Conclusions

conclusion Given these findings, opportunities for an actor of Asian heritage to be cast as a central character in a scripted television program broadcasted in Canada is extremely low. This makes it difficult for aspiring actors of Asian descent to pursue acting and without the ability to earn sufficient money from acting to sustain a career, this makes it even more challenging to channel their creativity to hone their craft. This lack of opportunity decimated generations of Asian actors, suffocating the pipeline for talent to develop and grow.

Therefore, additional funding dedicated to accelerating support and training for BPOC actors, filmmakers, and screen industry workers is a crucial first step to address this disparity.

Proposed Bill C-11

“Bill C-11, also known as the Online Streaming Act, will regulate online streaming services (aka “online undertakings”) under the same rules governing traditional broadcasters (aka “broadcast undertakings”), bringing them under the jurisdiction of the CRTC. This includes requiring streamers to provide funding support to the Canadian screen industry. Early readings mentioned serving the “needs and interests” of Canadians from “racialized communities,” among other groups. The Bill does not, however, explicitly call for production support for Black and racialized communities in the same way it does for Indigenous creators and French and English language minorities.”

—Canadian Independent Screen Fund