Thank you for your interest in the Directors Guild of Canada, British Columbia District Council (DGC BC)! The DGC BC is a Membership organization and does not do any hiring for productions. Productions, also known as Employers, are responsible for finding and hiring their own crew. Anyone who is legally eligible to work in Canada can work as a Helper Production Assistant in BC. 

If you are brand new to the film industry, you're in the right place! Below, we have detailed some basics to help you get started in the industry:

Finding Work | Your First Day | Make Sure You Get Paid! | Why Join the DGC BC?

Finding Work

Productions are responsible for finding and hiring their own crew. To find work as a Production Assistant, send your resume to each Production via email, using email addresses listed on the Production List. The productions on this list have signed to the DGC BC Collective Agreement and may be referred to as "DGC BC signatory" or a signatory production.

Quick Tips:

• Send your message to the attention of the Locations Department, as they are the department that hires Production Assistants.
• Keep your resume short, concise, and showcase your relevant skills.
• If you don't have film experience, show other situations when you've had to use skills like punctuality, reliability, willingness to follow instructions, and a great attitude. 

Networking is a key component for success in the film industry. Get to know the crew, especially your supervisors, and leave every job on a positive note. There are also groups on social media you can join where you can interact with seasoned pros and others like you who are just getting started.

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Your First Day

Before your first day you should know: where you're going, who you are reporting to, if you are on an eight (8) or fifteen (15) hour call (if they don't specify in advance, it's a 15 hour call), what time you should be there and the weather forecast.

On your first day, you may be asked to watch a set, parking lot, or other equipment. You could be instructed to lock up the public or perform light traffic control (you must have valid certification), run errands, change garbage/recycling cans or butt sweep. You could be responsible for prepping or wrapping a location or calling out shots. 

Your first day could be either overwhelming, or a bit boring. Try to keep an open mind and positive attitude in all cases.

Resources for Your First Day On Set: 

• Production Assistant Helper Manual
• Production Assistant Duties during COVID-19
• Your First Day as a PA
• PA Survival Guide
• Location Prep Guide
• Office PA Survival Guide
• Propane Heater Safety

Quick Tip: Have comfortable footwear! You'll be given a working lunch and have a long day on your feet.

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Make Sure You Get Paid!

A DGC BC signatory production (one that has signed to our Collective Agreement and appears on the production list) has hired you and you completed one (or more) exciting day(s) on set. Congratulations! Now it's time to make sure you get paid.

Step One: Fill Out Your Start Pack
If an issue were to arise between you and your Employer over the terms of your employment a verbal agreement would not be enforceable by the DGC BC. The only way to ensure that your employment terms can be protected, and that both you and your Employer are clear what those terms are, is to fill out and sign a Deal Memo as soon as you begin work. 

Step Two: Submit a Time Sheet
Often when the DGC BC gets calls from people who haven't gotten paid, it's because a time sheet wasn't submitted for them. This can be a simple case of miscommunication between you and the team you're working with. It's okay for you to ask whether you need to submit your time sheet or if someone on the team takes care of it. Every show is different and it's better to be proactive than to be missing a pay cheque right before rent is due! A good time to ask is when you're completing your start pack.

If in doubt, do your own time sheet and take a photo for your records

What happens if you don't get paid?
It's important that you deal with the situation right away and not wait until after the show has wrapped. If you haven't seen a pay cheque within two weeks after you worked:

1. Get in touch with your supervisor or the person who booked you for the gig to let them know you haven't been paid and ask (politely--remember, the industry is relationship-based!) if a time sheet was submitted for you.
2. If this doesn't result in you getting paid, you can also reach out to accounting to find out if: there are any missing paperwork issues to be resolved, a cheque was cut for you, and/or if it was mailed.

If you've exhausted all of your options dealing directly with production, you can contact the DGC BC Office and we will work with you to resolve the payroll issue. Have the following information ready when you contact the DGC BC:

• the name of the production
• the date(s) you worked
• your in and out times
• the name and contact information of the person who booked you for the work

Please don't wait too long to reach out! Often the production no longer exists and it becomes difficult (and sometimes not possible) to get an outstanding payment. 

Quick Tip: Track your days worked against the pay cheques you received so you'll know if you're missing one sooner than later! It might help if you track the dates and times you work in your phone's calendar app and keep text messages and screen shots where in and out times are discussed in case you need it later.

Resources On Getting Paid:

• Secure the Terms of Your Employment: Important Reminders Regarding Your Deal Memo
• Direct Deposit
• How Does Stat Holiday Pay Work Anyway?
• Residency Documents and CRA Requirements
• What are these deductions on my pay stub?

What does the DGC BC Collective Agreement Say?

As per Article 21.2 PAY DAY in the Collective Agreement: 

Employees shall be paid no later than the fourth work day following the week worked. If a Saturday, Sunday, or holiday falls on a regular paid day, payment will be made on the preceding work day. Every effort will be made by the Employer to distribute pay cheques to the Employees during their shifts that day. If, for any reason, this is not feasible in the case of any individual or group of Employees, the Employees involved shall be so notified by the Production Manager before the end of their shifts and advised by him/her as to the time when their pay cheques will be available. In any such case, the pay cheques shall be given to the Production Manager or his or her designee for distribution.

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Why Join the DGC BC?

When you work on a signatory production in a DGC BC job category, you are covered under the Collective Agreement. However, being covered under the Agreement and being a Member of the Union are two separate things.

The DGC BC is run by Members; they make decisions that shape the direction of the organization through the Executive Board which is elected for two-year terms from the membership by the Membership. The Executive Board is responsible for program and policy changes and approving expenditures. They are also responsible for the ratification and execution of the Collective Agreement.

So what are some of the benefits of becoming a Member of the DGC BC?

• Access to the Health and Welfare Plan (DGC Benefits, administered by DGC National) which includes access to short-term disability and the Member and Family Assistant Program (MAP).
• Participation in a Group RSP through the Canadian Entertainment Industry Retirement Plan (CEIRP). Under the DGC BC Collective Agreement, the employers pay into your RSP on top of your gross pay. Members can also voluntarily make RSP contributions through payroll deductions on top of the contribution from the employers.
• Invitations to exclusive industry events.
• Opportunity for growth through exclusive training opportunities.
• Networking opportunities (and other benefits) through industry partnerships such as Crazy8s, the Whistler Film Festival, the Vancouver International Film Festival and more.
• Access to the DGC Advantage Program which offers savings and discounts from various businesses. These partnerships include apparel, technology, tourism, and more.
• A profile on the DGC BC website which allows Members to have a short bio, photo, and an online resume.

In addition to the benefits listed above, the DGC BC provides Member Internal Avails Lists to signatory productions to assist them with crewing needs. These lists identify each Member in a category, their availability and contact information. Members also have access to additional resources to help them find work like the DGC BC's Weekly Availability Lists which are manually published on Mondays and Fridays.

Learn about Becoming a Member

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