Moving to Canada- TIPS for working on a SET or LIFESTYLE tips

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femmedirector

Active member
I am moving to Canada soon and would like advice about getting work.

Ideally, I would like to work on a show but have been calling a few offices and getting hit with the question, " Am I in the union?"

Of course, I am confused...What union do you need to belong to so that you can work freely on any set?

Any ideas about getting involved with TV work. I have a background in production and producing. I know I can be an asset to any set or TV station.

I would be most grateful for any other random work or lifestyle tips that one may have. I am looking to move and get settled. Any help or connection would help.

Thanks to all. :happy:
 
I would be most grateful for any other random work or lifestyle tips that one may have. I am looking to move and get settled. Any help or connection would help.
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What part of the country are you moving to?
 
femmedirector said:
Ideally, I would like to work on a show but have been calling a few offices and getting hit with the question, " Am I in the union?"

Of course, I am confused...What union do you need to belong to so that you can work freely on any set?
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You need to be a member of one or more of any of the Canadian IATSE locals (same IATSE as in the US); which local(s) you join depends upon what kind(s) of work you do. Or you'd join the DGA/Canada, or the Canadian Producers' Guild, etcetera. Same basic story as in the US, if you want to do union work.

Although if you are starting out, and are seeking PA-type work, that's not union anywhere, so for those gigs you won't need a card.

It's not easy for for US citizens to get work permits in the Canadian industry, without sponsors or waivers, which you hopefully have.

Good luck!

Keep us posted!
 
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The work Permit issue aside, almost all drama production work is union based in Canada. But almost all the Commercial and Music video work is not. So contact comercial companies for work. It has been a few years but Partners was big, and they had a few spin offs that kept many of my friends happilly employed. They are always looking for young energenic people to work long hours for not so much pay, but then you get the on set experience, and contacts that help you get in the unions.
 
Move fast, your US dollars are loosing value every days against strong Canadian dollar, 1 CDN = 1.07 US this morning, it's move so fast in the last few months.
 
Vancouver is a very nice city to live in, a little expensive but its not that bad. I've enjoyed visiting Toronto many times, but don't think I could ever live there, Toronto is probably just as expensive as Vancouver is. Also, it rains from like October to March. We get a little amount of snow if any, last year was an exception with about a month of it.
 
I dig Toronto.
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Yeah, Toronto is a great city, I love visiting but its a little to big for me to live there. Montreal is also a great city, extremely fun place to visit, when I was 18 we use to go up there to party cos the age limit was 18.
 
How do you get into the unions? Is it a clique thing or more legit with reasoning?
Which union do I need to get into? What is it called?
 
femmedirector said:
How do you get into the unions?
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(A) You get yourself hired onto a non-union project, which later gets organized as a union show. At the time the show is organized, you will apply for a card with whichever union local covers the particular position you're working. You will need to work a certain number of days, in order to qualify for the Industry Experience Roster; the exact number varies from union to union.

(B) You get yourself hired onto a union project, under a waiver which the appropriate department head, and producers sign and send out to the local under whose jurisdiction you are working. The usual basis for the waiver, is the claim that (1) there are no union members available, or (2) every available union person has turned down the job, or (3) you have specific abilities that make you an essential hire.

femmedirector said:
Is it a clique thing or more legit with reasoning?
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It's both.

All of the regulations are heavily legalized and rationalized and the IA's functions are absolutely rules-driven.

Your ability to work with your fellow members, and employ the system to your advantage, will be influenced by your clique-type skills.
 
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Sad Max said:
Although if you are starting out, and are seeking PA-type work, that's not union anywhere, so for those gigs you won't need a card.
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PAs are members of the Director's Guild here (DGC). Even location support is covered by the DGC now (called Location PA2).

If you want to work on sets, you need to be in NABET or IATSE. If you already belong to a union, you are supposed to be able to transfer your membership, but I have heard it can be a hassle. You can also apply as a permittee in the DGC for various positions, and work your way up to full membership.

There are plenty of non-union shoots here, so you might find work on those sets. If you want to work in television studios, send out some resumes to various stations. TSN, CITY-TV, CFTO, GLOBAL...you never know who might be looking for someone like yourself.

Toronto is a nice city. Clean, safe, multicultural...and expensive. Montreal is cheaper.
 
Will Toronto be the hot spot with the US currency shift? Or will Albany be the new Toronto??

-ab
 
just a tip: Except for Torontonians, everyone hates Toronto because the Torontonians believe that there is no world outside of Toronto. Everyone I know from Toronto who have moved out here to Vancouver never want to move back. And everyone I know from Vancouver who moved to Toronto to get a job ended up coming back. because in spite of what Torontonians say, Toronto sucks.

mor10
 
bikefilms said:
Will Toronto be the hot spot with the US currency shift? Or will Albany be the new Toronto??

-ab
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Toronto was already as hot as it could be a few years ago...not so much for the currency, but because there are so many quality crew people and the tax incentives were great. Vancouver has pulled some business away from Toronto.

Vancouver's industry has grown alot in last few years, is closer to L.A., and there is no time shift. Throw in the tax breaks, and you have a city full of productions.

If they built up Albany's infrastructure, built a bunch of studio space, moved a whole bunch of talented technical people there, and worked out tax incentives with New York state (they are in the capitol there, after all), then it could probably be as hot as any other city for film production.

You'd be better off hosing down Buffalo, airing it out, and starting to build from there....

Oh, and Morten...I know some Vancouver people, born and raised there, who left because the scene there sucked. All pot and no culture...but these are people with European backgrounds who spend alot of time abroad. I'm sure if you're a budleaf, beer and Kraft dinner type person, Vancouver is Mecca...

I'm a classic underachiever, and the people I met in film school from Vancouver made me look like a go getter on speed.

From what I hear, Vancouver is boring and Halifax rocks.
 
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DeSica said:
Oh, and Morten...I know some Vancouver people, born and raised there, who left because the scene there sucked. All pot and no culture...but these are people with European backgrounds who spend alot of time abroad. I'm sure if you're a budleaf, beer and Kraft dinner type person, Vancouver is Mecca...
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funny, seeing as I am a European who has spent a lot of time abroad and I detest both pot, beer and Kraft dinner.

but the fact that there are retards here who do smoke pot and don't understand the finer points of quality food doesn't exactly prove your point. They were shooting Smallville right outside my house two days ago. They shot a Lucy Liu movie in the building I worked in last year. I saw Jessica Alba about a month ago. and most of my [talented] friends (those willing to invest time and effort) have gotten jobs in movies, TV shows or production houses. all that's required is skill, attitude and something to offer.

mor10
*norwegian in exile*
 
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