What Am I Allowed to Do? - An Introduction to Reciprocal Agreements

You've heard all the statistics. You are aware that it is incredibly difficult to make a living as an actor and yet, you just can't seem to stay away. Then that fateful day comes when are granted the opportunity to join an actor's union and you simply can't resist. You take the plunge and decide that you are going to become a professional actor. Congratulations!

But what does it all mean? Well, other than the fact you are now certifiably insane, it means quite a few things actually.

I'm not going to talk about how you go about to join a union because the union websites contain a wealth of information (if you just do a little digging you, lazy bum - I've even linked them for you) to lead you to that point. I also will not discuss the pros and cons of joining a union because that is a personal decision that you should approach when you are ready. However, I will let you all in on a few tidbits I have picked up along the way about how the unions interact with each other. That said, this information should be taken with a grain of salt since I am no expert and rules can change. If you want clarification or confirmation on anything I write below, you'd best contact the numbers I have attached at the bottom of this note. You can also feel free to supplement any additional information in the comment section.

In the meantime though, please go ahead and bookmark this page, grab some coffee and hold on to your mouse, we are in for a bumpy ride.

First things first, what is a union?
Well, head on over to Wikipedia for a little extended reading on the subject. The first two paragraphs really sum it up nicely.

What unions actually affect actors?
Well, in Canada there currently are four(!) different actor's unions: the Alliance of Canadian Cinema, Television and Radio Artists (or ACTRA); the Canadian Actor's Equity Association (CAEA or Equity); l'Union des artistes (UdA); and the Union of BC Performer's (or UBCP) - this last one, as it's title implies, is only for actors working in British Columbia. Since I don't live there, I really don't know much about it and won't be mentioning it anymore.

So if you are an actor who lives in Ottawa (like me), you may be affected by up to three different unions, depending on the medium and the language you decide to work in.

The basic identities of each union can be summarized as follows (although there are exceptions in every case so you should always check just to be sure):
ACTRA - English language work in film, television, radio and any other form of media, new and old.
Equity - Any live performances in English, including (but not limited to) theatre, opera, concerts, musicals and ballets.
UdA - A conglomeration of ACTRA and Equity within the French language.

Ok, so if I decide to join one union, I don't need to worry about the others right? WRONG!

Each union has a series of agreements with each other and, depending on your status with the union, you are bound by these regulations.

Here's what I have found out about how it works:

ACTRA and Equity
If you are an ACTRA Apprentice, you are not allowed to do any non-union films. You can, however, still do non-union theatre productions. If you are a full ACTRA member, you are not allowed to do any non-union films AND any non-union theatre. If you are offered a role in a play you must contact your local EQUITY branch office and ask about joining.
If you are an Equity Apprentice, you are still allowed to do any non-union projects you want, film or theatre. Equity does not yet consider you a professional at this stage and so neither will ACTRA. If you are a full Equity member, you are not allowed to do any non-union films. If you are offered a role in a film you must contact your local ACTRA branch office and ask about joining.

Equity and UdA
If you are a member of either union, you are allowed to work on up to three (3) contracts per year in the other jurisdiction without being forced to join the other union. However, you can call the branch office and join at any time after purchasing your work permit if you so desire.

UdA and ACTRA
These unions DO NOT have a reciprocal agreement. If you are a member of ACTRA (full or Apprentice), you are allowed to do non-union work in French. Don't believe me? Then you can call the UdA office in Montreal just like I did and asked. The reverse is also true. If you are a member of UdA (full or stagiaire), you are allowed to do non-union work (in film anyway, since stage falls under Equity) in English.

I hope this helps clarify a few things for everyone. I have carefully looked up all the information I have posted here, either through phone calls or online research. If you would like to know specifically where I got everything, feel free to ask and I will send you links to some hefty reading material. Or, you can always call the following numbers:

ACTRA Ottawa - 613 565-2168 / ottawa@actra.ca
National Equity Office - 416 867-9165 / info@caea.com
UdA Montreal Branch - 514 288-6682 / endirect@uniondesartistes.com