BC’s film and TV actors get new protections amid MeToo movement

VANCOUVER (NEWS 1130) – Months after the MeToo movement emerged, the union for BC film and television actors is taking some extra steps to protect its own against sexual harassment. A new code of conduct, specifically for teachers of the Union of BC Performers (UBCP) and Alliance of Canadian Cinema, Television and Radio Artists (ACTRA), has been implemented.

Many of the teachers in BC are members of the organization.

The union’s Sue Brouse says performers are especially vulnerable when they enter the field, so there needs to be more of an ability to protect them. “This code also serves to inform the students of what their rights are. When you’re entering the field you don’t know that if you don’t want to do a scene or you don’t like the circumstances that you’ve ended up in, you have the right to say no.”

Instructors who agree to the voluntary code of conduct will have their names posted, and will be expected to refrain from discrimination and harassment. Those who breach the agreement will be disciplined through the union’s bylaw process.

Brouse adds a taskforce was set up in response to the MeToo movement and it will be responsible for monitoring those working to help mitigate the problem. “The work of the task force is primarily to identify where the gaps are, what the problems are and if there are solutions that we can implement.”

She points out this is just the first of many new initiatives to come for the union.

Late last year, ACTRA announced it was expanding its discipline processes surrounding sexual harassment and assault complaints.

UBCP/ACTRA is offering confidential, free professional counselling to its members if they have been sexually assaulted or harassed.

Women can contact the Battered Women Support Services by clicking here or calling 604.652.1010.

Men can contact the BC Society for Male Survivors of Sexual Abuse via email or by calling 604.682.6482.

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