Happy Monday !

Did you hear? UBCP has negotiated in the BC Master Production Agreement a 1.5% wage increase effective March 31 2013, and another 1.5.% effective March 30 2014. If you're a voting member of UBCP, don't forget to add your voice to either approve and decline this proposal.

On another note, I fell upon an article in the Vernon Morning Star. The reporter interviewed actor, Nicole Fairbrother. First of all, congrats to Nicole on this great coverage.  Oh, and thanks for sending some love to Vancouver Actor's Guide during your interview.

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Fairbrother made further strides in her career through the Vancouver Actors Guide, an online actors' forum based in Vancouver. Through the site, she met actors who discussed everything from etiquette, to writing, to coaching.

"I met a number of mentors through the website. The community was so supportive. I met coaches that helped me with what I needed to do such as getting head shots taken," she said.

It was also through the website that Fairbrother landed herself an agent.

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But really, what was interesting about the article was hearing about the challenges that can make it harder for an actor to land work or dedicate the required time to get things going. Nicole recalled during one of her first interviews with an agent who said "You have three kids. You don't want to do this," while also expressing concern about living so far away.

I know that Nicole is not the only one with similar circumstances. Whether you have family obligations or just need to be able to put food on the table, there are a lot of challenges. But how do you get through it? Read the full article and you'll get a sense of one person's story.

(Source: http://www.vernonmorningstar.com/entertainment/192614031.html)

Kenji Maeda
CEO, Production Heads Network Inc.

UBCP CONCLUDES NEGOTIATIONS FOR BC MASTER PRODUCTION AGREEMENT
The tentative agreement contains a 1.5% general wage increase effective March 31, 2013 and another 1.5% increase effective March 30, 2014. It also provides for Stunt Coordinators to participate in residuals.
http://www.ubcp.com/press-releases/2013/03/union-of-bc-performers-concludes-negotiations-for-british-columbia-master-production-agreement-bcmpa/

HOLLYWOOD FILM SPENDING FALLS IN VANCOUVER AS TV PRODUCTIONS GROW
Total domestic and foreign production expenditures in and around Vancouver in 2012 was up 2.3 percent to $1.216 billion, against a year-earlier $1.189 billion spent locally.
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/hollywood-film-spending-falls-vancouver-428633

MORE MONEY SPENT ON TV AND FILM PRODUCTIONS DURING LAST YEAR, B.C. FILM COMMISSION REPORTS
"Job growth and business success depend on vibrant film and TV production, so the positive numbers for 2012 are welcome news," said B.C. Community, Sport and Cultural Development Minister Bill Bennett. While he said he was pleased B.C. "came a very close second" to Ontario, which offers more favourable tax incentives, he acknowledged the dramatic decline in production in the year's fourth quarter.
http://www.timescolonist.com/more-money-spent-on-tv-and-film-productions-during-last-year-b-c-film-commission-reports-1.90492

VERA FARMIGA ON HER ROLE IN PSYCHO-INSPIRED BATES MOTEL: 'SHE'S A PLAYGROUND FOR AN ACTRESS'
Vera Farmiga says she didn't spend much time thinking about the iconic character she plays in the new, revisionist TV thriller Bates Motel; that is, she didn't dwell on who Norman Bates' mother was, or what happened to make her the person she became in Alfred Hitchcock's 1960 film classic Psycho.
http://arts.nationalpost.com/2013/03/14/vera-farmiga-on-her-role-in-psycho-inspired-bates-motel-shes-a-playground-for-an-actress/

NEANDERTHAL ARTS FESTIVAL'S FUTURE IN DOUBT AFTER CO-PRODUCERS SPLIT
After three years of co-producing the Neanderthal Arts Festival, Upintheair has ended its collaboration with Left Right Minds and launched a new project, the rEvolver Theatre Festival. Upintheair's latest festival will also be staged at the Cultch but it will take place in May instead of July.
http://www.straight.com/arts/361046/neanderthal-arts-festivals-future-doubt-after-co-producers-split

MOM, I THINK WE NEED TO TALK ... ON STAGE
There was a time when theatre artists who had unresolved issues with their parents would turn them into lightly fictionalized characters in a play - and then tear them apart by proxy. Now, as part of our new "reality culture," more and more performers are dragging their real-life parents up on stage to air their dirty laundry in public - and allowing the older generation to return fire.
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/arts/theatre-and-performance/mom-i-think-we-need-to-talk-on-stage/article9789802/

DIGITAL HOLLYWOOD AND THE ROLE OF CONTENT CREATORS
It's a new age and as an award winning film maker who believes in knowing creative and technical craftsmanship, the art of telling the story at the highest possible standard, it is exciting and frightening economically at the same time.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/anna-wilding/digital-hollywood-and-the_b_2877807.html

DON'T AUDITION. SHOWCASE.
Why do I call it a "showcase" instead of an "audition"? Because this is your time to shine! This is why you have invested hours upon hours in class studying and performing! This is why you left being around your friends and family! This is why you skipped college, a promotion, even a marriage.
http://www.backstage.com/advice-for-actors/backstage-experts/dont-audition-showcase/

HOLLYWOOD NORTH: 15-YEAR-OLD VANCOUVER ACTRESS PLAYS BAD SEED IN SEEDS
Fifteen-year-old Abby Ross still laughs about landing the part of 15-year-old Anastasia on City TV's new sperm-donor sitcom, Seed (airing Monday nights). "It was my first role and I never thought I would get an actual TV show for my first real gig, so it was pretty amazing," the Vancouver actress told The Sun.
http://www.vancouversun.com/entertainment/Hollywood+North+year+Vancouver+actress+plays+seed+Seeds/8099576/story.html

LIVING VOICE WORKSHOPS AND COACHING
Voice Technique Workshop | April 5 - 7
Designed to build a complete voice practice for actors, singers and voice-over artists.
We will explore various techniques including: Projection, Resonance, Range, Articulation, Dialects & Character, Breath Support, Vocal Health, Nerve Control, Emotional Accessibility, Authentic Expression, and Approaching Song to provide a sound foundation upon which you can build your personal practice. Ongoing private coaching and resources available.
To register, for more information or to book a free consultation contact Danielle at 778 235 7696, livingvoicecoaching@gmail.com or www.livingvoice.ca

COMMERCIAL BOOKING WITH JEB BEACH
March 23 at the Foundry
Learn the finer points of how to book commercials with one of the most booking commercial actors around!
http://bit.ly/CommercialBookingJeb

WEEKEND INTENSIVE WITH MATTHEW HARRISON
MARCH 23 & 24 9am- 6pm
This workshop is renowned as an awesome experience. Hundreds and hundreds of actors have proclaimed that their career, artistic, and even life perspective has shifted at this workshop. It's where Matthew discovered and defined The Three Pillars of Acting. It's where acting, the art form of life is reconnected to life itself.   Through intensive focus exercises developed by Matthew Harrison, the actor is drawn out, into what The Foundry calls being 'vectors- out', the natural place where the performer can live truthfully in the scene.
Cost $408.80 (Includes Tax)
http://actorsfoundry.com/foundryintensive/

DIALECT COACHING | TONY ALCANTAR
Hollywood producers trust Tony Alcantar with their stars: Oscar-winner Halle Berry, Stellan Skarsgard, Sam Rockwell, Joel Edgerton, Elizabeth Banks, etc. You can trust him too! Tony is Vancouver's #1 dialect coach, recommended by agents and casting directors. Learn with confidence the most requested dialects and accents required for the Vancouver market. Book that role!
Contact: 604-418-1192, tonyalcantar1960@gmail.com

GVPTA ACTORS SYMPOSIUM
April 2 and 3
In partnership with the SFU School of Contemporary Arts, the GVPTA is pleased to announce our inaugural Actors Symposium. This 2-day session focuses on knowledge and skills to support theatre actors in their careers, beyond their artistic training and experience.
http://www.gvpta.ca/actors-symposium