PAYROLL AND RESIDENCY DOCUMENTS

The Casting Collective is not an agency.

Background artists are booked directly by the Casting Director and are paid by the production. No fees or commissions are charged to performers and they keep 100% of the money they earn. 

Payroll information.

When background artists create a profile at The Casting Collective their valid Canadian Social Insurance Number (SIN) will be required in order to verify their eligibility to work in Canada. Please note that Social Insurance Numbers are only visible to production's payroll departments, and only after performers have completed a booking.

Background artists must enter their complete home mailing address on their Casting Collective profile, as payroll departments require the performer's home address for payments. Note that addresses must contain a unit number (if applicable), city and postal code.

Background artists are considered self-employed direct hires (otherwise known as independent contractors) unless they have a registered Canadian Loan Out Corporation. Performers must retain copies of their timesheets and cheque stubs for their own records. The Casting Collective does not have access to performer's records of employment.

Payments to background artists are sent by cheque from the production. Cheques are mailed via Canada Post to the performer's home mailing address listed on their profile. Cheques usually arrive within 2 to 3 weeks from the performer's work date. Note that cheques may be delayed if the performer's home mailing address is incomplete or incorrect on their Casting Collective profile. In future, direct deposit will be available on select productions who offer that option.

Productions engage payroll companies to process timesheets and issue payments to all crew, cast and background artists. The payroll company also retains all records of employment. The two payroll companies that service the majority of productions shooting in British Columbia, Canada are listed below.

Entertainment Partners Payroll

Cast & Crew Payroll

Casting Directors and The Casting Collective are not the employer for background artists and do not have access to performer's records of employment. Please contact the appropriate payroll company for that information.

Canadian residency document requirements.

Productions require that all background artists, cast and crew members provide proof of residency documents for the Government of British Columbia's tax incentives that are offered to film and television productions. These documents allow productions to claim the labour tax credit and it's the number one reason that US film and television productions come to Canada.

Prior to working on a production, performers must upload the appropriate residency documents to their Casting Collective profile. A list of documents that productions will accept can be found on the Canadian Residency Declaration form. Note that income or financial details on these documents can be redacted or blacked out for privacy.

Background artists with work permits.

Background artists visiting Canada who have a work permit will need to submit copies of their valid work permit and SIN document to the payroll department. Social Insurance Numbers (SIN) that start with a 9 indicate that a work permit and SIN document are required.

Background artists can upload copies of their work permit and SIN document to their Casting Collective profile. Please ensure that these documents are valid and have not expired. Note that the payroll department will not be able to process timesheets for payment until they have all of this required information.

Background artists who are visiting Canada and do not have a work permit are unable to create a performer profile with The Casting Collective as they can not be considered for employment opportunities in Canada.

Pay rates for background artists.

The majority of background artists are non-union performers and are engaged per British Columbia Employment Standards.

The current minimum pay rate for non-union performers is $18.10 an hour which includes 4% vacation pay.

Productions who are signatory to the Union of BC Performers / ACTRA are required to engage a limited number of union performers as background artists. Please note that union members must be offered these positions prior to any other performers.

Questions regarding your pay cheque? 

If you have any questions or concerns regarding your cheque, please contact the production's payroll department directly. You can find their contact information in your call time details message.

A reminder that cheques will arrive by mail within 2 to 3 weeks from your work date. Please do not contact the payroll department regarding missing cheques unless the 3 week window has expired.

When contacting production's payroll department, please note the details below in your message:

- Your legal name

- Your payroll question 

- Your work date

- Your pay rate

- Your complete mailing address, including your unit number (if applicable), your city and your postal code.