ACTRA FAQs - Nexus

Last Updated:

September 17, 2026

TMU has production liability insurance that covers most student film, television, and media productions. The university has added an additional insurance policy that covers production-related risks that may not be included under TMU’s standard liability insurance. This includes productions that involve external participants, such as:

Hired actors
Intimacy coordinators
Performers, models, or other non-TMU participants

This insurance is set up as a blanket policy, which means individual student productions do not need to be registered and you do not need to submit a list of crew members or participants for standard projects.

Advance approval is required if your production involves higher-risk activities, including:

Stunts
Pyrotechnics or fire-based special effects
Watercraft (boats, jet skis, etc.)

If your production includes any of these activities, additional insurance approval is required before filming begins.

You will need to complete a risk questionnaire (links below), which must be submitted to the insurance provider for review and approval.

If your production involves stunts, pyrotechnics, or watercraft, please allow as much advance notice as possible, ideally 15–30 days before filming. This allows enough time for the insurance provider to review the request. Policy #5ET246S5G needs to be added to the questionnaire forms below.

29003 (11-17) Pyrotechnic Supplemental Questionnaire.docx

29004 (11-17) Stunt Questionnaire.doc

29005 (11-17) Watercraft Questionnaire.doc

This insurance provides protection to ACTRA performers if they are injured on set, including paramedical and income replacement insurance. Please be advised that AoS insures only performers who are affiliated with ACTRA as full members, permittees or apprentices, and also any Background/Additional Background performers where a work voucher has been issued by ACTRA. AoS does not insure crew, directors, equipment, or friends and family who may appear on camera.

Please note that AoS covers ACTRA members for performance work in front of the camera only. Stunt performance, physical action and intimacy scenes are all covered under this policy.

Policy claims related to COVID-19 cases will not be covered by this policy unless there is proven evidence that the performer developed COVID due to something happening during your production (e.g. outbreak, etc.). There are additional insurance packages available to producers for additional coverage which can be viewed on the AoS website, but the cost of any additional coverage will be entirely borne by you. Protect yourselves and your talent but having strong COVID-19 protocols throughout your production period.

AoS does not replace or provide Commercial General Liability (CGL) insurance or Emergency Medical Travel insurance.

Please note AoS is unable to insure any productions that allow minors under the age of 18 to be part of any stunt safety/rigging protocols. AFBS requires that the stunt preparation team be composed of appropriately trained professionals above the age of majority.

Please be advised that ACTRA performers doing anything on set other than acting (e.g. if an ACTRA performer is asked to hold a camera and is injured), then the AoS policy will not apply. For your safety and theirs, please do not ask your performers to do anything other than perform.

ACTRA Toronto currently has an Agreement with Toronto Metropolitan University which allows Student Producers in specific programs to engage ACTRA members (Full, Apprentice and ACTRA Additional Background Performer AABP) in the productions required for their studies. This agreement provides student producers opportunities to work with professional performers.

Step 1 – Student Film Agreement

Student Producers should first obtain a current copy of the relevant Student Agreement 2025-2027.

Step 2 – Student Producer Registration Form

THIS MUST BE DONE BEFORE THE CASTING PROCESS BEGINS

Prior to the casting process, Student Producers MUST fill out the Student Production Registration form and submit it by email to studentfilm@actratoronto.com, and copy to Lesley Salvadori, Manager, Multimedia Production and Facilities.

This registers your project with ACTRA, signs your production on to the master agreement and allows the Student Producer to engage ACTRA members on their Production. By signing this form and sending it in to ACTRA, you are agreeing to abide by the terms and conditions of the Student Film Agreement that ACTRA has with your school. There is no requirement that all cast members be ACTRA Members.

Step 3 – Wait for An ACTRA Registration Number

Once the Student Producer Registration Form is received by ACTRA, you will be emailed an ACTRA Registration Number. You should provide this number to the Performers and include it on all your ACTRA paperwork.

When auditions are complete, if ACTRA Members are cast, the following information should

be submitted to ACTRA Toronto by email.

a) Cast List, prior to production

b) Shooting Schedule, prior to production

c) Script, prior to production

d) Budget, prior to production

e) Signed Contracts with performers, when available

f) Daily Work Reports, when available.

g) Any payments to performers and appropriate remittances, if applicable.

ACTRA Apprentice Members or AABP Members do not require an ACTRA Work Permit to participate in a registered Student Film nor would they be able to obtain a credit towards full

membership through their participation in a registered student film.

Step 4 – Provide Each Performer with a Contract

Each Performer should be provided with a contract containing the student producer contact

information and production title, as well as the role and dates of performance. The contract

should state that it is “subject to the terms and conditions of the Agreement between ACTRA and (the particular educational institution)”.

Step 5 – Be Prepared to Provide A Copy of the Agreement Between ACTRA and the University

Student Producers should be prepared to provide a copy of the agreement between Toronto Metropolitan University and ACTRA to performers cast in the student production.

Step 6 – COVID Protocols (no longer required)

Toronto Metropolitan University (formerly Ryerson University) and ACTRA recognize the difficulties which shooting in a time of pandemic adds to the responsibility of the Producer and have added an Addendum to the 2022-24 Student Producer Agreement between Toronto Metropolitan University (formerly Ryerson University) and ACTRA.

Step 7 – Form 14-RA Risk Assessment Low Budget

If your Production involves stunt or risk performances, please provide a brief description in the box below. AFBS reserves the right to assess the level of risk. Please attach this Risk Assessment Form as well as a copy of your cast list to the Accident on Set Application Form.

The Section 21 Film and Television Health and Safety Advisory Committee of the Ontario Ministry of Labour has issued a guidance document which all Producers in Ontario are required to observe.

ACTRA expects all Producers to adhere to the safe workplace requirements put in place by the Ontario Ministry of Labour including:

(a) The Producer shall draft their COVID Safety Protocols to ensure they’re meeting the current industry standard using the resource links provided below. The Protocol shall include the Producer’s testing plan for Performers.

(b) The Producer shall provide a copy of that Protocol to ACTRA not less than 3 business days before the start of work for any ACTRA member Performers.

(c) The Producer shall be responsible for ensuring that the protocols are distributed to, understood by and followed by all Cast, Crew and Production personnel.

In addition to the Section 21 Guidance document referenced above, please see these other resource links:

If you require further information about working with ACTRA, please contact:

Tricia Clarke, Business Representative

Film, Television & Digital Media

ACTRA Toronto

625 Church St., Suite 200

Toronto, Ontario, M4Y 2G1

416-642-6708/1-877-913-2278 toll-free

tclarke@actratoronto.com www.actratoronto.com

Accident on Set Insurance Coverage for TMU and The Creative School

The Creative School has bound an Accident on Set insurance policy for student productions. This policy is active from January 1, 2026 to December 31 2026 (the current maximum term of months). Our school’s AoS certificate number is 25735 which can be cited on all ACTRA paperwork. Students who wish to engage ACTRA performers may now do so with this policy in place, which functions much like workers’ compensation coverage (with some added benefits).

If an accident on set should happen, fill out Form 16 – Accident on Set Witness/Medical Aid Contact and Consent form. Make one copy of this form available to each witness and one copy available to the on-set medic if appropriate, and return to:

Actra Fraternal Benefit Society (AFBS).

1000 Yonge Street, Toronto, ON M4W 2K2

Phone: 416.967.6600 1.800.387.8897 Fax: 416.967.4744 1.888.804.8929

Email: admin@accidentonset.ca

Make sure you copy Tricia Clarke tclarke@actratoronto.com as well so ACTRA can check in on their member, and provide any required support as they deal with insurance and recovery.

Also send a copy to Lesley Salvadori, Manager, Multimedia Production and Facilities, so the University also has a record of the issue.

If a performer is injured on set, the student producer must complete the attached form (13-IR) Incident Accident Report. This form may be completed electronically, printed and signed. Alternatively, please PRINT information.and fax or scan and email the completed report to the ACTRA Fraternal Benefit Society (AFBS) which manages the AoS program at:

1.888.804.8929 or admin@accidentonset.ca.