Glossary of Acting Terms

ACTION PROPS: Objects used or handled by actors, as opposed to props used as set dressing only.

ACTION!: The order the director or first assistant gives to begin filming the scene.

ACTOR: A person who plays characters in film, theater or television projects. Actors get paid to play other people for the purpose of entertainment.

ACTORS EQUITY ASSOCIATION - Live theatre actor's union.

AFM: Assistant Floor Manager.

AFTRA- American Federation of TV and Radio Artists. Covers radio, vocal recording and soap operas. Nationally, AFTRA represents professional actors, news broadcasters and writers, announcers, vocalists, and others who work in the fields of television, radio, sound recordings, and industrial productions.

AGENT: This is the person who represents you, the person who acts as your contact with the film company, the person who will most likely get you an audition. They will also negotiate how much money you'll make if you do get a part, and never, ever forget you and your agent work for each other. Many beginner actors manage to get parts without an agent.

ASIDE- A part of dialogue that is spoken directly to the audience or away from your scene partner as an internal thought. Very common in Restoration Comedies and Shakespeare.

ASSISTANT DIRECTOR (AD): Person who assists the director.

ATMOSPHERE (Also known as ATMOS): The background sound recorded to cover possible unevenness of previously recorded background sounds from different shots.

AUDITION: An audition is where you will go to try out (read) to get a part in a film, television or theater project. Actors read from the script or side, and the director or casting agent considers if they match up with a character in the project.

AUDITION: This is what you go for in order to get the part. You prepare your scene, and try your best to be exactly what the casting director / team wants.

BACK LIGHT: Lights the back of the actor’s head/body as seen by the camera (to make the actor stand out.

BEST BOY: Chief assistant to the GAFFER (the chief electrician).

BG: Background.

BITE AND SMILE: Type of commercial, usually with a food product.

BLOCKING: The moves for a scene – can apply to the actor or the camera. Refers to where you walk, sit, cross the stage, enter, exit, etc. A director will usually 'block' a scene early in the rehearsal. Blocking can range from being very general; e.g. "enter here", "exit there" or very specific; e.g. "sit down at this line", etc.

BOOKING: The job. You will be 'booked' for a job, this means you are hired. Usually refers to on-camera work.

BOOM UP/DOWN: Moving the boom and its microphone up and down; or the camera up/down.

BOOM: Telescopic arm, usually mounted on a moveable platform, that holds the microphone above the heads of the actors.

BOOTH: The area in the theatre with the light and sound boards. Usually in the back of the theatre facing the stage.

BREAK: Stop working for a while - to take a break.

BUSINESS (or BIZ): Actions for an actor, usually involving a prop. Can also refer to the business aspects of the film.

BUST SHOT: A head shot of a single actor, from the bust up.

CALL TIME: For on-camera and theater. This is the time that you are called to be either at the theatre or on the set.

CAMERA CARDS: Cards attached to a camera in a multi-camera studio telling the operator what sort of shot (e.g., close up or CU) they should do at what time (e.g., shot number 47).

CLAPPER BOARD (also CLAPSTICK BOARD; SLATE): Used for shot, scene and take number in film (not video); the clap it makes help to synchronize sound and picture in the editing.

CLOSE-UP (or CU): A shot that includes only the face, or the neck and face or face, neck and shoulders of an actor.

CONTRAST RATIO: The difference between the brightest and darkest part of the picture. The human eye can cope with a contrast ratio of 100:1; film less than that and video much less than that. This leads to difficulties in shooting video against sunny windows because the faces appear too dark.

COPY- Usually refers to the script for commercial auditions. Sometimes only one or two lines.

COSTUME FITTING: You will be fitted for your costume by the costume designer or assistant. Usually you will be measured early in the rehearsal process and fitted with your costume latter.

COSTUME PARADE - At some point in the rehearsal process the actors will all 'model' their costumes or costume for the director. He/She will then either approve or discuss changes with the costume designer.

CRAB: Moving the camera sideways. Sometimes done on a "Crab Dolly."

CRANE: A device that can raise the camera up – anywhere from 6 feet up to rooftops.

CRAWL: Very slow movement of the camera.

CROSS-CUTTING: Used in editing. To cut back and forth, especially between two unrelated scenes where things are happening simultaneously.

CROSSING THE LINE: Getting the geography wrong and confusing the audience as to where everyone is. If two shots are taken of two actors talking to each other, then both cameras should be on the same side of an imaginary line drawn between them; if they are on opposite sides of the line, the two actors on screen will seem to be looking in the same direction rather than talking to each other.

CU: Close up.

CUE (Also Q): The signal to begin acting; often given as a hand signal from one of the production team.

CUE CARDS / IDIOT CARDS: Large sheets or cards containing the performer’s lines.

CURTAIN CALL: A term used in theatre where the performers come out on the stage at the conclusion of the performance for the audience to show their appreciation by clapping while the actors take a bow or two.

CUT: The opposite of Action – to stop everything – stop acting.

CUTTER: The editor – the person who puts all the different takes together to make the finished product.

CYCLORAMA: A large backdrop - it might be painted with an outdoor scene when the shoot is actually taking place inside a studio.

DAILIES (also RUSHES): Shots from the day before that are quickly developed in order to see which scenes should be re-shot.

DEEP FOCUS: Making sure that objects close (foreground) and far away (background) from the camera are in focus.

DEEPER: Farther away.

DEPTH-OF-FIELD: The area that is in focus.

DOLLY: The truck on wheels that allows the camera to move about the studio or to follow the action.

DOLLYING / TRACKING / TRUCKING): The camera is moving on the dolly to follow the action.

DOWNSTAGE: The front of the stage, towards the audience. Theatre stages used to be raked on an angle tilting towards the audience. That is where the term originates.

DRESS REHEARSAL- Rehearsal with all technical aspects and costumes and makeup.

DRY TECH: A rehearsal, usually without actors, when the director, stage manager and designers work out all the light and sound cues.

DUBBING: Transferring all the sound effects, music, replaced voices, etc. onto the finished tape.

EAR PROMPTER: Device used by industrial film actors. Earpiece connected to a small tape recorder. Worn during taping to help actors with often dense, technical scripts that are difficult to memorize.

ECU: Extreme Closeup.

EDITOR: The CUTTER. The person who puts all the different takes together to make the finished product.

ELS: Extreme long shot that is taken from far away.

ESTABLISHING SHOT: The shot at the beginning of a scene that lets the audience know where they are.

FG: Foreground. The area closest to the camera.

FILL LIGHT: The light that fills in the shadows caused by the KEY LIGHT.

FINAL PREVIEW: Final performance before opening night.

FINE CUT: The final product that the audience will see.

FISHPOLE: A portable boom with a microphone that is held to get the mike close to the performer but out of the frame (camera range).

FREEZE FRAME: Action is "frozen" - sometimes to end a scene.

FULL SHOT: A shot of the full body of an actor.

GAFFER: Chief electrician.

GREENROOM: The actors' lounge. Either in a theatre or production studio.

GRIP: Person who transports and sets up the camera equipment. Also the stage hands.

HALF HOUR: Actors will usually be given a 'half hour' call by the stage manager meaning there is a half hour before the show will begin.

HAND-HELD: The camera is held by hand without a CAMERA BOOM or on the cameraperson’s shoulder.

HOUSE MANAGER: The person who controls the house during the run of the show. Decides when to let the audience in, is in charge of the ushers and tells the stage manager when they can begin the show.

HOUSE OPEN: Actors will be told when the 'house is open' meaning the audience is being let into the theatre. Usually this is the actor's cue to get backstage.

IDIOT CARDS / CUE CARDS. Large sheets or cards containing the actors’ lines. A TELEPROMPTER may also be used.

IN THE CAN: The finished product.

INDUSTRIALS: Industrial Film. Refers to films made for corporations. Training films, product education, Human resource training, etc...Work on industrals often involves memorizing a lot of technical writing.

KEY LIGHT: The main light for an actor, usually it comes over the top of the camera and slightly off to the left or right of the camera.

KILL: Stop or turn off; e.g "KILL that light."

LIGHT BOARD: Either manual or computer operated. Operates the stage lights.

LIGHT CUES: A change in the stage lighting.

LINED SCRIPT: The script supervisor makes notations and vertical lines on the shooting script to indicate exactly which scenes has been shot; what script material has been covered; types of shots (close-up or long); changes made, etc. Lines might be straight or wavy or in different colors. The lined script helps the film editor to put the final product together.

LIVE INDUSTRIAL: Live performances for corporations, usually about products or services.

LOAD-IN: The process of bringing the set into the theatre, or building set pieces.

LS: Long shot. Shot from a distance.

MARKS: Tape or chalk marks to indicate where an actor should stand or move to. For example, "Be sure to hit your MARK."

MASTER SHOT: This is a usually a wide angle shot of the entire scene that is done first so that subsequent shots can be matched easily.

MATCHING: Editing and matching several pieces to produce a final fully integrated scene.

MCU: Medium close-up shot.

METHOD ACTING: - acting style in which the "true"( or "real") moment or response is performed. Actors try to feel and emulate the emotions of the character they are playing so that the actors' reactions and the characters' reactions would be as one.

MIXER: Sound technician who mixes together the various inputs from the different microphones to get the proper sound.

MONITOR: Usually for theater only. This is the person in charge of checking actors in, giving them sides and deciding the order that actors will read.

MOS: Made without sound (MUTE). Moments on screen with no dialogue. Reaction shots, visuals etc.

MS: Medium shot.

MUST JOIN: You will be referred to as a "must join" if it has been 30 days since your first SAG booking. You MUST join the union for your next union job.

NATURAL WIPE: Using a prop or actor in the scene to complete obliterate the scene before the transition takes place.

OC: Off-camera; out of view of the camera and therefore not seen.

OFF BOOK: Without the script in your hand. Usually you will have a deadline by which you need to have all your lines memorized or be 'off book'.

ON-BOOK: With the script in your hand. Usually refers to the time you are working with the script and it is not yet memorized.

ON-HOLD: A casting director will put you 'on hold' when you are wanted by the client for the job but not formally hired yet. You may not take other jobs that would conflict with the production dates during this time.

ON-CAMERA: Refers to anything on camera - tv/film/commercials/industrial film

OVER-THE-SHOULDER SHOT (OTS): A shot in which we look across the back of one actor to the face of the other.

PAN: Rotating the camera head horizontally while keeping the base still.

PAPERING THE HOUSE: sometimes the theatre will want to get the seats filled for a particular performance (usually if there is going to be a theatre critic in attendance that night) and will give away free tickets to anyone to fill the seats. Actors are often asked to spread the word to get people in the seats. This is called papering the house.

PHOTO CALL: Some actors may need to appear in publicity photos for a show. This usually happens 2-3 weeks before opening and a photo call will be scheduled.

PILOT: A pilot is an idea or a sample of a television show that the producers then try to sell to the networks. If the pilot is picked up by the network, it will be put on the schedule and will air for a trial period of usually 13 episodes.

POST-PRODUCTION: Editing, dubbing, special effects, etc. - everything that happens to a production after the shooting has finished.

POV: A POINT OF VIEW shot : "subjective camera - a shot that shows what a character sees.

PRACTICAL: A working prop; the term may be used to describe anything that actually works, such as a fan, light, television, etc.

PRESS OPENING: Some theatres will have a special performance before opening night to which members of the press (critics) are invited. Usually, critics are invited for opening night.

PREVIEW: Performance with an audience before the official opening night. Usually friends are invites but no press.

PRODUCER: This person acquires the cash, builds the crew and gets people together. The producer is a problem solver that gets things done. The producer and the director are the two major people of a production.

PRODUCTION ASSISTANT: In film, the assistant to the producer; in television, the person responsible for logging all shots, timing them, and noting down all TIME CODES, and taking continuity notes.

PROFESSIONAL COMPS: Most theatres will allow actors an unlimited number of comps for agents, directors or casting directors.

PROJECTION: a director may tell you to 'project' more. This means to speak so that you can be heard throughout the theatre, this does not necessarily mean more volume or shouting. It's a technique you will learn.

REACTION SHOT: The shot of what one actor is doing or "thinking" while the other is speaking.

READ THROUGH: For theater and some on-camera. This is usually the first rehearsal when the actors sit and just read through the script with the director.

ROLL TAPE: The act of beginning to tape a video recording.

RUNNING: What the camera operator says when the camera is ready and stabilized to start shooting.

RUNNING ORDER: The actual order in which the scenes will be recorded.

RUNNING TIME: The length of a program.

RUSHES: See DAILIES.

SETUP: Every camera position or change in photographic composition is called a "setup."

SHOOTING SCRIPT: The final approved script, often with cameras and cutting points marked in.

SHOTS: The pictures taken by the camera. See TAKE.

SIDES: The portion of the script (for on-camera or theater) that will be used for an audition. Usually one or two short scenes. You will receive a side from the casting director or agent prior to the audition.

SLATE/SLATING: For on-camera auditions only. You will be asked to slate / state your name and sometimes the agent that sent you to the audition before you begin the scene. This goes on the tape for the casting director's reference. This is called 'slating'.

SLATE: See CLAPPER BOARD.

SLUG LINE: A header appearing in a script before each scene or shot detailing the location, date, and time that relates to the following action.

SOFT: Slightly out of focus. Fuzzy.

SOUND BOARD: either manual or computer operated. Operates the sound.

SOUND CUES: Sound effects (music, doorbell, a car door, dog barking, etc...)

SPECIAL EFFECTS: Anything that is achieved by tricks such as miniatures, computer generated images, split screen.

SPEED THROUGH: A rehearsal exclusively for lines. Actors recite their lines quickly without blocking. This is often to help the actors with memorization.

SPIKING THE CAMERA: When the actor, usually accidentally looks directly into the lens of the camera, thereby destroying the illusion.

STAGE LEFT: The side of the stage that is on your left if you are on the stage facing the audience.

STAGE MANAGER: This is the person who runs the rehearsals, sets the rehearsal schedule and usually 'calls' the show (prompts the light and sound cues from the booth during performances) and is in charge of the production after opening night.

STAGE RIGHT: The side of the stage that is on your right if you are on the stage facing the audience.

STAGE WHISPER: Sounds like a whisper but is loud enough for the audience to hear.

STORYBOARD: The cartoon-like layout visualizing all www.usafilmproduction.com if you are serious in becoming an actor!