Glossary

Terms You Should Know In Acting

Action: This word begins the scene or commercial. This is your cue to start your dialogue and movements. If you're an extra, you will start on "Background Action." All extras start their movement on "Background Action," unless told otherwise by the A.D. or Director. (Background Action precedes Action).

A. D. : Assistant Director. There is usually more than one on the set. The A.D.'s will be guiding you throughout the day, so be nice.

A. D. R. : Additional Dialogue Recording. Sometimes the soundtrack does not come out good for a principal actor, but the film came out good in a certain scene. The actor then goes to a sound studio and watches the scene and as the scene plays, the actor, re-speaks his lines for a recording to be added later.

AFTRA/SAG: American Federation of Television and Radio Artists and/or Screen Actors Guild represent the entertainment industry in the United States.

Agent: A person who may solicit employment and negotiate contracts on behalf of performers they represent. An agent's commission is 10% for union projects.

Back to One: This means the scene will be done over again. When hearing this, you should return to your starting position and get ready to do the exact same thing you did before. Other terms used for this are: "From the top!" and "Reset!"

Blocking: This is the action that you will take in the scene. During rehearsal, you will go over blocking.

Body Double: A body double is used in place of the principal actor if the bodily requirements cannot be met by the principal actor. For instance, there is a scene which requires a runner's legs, but the principal actor isn't actually a runner. A professional runner would be hired, and his legs would be in the shot instead of the principal actor's legs.

Booking: This occurs when an agent, manager, or casting director wants you to work on a project. They will ask if you're available. If you are and you say yes, they will then book you on that job. This is a commitment! You cannot turn around the next day and cancel; if you do, you may never get called to work again.

Bump: Bumps are good! A bump is added pay. Anytime you do something extra, like get rained on or have a food fight, you get paid extra for that. The bump should be noted on your pay voucher.

Callback: This is a second interview or audition. This meeting is usually with the producers and/or directors; it is sometimes called a Producer's Session.

Call-Time: This is a very important time! This is the time you are expected to be on the set. You cannot be late. It's a good idea to be at least 15 minutes early.

Camera Left / Camera Right: This means the Camera's Left or Right, NOT your left or right.

Checking In: As soon as you get to the set, you need to check-in with an A.D. or a P.A. You will at that time get your voucher or contract.

Checking the Gate: You will hear this term when the Director is satisfied with the shot. This means they simply need to check the lens to make sure there was no dust or particles on it that would have wrecked the shot.

Franchised Agent: An agent approved by AFTRA and/or SAG. Union members may work only through franchised Agents.

Golden Time: As an actor under the age of 18 you will not experience this, but you may hear the term. Golden time begins after 16 hours of work (including meals). This is when you're making BIG BUCKS. Golden time is equal to your base rate per hour. For SAG extras, the base rate is $126.00. Therefore, you will be making $126.00 per hour, for every hour worked past the 16th hour, until you are wrapped.

Hiatus; This refers to the time when shows are on a break, when production is down. Hiatus usually begins in the middle of May and lasts until August, and again during the Holiday season in November and December. You will usually see a lot of reruns during and right after the Hiatus, since there are no new episodes in production.

Manager: A person who helps a performer to develop and advance their career by giving them personal attention and guidance, they also attempt to solicit work for their clients. Managers are neither franchised nor union-regulated.

Master: This is a wide shot of the scene where every actor is seen. This shot is usually taken before any close-ups.

Matching: Because different angles are needed for each scene's photography, the same scene is shot over and over and over again. Each angle of that same scene must match the Master. Therefore, every movement must be done exactly the same each time.

Meal Penalty: It is a union, as well as a state law, that you must be given a meal break every 6 hours. If you are a union member and you are not given a break, production must pay you a "meal penalty" for every half hour they have not fed you. If you are not a union member, you might not get the "meal penalty." Even though it is state law in California, some production companies don't always comply.

M. O. S. : Without sound. Derived from a German term meaning "without sound." Some scenes are shot M.O.S., and sound is added later.

M. O. W. : Movie of the Week. Most made-for-TV movies are referred to as M.O.W.'s.

Open Call: Everyone knows about those, it seems; they are auditions, also known as Cattle Calls. It is when the Casting Director publishes an audition for the public, instead of using the "breakdowns" system for Agents and Managers.

Out Time: This is the time between being "wrapped" or released from the set and checking out.

Omni: This term is for when the director wants all the background actors to speak out loud, or when the background is all saying the same thing together, like a chorus singing, or a group of soldiers all yelling "yes, sir!" Most of the time, the background actors do not get a bump for participating in an Omni.

P. A. : Production Assistant, Very similar to an A.D. and usually works for the 2nd Assistant Director.

Pantomime: This is what background talent usually does. It is the art of acting like you are doing something, but not actually doing it. Background actors are often asked to Pantomime conversation, this is because if the background actually spoke, you might not be able to hear the principal actors for the camera. So the background actors pretend to have a conversation with each other. Most good background actors just keep mouthing the words "Peas and carrots" for this, it has seemed to work fine so far in this industry.

Per Diem: Money given to the performer to cover daily expenses not provided for by production. Usually given when the production is shooting on location, outside of the L.A. area. Per Diem is paid for by the producer.

Photo-Double: A photo-double is used in place of the principal actor, if the principal actor is not clearly seen in the shot. For instance, the scene might require the principal actor to skateboard down a sidewalk. The principal actor may not be able to ride a skateboard very well, and for fear of bruising or messing up the actor's hair, a photo-double would be used. Depending on how dangerous the scene might be, and if there are any stunts involved, a stunt-double would be used instead.

Pickups: These are parts of the scene that the director wants to re-shoot. In this case, For Example: The A.D. will say,

"Picking up where Jennifer hits John with her purse." You then need to remember where you were and what you were doing at that moment in the scene.

Pilot: The first episode or first few episodes in a new TV series. The story and characters are set up and introduced in the pilot. Less than 1/4 of the new pilots shot each pilot season make it to the Television. Pilots are shot generally in January and February, and then again in July and August.

P. O. V. : Point of View. A view seen by the camera from a particular actor's position.

Prop: An object used in a scene by an actor. Generally, any object not nailed down on the set, that is not considered a piece of wardrobe, is considered a prop.

P. S. A. : Public Service Announcement. A type of commercial for something in the interest of the public; not an advertisement for a commercial product.

Rolling: This means that the camera is on and rolling film, and the scene is about to begin. This term is usually followed by "Speed" and then by "Action."

Scale: The term refers to the minimum pay rate you will be getting paid for working.

Second Unit: A second crew responsible for filming exterior shots such as scenery, and other shots that don't include the principal actors. Sometimes the term "Second Unit" also refers to the Stand-ins. For example: The A.D. might say, "O.K., bring the second unit in for setting up the next shot". Meaning the principal actors are free to leave the set and the Stand-ins are to replace them on the set, for adjusting lights and camera.

Sides: Parts of a script that are used by the actor in auditions and on the set.

Slate: This is the clapper which is put on film at the beginning of each scene to identify that scene. It's also when an actor states his name and other facts to identify himself at an audition. -

Spec: This refers to someone who shows up on the set unexpectedly with hopes of being booked.

Speed: This term is shouted by the sound mixer to let the director know that the sound equipment is turned on and recording.

Stand-in: A person who is hired that has the same physical appearance as a principal actor. This person stands-in for the principal when the crew is adjusting the lights and camera for the next shot. Quite often the Stand-in is also used as a Photo-Double.

Take: A scene filmed or televised without interrupting the run of the camera.

Under 5: The term refers to a principal actor in a TV show, who has 5 or less total lines of dialogue.

Upgrade: This means more money! This occurs when an extra is upgraded to Stand-in, Photo Double, or Principal Actor.

Voice Over: A narration added to a piece of film after the film is shot. Cartoon voices and Commercial narrators are examples of Voice Over.

Voucher: This is your "time card," the proof that you have worked. Make sure you have it signed at check-out at the end of the day, and that you have a copy of it. If there are any problems with your pay, you and your manager cannot do anything without a copy of your voucher.

Wardrobe Allowance: This is a fee you are paid to either wear your own clothing in a scene or change costumes for another scene, if you are a union member.

Wild Track: Sometimes referred to as "Walla Walla," since that's what it sounds like. The term refers to the sound of a crowd scene, conversation, murmuring, that is added to a scene.

Wrap: You are released from the set when you are no longer needed; you are "Wrapped." It also means that the Director is done shooting for the day, when he says "That's a wrap."