Dear member,
Here is the letter, co-signed by IATSE 514, that was sent to Quebec Premier François Legault last night.
Montreal, March 17, 2020
Mr. François Legault
Prime Minister
Quebec government
Subject: Coronavirus and filming
Mr. Prime Minister,
Our ten associations represent tens of thousands of artists and professionals who have decided to work together on common issues.
We are asking you to intervene directly with producers and broadcasters in order to put an immediate stop to the various filming activities deemed non-essential by the government, whether in television, film, new media or commercials. There is no need for a lengthy demonstration to illustrate the extent to which the instructions given by public health, particularly social distancing, are inapplicable on a film set or in the studio, environments where promiscuity is part of the working conditions.
In an industry with multiple employers, spread over dozens of workplaces and covering more than 1,200 productions per year, it does not seem wise to us that precautionary measures should be applied in a variable geometry and that the decision to continue operations rests solely with the producers or broadcasters. That is why we are asking you, as you have done for other sectors of economic activity, to order a halt to filming deemed non-essential by the government in Quebec until further notice.
We are not happy to make this request, since the precarious employment situation of artists and craftspeople means that any work stoppage will inevitably result in an immediate drop in income, but we consider it our duty to act as good citizens.
We thank you for the attention you will give to our joint approach and assure you of our fullest cooperation.
Yours sincerely, Mr. Prime Minister, our highest consideration and admiration for your leadership in these difficult times.
Daintry Dalton
Regional Executive Director
Alliance of Canadian Cinema, Television and Radio Artists (ACTRA)
Christian Bergeron
Agent d’affaires
Alliance internationale des employés de scène, de théâtre et de cinéma des États-Unis, de ses territoires et du Canada
(IATSE 514)
Christian Lemay
Directeur des affaires régionales
Alliance internationale des employés de scène, de théâtre et de cinéma des États-Unis, de ses territoires et du Canada
(IATSE 667)
Dominic Pilon
Président
Alliance québécoise des techniciens et techniciennes de l’image et du son (AQTIS)
Gabriel Pelletier
Président
Association des réalisateurs et réalisatrices du Québec (ARRQ)
Bethan Mowat
Présidente
Guilde canadienne des réalisateurs – Conseil du Québec (DGC – Québec)
Luc Fortin
Président
Guilde des musiciens et des musiciennes du Québec (GMMQ)
Mathieu Plante
Président
Société des auteurs de radio, télévision et cinéma (SARTEC)
Edgar Bori
Président
Société professionnelle des auteurs et des compositeurs du Québec (SPACQ)
Sophie Prégent
Présidente
Union des artistes (UDA)
