ACTRA Commercials: Info for Parents

There is a lot to learn when your child begins working union jobs. Every commercial is structured differently, so another parent’s experience or payment may not match your child’s. The signed contract for each project is what matters.

1. Your child booked, what happens next?

The agency will send you the information available to us, including the shoot date, location, wardrobe instructions and any required paperwork.

Before the shoot, review:

• The company and product being advertised

• The type of commercial: television, digital, local, regional or national

• The length of the booking

• Any wardrobe or rehearsal requirements

• Any competing-brand restrictions

• Confidentiality and social-media instructions

Do not post about the booking, share photos from set or announce the commercial until production has publicly released it or given permission.

2. What should I keep from the shoot?

Keep a copy or clear photo of anything you sign, especially the commercial contract or work report.

The completed paperwork should show:

• Call time and finish time

• Meal time

• Wardrobe, rehearsal or travel time

• Overtime or additional work

• The performer’s category

• The media, territory and use being purchased

ACTRA’s commercial contract states that a completed digital copy should be provided to the performer during production.

Send a copy to the agency if we have not already received one.

3. Will we receive feedback?

Usually not.

Commercial productions rarely provide formal feedback after the shoot. Once your child wraps, the production moves into editing and post-production. Silence afterward does not mean anything went wrong.

The agency may not be told:

• Whether your child appears in the final edit

• When the commercial will be released

• Where it will air

• Whether a different version was selected

4. How does payment work?

Your child earns a session fee for attending and performing at the shoot. That payment is still owed even if the commercial is never released.

Under the ACTRA commercial paperwork, production must send the session payment to ACTRA no later than 15 business days after the work session. ACTRA and the agency must then receive and process it, so the family’s direct deposit may arrive later than that deadline.

A reasonable expectation is approximately three to four weeks after the shoot, although it can be faster or slower.

If no payment has arrived after four weeks, contact the agency so we can check on it.

5. What are session fees and use fees?

These are separate.

Session fee: Payment for your child’s time and performance during the shoot.

Use fee or residual: Payment for permission to use your child’s recorded performance in the finished advertisement.

Use payments can depend on:

• Whether the commercial is actually released

• Television, digital, social media, cinema or other media

• Canada, the United States or other territories

• Local, regional or national use

• How long the commercial will run

• Whether use was prepaid, bundled or paid in separate cycles

ACTRA describes residuals as use fees paid for the right to air or otherwise use the recorded performance.

Some union commercials include prepaid or bundled use. Others generate a separate payment when the commercial begins running. Do not compare payments between commercials without comparing the actual contracts.

6. Will there always be another payment?

No.

Possible outcomes include:

• Your child receives only the session payment because the commercial is not released.

• The session and initial use are included together.

• A separate use payment arrives after the commercial is released.

• Additional payments arrive if the advertiser renews or extends the campaign.

• Different versions, media or territories generate different payments.

The agency can confirm the structure once we receive the completed contract and payment paperwork.

7. Why is the deposit lower than the amount on the contract?

The gross amount is not necessarily the final deposit.

Depending on the performer’s membership status, province and contract, deductions may include:

• ACTRA working dues, service charges or permit fees

• Retirement or benefit deductions

• A legally required minor’s trust contribution

• Agency commission and applicable GST

• Other deductions shown on the payment statement

Minor trust requirements vary by province and agreement. Under the NCA, ACTRA provides specific minor trust paperwork, and ACTRA PRS tracks applicable trust contributions.

Always review the statement rather than calculating the expected deposit from the gross fee alone.

8. What happens if the commercial is renewed?

The advertiser may ask to continue using the commercial after the original term ends.

A renewal or extension may involve:

• Another use payment

• A new use period

• Additional media or territory

• An amendment or extension document

• Continued restrictions involving competing brands

Do not sign an extension, renewal, release or new usage agreement directly. Forward it to the agency for review.

9. What are commercial conflicts?

A commercial may prevent your child from advertising a competing product while the campaign is in use.

For example, a performer appearing in an advertisement for one bank, restaurant, vehicle company or mobile provider may temporarily be unavailable for certain competing brands.

Before accepting or auditioning for a similar product, tell the agency about the previous commercial. We will check the product category and contract.

10. What should I watch for after the shoot?

Watch for:

• A copy of the completed contract

• The session payment

• A separate use or residual payment

• A renewal or extension request

• The commercial appearing online or on television

• Continued use after the stated term

• Contact directly from production, payroll or the advertiser

If you see the commercial, save the link or note the date, time, platform and location. Do not assume an online commercial is being used improperly—the agency or ACTRA will need to compare it with the contracted rights.

11. When should I contact the agency?

Contact us when:

• Payment has not arrived after approximately four weeks

• You receive paperwork you do not understand

• Production asks your child to return for additional filming

• Your child is contacted directly about renewal or further use

• You see the commercial running beyond the expected period

• Your child is asked to audition for a competing brand

• Something unusual happened on set

• The hours or payment statement appear incorrect

Please do not contact the advertiser or production company about payment or usage unless the agency asks you to.

12. Attend All Heart’s weekly workshops

All Heart provides free workshops every Monday to help performers and parents understand auditions, bookings, union work, set expectations and the business side of the industry.

12:00 p.m. Pacific
1:00 p.m. Mountain
3:00 p.m. Eastern

Registration is available at the bottom of the All Heart Talent website (see below).

Important Note: The NCA’s published 2025–26 term ended May 31, 2026, but ACTRA’s Letter of Continuance states that those terms remain applicable until a successor agreement is negotiated and ratified or another agreement is reached. Exact rates and obligations should always be confirmed against the child’s current contract and ACTRA branch.