STUDENT ULB PROGRAM

Accessed by students who are producing for course credit or as part of their school curriculum.
  • All cast must be Canadian Citizens, Permanent Residents, or International Students cast as part of their program credit
  • In recognition of the need for diverse and inclusive casting, the producer commits to a casting process that considers all performers, regardless of age, sex, ethnicity, disability, race, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity or any other basis prohibited by law, subject to legitimate casting requirements.
  • Performers may negotiate a session fee or may agree to waive their fees (excluding Distributors Gross Revenue)
  • Should the production generate revenue, the Producer agrees to pay the Performers an amount equal to 5% of Distributor’s Gross Revenue
  • Affordable “Accident on Set Insurance” is required for any unpaid UBCP/ACTRA Members and is available by contacting AFBS
  • WorkSafeBC coverage is required by BC law for any paid performers
  • Commercial General Liability Insurance is required if stunts are to be performed. The school’s Commercial General Liability Insurance may be extended to the production

Simple Steps to working with Professional Talent:

Application

Insurance

Agreement

Return Forms

Application

At least five business days prior to first scheduled day of shooting, please submit the following to ulbprogram@ubcpactra.ca.

You MUST receive confirmation of your application from UBCP/ACTRA before contacting the insurance provider needed.

Insurance

Apply for the necessary insurance: 

  • Accident on Set Insurance:  If Union Members are not being paid, Accident on Set insurance is required. Apply for Accident on Set Insurance through AFBS (accidentonset.ca) by calling the program administrator in Toronto at 1 800 387-8897, extension 304, or by email admin@accidentonset.ca

    Please note that it may take up to five business days for AFBS to process insurance applications and their office hours are Monday to Thursday 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM ET.

     

  • WorkSafeBC insurance:  If you are paying a Performer, under BC law you are required to contact WCB regarding required employee coverage. Please forward the registration to your designated UBCP/ACTRA representative.

If your production requires stunts you will need the following:

  • Commercial General Liability (CGL): Productions which include stunts must have Commercial General Liability Insurance. Please see Schedule “A” of the Ultra-Low Budget agreement for the CGL insurance requirements. Please forward the CGL certificate to your designated UBCP/ACTRA representative.
  • A UBCP/ACTRA approved Stunt Coordinator – Click here for more info on Stunt Coordinators

Nudity,  Partial Nudity & Intimate Scenes Alert
Where a Production requires scenes of nudity, semi-nudity, implied nudity and/or scenes of an intimate, sexual, sensitive and/or highly emotional nature, the terms of Article A24 of the BCMPA shall apply. The Producer is also required to submit an intimacy rider no later than TWO (2) business days prior to the Performer’s engagement on the Production.
For more resources, click here

Agreement

Once you have completed Steps 1 & 2, UBCP/ACTRA will provide you with the Student Film ULB Agreement. Please sign and return it to UBCP/ACTRA.

Return Forms

Once you have provided UBCP/ACTRA with the signed Student Film ULB Agreement, you will be provided with Performer Forms.  Please have all union and non-union Performers (except background performers) sign the forms. Return these signed forms to UBCP along with a final cast list indicating each performer’s name, addresses, SIN, GST (if applicable) and the number of days worked.

Please note:  Productions which include stunts:  Productions which include stunts must have Commercial General Liability Insurance.  If your production includes stunts, please forward a copy of your CGLI certificate to UBCP at the time you send in your application.  Note, some schools may extend their Comprehensive General Liability Coverage to your production.  Please check with your school.

FAQs

The Student ULB program may be accessed by students who are producing for course credit or as part of their school curriculum.

No.

The Student ULB Program does not require the producer to pay Performers a session fee unless they negotiate one.  If you do pay a session fee, UBCP/ACTRA does not require you to make deductions under this program.

Accident on Set insurance from AFBS is required for all unpaid Union Members. Please see www.accidentonset.ca for additional information, or contact the Program Administrator at admin@accidentonset.ca.

WorkSafe BC insurance is required by BC Law if any Performers are receiving compensation (payment is not required under the Student ULB Program, but may be negotiated with Performers).

If your production includes stunts, UBCP/ACTRA requires you to have Commercial General Liability coverage (please see Schedule A for details).

All cast must be Canadian Citizens, Permanent Residents, or International Students cast as part of their program credit.

Many productions have both Union and non-Union members.  There is no limitation or restriction as to how many UBCP/ACTRA members you must cast. You may cast all UBCP/ACTRA members, or just one.

No.  Working on an ultra-low budget production does not count as a credit toward Union membership.

 The Ultra-Low Budget Program may allow Performers to stay overnight at a distant location. Please contact an Ultra-Low Budget administrator for more information about our travel requirements.

UBCP/ACTRA requires the address, SIN number, and number of days worked for each Performer.  This information is used by UBCP/ACTRA for the sole purpose of distributing residuals that may be owed to Performers should your project generate revenue.

Under the terms of the Student Film Agreement, the producer shall pay Performers an amount equal to 5% of the Distributor’s Gross Revenue.  If your production generates revenue, contact our Distribution Department at (604) 689-0727

Do you have a question that hasn’t been answered? E-mail ulbprogram@ubcpactra.ca or call (604) 689-0727.