the funds for classes or headshots, going into an audition while not being stressed about bills, or being able to have a full life outside of the craft? ACTRA member Emily Nixon and Rags To Reasonable financial planner Chris Enns will impart their wisdom on how to correct or fine tune your finances (while speaking actors’ language) to help you save for your next class, next house, or for your retirement.
5
You and Your Union Do you have questions about the Union’s agreements or your rights as an ACTRA member? This year, we will be re-negotiating the Independent Production Agreement (IPA). Do you have observations or suggestions to share as we prepare for bargaining? Join ACTRA Toronto Executive members & Staff for this open session to discuss your questions, feedback and recommendations.
5:30pm – 7:30pm
Wine & Cheese
WINTER CONFERENCE – DAY THREE Friday, February 23, 2018 ACTRA Toronto offices (2nd floor, 625 Church Street)
9:30am to 11:30am
ACTRA Additional Background Performers (AABP) Caucus Join your 2016-2018 AABP Executive at the ACTRA Toronto offices to hear about the exciting initiatives they have undertaken on your behalf. This is also an Election Year! Your AABP Executive for 2018-2020 will be elected at this meeting. As many as seven (7) executive members may be elected. National by-laws dictate that those who wish to run must provide evidence (vouchers) of having completed at least 15 days of work on ACTRA sets as an AABP member over the last year (since February 22, 2017) to be eligible. Come on out and cast your vote! Please email
[email protected] if you wish to run for the ACTRA Toronto AABP Caucus Executive.
Noon to 2:00pm
ACTRA Apprentice Caucus Come out to the ACTRA Toronto offices to discuss issues important to Apprentice Members of ACTRA Toronto. This is also an Election Year! Your Apprentice Executive for 2018-2020 will be elected at this meeting. Apprentice members of ACTRA, in good standing, are eligible to run. As many as seven (7) members may be elected to the Apprentice Caucus Executive. Please come out and cast your vote! Please email
[email protected] if you wish to run for the ACTRA Toronto Apprentice Caucus Executive.
