ACTRA Spotlight | ACTRA Toronto Reel Talk

Part two of the conversation with Debra McGrath, Colin Mochrie, Kinley Mochrie, Outstanding Performance Non-Binary/Gender Non-Conforming Award winner Rabiya Mansoor along with Asher Rose and Madelaine Rose touches on what it meant to get their ACTRA card, why it's important to work with people you like on passion projects and actions they've taken that have felt gender affirming. We hope you enjoy...

Debra McGrath, Colin Mochrie and Kinley Mochrie joined Rabiya Mansoor, the inaugural Outstanding Performance Non-Binary/Gender Non-Confirming winner at the 23rd ACTRA Awards in Toronto, along with Asher Rose and Madelaine Rose, for a heartfelt and timely conversation about the passion behind the creation of this award, shaping authentic characters, and why it's so special to be recognized for who...

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: https://actratoronto.com/ipa-bargaining/  

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 d...

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...

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 con...

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 lik...

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 re...

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 uni...

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, a...

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,...

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 impo...

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 ge...

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).

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!

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...

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...

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!

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. Read more about Joanne's memoir, All We Knew But Couldn't Say : https://www.joannevannicol...

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.

Join host David Gale as he chats with former ACTRA Spotlight host, co-star of Kim's Convenience and 2020 ACTRA Award of Excellence recipient, Jean Yoon! This podcast was recorded in front of a live audience at ACTRA Toronto's Winter Conference in February 2020. In this episode Jean chats with David about her role as Umma on the smash hit Kim's Convenience, her past roles in stage and screen, livin...

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 h...

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 pers...

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 is the co-creator of the internationally successful Billy Bishop Goes To War . In this episode, the past ACTRA Awar...

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...