This is a prime example of how thoughtless the ACTRA Diversity Committee is when it comes to the physically disabled. The able-bodied actors in the PSA point to their ethnicity as the reason they would be excluded The disabled actress talks about being excluded because of her physical condition Comparing what the actress in the wheelchair is going through in the Canadian film and tv industry with what the able bodied actors are going through because of their ethnicity is ludicrous. The older able bodied actress who was born in Spain says “We’ve got so much talent in this country, from every different ethnic background and every age, every part, every corner of the world…”It never occurred to her to mention the physically disabled when she was talking about ‘diversity’ within ACTRA.
Actra Manitoba PSA
Here’s an ACTRA Diversity PSA that was made by in Manitoba.
It’s better than anything that ACTRA Toronto’s Diversity Committee has done but it still makes the mistake of comparing what a person in a wheelchair goes through to what a person of color goes through. If that set or bg holding area wasn’t accessible to the actress in the wheelchair she wouldn’t have been working that day. The able bodied people of colour would have been able to work on a set and sit in a background holding area that wasn’t accessible to an actress in a wheelchair.
My Apologies for not posting lately
When is Actra going to really take issue with how physically challenged talent are treated in the Canadian film and television industry
ACTRA National created a new Youtube page.
ACTRA National didn’t post the Diversity PSA where all of the men in the office – except Art Hindle – turn into women on the new page but they did post the Diversity PSA where a woman in a wheelchair goes to a casting house that isn’t accessible. Watch the REEL WOMEN PSA on the new ACTRA National Youtube page. Listen to how detailed the actresses in that PSA get with the statistics. Why couldn’t ACTRA be that specific in regards to statistics about actors and bg performers with physical disabilities getting work in the Canadian film and tv industry? Click on the word ‘Videos’ next to the word ‘Home’ on the new ACTRA National Youtube page. Count the number of PSAs dealing with women in the Canadian film and tv industry. Compare that with what ACTRA has been doing in the way of PSAs for disabled ACTRA members. All of the women in those REEL WOMEN PSAs could become disabled at one point in their life in any number of ways.
Amazing Advocate
The disabled community is the world’s third-largest economic power
If this is the case why are people with disabilities treated like second class citizens
https://qz.com/work/1703963/businesses-should-pay-attention-to-consumers-with-disabilities/
Very interesting video on disability and the film industry
Shame On Actra
So Actra puts out another so called Diversity PSA Video and again they fail to mention anything about Dissbled individuals . This is Actras failed attempt at recognizing people with disabilities. A lady with a cane this does not in any way address the fact of casting houses and films sets not being accessible to disabled individuals like myself that rely on mobility devices such as powered wheel chairs and manual wheel chairs or people relying on mobility walkers or mobility scooters .
These videos being created by able bodied individuals are so short sighted on the serious issues that individuals like myself and others that live with severe mobility issues and the lack of accessibility. These PSA videos need to be created by and from individuals that face and deal with the lack of accessibility in our film industry and every day life. And not by an abled bodied individual that really has no understanding of the difficulties physically challenged individuals fight each and every day
This PSA is a disgrace and Actra Diversity committee should be ashamed of not properly representing People With disabilities I posted a comment regarding this fact let’s see how long before its deleted
To days post by Actra Diversity
Today once again disabled talent are left out of the conversation by Actra diversity. I posted a reply to their post let’s see how fast it gets deleted and I get blocked from posting on their page
Here is there Facebook post with screen shots to back it up disable individuals are not even mentioned in this post. What a disgrace Actra is.
Have you registered for the ACTRA CONFERENCE happening on Saturday September 21st yet? Check out this session below!:
Casting Coroner: How Diversity Drives The New Hit
Ever wonder how the casting process really works? Who makes the decisions, and what this means for actors? For answers to these questions and more, join the creative team behind Coroner, Canada’s #1 new drama — a female-driven show where the majority of primary characters are people of colour, Indigenous and/or LGBTQ+. This is a unique opportunity to hear how a top production team works, why diversity in television is critical, and how a focus on inclusive casting shapes an entire series.
Panellists: Adrienne Mitchell (executive producer/director), Morwyn Brebner (showrunner), Seneca Aaron (co-producer/writer), Nathalie Younglai (co-producer/writer), Motion (executive story editor/writer) and Lisa Parasyn (casting director)
Host: Nicole Stamp
Trigger warning: A 1:23 minute trailer for Coroner will be shown. Some of the images include drowning, slapping, swearing, the sight of blood, dead bodies and body parts and some sexual content.
More information and registration can be found here: https://www.actratoronto.com/members-conference/
Actra and the Canadian Film and Television Industry Needs to Change Their Behaviour
We Are Not Second Class Citizens
This ongoing discrimination against physically challenged individuals needs to stop now .we are not second class citizens. The government needs to do more to protect the rights of us disabled individuals we will no longer stay silent and out of sight
Hal Myshrall 