Acting and Film Terminology

Flashcards for key vocabulary related to acting, film production, and on-set lingo.

SAG-AFTRA

A union representing film, television, and radio actors.

Taft-Hartley Act (in entertainment)

A law that allows non-union actors to work a union job temporarily.

Talent Agent

A licensed professional who helps actors find work and negotiates deals (usually takes 10%).

Manager

A career advisor who guides long-term goals; not usually licensed to negotiate contracts.

Billing

The order and placement of actors' names in credits or promotional materials.

SAG minimum

The lowest legal pay rate for union actors.

Scale

The base union rate for a particular job.

Scale plus 10

Scale rate plus 10% for the agent’s commission.

Buyout

A one-time payment for unlimited use of a performance.

Residuals

Ongoing payments for reruns or reuses of a performance.

Under 5

A role with fewer than five lines.

Co-star

A smaller speaking role in a TV show, usually 1–2 scenes.

Day Player

An actor hired and paid on a day-to-day basis.

Series Regular

A main cast member who appears in most episodes.

Guest Star

An actor with a significant role in a single episode.

Recurring

A character who appears repeatedly but not in every episode.

Lead

The main character in a production.

1st AD

Manages the set, schedules, and keeps production on time.

2nd AD

Handles paperwork, call sheets, and background actors.

PA (Production Assistant)

Assists various departments with day-to-day tasks.

Director

The creative leader of the film or TV show.

DP

The Director of Photography; in charge of camera and lighting.

Gaffer

The head lighting technician.

Best Boy

The assistant to the Gaffer (electric) or Key Grip (grip dept).

Boom Operator

Holds and positions the boom mic during filming.

Script Supervisor

Maintains continuity and tracks script changes.

Casting Director

Finds and auditions actors for roles.

Sound Mixer

Captures and mixes on-set audio.

Camera Operator

Physically operates the camera.

Master Shot

A wide shot covering the entire scene.

Two-Shot

A frame that includes two subjects.

Over-the-Shoulder shot

A shot looking over one actor’s shoulder at another.

Close Up

A tightly framed shot, usually showing the face.

Bust Shot

A shot framed from the chest up.

Waist Shot

A medium shot from the waist up.

Camera Right

The right side from the camera’s perspective.

Slate

The clapperboard that identifies the scene and take.

Post-Production

The editing and finishing phase of a film.

ADR

Automatic Dialogue Replacement – re-recording lines in post.

Looping

Repeating dialogue or background sound for a scene.

Foley Artist

Creates custom sound effects for a film.

Continuity

Keeping props, costume, and positioning consistent between shots.

Wild Lines

Lines recorded without picture to be added later.

New Set-Up

A change in camera position or lighting.

Blocking

The planned movement of actors within a scene.

Speed

Sound and camera are ready to roll.

Action

The director's cue to begin the scene.

Cut

The director’s command to stop filming.

Pick Up

Starting a new take mid-scene.

Call Sheet

A daily schedule for cast and crew.

Sides

Selected script pages used for auditions or filming.

One-Liner

A condensed schedule listing scenes in shooting order.

Day Out of Days

A chart showing which days an actor works.

The Board

The master schedule board in the production office.

Actors Access

A website where actors submit to projects.

Breakdown Services

A platform used by casting directors to post roles.

Profiles

An actor’s online resume, photos, and stats.

Copy

The script or material used in an audition.

Casting Office

The place where auditions are held and casting decisions made.

Ad Agency

A company that hires production for commercials.

Pecking Order

The informal ranking of importance on a set.

Check the Gate

Checking the camera for issues before moving on.

The Abby Singer shot

The second-to-last shot of the day.

The Martini shot

The final shot of the day.

That’s a Wrap

Filming is finished.

Second Team

Stand-ins for lighting and camera set-up.

First Team

The main cast.

Back to First

Return to the start position of the scene.

Eye Line

The direction the actor is looking in a scene.

On a Bell

The signal to be quiet – filming is about to start.

Rolling

Camera and sound are recording.