Acting and Film Industry Glossary

New to the business, or hearing a word on set you don't know? Here are 56 terms actors run into, from avail to wrap, each in plain English and linked to our deeper answer where we have one. Union definitions follow SAG-AFTRA's own wording, as of November 2026.

A to B: Actors Access to buyout

Actors Access

The actor side of Breakdown Services, where you keep your profile and submit yourself to roles casting releases to actors. As of November 2026 a basic account is free. See what Breakdown Services is and casting sites for actors.

Avail

Short for availability check. Casting or production asks your agent whether you're free on certain dates, most often for commercials. An avail is not a booking, and it doesn't commit you or them.

Back end (points)

A share of a project's profits, paid only after costs and investors are recouped. "Points" are percentage points of that profit. Shaked Berenson told us back end differs from residuals: residuals are negotiated by the union and paid from the top, while back end comes from whatever profit is left.

Background actor

A performer who appears in a scene without lines, also called an extra. Background work has its own union rates and its own route to SAG-AFTRA eligibility. See how to become a background actor.

Blocking

The planned movement of actors in a scene: where you enter, stand, cross and finish. It's set in rehearsal on the day so camera, lighting and focus can follow you.

Breakdown

The casting notice for a project: a synopsis plus every role's description, the creative team, dates, pay and union status. Casting decides whether it goes to agents and managers, to actors, or both. See how breakdowns work.

Buyout

A one-off payment that covers a set use of your work, common on non-union commercials, in place of ongoing usage fees or residuals. Check what it covers: media, territory and how long. See how much commercial actors make.

C: Call sheet to Coogan account

Callback

Any audition after the first one for the same role. Callbacks may include a producer session or chemistry read. See what happens at a callback.

Call sheet

The schedule for a shoot day, usually sent the evening before, listing call times, scenes, locations and contacts. See your first day on set.

Call time

The time you're due to arrive on set or at a location. Arrive a little early, sign in, and follow the call sheet.

Casting associate and casting assistant

The staff who work under a casting director. Kym Jackson explains that associates often run sessions for supporting roles and filter submissions, with assistants and interns below them. See casting office positions.

Casting director

The person hired by production to find and audition actors and present choices to the director and producers. The final decision usually sits with them. See what a casting director does.

Chemistry read

An audition that pairs you with another actor, often someone already cast, to see how you play together. It comes late in the process, so be fully off book. See callbacks.

Cold read

Reading a scene with little or no preparation time. It comes up in casting workshops and at commercial auditions where the copy is only given on the day. See casting director workshops.

Coogan account

A blocked trust account for a child performer's earnings. SAG-AFTRA's Young Performers Handbook says California law requires 15 percent of a minor's earnings to be set aside in one until the minor turns 18 or is emancipated. Other states have their own rules. See child actor questions.

Co-star

A US TV credit for a small role, often a few lines in one episode. Kym explains co-stars are paid by the day for the days worked. See co-star vs guest star.

D to F: Day player to first AD

Day player

An actor hired by the day, usually for a small role in film or TV. On a SAG-AFTRA job a day player is paid at least the day performer minimum.

Demo reel

A short edit of your best on-screen work, called a showreel in the UK and Australia. Casting wants to see you acting, early and fast. See actor demo reels.

Dummy sides

Stand-in audition scenes used to keep a project secret, with names, places or plot details changed. Play the relationship and the want in the scene. See what sides are.

Eco Cast

The Breakdown Services audition system, covering self-tape requests, Eco Cast Live remote auditions and recording of in-person sessions. See how Eco Cast works.

Featured

On a resume, featured means featured background, not a speaking role. Kym's advice is to list speaking film roles as lead or supporting, and TV roles by contract, such as co-star or guest star. See acting resume format.

Fi-Core (financial core)

A status where a performer resigns SAG-AFTRA membership and becomes a fee-paying non-member. SAG-AFTRA says Fi-Core performers give up their card, can't present themselves as members and can't use member-only benefits, and that reinstatement isn't guaranteed. See union vs non-union actors.

Film studio

Two meanings. A film studio is a company that develops, finances, produces and often distributes films. It's also a physical facility with soundstages where films and TV are shot.

First AD

The first assistant director, who runs the set and keeps the day on schedule. The AD team calls you to set and is who you go to with questions on the day.

G to L: Global Rule One to line producer

Global Rule One

SAG-AFTRA's rule that members may not work for an employer who hasn't signed a union agreement, in any jurisdiction where a SAG-AFTRA national agreement is in place. The union says it applies worldwide, with limited exceptions, and that breaking it can lead to discipline from a reprimand to expulsion. See Global Rule One explained.

Guest star

A larger US TV role than a co-star. Kym explains that a full guest star is paid a set fee for the episode however many days you work, while a one-day guest star works a single day. See co-star vs guest star.

Headshot

Your main marketing photo, usually a close shot that looks like you on a good day. Most actors have separate looks for theatrical and commercial. See actor headshots.

Hold (on hold)

Casting has told your agent you're a likely choice and asked you to keep the shoot dates free. It's common in commercials. A hold is not a booking, and you can be released.

Legal 18

A teen performer who can be hired as an adult for working hours. Bonnie J Wallace explains that in California this means passing the state's high school proficiency exam or graduating: they can work adult hours with no set teacher or work permit, but they're still a minor, so a parent signs contracts and the Coogan account still applies. Rules vary by state. See teen actors.

Line producer

The producer who manages the budget line by line and the day-to-day running of physical production. Shaked Berenson told us that in practice the role is often a production manager given a producer credit.

M to O: Manager to off book

Manager

A representative who guides your career strategy and, in LA, often pitches you for auditions too. Agents and managers usually work together. See talent agent vs manager.

Mark

A spot taped on the floor showing where to stop so you're in focus and in the light. Hitting your mark without looking down is a basic set skill. See your first day on set.

Martini shot

Set slang for the last shot of the day.

Must join

Your status once you're no longer allowed to keep working union jobs as a non-member. SAG-AFTRA's Young Performers Handbook says that after the 30th day from your first SAG-AFTRA job, you must pay the initiation fee before working under a SAG-AFTRA contract again. Kym describes two 30-day windows rather than one; check with your local SAG-AFTRA office. See what SAG-E means.

Network test

The last audition for a TV series regular role, in front of studio and network executives. Your deal is usually negotiated before you test. Casting director Deborah Barylski told us to keep the read that got you there, unless you're directed otherwise.

Off book

Knowing your lines without the script. Of the 23 casting directors we asked, nine insisted on it for auditions; most said know the scene deeply and holding the pages is fine. See how to memorise lines.

P: Pilot to producer session

Pilot

The first episode of a TV series, made to sell the show to a network or streamer. Pilot season is the stretch of the year when many are cast at once. See sitcom acting.

Pinned

Casting has told your agent you're a top choice and asked you to stay available while they decide. Like a hold, it isn't a booking, and it can be released.

Pre-read

A first audition, usually with casting only, before you go to producers. Casting director Ricki Maslar told us not to change your read at the callback unless you're directed to. See callbacks.

Principal

A performer with lines or a featured action, hired as a principal rather than as background. Principal work pays principal rates and is one route to SAG-AFTRA eligibility. See how much actors make.

Producer session

A callback where the producers, and often the director, watch the read. Be fully off book. See what happens at a callback.

R to S: Recurring to stand-in

Recurring

A TV character who appears in more than one episode but isn't a series regular. Kym explains there's no separate recurring contract: you're hired on co-star or guest star terms.

Residuals

Ongoing payments when union work is reused, such as reruns or streaming. Ben Whitehair told us non-union projects basically never pay residuals. See understanding residuals.

Ripomatic

A short trailer cut from existing films, TV and commercials to show the tone of a project that hasn't been shot. Shaked Berenson recommends one as a proof of concept when you can't afford to shoot. See how to make a short film.

SAG-eligible (SAG-E)

You've done qualifying work under a SAG-AFTRA contract, so you can join the union, but haven't joined yet. See what SAG-E means.

Scale

The minimum pay the union has negotiated for a job under its contract. As of November 2026, SAG-AFTRA's theatrical wage table sets a day performer at $1,283 and a weekly performer at $4,456, for 1 July 2026 to 30 June 2027. "Scale plus 10" means the producer adds 10 percent on top to cover your agent's commission. See SAG-AFTRA rates.

Self tape

An audition you film yourself, with a reader off camera, and send to casting. See self tape tips.

Series regular

An actor contracted to appear in many or most episodes of a TV series. Kym notes regulars may have only a scene or two in some episodes, unlike the series leads the story centres on. See TV role types.

Showcase

An event where actors perform scenes for agents, managers or casting directors. Kym describes three kinds: paid industry showcases, school showcases for current students, and graduate showcases. See how to get an acting agent.

Sides

The pages of a script you audition with, usually one to three short scenes. See what sides are.

Slate

Stating your name, and often your height, agency or location, to camera at the start of an audition. Darren Darnborough's advice: follow the casting instructions, which tell you whether they want one. See self tape tips.

Stand-in

A performer who takes an actor's place while the crew sets lights and camera. It's usually booked through background casting. See background acting.

T to W: Taft-Hartley to wrap

Taft-Hartley

The federal labour law that lets a non-member work a union job. SAG-AFTRA's Young Performers Handbook says non-union performers who work as principals under a SAG-AFTRA contract have 30 days after their first day of union employment before they must join. In Kym’s experience there are two 30-day windows (one from your first union job, a second from your next), so confirm with your local SAG-AFTRA office. See what SAG-E means.

Top of show

The highest fee a particular TV series pays its guest stars. It's set by each show, so a top-of-show offer is usually as high as that episode's guest star fee goes.

Type

The roles you're most likely to be cast in at first, based on how you come across. Knowing it sharpens your headshots and submissions. See how to find your type.

Wrap

The end of shooting, for the day or the whole project. "You're wrapped" means you're done and free to go.

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All rates current from sagaftra.org and breakdownservices.com as of 3 November 2026.