ACTRA Spotlight | ACTRA Toronto Reel Talk

ACTRA Spotlight is a podcast from ACTRA Toronto speaking with Canadian performers about their stories and work in the industry. ACTRA Toronto Reel Talk is a podcast and video series hosted by Kate Ziegler and Asante Tracey where real performers provide real perspectives on bargaining.

ACTRA Strike Authorization Vote Panel Discussion 12/20/2024

ACTRA Strike Authorization Vote Panel Discussion Listen to this exclusive panel discussion with ACTRA Toronto members Tantoo Cardinal, Shawn Doyle, Kevin Hanchard and Tatiana Maslany, hosted by ACTRA Toronto Executive Council member Amy Matysio, about the importance of a strike authorization vote during negotiations. Visit ACTRA Toronto's IPA Bargaining page: /episode/index/show/actra/id/34550530

John Cleland: "Perspectives on AI" 12/19/2024

John Cleland: "Perspectives on AI" In this episode, Asante Tracey speaks with ACTRA Toronto Executive Councillor and AI Subcommittee Co-Chair John Cleland about the critical implications of artificial intelligence (AI) in the entertainment industry. They discuss two key types of AI affecting performers: digital replicas and generative AI, and John highlights concerns such as the lack of consent protections, control over biometric data, and inadequate compensation for AI use. Further, John stresses the importance of ACTRA Members educating themselves, advocating for legislative protections, and actively participating in union efforts to address these challenges. /episode/index/show/actra/id/34521425

Jennifer Wigmore: "Be Strike Ready" 12/05/2024

Jennifer Wigmore: "Be Strike Ready" In this episode of ACTRA Toronto Reel Talk, IPA Bargaining Team Member Jennifer Wigmore joins host Kate Ziegler to discuss her experience as a performer and union representative, focusing on the challenges, priorities and what's at stake in IPA negotiations. Jennifer reflects on her time on the council in the 1990s, highlighting groundbreaking moments like integrating internet protections into the IPA—a reminder of the evolving nature of agreements. She underscores the importance of addressing digital streaming and residuals, citing the lack of protections for performers as streaming services dominate the industry. Jennifer also emphasizes the impact of self-tape auditions, highlighting their increased demands and hidden costs for actors. She stresses the critical need for updated language in agreements to protect performers in areas like AI, travel, and inflation while advocating for engagement by union members to ensure informed representation and collective progress. Ongoing updates about IPA Bargaining can be found here: /episode/index/show/actra/id/34284165

Tonjha Richardson: "Nothing Changes if Nothing Changes" 11/28/2024

Tonjha Richardson: "Nothing Changes if Nothing Changes" Asante Tracey chats with ACTRA Toronto Councillor & IPA Bargaining team member Tonjha Richardson about her extensive career, her return to the industry after a 15-year hiatus, and her current role on the Bargaining team. Tonjha discusses the "AIR" priorities—Artificial Intelligence and Accessibility, Inclusion and Inflation, and Residuals and Respect—and their significance in improving working conditions for performers. She shares insights into today's challenges facing performers, including unpaid work for self-tapes and the need for better wages, accessibility and residuals, while also highlighting the importance of fostering respect on set. Tonjha’s optimism, dedication and belief in the collective power of the union is an inspiration to fight for meaningful change. /episode/index/show/actra/id/34168910

Steven “Shack” Shackleton: "Stunt Performers" 11/20/2024

Steven “Shack” Shackleton: "Stunt Performers" In this episode of ACTRA Toronto Reel Talk, Kate Ziegler speaks with IPA bargaining team member and veteran stunt performer Steven “Shack” Shackleton about the unique challenges and contributions of the stunt community in the IPA Bargaining process. Shack highlights the critical priorities of "AIR"—Accessibility, Inclusion, Residuals, and Artificial Intelligence—focusing on AI-related concerns like deep fakes, data capture, and digital doubles, which could impact the livelihoods of performers. He also sheds light on the physical demands of stunt work and the importance of health and safety. The conversation underscores the growing representation of the stunt community within ACTRA Toronto, fostering unity and collaboration to ensure fair treatment and recognition for all members. /episode/index/show/actra/id/33976127

George Alevizos: "An Accessible Vision" 11/14/2024

George Alevizos: "An Accessible Vision" In this episode of ACTRA Toronto Reel Talk, Asante Tracey speaks with ACTRA Toronto VP, Councillor and IPA Bargaining team member George Alevizos about the challenges and aspirations of diverse performers in Canada. George shares his journey in the industry, his advocacy for accessibility and inclusion, and the critical issues facing diverse artists, such as AI’s impact and the need for genuine representation. He speaks passionately about the "AIR" priorities for bargaining—Accessibility, Inclusion, and Residuals—emphasising the importance of authentic opportunities for all artists. Watch now for an inspiring conversation on the power of representation and the future of diversity in our industry. /episode/index/show/actra/id/33886457

Cory Doran: "Voice Performers" 11/06/2024

Cory Doran: "Voice Performers" In this episode of ACTRA Toronto Reel Talk, ACTRA Award-winning voice performer and IPA bargaining team member Cory Doran speaks with Kate Ziegler about the challenges and opportunities facing performers today, including the importance of AI protections, fair compensation, and control over one's likeness, especially in the evolving voice and animation sectors. Cory also touches on the value of union solidarity, particularly for voice performers and precarious workers, as they navigate an industry reshaped by technology, inflation, and streaming. /episode/index/show/actra/id/33810332

Gugun Deep Singh: "Actors Are Labourers" 10/30/2024

Gugun Deep Singh: "Actors Are Labourers" In this episode of ACTRA Toronto Reel Talk, Asante Tracey sits down with ACTRA Toronto Councillor Gugun Deep Singh to discuss his journey as an actor and advocate, as well as key issues facing the industry as we head into IPA bargaining. Gugun explains the "AIR" acronym, referring to Accessibility, Inclusion, and Respect, and highlights the critical issues of artificial intelligence, fair wages, and residuals for performers. Gugun and Asante also discuss the importance of creating supportive and safe environments on set, inclusive practices, and setting standards for performers in a rapidly evolving landscape. /episode/index/show/actra/id/33646967

Amy Matysio: "Care On Set" 10/23/2024

Amy Matysio: "Care On Set" In our second episode of ACTRA Toronto Reel Talk, Kate Ziegler speaks with ACTRA Toronto VP and Councillor Amy Matysio. Amy shares her experiences preparing for union bargaining, discussing key issues such as the rise of AI in the industry, the challenges of self-taped auditions, and the economic pressures facing performers. She also emphasizes the need for updated protections, fair compensation, and greater respect and care for all performers. /episode/index/show/actra/id/33585392

Paul Constable: "Money Talks" 10/15/2024

Paul Constable: "Money Talks" Listen to the premiere episode of ACTRA Toronto Reel Talk, a new podcast and video series hosted by Kate Ziegler and Asante Tracey where real performers provide real perspectives on bargaining. In this episode, "Money Talks", Asante sits down with ACTRA Toronto Treasurer Paul Constable to discuss Paul's career, some of the issues facing performers today, the changing nature of auditions, the importance of diversity and accessibility, the impacts of AI, and more. You can also . /episode/index/show/actra/id/33469932

Deb McGrath, Eric Peterson, Kinley Mochrie & Paula Brancati from Junior's Giant, Part Two 10/05/2023

Deb McGrath, Eric Peterson, Kinley Mochrie & Paula Brancati from Junior's Giant, Part Two In Part Two of our exclusive #ACTRAspotlight conversation, join Junior's Giant director Paula Brancati, writer-actor Deb McGrath, actor Kinley Mochrie (who also serves as moderator) and actor Eric Peterson (winner of a 2023 Outstanding Performance ACTRA Award for his role) – for this discussion about everything from the importance of performers telling their own stories to advice for performers getting started in the industry (and more)! Junior’s Giant, a short film about how a close-knit grandfather and his trans granddaughter struggle when his dementia sparks an imaginary giant and gender confusion, has been hitting the festival scene this spring and summer…and picking up a few awards along the way! Missed part one of this great conversation? Listen here: /episode/index/show/actra/id/28003662

2023 ACTRA Award of Excellent Recipient Angelica Lisk-Hann In Conversation with Daniel Lavigne 09/22/2023

2023 ACTRA Award of Excellent Recipient Angelica Lisk-Hann In Conversation with Daniel Lavigne In our latest episode of ACTRA Spotlight, Stunt Performer and Coordinator Daniel Lavigne sat down with ACTRA Toronto's 2023 Award of Excellence recipient (and his sibling ACTRA Toronto member) Angelica Lisk-Hann for a heartfelt conversation about everything from the importance of mentorship to advice for her younger self to the legacy she wants to leave in the film industry (and more). /episode/index/show/actra/id/28107962

Deb McGrath, Eric Peterson, Kinley Mochrie & Paula Brancati from Junior's Giant, Part One 09/12/2023

Deb McGrath, Eric Peterson, Kinley Mochrie & Paula Brancati from Junior's Giant, Part One Join us as we have a delightful conversation with the cast and creators of the ACTRA Award-winning JUNIOR'S GIANT. Performer Kinley Mochrie (who also stars in the film) moderates the conversation with performer Eric Peterson, writer Deb McGrath and director Paula Brancati. Don't miss it! This is part one of a two part conversation - stay tuned for part two which will be released soon! /episode/index/show/actra/id/28003572

From the ACTRA Spotlight Archives: Bruce McCulloch, Vance Banzo and Tim Blair 06/02/2022

From the ACTRA Spotlight Archives: Bruce McCulloch, Vance Banzo and Tim Blair Join host David Gale in a funny and insightful episode of #ACTRAspotlight as he chats with Bruce McCulloch of The Kids In The Hall, and Vance Banzo and Tim Blair of TallBoyz. This episode was originally recorded in February, 2020, just before the pandemic hit and the world shut down. As such, we did not feel it appropriate to release at the time. However, since our recording The Kids In The Hall have produced their new season, and the TallBoyz second season debuted. The conversation with David is a compelling listen after two years, as Bruce reflects on his past with The Kids In The Hall, and working on the launch of TallBoyz. Vance and Tim then share stories about their show, and working with Bruce. /episode/index/show/actra/id/23296472

Dave Foley and Kevin McDonald of The Kids in the Hall 05/21/2022

Dave Foley and Kevin McDonald of The Kids in the Hall Join host Thom Allison in our latest episode of #ACTRAspotlight as we chat with Dave Foley and Kevin McDonald of The Kids in the Hall. Hear about what brought The Kids back for the new series, writing and developing new characters for the show, working together again, advice for sketch writers and performers, and more. Don't miss this great conversation and don't miss the new episodes of The Kids in the Hall on Amazon Prime! If you enjoy this episode, please check out other ACTRA Spotlights, where we've had in-depth discussions with Canadian performers including Bilal Baig & Fab Filippo, Jo Vannicola, Jean Yoon, Cara Ricketts, Karen Robinson, Peter Keleghan, Rick Mercer, and more. Watch The Kids in the Hall on Amazon Prime: https://www.primevideo.com/detail/0FH2H6ISQIZX8XOPPZDSLBT22H/ Watch this ACTRA Spotlight episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/oJiYVpumyok /episode/index/show/actra/id/23185496

Bilal Baig and Fab Filippo 10/05/2021

Bilal Baig and Fab Filippo Join ACTRA Toronto President David Gale in our latest episode of ACTRA Spotlight, where we chat with Bilal Baig and Fab Filippo, creators of the new CBC and HBO Max comedy Sort Of. Give a watch to the wonderful Sort Of, now streaming on CBC Gem! /episode/index/show/actra/id/20701862

Joanne Vannicola 06/23/2020

Joanne Vannicola Join host David Gale for an inspiring conversation with Emmy award-winning actor, author and activist Joanne Vannicola. Listen as Joanne discusses being a non-binary performer, their memorable acting roles over the years, becoming an author, their work with ACTRA Toronto as the chair of outACTRAto, and more. /episode/index/show/actra/id/14936264

Cara Ricketts 05/22/2020

Cara Ricketts Join host David Gale as we have a wonderful chat with the ACTRA Award-winning Cara Ricketts! Listen as Cara chats about life during COVID-19, reflects on her background in theatre, her time at the Canadian Film Centre, her award-winning role on Anne with an E, being second on the call sheet on Street Legal, video game performance in Far Cry, and more. /episode/index/show/actra/id/14526743

Jean Yoon 03/31/2020

Jean Yoon Join host David Gale as he chats with former ACTRA Spotlight host and co-star of Kim's Convenience, Jean Yoon! This podcast was recorded in front of a live audience at ACTRA Toronto's Winter Conference in February 2020. Listen as Jean talks about her role in smash hit Kim's Convenience, her past roles in stage and screen, living around the world, and more. /episode/index/show/actra/id/13782950

Peter Keleghan 01/06/2020

Peter Keleghan In our first ACTRA Spotlight of 2020, join host David Gale as he chats with former ACTRA Award of Excellence recipient Peter Keleghan. Peter is one of Canada's most well-known faces, having been the first Lloyd Braun in Seinfeld, plus starring in many famous Canadian shows including The Newsroom and The Red Green Show. Peter discusses his famous family connections, the origin of his name, how he helped instigate the creation of the Creative Arts Savings and Credit Union, and more! /episode/index/show/actra/id/12633149

Karen Robinson 11/29/2019

Karen Robinson Join host David Gale as he chats with the wonderful performer Karen Robinson. Karen is perhaps best known recently for her role of Ronnie Lee on the hit comedy Schitt's Creek, but has appeared across stage and screen in a career spanning more than two decades. In this episode she talks about her newfound fame thanks to Schitt's, her family life, her start in the business and her thoughtful perspectives on diversity in the film and TV industry. /episode/index/show/actra/id/12219719

Eric Peterson 10/09/2019

Eric Peterson Join host David Gale as he has a funny and engaging chat with the wonderful, award-winning actor Eric Peterson. Eric, a remarkable defender of Canadian content, has had many iconic roles over his career, including Oscar Leroy in Corner Gas and Leon Robinovitch in Street Legal, plus the internationally successful Billy Bishop Goes To War. In this episode, the past ACTRA Award of Excellence recipient discusses his long career in film and theatre, the importance of telling Canadian stories, and more. /episode/index/show/actra/id/11574905

Joey Klein 09/05/2019

Joey Klein Join host David Gale as he has an lively conversation with ACTRA Award winner-turned-filmmaker Joey Klein. Joey is the director of Castle In The Ground, a new feature (starring Alex Wolff, Neve Campbell and Imogen Poots) which is having its world premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival in 2019. In this episode David and Joey talk about his latest film, his filmmaking process and what it is like to be a part of the festival circuit. /episode/index/show/actra/id/11137502

Amy Jo Johnson 09/05/2019

Amy Jo Johnson Join host David Gale as he chats with ACTRA Toronto member Amy Jo Johnson, director of the new feature film Tammy's Always Dying, which is having its world premiere at the 2019 Toronto International Film Festival. Amy Jo is very well known for her roles in such iconic shows as Mighty Morphin Power Rangers, Felicity and Flashpoint, and in this conversation she talks about her transition from performer to filmmaker, her life in the business, and more. /episode/index/show/actra/id/11135975

Julian Richings 07/30/2019

Julian Richings Join host David Gale as he chats with one of the most recognizable faces in Canada, Julian Richings. Julian has had an incredibly successful and diverse career, with a particular focus on the horror and fantasy genres, being very well-known for playing 'Death' on Supernatural. In this episode he talks about this role and others from his career, including Hard Core Logo, Mimic, Doom Patrol, Patriot, Kingdom Hospital, The Time Shifters, John Woo's Once a Thief and more. /episode/index/show/actra/id/10708595

Jennifer, Tamara and Sarah Podemski 07/08/2019

Jennifer, Tamara and Sarah Podemski In this delightful episode, hosts Jean Yoon and David Gale as they chat with Jennifer Podemski, Tamara Podemski and Sarah Podemski! Their conversation covers a wide range of interesting subjects, including the Podemski's family background and growing up together, their careers in the business, memorable projects and stories over the years, and their work helping nurture artistry among Indigenous youth. You won't want to miss this wonderful and rich conversation with these treasured Canadian performers. /episode/index/show/actra/id/10433987

Mark Little 06/19/2019

Mark Little Join hosts David Gale and Jean Yoon as they chat with the ACTRA Award-winning comedian and performer Mark Little. Mark has an extensive career in comedy and animation, including Cavendish, Picnicface, Gary and His Demons and Cupcake & Dino: General Services. Hear about Mark's favourite comedians, his background in comedy and improv, the video he created which got over 32 million views and attracted the attention of Will Ferrell, and more! /episode/index/show/actra/id/10197587

Colin Mochrie 06/04/2019

Colin Mochrie Join hosts Jean Yoon and David Gale as they chat with the wonderful and funny Colin Mochrie. Colin is a comedy star, famously known for his work on the TV series Whose Line Is It Anyway? In this episode, Colin talks about his start in comedy and some of his early influences, tells some great stories from his extensive career and discusses his charitable work, family and involvement with ACTRA Toronto. And there's even some impromptu improv with Colin, Jean and David! /episode/index/show/actra/id/10035650

Bryn McAuley 05/21/2019

Bryn McAuley Hosts Jean Yoon and David Gale chat with the recent ACTRA Award winner of Outstanding Performance - Female Voice, Bryn McAuley. In this episode she talks about her start in the industry, her involvement with ACTRA Toronto and the Young Emerging Actors Assembly (YEAA) and even gives us a sample of some of the amazing voices she has performed in animation over the years. /episode/index/show/actra/id/9867455

Rick Mercer 05/07/2019

Rick Mercer Join hosts Jean Yoon and David Gale as they chat with the legendary Rick Mercer on ACTRA Spotlight. One of Canada's most recognizable personalities as host of the Rick Mercer Report, Rick discusses what he is up to nowadays, along with reminiscing about memorable stories and moments from his extensive career. /episode/index/show/actra/id/9677864

ACTRA Spotlight | ACTRA Toronto Reel Talk

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