Source : Globe & Mail

At the time I'm writing this, ACTRA is on strike.

To judge by the reaction, I'm amazed that many members of the Alliance of Canadian Cinema, Television and Radio Artists don't just give up and try a line of work that draws less contempt from the great, intolerant Canadian public.

The union, which represents 21,000 film, television and radio workers across Canada, is officially on strike in three provinces. It's a confusing matter because that doesn't mean TV, film and radio production has shut down. Many productions have signed "continuation letters," agreeing to the demands of the union, which includes a 5-per-cent increase in wages to performers, plus better benefits.

More money for Canadian performers is certainly part of the dispute that led to the first strike by ACTRA in its 64 years. But it's only part of it. In negotiations with the Canadian Film and Television Production Association, representing producers, the key issue is ACTRA members being paid for work circulating on the Internet, on cellphones and other "new" media. On Monday, the head of ACTRA said, "What the producers want is the right to distribute our members work, worldwide on the Internet, for free. That's not acceptable."

The issue seems clear enough -- ACTRA members refuse to work for free in media that are used increasingly by the public to access various forms of entertainment. Exactly what the producers group feels is not as clear. It appears they have two beefs. First, they claim ACTRA is asking too much in compensation for work in new media. Second, it says it will go to court to challenge the legality of a strike that, in reality, has not really happened yet -- sic the lawyers on those uppity losers is the gist.

It's surreal but enlightening, this dispute. It's particularly enlightening because the reaction to news of the ACTRA strike serves as a reminder of what a nasty, small-minded, unsophisticated little country Canada seems to be sometimes.

On this newspaper's website, when news of the ACTRA strike was posted, the dozens of comments were characterized by glee -- glee at the thought of actors on the picket line and having to perform "a real job" to pay the bills, and glee at the idea that anybody would notice because, well, nobody watches Canadian TV.

One person wrote, "Nothing could make me happier than to see these hacks out on strike indefinitely. The quality of Canadian productions are an embarrassment . . ." Another suggested that "nobody cares." Because, again, the assumption is that Canadian TV is crap and nobody ever watches it.

Well, the viewing numbers suggests that millions of Canadians watch certain Canadian TV shows, so the gleeful "nobody cares" attitude is simply wrong.

Worse, however, is the contempt for the principle that ACTRA members are entitled to be paid more for their work in areas of new technology. I suspect that those who sneer will only shrug when some National Hockey League players get a multimillion-dollar payday, both for playing hockey and in compensation for the myriad spinoffs, including use of their name or image in some computer game. And I suspect that those sneering on the sidelines practically cheer when some multimillionaire Hollywood actors are presented with a loot bag full of expensive gifts just for showing up at the Toronto International Film Festival.

Few actors or performers in Canada are well paid, let alone rich. They're asking for fair compensation, at a time when the TV, film and other entertainment industries are drooling at the prospect of making a ton of money from new technology.

Too many Canadians have crackpot ideas about access to entertainment and media. They expect to get it for free. Unless, of course, it emanates from Hollywood. Then, many Canadians are prepared to pay, in order to ensure that Tom Cruise or Julia Roberts continues to get $25-million (U.S.) per movie.

The vast majority of Canadian actors and performers are freelancers, endlessly looking for work. And being freelancers doesn't mean they have to work for free. No Canadian does, so actors and performers shouldn't be expected to do it.

© Globe and Mail