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Creating my Start Pack

Learn how to create a Start Pack via a locked, semi-locked or open invite.

Updated over a week ago

πŸ” Anybody can create a Start Pack with their Default Access, however a Start Pack cannot be created or submitted by 3rd parties. πŸ–₯️ This feature is available to all devices.


Overview

There are a few ways to create a Start Pack for a production you've been hired to work on – a Locked Invite, Semi-Locked Invite or an Open Invite.

  • Locked Invites are typically emailed to you by someone in the production office or your department head. When you receive an email invite to access your Start Pack, you'll be asked to create a work profile and sign all your agreements, but in this case, all your deal points will be locked. In addition, whether you are being processed through payroll or accounts payable will be determined by the production office. If something is incorrect please reach out to your department head, production manager, or an accountant in the production office.
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  • Semi-Locked Invites allow you to access your Start Pack via a unique link created by production. The link allows you to access your Start Pack but unlike Locked Invites or Open Invites, you'll find that only some deal points have been locked, allowing you to set the rest of the deal points yourself.
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  • Open Invites allow you to access your Start Pack via a unique link or QR code and set all your own deal points that either you've agreed to with your department head or the production manager; or your deal based on the master use agreement signed between the production and your union. This is primarily used on larger productions to allow hundreds or thousands of Workers to onboard simultaneously.

Note: Start Packs cannot be accessed by simply signing up for a Circus account. You must access it through an email invite, link, or QR code. If you've already created a Circus account, however, because you were invited to a production as an Admin but would like to create a Start Pack for yourself, use the Open Invite Link or send yourself a Locked Invite.

Locked Invite

If you've received an email invite, click Start Onboarding. You'll be asked to either log in to your existing account or sign up for a new one.


Once logged in you'll be redirected to your Start Pack's welcome note. Please ensure you read it carefully as it may contain instructions for either completing the Start Pack or integral details for your employment.
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To proceed, click Onboard as [Your Role] to complete (or update) your work profile and sign all your agreements.

Note: if you've accidentally been sent an invite or are no longer working on the production, click on the Delete icon.


Semi-Locked Invite

If you've received an open invite by clicking a unique link sent to you, you'll be asked to either log in to your existing account or sign up for a new one to self-onboard.
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Once logged in you'll be redirected to your Start Pack's welcome note. When you proceed by clicking Onboard as [Your Role], however, you'll be asked to Set your Deal Points first, however in this case, some deal points have been locked by the production office and cannot be altered by you.
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​Complete the remainder of the deal points to proceed. For more information on Setting Deal Points, see below.

Open Invite

Much like a Semi-Locked Invite, if you've received an open invite by scanning a QR code using the camera on your mobile device, or clicking a unique link sent to you, you'll be asked to either log in to your existing account or sign up for a new one to self-onboard.
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Once logged in you'll be redirected to your Start Pack's welcome note just like a Locked Invite. When you proceed by clicking Onboard as [Your Role], however, you'll be asked to Set your Deal Points first.

Pro Tip: Ask customer support for an open invite by clicking on the live chat on the bottom right of your screen.

Setting my Deal Points

This section allows you to set your own deal points. If you're unsure of your deal points, don't worry – If the production is signatory to your union, your deal points such as your rate, guarantee and minimum call will automatically populate once you choose your union and role.

Here are the various deal points to set:

  • Union - Choose your union. If your union is not found under the dropdown menu, the production is not signatory to your union. Choose Non Union instead.
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  • Worker Type - indicate whether you are Crew, Cast or Background
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  • Role - Select your Role from the dropdown menu (Please note: union role names are provided by the unions directly, if your union role is missing, please contact Customer Support)
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  • Shooting Unit - Indicate if you are working on Main or Second Unit. This will help us default your Timesheets.
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  • Work Region - If the production you're working on is a multi-provincial or multi-state shoot, you may see two or more work regions. Select one or more to help us trigger certain agreements you will sign.
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  • Driving a Production Vehicle - If you're working in transport, locations, or security, you may be driving a production owned or rented vehicle. In this case, click on the checkbox as your drivers license will be required.

On the same page, you will then enter your compensation details.

  • Estimated Start Date - This date will appear on your contracts and be used to determine how to process your payment.
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  • Guarantee - If you're choosing a union role, this will default to the union standard, however, you can change the guarantee to the available options. If you're non union you may see more options such as Daily, Daily Flat, Weekly, Weekly Flat, or Per Episode for series.
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  • Minimum Call - This is the minimum amount of hours you're entitled to be paid on a daily or weekly basis. For example, if your minimum call is 8 hours and you only work 4, you'll still be paid for 8. The minimum call will default to union standards, however, it can be altered for non union roles.

  • Rate and Rate of Pay - Usually hourly, this rate is used to determine how to process straight time and overtime payment. It will default to union standards but can be edited to go above-scale if this has been negotiated between you and your department head, production manager or producer. Above-scale rates may be flagged for additional approval or edited by the production, however, you may proceed.
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  • Kits & Allowances (optional) - If you've been approved for a kit or allowance, toggle on this section, then choose the Kit or Allowance Type and add additional details such as:
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    • Rate & frequency (ie. $3 per day or $500.00 per week)

    • Usage - If the rate is applicable As Used, during Prep, during Prep & Shoot, during Shoot, or during the entire length of the production.

    • Limit - Some productions will pay the rate up to a limit, such as Weekly Max or a Total Max. In some cases, there is no limit. If after choosing a kit or allowance type and the rest auto-fills, these are the defaults set by the production and it is recommended not to change unless you have received approval from the Production Manager.

    • Cap - The Weekly Max or Total Max amount. For example, some studios will pay a Total Max of $1000.00 for a computer rental so it doesn't go beyond the actual value of the device.
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  • Special Deal Points (optional) - If you have agreed to additional deal points that you were unable to enter above toggle this section on, use this space to include those but the production may edit if it was not a part of the negotiated deal.
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  • Specific Work - If you see this, the studio has made this field mandatory for non union employees. In one paragraph, enter the what you responsibilities will be on the production.

Pro Tip: If any deal points are incorrect on your agreements, navigate back to this page to make any changes.


Once completed, ​click Save & Continue at the bottom of the page or device to complete (or update) your work profile and sign all your agreements.


If you are unable to proceed, there may be missing information above. Please ensure every mandatory field is completed.


Troubleshooting

What does it mean when I see a "Role already exists" error?

This means you've already submitted a Start Pack for this Production under this role.
If you need to adjust your rate or make changes to this Start Pack, please contact someone in the production office (PM or Accountant) to dispute or edit your invite.

I can't find my email invite

  • If you cannot find your invite email and you've already created an account, simply Log In. You'll find the Onboard button which you can click on from your dashboard

  • If after logging in or sign up, and your account does not take you to your production onboarding, click on the link again from your email after you have logged in

  • If the Start Pack has already been submitted for review, it cannot be edited or altered. You must reach out to the Production Office directly and ask them to "Dispute" your start pack to grant you edit access

Production has sent an invite but I still didn't receive an email

  • Make sure the invite was sent to the email you'd like to use for your Circus account. Your account will travel with you from job to job.

  • Make sure you're logged into the right account where the invite was sent. You can do this by clicking on your profile avatar on the bottom left, and the email associated with the account will be shown.

  • Check your Updates (for Gmail.com users), Newsletter, Junk or Spam folders or search for support@circushr.com as the sender. if you find it, make sure you mark that email as 'Not Spam' so you can receive future Circus invite emails without issue.

  • For Hotmail.com, Live.com or Outlook.com emails, check the Junk folder or search for support@circushr.com. If you find it, make sure you mark it as 'Not Junk'

My Deal Points are incorrect on my Start Pack

If you've accessed the Start Pack via an open invite (link or QR code; not email) and either your union affiliation, role, work dates, compensation or kit is incorrect, you can navigate back to the Set Deal Points page and make the changes yourself. After clicking Save, you'll see your changes after navigating back to your Start Pack.
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If you were sent a locked invite, you'll need to contact an Accountant or PM at the Production Office to correct the error. Once they make the change, you'll be notified via email and can proceed onboarding.

My Information is incorrect on my Start Pack

If your name, contact, union, billing or residency details are incorrect, go back to your work profile from the navigation on your left (on mobile click on the menu in the top left) and correct the error. After clicking Save, you'll see your changes after navigating back to your Start Pack.

How do I upgrade or submit a new role?

Circus operates on a "one start pack per role, per production" basis. So if you've been promoted or moved to a new role, either ask the production for a new invite email or use the Open Invite Link to create a new Start Pack.


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