Canadian Talent leading the way?

Canadian actors and independent producers have unveiled a new multiyear labour deal to send Hollywood a signal of industry stability.

The Independent Production Agreement, which covers a three-year period that kicks off December 31, is between ACTRA and the Canadian Film and Television Production Association (CFTPA), which represents independent producers, and its Quebec counterpart, l'Association des producteurs de films et de television du Quebec. The new IPA differs little from the current deal beyond giving performers a 2 percent rate increase in each of the three years as well as offering a rate increase for new-media residuals. And like the current agreement, the 2010-12 IPA will permit both sides to reopen the new-media provisions one year before the next IPA's expiry on December 31, 2012.

The new deal is designed to bring stability to an industry keen to draw Hollywood producers to Canada for location shoots.Both sides also said they looked at the bigger picture -- a Canadian film and TV production sector beset by a recession and a steep drop in U.S. location shooting -- before they reached a new deal.