Shifting the Lens
Why stronger performer careers matter to a sustainable and visible Canadian screen sector
Performers are often the most visible part of a screen production, yet their working realities remain poorly documented in Canada. Shifting the Lens begins to close that gap. The CMF, working with performers’ unions ACTRA and UDA, commissioned Abacus Data to survey nearly 1,000 performers about their careers, working conditions, representation, visibility, access to professional development, and concerns about artificial intelligence.
An advisory committee of English- and French-speaking performers from diverse backgrounds and communities across Canada helped shape the survey and interpret the findings. The research highlights challenges ranging from income instability and limited access to work to the cost of professional development. It also identifies opportunities to raise the profile of Canadian content and better support the country’s growing and diverse performer talent pool.
Below, we explore how these findings relate to the continued development of Canada’s screen industries.
Read the full reportKey findings
- Experienced performers face persistent income instability
The survey points to a highly experienced workforce facing persistent income instability. Nearly seven in ten respondents have worked as on-screen performers for more than a decade, yet 69% reported earning less than $20,000 from that work in 2024. Many also relied on income streams from outside the screen industry, suggesting that experience alone does not ensure a sustainable career. - Performer visibility differs sharply across markets
The findings show distinct realities between Quebec and the rest of Canada. In Quebec, 21% of respondents described a strong and consistent “star system” that benefits performers and productions, compared with only 3% outside Quebec. These differences could indicate differing opportunities for performers across the country to build public recognition contributing to the visibility and marketability of screen content. - Access to career development remains uneven
Training and mentorship can play an important role in supporting performers at different stages of their careers, but access remains a challenge. Cost was the most frequently cited barrier, identified by 56% of respondents, followed by scheduling conflicts and a lack of suitable programs. These barriers were more pronounced among Equity-Deserving groups. - Representation and workplace culture remain concerns
The survey indicates that representation is shaped not only by who appears on screen, but also by performers’ experiences in auditions and workplaces. Four in ten respondents reported experiencing harassment, discrimination, or microaggressions on a professional set or during an audition since 2021. Concerns also included stereotyping, typecasting, and pressure to downplay aspects of their identity to secure or maintain work. - AI is a growing concern for performers
Like many creative professionals in the screen industry, performers are navigating the growing impact of generative AI and its ability to replicate voices, images, and performances, creating unique challenges around consent and compensation. Although reported direct exposure remained limited,
Why it matters
These findings speak to the state and sustainability of the wider production ecosystem, in addition to performers themselves. Stronger performer careers can sustain the talent pool in emerging and established content creation hubs, helping Canadian stories connect with audiences, and increasing the visibility and marketability of Canadian content.
The results also give producers, broadcasters, unions, associations, community organizations, and governments a shared evidence base for discussing where support may have the greatest impact.
Considerations
- Support safer, more inclusive working environments.
Reports of typecasting, pressure to downplay identity, and on-set mistreatment suggest opportunities to strengthen inclusive creative practices and greater awareness of accommodation and workplace needs. - Deepen research on emerging and underrepresented realities.
Further research could explore whether growing production activity is creating lasting opportunities for performers in regions outside the main production hubs. Additionally, more targeted research could examine the experiences of Indigenous performers, whose participation in the survey was limited. - Strengthen performer data collection through PERSONA-ID.
In addition to the survey’s findings on demographic compositions, more systematic collection of performer PERSONA-ID data could help the CMF build a clearer picture of who is working in CMF-funded projects and how participation evolves over time. Tracking this over time would help identify regional and demographic trends and assess outcomes for performers and related CMF initiatives. - Increase access to affordable career development and visibility opportunities for Canadian talent.
Findings highlight the need for targeted, affordable professional development, mentorship, regional initiatives, and platforms that highlight Canadian performers, while being flexible enough to accommodate their busy lives. Future CMF Sector Development activities alongside partnerships with unions and other organizations could help address identified gaps by creating more accessible, lower, or no-cost opportunities for emerging and underrepresented talent.
Conclusions
Shifting the Lens does not provide a single prescription for Canada’s screen sector. It brings forward the voices of performers and identifies opportunities for further research, collaboration, and targeted support where they may be most needed.
For the CMF, the research establishes a foundation for considering performers more systematically in research and data collection, and for informing sector-wide priorities. Explore the full report for the complete findings, methodology, and regional and demographic breakdowns.
Read the full report