Industry Dictionary
What casting calls actually mean, defined by actors who've been there.
Abby Singer
The second-to-last shot of the day.
AI Likeness Rights
The right to control whether AI can clone your face, voice, or movements. The newest battleground in entertainment contracts. If the contract doesn't mention AI, ask why.
Avail
Short for 'availability check.' Production is asking if you're free on certain dates. It's not a booking — it's interest. Don't turn down other work for an avail alone.
AD (Assistant Director)
The person running the set — managing the schedule, calling shots, wrangling actors. The 1st AD is your main point of contact. When they say move, you move.
Advance Fee Scam
You're 'cast' but need to pay upfront for a background check, acting class, or headshot package. Real productions handle their own costs. Your wallet should stay in your pocket.
Ad-Lib
Improvised dialogue not in the script. Some directors love it, some hate it. Know which type you're working with before you start riffing.
Buy-Out
A one-time payment that covers all usage of your performance. No residuals.
Back to One
Reset to your starting position for another take. You'll hear this a lot. Get comfortable with doing the same thing over and over while making it look fresh.
Basecamp
Where the trailers, hair/makeup, and holding are set up, usually away from the actual filming location. Know where basecamp is before you wander around lost.
Bump
Extra pay for additional duties — getting a bump for driving your own car to set, doing stunts, or providing your own wardrobe. Always negotiate bumps upfront.
Booking
You got the job. A confirmed booking means dates, rate, and details are locked. This is the only stage where you should celebrate and clear your schedule.
Background
Also called extras or BG. You populate the scene — walking, sitting, being alive in the background. No lines, low pay, but it gets you on set and learning how things work.
Best Boy
The second-in-command to either the gaffer (best boy electric) or the key grip (best boy grip). The title has nothing to do with gender — it's an old industry term.
Bait and Switch
The casting call promises one thing (good rate, short shoot, professional set) and delivers another. By the time you realize, you're already on set and feel pressured to stay.
Blocking
The choreography of movement in a scene — where you walk, when you sit, how you cross the room. Directors set the blocking; you memorize it alongside your lines.
Competitive Rate
Casting call code for 'we're not going to tell you how much until you're hooked.'
Content Buyout
The platform owns your likeness and performance in perpetuity. No residuals, no reuse rights. Read the fine print.
Crafty
Short for craft services — the snack table on set. Quality ranges from a sad box of granola bars to a full spread. A good crafty can save a bad day.
Check the Gate
A holdover from film days meaning 'make sure nothing ruined that take.' Now it basically means 'we're moving on' — the scene is done.
Coverage
All the different angles and shots needed to edit a scene together — wide, medium, close-up, over-the-shoulder. More coverage means more takes, which means a longer day.
Call Time
The time you're expected on set, not the time you should start getting ready. Show up before call time. Being 'on time' in this industry means early.
Cold Read
Performing a scene with zero preparation — they hand you the script and you go. Tests your instincts and ability to make bold choices under pressure.
Chemistry Read
An audition where you read with another actor to see if you two have believable on-screen energy. Your scene partner's vibe matters as much as your performance.
Callback
You made the first cut — now they want to see you again. Callbacks mean you're in a small pool of finalists. Wear the same outfit you wore to the first audition.
Co-Star
A small speaking role, usually one or two scenes. Not the co-lead — in TV casting hierarchy, a co-star is below a guest star. Still a legitimate credit.
Continuity
Making sure everything matches between takes and setups — your hair, wardrobe, props, actions. If you scratched your nose on 'action' in take one, you do it every take.
Content Farm
A production company churning out high volumes of content with minimal budgets. Fast shoots, template scripts, low pay. Some are legitimate businesses; others are exploitative sweatshops.
CPA Model
Cost Per Acquisition — a business model where the platform spends money on ads to acquire viewers who then pay per episode. Your acting is literally a customer acquisition tool.
Creator Fund
Money platforms set aside to pay creators based on views or engagement. Sounds great until you do the math — creator fund payouts are usually pennies per thousand views.
Coin Unlock
The micro drama monetization model where viewers buy in-app coins to unlock episodes. Each episode costs 20-50 coins. This is where the real money is — for the platform, not you.
Casting Couch
The deeply toxic practice of demanding sexual favors in exchange for roles. It's not a joke, it's not 'how the industry works,' and it's not something you should ever accept. Report it.
Call Sheet
The daily schedule sent to cast and crew listing call times, locations, scenes, and contact info. Read it carefully — it's your bible for the next day.
Craft Services
The full name for crafty — the department that provides snacks and beverages throughout the day. Separate from catering, which handles full meals. Both matter more than you'd think.
Catering
Hot meals served at designated meal breaks. Union rules require a meal within 6 hours. Non-union? You might get pizza. You might get nothing. Pack snacks.
Day Player
An actor hired for one or a few days on a production, not the full shoot.
Deferred Pay
Compensation promised after the project sells or profits. Rarely pays out on indie films.
Day Rate
Your pay for a single day of work. Sounds simple until the 'day' stretches to 16 hours. Always clarify what a day rate covers — hours, overtime, and usage.
DP (Director of Photography)
Also called the cinematographer. They design the visual look of the film — lighting, camera angles, lens choices. The DP's choices directly affect how you look on screen.
DIT (Digital Imaging Technician)
Manages digital footage on set — backing up files, monitoring color and exposure in real time. They make sure no footage is lost. The unsung hero of digital filmmaking.
Exposure
Working for free in exchange for 'visibility.' Almost never worth it.
Exclusivity Clause
A contract term preventing you from working for competitors during a set period. Common in commercials and micro drama. Make sure the pay justifies the lockout.
Episode Rate
Pay per episode rather than per day. In micro drama, one day might cover 5-10 episodes, so the per-episode rate can be misleading. Always calculate your effective daily rate.
Forced Call
Being called back to set with less than the minimum rest period (usually 12 hours).
First Team
The principal actors in a scene. When the AD yells 'First team!', that's your cue to step onto the set while the stand-ins step off.
Flying In
Bringing something to set urgently — a prop, a costume piece, a person. 'We're flying in a new shirt' means wardrobe is running.
Favored Nations
Everyone gets the same deal — same rate, same perks, no special treatment. Sounds fair until you realize the lead and the day player are getting identical pay.
First Refusal
Before accepting a conflicting gig, you must check with the production that has first refusal on your dates. It's a courtesy hold — not a guarantee.
Featured Extra
Background talent who gets recognizable on-screen action — a reaction shot, handing something to the lead. More visible than regular BG, but still no lines.
Fi-Core (Financial Core)
A controversial status that lets SAG members work both union and non-union jobs. You keep basic union protections but lose voting rights and are generally shunned by union loyalists.
Golden Time
Overtime pay (usually double time) that kicks in after a certain number of hours.
Gate Is Good
Confirmation that the take is clean and usable. Once you hear this, you know the scene is wrapped and you're moving on.
Guest Star
A significant role in one or a few episodes of a series. Guest stars usually get featured billing and a higher rate than co-stars. A solid resume credit.
Gaffer
The head electrician on set, responsible for lighting execution based on the DP's vision. If a light is blinding you between takes, the gaffer is who adjusts it.
Grip
Crew members who handle non-electrical equipment — flags, diffusion, dollies, rigging. Grips shape and control light without touching the actual lamps. Strong arms required.
Ghost Production
A production company that books actors, sometimes even shoots footage, then vanishes — no pay, no responses, no finished product. Check company track records before committing.
Holding
The area where actors wait between scenes. Quality varies from green rooms to parking lots.
Hot Set
A set that's been dressed and lit for filming — do NOT touch anything. Moving a coffee cup on a hot set will earn you enemies faster than anything else on a shoot.
Hot Points
A warning yelled when crew members carry long objects (like C-stands or dolly track) through tight spaces. Duck or move — they mean it.
Hair and Makeup
The department that makes you camera-ready. Arrive with a clean face and dry hair unless told otherwise. Don't touch your face after they're done — seriously.
Honey Wagon
The trailer with restrooms (and sometimes small dressing rooms) on location. The name is ironic. Don't expect luxury — expect functional at best.
In Perpetuity
Legal speak for 'we own this forever.' If your contract includes this phrase, understand that there's no expiration date on how they can use your likeness.
Intimacy Coordinator
A trained professional who choreographs intimate scenes to keep actors safe and comfortable. If a scene involves nudity or physical intimacy and there's no IC, that's a red flag.
Kill Fee
Partial payment you receive when a project is cancelled after you've been booked. If there's no kill fee in your contract, you could lose the gig and get nothing.
Key Grip
The head of the grip department, working closely with the gaffer and DP. They oversee all rigging, camera movement equipment, and light-shaping tools.
Last Looks
The final touch-up from hair, makeup, and wardrobe right before the camera rolls. Your last chance to not have a stray hair immortalized on screen.
Likeness Rights
Your legal right to control how your image and appearance are used. Signing these away means they can put your face on a billboard without asking or paying extra.
Martini Shot
The last shot of the day. Named because the next shot is in a glass.
Meal Penalty
Extra pay owed to actors when the production doesn't break for meals on time. Union-enforced.
Magic Hour
The golden window of natural light right after sunrise or before sunset. Beautiful on camera, stressful in practice — you've got maybe 30 minutes to nail it.
Marks
Tape or dots on the floor showing where you need to stand. Hitting your marks while acting natural is harder than it sounds — it's one of the first things you learn on set.
Micro Drama
Serialized mini-episodes (60-90 seconds each) on platforms like ReelShort, DramaBox, and ShortTV. High volume, fast shoots, and a business model built on coin-based episode unlocks.
NDA
Non-Disclosure Agreement — you can't talk about the project, the set, or what happened. Standard on big productions, increasingly common on micro drama too.
New Media
SAG-AFTRA's catch-all category for content made primarily for internet distribution. Lower rates than traditional TV/film, but still union-protected if the production signs the New Media agreement.
Open Call
An audition anyone can attend without an appointment. Show up, wait in line, get your 60 seconds. Cattle calls are exhausting but they're how a lot of non-union actors get discovered.
Overtime
Extra pay after you exceed the standard work hours (usually 8 or 10 hours depending on the contract). Time-and-a-half first, then double time. On non-union sets, OT is often 'built into your rate.' Sure it is.
Platform Exclusivity
A contract clause locking your performance to one platform (e.g., ReelShort only) for a set period. Common in micro drama — always negotiate the duration.
Payment Window
The time between wrap and when you actually get paid. Micro drama platforms often take 60-90 days. Get it in writing.
Pickup Shot
A quick additional shot grabbed to fill a gap in coverage or fix something in editing. Sometimes scheduled after wrap, which is why your 'done by 6' becomes 7.
Picture Up
Warning that cameras are about to roll. Everybody quiet, phones off, no movement. The next thing you'll hear is 'rolling' and then 'action.'
Perpetuity
Forever. When a contract says 'in perpetuity,' they mean they can use your performance until the heat death of the universe. Negotiate a term limit if you can.
Pay or Play
A contract guarantee that you get paid whether or not they actually use you. Rare in non-union work, but worth asking for. It means they're committed to you.
Per Diem
A daily allowance for food and incidentals when working on location. Usually $50-$75/day on non-union shoots, if they offer it at all.
Pin
Stronger than an avail — they're putting a soft hold on you. You're likely getting the job, but it's still not confirmed. A pin with no booking can leave you in limbo.
Principal
A main speaking role — your face on screen, your lines in the script. Principal roles pay more and carry more weight on a resume than background work.
Photo Double
Someone who physically resembles a principal actor and fills in for shots where the face isn't visible — hands, over-the-shoulder, walking away. Pays more than background.
PA (Production Assistant)
The entry-level crew position that does everything — locking up streets, running errands, managing holding. PAs are overworked and underpaid. Treat them with respect.
Platform Exclusive
Content locked to a single platform. Your micro drama only lives on ReelShort or only on DramaBox. This limits your exposure and can restrict what you put on your reel.
Pay to Play
Any situation where you're asked to pay money to audition, get cast, or work. Legitimate productions never charge actors. If they want your money, not your talent, it's a scam.
Phantom Casting Call
A casting notice for a project that doesn't actually exist. Used to harvest headshots, personal info, or just waste your time. If you can't verify the production company, walk away.
Right of First Refusal
You're on hold for a job — can't accept other work for those dates without checking first.
Rapid Fire Schedule
Shooting 15-25 pages per day with minimal turnaround. Standard in micro drama, brutal in practice.
Room Tone
30 seconds of silence recorded on set so the sound editor can fill gaps in dialogue. Everyone freezes. It's the quietest a film set ever gets.
Residuals
Payments you receive each time your work airs, streams, or is reused. Union actors get these by contract. Non-union? You probably signed them away in a buyout.
Release
You've been un-booked. Either they went another direction or the project changed. A release should come with a kill fee if you had a signed contract.
Recurring
A character who appears in multiple episodes but isn't a series regular. You might work a few days per season. Great for income stability if the show keeps going.
Retention Rate
The percentage of viewers who keep watching past a certain point. Platforms track this obsessively. If retention drops, your show might get cancelled mid-season.
Self-Tape
An audition recorded by the actor at home and submitted digitally.
Sides
Selected pages from a script given to actors for auditions or scene preparation.
Series Regular
A multi-episode commitment as a recurring character. In micro drama, this can mean 3-10 episodes with an unpredictable schedule.
Second Team
The stand-ins and photo doubles who take the actors' places during lighting and camera setup. You stand on marks so the first team doesn't have to.
Striking
Taking down or removing a light, set piece, or prop. The crew yells 'striking!' as a warning before turning on a bright light. Cover your eyes.
Screen Test
An on-camera audition, often on the actual set with real lighting. Usually the final step before a major role is cast. Come camera-ready.
Stand-In
A person who matches an actor's height and coloring and stands on set during lighting and camera setup. It's not glamorous, but it's steady work and you learn a ton about how sets operate.
Stunt Double
A performer who takes the actor's place for dangerous or physically demanding scenes. Matched to the actor's build and coloring. The real MVPs of action filmmaking.
Script Supervisor
Tracks continuity, timing, and script changes — which hand held the cup, which direction you looked, how long the scene runs. They catch mistakes so editing doesn't break.
Short-Form Content
Video content under 10 minutes, usually 1-3 minutes per episode. Designed for phone scrolling. The acting is bigger, the edits are faster, and the schedule is brutal.
Scroll-Stopper
A scene or moment dramatic enough to make someone stop scrolling. In micro drama, your job is to be a scroll-stopper in the first 3 seconds of every episode.
Sides Request
When casting sends you specific script pages for your audition. Get them early if you can, but be prepared for them to change the morning of. Flexibility is the gig.
Slate
Your on-camera intro before an audition — name, agent (if any), and sometimes height or role. Keep it short, natural, and confident. The slate sets the tone for everything after.
SAG-Eligible
You've worked enough union jobs (or been Taft-Hartleyed) to join SAG-AFTRA but haven't paid dues yet. You can still work non-union, but once you join, you can't go back.
Scale
The minimum rate set by SAG-AFTRA for union work. 'Paying scale' means the floor rate. In non-union, there is no scale — you negotiate from zero.
Scale Plus Ten
Scale rate plus an extra 10% to cover your agent's commission, so you still take home full scale. Standard on union jobs when you have representation.
Stunt Coordinator
Plans and oversees all stunts and action sequences. If anyone asks you to do something physically dangerous without a stunt coordinator present, say no. Your safety is not negotiable.
Turnaround
The minimum hours of rest required between wrap and the next call time.
Table Read
The full cast reads the script aloud, usually seated around a table. Your first chance to hear the whole story and meet your castmates. Don't over-perform it.
Type Out
You don't match the physical description they're looking for. Nothing personal — they had a specific look in mind and you're not it. Move on to the next one.
Top of Show
The maximum rate a production will pay for a guest role. When they say 'top of show,' there's no negotiation — that's the ceiling for everyone at your level.
Taft-Hartley
A union waiver that lets a non-union actor work on a SAG-AFTRA production. It's your golden ticket into the union — once Taft-Hartleyed, you can join SAG on your next union job.
Usage
How and where your performance will be shown — TV, web, billboards, etc. The broader the usage, the more you should be paid. Always ask about usage before signing.
Under-Five
A role with fewer than five lines of dialogue. It's a stepping stone between extra work and a real part. Union actors get different rates for under-fives.
Utility Stunts
A catch-all stunt performer who can do a variety of basic stunt work — falls, hits, reactions. Not a specialist, but versatile enough to handle whatever the day throws at them.
Unpaid Trial
Working a day for free as a 'test' before they decide to hire you. If they need to see your work, that's what auditions are for. A trial day is a free labor day.
Vertical Video
Short-form content shot in 9:16 for mobile platforms (ReelShort, DramaBox, TikTok). Footage usually can't be used in a traditional acting reel.
Video Village
The cluster of monitors where the director, producers, and clients watch takes. The more chairs at video village, the more opinions you'll get on your performance.
Vertical Drama
Scripted short-form series shot in 9:16 vertical format for mobile platforms like ReelShort and DramaBox. Think telenovela meets TikTok. The fastest-growing format in entertainment right now.
Voucher
The paperwork you fill out at the end of a shoot day documenting your hours, rate, and any adjustments. No voucher, no pay. Fill it out correctly and keep a copy.
Wrap
We're done. Could mean done for the day ('that's a wrap on today') or done with the whole shoot ('that's a series wrap'). The best word in the English language after a 14-hour day.
Work for Hire
You create it, they own it. Under work-for-hire, the production company holds copyright to your performance. Standard in most acting contracts, but know what you're giving up.
Wardrobe
The costume department. They'll either dress you from their stock or ask you to bring options from your own closet. Treat the clothes well — some of them cost more than your day rate.
Weather Cover
A backup plan — an interior scene or alternative location ready in case weather kills the outdoor shoot. Good productions have weather cover; bad ones just send everyone home.