a january of unemployment

And the film industry finds new reason to move out West.

Actra began their strike yesterday.

If you were on a show that was already in production (meaning you began filming prior to the Christmas holidays), your company most likely signed a letter of continuance in order to proceed with filming through the strike.

If you were working for a production that has yet to put anything in the can, you are most likely currently without employment.

Argh.

The silly problems holding back the film industry from flourishing in this city once again. SARS was a huge blow to Toronto. It has yet to fully recover from the effects of that summer. Now with this ACTRA strike along with the possible premature closure of Cinespace's Queens Quay studio space (MT28), we may be looking at a severe decline in production work in Eastern Canada.

Here's to hoping the strike doesn't last too long.

Everything happens for a reason...and with that attitude, I honestly look forward to seeing what comes of this strike and the online petition to save our industry from more bruises.