ACTRA: Industry Dupes Lip Off

ACTRA is the Canadian equivalent of America's SAG. It is a guild that is supposed to look after the interests of Canadian actors and performers in film, television and on radio. Just last year, ACTRA went on strike to win a victory against the media cartels to protect Canadian performers rights online. Unfortunately, like SOCAN, they suckle a little too close to the corrupted belly of the business.

ACTRA spokesflunkies have come out of their little holes to attack Canadian dissent and in support of the broken and abusive, anti-consumer copyright regime proposed by bought man, Minister Jim Prentice. The CBC covers the petulant huffing of ACTRA:

The union for Canada's English-language performers is fuming over the government's decision to delay copyright reform legislation, demanding Minister of Industry Jim Prentice to "do the right thing" and ignore the protests of a "vocal minority.

"This government is turning its back on legislation that is long overdue. Politics must not trump policy," said Stephen Waddell, national executive director of the Alliance of Canadian Cinema, Television and Radio Artists, in a statement. "By not releasing the promised legislation, the government is causing further delays, and in the process shelving years of hard work."

In the interest of disclosure, I have been a dues paying member of ACTRA since 2000. The guild has done much to be proud of when it comes to protecting the rights of performers and advocating for Canadian culture. With all due respect, in this case they have their heads wedged firmly up their arses. The years of hard work cited above, have taken place in secret and have not involved all of the stake holders, in particular smaller Canadian creators, authors, musicians, libraries, educators and online rights activists. Mr. Stephen Waddell, as a representative of ACTRA, how dare you demand that the rights and concerns of your peers in other creative fields be ignored? To be sure, I will be addressing myself directly to ACTRA. This ignorant and petulant stance is not becoming of an organization that purports to protect the rights of artists. A delay costs us only time. That delay would allow for consultation, compromise and considered debate. Mr. Waddell and the fools at ACTRA and SOCAN are welcome to dangle their toes over the edge of a cliff and scream jump. We do not have to follow their ill considered and misguided advice. In short, Mr. Waddell and ACTRA can take a flying leap if they want but they can't do it in my name and they can't take me with them.

Here is the response I submitted to the CBC:

As a member of ACTRA, I am disappointed and dismayed with the guild's stance. The misplaced fears that seem to lie behind the willingness to abandon fair use provisions of copyright law smack of kowtowing to the corporate media cartels. ACTRA went on strike only a year ago to protect the rights of performers, in particular as regards online distribution, now they are ready to cut everyone else loose. That is a sad and selfish move on ACTRA's part and I will be writing to state my complaints to the membership and office.

I hope my fellow actors and performers will see through the heavily funded smoke and mirrors. You don't fix a broken window by burning down the house. Many of my peers are content creators as well as performers. I ask them to write to ACTRA as well. The haughty outrage coming from the guild has more to do with fear and greed than it has to do with rights and freedoms. I'm not famous or powerful but I hope the CBC will continue to give voice to the legitimate public concerns over this issue and not just listen to the payed flacks of the industry.

Yes. We are vocal. Perhaps. We're in the minority but I wouldn't be so sure of that. No. We will neither shut up nor will we go away. Yes. We will storm the gates with every means at our disposal and we will shout ourselves hoarse. When the curtain falls, we might very well be a resounding majority and we will fight until the fight is done. We will not stand idly by. Ladies and gentlemen, the gauntlet has been thrown down. It is time to kick some greedy ass. And Mr. Waddell, I think if you do a little rudimentary math, you will find that the well funded lobby, whose water you are carrying, represent a majority only of dollars. Your pissing and griping is for the benefit of a very few of the very wealthy. So please sir, since my dues help to pay your wages, go and fuck yourself.