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Terminology

Time and time again I've been asked if I can put an acting terminology page together. Some of you have sent me your own terms. If you have something that is not on the list below and should be. Put it in the comments and I will add it to the list.

Whether you're on set taking directions from the DP, or you're just chatting with other actors, it's always good to understand the terminology and vocabulary used for shoots. And for those who are new to the industry, we've collected a list of commonly used phrases as well.

Close to half of these terms came from our friends at the Film Escape. Make sure you check them out as well as many of the definitions are only partial in comparison.

About Tomasz Mieczkowski

Tomasz Mieczkowski is the co-founder of IADB.com and all of the related websites for film and tv industry professionals.

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Term	Definition
'IN' TIME	The actual call time or start time; also, return time from a break.
'NAME TALENT ONLY'	Meaning only celebrity Actors.
'RHUBARB'	Background conversation by extras. So-called because extras were often asked to mutter the word "rhubarb" to produce the effect of genuine conversation, with their mouths moving convincingly. Also known as "walla".
'TAKE 5′	The announcement of periodic five minute breaks.
"OUT" TIME	The actual time when you are released after you have changed out of wardrobe and make- up.
18-TO-PLAY-YOUNGER	A performer legally 18 years old, who can convincingly be cast as a younger age.
8×10	Commonly used size of a performer's Headshot/photos. Another term for headshot. Black and white was the standard in the old days, today headshots are in color.
A-LIST	Usually refers to top-tier actors/actresses who are paid upwards of $20 million per feature film; can also refer to producers, directors and writers who can be guaranteed to have a film made and released
A.C.E.	This stands for American Cinema Editors which is an honorary society of film editors that are voted in based on the qualities of professional achievements, their education of others, and their dedication to editing. Keep in mind this is a designation, not a union. The union for editors is called Motion Picture Editors Guild (MPEG) which is part of IATSE
A.D.	The Assistant Director.
Abandonment Provision	This is a clause within production-financing agreement which sets out the circumstances under which the financier may be permitted to stop production and further financing of a film. For example, this provision may state that if a particular piece of talent quits, or there are too many weather delays, the financier can call off the production and cease any further injection of funds into the film.
Above-The-Line	Above-the-line refers to the individuals who play a major role in the producing of a film or TV show. This include the writer(s), producer(s), director(s) and primary actor(s). The term comes from budgeting, as the costs of these individuals are listed at the top of the budget "above a line" that separates them from the other crew members.See also below-the-line.
ACTION!	The command from the director for the scene to begin. It also means that the camera is rolling.
Actioning	A method of using transitive verbs such as to convince to each line of your monologue or scene. The method gives the work more nuance, direction and energy.
ACTORS REEL	Video footage of on-camera productions the actor has been cast in. Can be footage from Films, TV Shows & Commercials.
AD LIB	Spoken words (sometimes witty comments) said out loud that are not in the script. They can also be given “off the cuff” when another actor forgets a line.
ADR	This stands for Automated Dialogue Replacement and is done in post-production. This is when your actor records his/her voice in a sound booth for the purposes of replacing unwanted or unrecorded dialogue that was captured during production.See also foley.
Agency	Agencies act as the central hub in the entertainment industry. They are privately run businesses that employ agents who represent all forms of talent in the industry. This includes actors, writers, directors, authors, public speakers etc. Their job is to get their clients hired on the the best jobs and build their careers. When an offer comes across an agent's desk, it is up to agent to negotiate the best contract for their client. Agencies commission a state-authorized maximum of 10% of their clients' gross income in compensation for work done on their behalf. Thus, if a client received a $50,000 fee for a project, the agency would be entitled to $5,000 for services rendered. If the project received additional monies as deferred compensation or a form of percentage from the project's profits, the agency would be entitled to 10% of that as well. Keep in mind, however, agents are salaried employees, and the commissions that are collected are payable to the agency as a whole, not to individual agent. Often times if an agent reaches a certain level of commissions, he/she will receive a percentage of any additional commissions as bonus pay. In Los Angeles alone there are over 200 agencies. The top agencies in the world include Creative Artists Agency (CAA), William Morris Endeaver (WME), United Talent Agency (UTA) and ICM Partners (ICM). The next tier includes Paradigm, Gersh, APA and Resolution.
Agent vs Manager	Often times talent will have both an agent and a manager. But why do you need both? Why give away more commission?Essentially, the main purpose of both these people is to build your career. When it comes to getting you hired on recurring jobs, both your manager and agent will expend their resources to make that happen and there will be a lot of overlap in their responsibilities. Theyll get you in meetings, submit you for jobs and market your name. Aside from that, their a certain duties that one is more responsible for than the other. A manager will work with you to improve your talent and help you become better at what you do. If youre an actor, a manager may take the time to go over sides with you and practices scenes. If youre a writer, a manager will give you script notes and develop your projects. An agent on the other hand, wont usually perform any of those tasks. They will, however, scour the town for the right jobs for you, negotiate your contract and get the best deal. It' their job to get you your quote, make sure youre looked after on the back-end, and that your next job will be get you equal or more pay than the previous.Another reason to have both a manager and an agent is access to a wider talent base. In other words, reps love to package projects with as many of their clients as possible. So if youre repped by an agent and a manager, you get easier access to both of their talent pools and better your chances of attaching them to your projects.Another key difference is that managers can and will get producer or executive producer credit on any of your projects you set up. Agents, by law, are not allowed to receive producer credit.Top agencies include: CAA, WME, UTA, ICM, Paradigm, Gersh, Resolution
Analytical Personality Type	Reserved and Task oriented. An intellectual type that's slow to make a decision because they want to all the data first. Want to get things done, but done right. Tend to be more emotionally detached. Logical and cautious.
Ancillary Market	This is a geographical or technological area of demand for a film product which is supplemental to the theatrical market. In other words, this is a market to exploit a particular property that includes everything except theatrical distribution. This could include TV network, pay cable, video on demand, home video, or online streaming.Also see Rights
Antagonist	In its purest definition, an antagonist is a character in a story that stands in the way of our protagonist's goal. And yes, an antagonist for all intents and purpose is an actual character. In other words, a tornado is not an antagonist and neither is society. Often times we refer to the antagonist as the villain in a story, but we all know that not all stories have a villain and even if they do, they may not be an essential part of the entire story.
Antihero	An antihero is the protagonist in a story who, unlike a traditional hero, doesn't posses conventional heroic qualities like morality, integrity, idealism, loyalty and sympathy. Great movies and TV shows of the past have shown that we don't need a likeable heroic protagonists in order to have a great story. All that really matters to our audience is that our main character is interesting and makes compelling decisions.
Armorer	Also known as a weapons master, an armorer manages all the prop firearms on set and is present whenever a scene with a weapon is being shot. It is his or her duty to guarantee their weapons do not cause any harm to the cast and crew. It is also their responsibility to make sure the prop weapons function correctly on set.
Art Director	The art director is generally works directly under the production designer. They perform a lot of the hands-on work on set and their job is to execute the production designer's vision.
Assistant Editor	This is the person who is assigned to directly assist the film editor. He/she usually wont be in charge of any creative decisions, but must have thorough knowledge of the work flow and the technical elements associated with editing. Duties may include synching dailies, taking screening notes, organizing footage, assembling selected takes and obtaining cutting-room facilities.
Associate Producer	This is a credit that does not have a definitive meaning. There is no specific duty of an associate producer. He/she could help with anything from financing the film, to post-production work, or to finding talent. You will often see this title given to friends, relatives, or managers who played a smaller role in producing a film. This individual performs a limited number of producing functions delegated to her/him by a producer, under the direct supervision and control of that producer.
Auspice	An auspice usually refers to the above the line people who are responsible for creating and producing a specific project. In film, the auspices usually refer to the producer, financier (if independent), writer and director (depeneding on how early he/she was brought on to the project). Studio execs are not usually thought of as auspices. In television, auspices usually refer to the creator of the show, writer of the pilot (if different from creator), executive producers (which includes upper level writers and heads of production companies) and showrunners. This could also include the director of the pilot depending on how early he/she was involved in the conception of the project. Studio and network execs are not considered auspices when it comes to television shows.
Auteur	It's the French word for "author" and we apply it to film because it pertains to filmmakers whose personal and artisitic influence on a moive is so significant that he/she is regarded as the "author" of the movie. Auteurs are filmmakers who come up with a concept, flesh out the story, write the script, raise capital, direct the film and sometimes even edit the film. They're involved in every creative process from start to finish and they have a very unqiue style that audiences can recognize.
Axis of Action	When it comes to continuity and editing, the "Axis of Action" is an imaginary line that passes through the two main actors of a scene, defining the spatial relations of all the elements of the scene as being to the right or left. The camera is not supposed to cross the axis at a cut and thus reverse those spatial relations. This will confuse the audience as to where in relation to one another the actors are standing. In other words, if two actors are talking to each other if we are shooting an actor's face and he/she is looking toward screen right, when the camera flips to the other actor whom he/she is talking to, that actor should be looking toward screen left. This is also called the "180? line."
Baby Writer	This the term given to a writer who has yet to be staffed on or hired for an actual televisions show.In the feature film word, this is a writer who has yet to be commissioned by a studio or production company to write a feature screenplay.
Back to One (or Reset)	All relevant crew, actors, and extras return to their established starting point for that shot.
Back-End Payment	Also commonly referred to as "participation" or "contingency", a back-end payment is a type of compensation usually given to an above-the-line talent on a film. This means that the talent will receive a percentage of the revenue generated after the film is completed and is typically given to the talent in addition to his or her fixed upfront fee. This could include box office sales, foreign sales, VOD sales, DVD sales, and sales from other ancillary markets. How the back-end payment is defined varies from project to project, and depends solely on what the talent negotiates. Often times the agent will negotiate this deal. The talent may negotiate for "gross-participation" in which the talent receives a percentage of the revenue before certain expenses have been deducted. This is often referred to as "First-Dollar-Gross", which is every talent' objective to attain in a back-end negotiation. In other words, as soon as the first-dollar of revenue has been generated, the talent starts receiving a percentage of that revenue. The talent may negotiate for a percentage of "distributor' adjusted gross" which means that the talent will receive a percentage of the revenue after a defined break-even point has been reached. The talent may also negotiate for a percentage of "net-profit", however, this is type of deal is rarely done as a film, according to standard accounting principles, rarely reaches net profit.
Backdoor Pilot	For all intents and purposes, a backdoor pilot is still the first episode in a series, however, it' filmed like a standalone movie. Often times these pilots can be two hours long. The episode still has inherent commercial value, so they can still air it if they decide not to order to series. Networks do this to hedge their risk and use it as a proof of concept to see if the show is worth turning into a series. They will air it, see what type of ratings/reception it receives and use that information to determine whether or not they will order to series.The term "back door" comes from a tactic that networks often use to test spinoff series. What they do is produce an episode within a series that introduces new characters and "sneak" this episode into the season" hence the term "back door". The network will use the ratings and viewer feedback from that episode to decide if they want to create a spinoff series. The best of example of this is NCIS which is a spinoff from JAG. In season 8 of JAG, there was a dual episode that introduced the characters for what would become NCIS. And then, in season 6, they aired the two-part episode "Legend" which introduced the characters for what is now NCIS: Los Angeles. Again, this all goes back to strategy of creating a TV episode that "test the waters" to see if it' worth bank rolling into a new series.
BACKGROUND	The Extra performers. On the set, "Background!" is a verbal cue for the Extras to start their action.
Background / Ambient Sound	The terms "background" and "ambient" are usually interchangeable in the world of sound. This is used to describe sound that is not the focus off attention, but is just as crucial for your film. Ambient sound serves many purposes. It can be used to convey setting. For example, if you hear traffic in your background noise, it establishes a metropolitan city setting. The sound of waves establishes an ocean or a beach setting. It can also be used to determine time of day. For example, if you here crickets in the background, it establishes the time of day as the evening. No matter what, there will always be background sound in your film. Even if you are conveying part of your film where the actors are silent and standing still in an empty room, the "sound" of that empty, quiet room is very important to capture. The audience will notice if this sound is not there. We refer to this sound as "room tone".
Backlot	This is the portion of a studio lot used for filming exterior shots. Often times theyll have this part of the lot dressed with fake buildings, side walks, alleys, plant life, famous streets, landmarks or houses etc to make it look like a particular setting.
Bankable	This is a descriptive term that is used in the film business to describe someone or something (actor, director, brand, script, producer, writer) whose attachment to a particular project can increase its chances of being successful in the box office. In other words, you can take your project "to the bank" where that bank (a financier or film studio), will more likely invest in your project partly because of the prior success of your attachment. An example of a bankable actress is Jennifer Lawrence. Her past movies have all been successful in the box office. A bankable director is James Cameron who' past two films of the highest grossing movies of all time.
Basic Cable Network	The term refers to all the cable networks that use commercial advertising to generate revenue. Networks like Comedy Central, Lifetime, History, MTV, USA, TNT are all examples of basic cable networks. These are contrasted with premium cable networks which generate their revenue from subscription-based model (HBO, Showtime and Starz).
Beat	"Beat" is a term used a lot when developing or explaining a story. Think of it like a unit of measurement within a story. It is a piece of information that can be conveyed in a quick moment, a sequence, or in an entire scene that moves the story forward. Beats are extremely important in communicating the direction of a story. Often times when writers are trying to figure out their story, they will use what' called a beat sheet. A beat can often be described in one sentence. For example, "The big bad wolf blows the straw house down." This helps the writer determine what' important in the story and what moments are needed in order to compel an audience.
Below-the-Line	This refers to the costs and roles assigned to people who are not above-the-line. (I know this is a lame definition. Youll get a better understanding of this term after learning what "above-the-line" means).
Best Boy Electric	This person is the assistant to the gaffer (it can be a boy or a girl). They are responsible for running the daily lighting equipment, and coordinating which lights and grip equipment to have ready on set for a particular scene. They are also responsible for organizing and preparing all the stingers (electric chords) so they can used at a moments notice.
Biopic	A film based on an individual' life story or a significant part of an individual' life.Eg. Malcolm X, Ali, Nixon, Lincoln, Milk, Capote, Man on the Moon, Ray, Walk The Line
Black Comedy	AKA dark comedy, this is a genre of film where the humor is derived from topics and themes that are generally considered to be "serious" like death, racism, abortions, war and murder. Examples of dark comedy films include FARGO, DR. STRANGELOVE, SHAUN OF THE DEAD, BAD SANTA, FEAR AND LOATHING IN LAS VEGAS. A great example is the TV show THE BIG C which finds the humor in cancer.
Blind Script Agreement	This agreement commits a writer to write for an "undecided project". A studio (TV or film) will do this if they know that they want to work with a particular writer and have confidence that whatever he/she writes will be great. In this way, another studio cant hire the writer for his/her next script. This will commit the writer to write a screenplay for the studio once he/she decides what that project is. The studio, of course, must approve of the idea. The writer will usually pitch a few ideas to the studio who will then pick which one they want him/her to write.
Blocking	This is an exercise that a director does with the actors before rehearsing or shooting scene. The purpose is to choreograph the movement and position of the actors and determine exactly where/when they need to situate themselves within a scene. There is no dialogue, no acting, just movement.
Boom Operator	A boom operator is a member of the on-set sound department who is responsible for operating the boom (a microphone held at the end of a long pole so the sound/dialogue can be captured accurately during production without having to place body microphones on the actors.
Bridge Financing	Bridge financing is a short term loan which is granted in anticipation of a long term loan. It provides a "bridge" to get to the longer term (and often larger dollar amount) loan that you need to finance your project.
Broadcast Network	In the TV world, this refers to the five major TV networks: ABC, CBS, FOX and The CW. Every other TV channel is referred to as a cable network. Often times, instead of saying "broadcast network, people will just say "network". The two are interchangeable. "A medical procedural might be more appropriate for network as opposed to cable."
Budget	A budget, also referred to as the negative cost of a film, is the cost of producing a motion picture. This includes, above-the-line costs, below-the-line costs, insurance, legal fees, fringes, completion bond fee, and contigency. A budget may also refer the actual document that lists all the costs associated with the film.Read more about the importance of a budget.
Budget/Sales Corollary	This is the term used to describe the percentage of a film' budget that is used by distributors to determine the price to acquire a film. In other words, one of the main factors that distributors use to figure out how much they are going to pay for a certain film is the film' negative cost. This is usually a percentage, and every distributor has a different percentage that they apply to particular films. Therefore, the higher the film budget, the higher a distributor is likely to pay for it.
C47	Just a fancy term grips and gaffers use for a clothes pin.
Cable Network	Although we use the term freely, cable networks (Comedy Central, HBO, History, USA, TNT, Lifetime, MTV, VH1, ESPN, TLC, BRAVO, E!) arent actually networks because they lack an actual network of TV stations. Instead, these cable networks send their shows via satellite to different cable providers (Comcast, Time Warner, DirecTV) which then distributes them to subscribers. We dont need to get into the technical aspect of how cable networks operate. Just know that when someone says "cable" they mean any TV distributor that is not ABC, NBC, CBS, CW or FOX.Some major cable networks include MTV, VH1, Comedy Central, Showtime, TBS, TNT, USA, Lifetime, TLC, Discovery, AMC, History, E!, Bravo, ESPN and HBO.
Cable Provider	These are the companies which provide house holds with access to TV channels. They bundle their channels and offer them at a monthly rate to consumers. Major cable providers include DirecTV, Time Warner Cable, Dish Network, Verizon Fios, AT
Call back	If you are successful in an initial audition you may be called back. This is simply a secondary audition for the same role.
Call Sheet	They is the key document to keeping everyone organized during production. The night before any day of shooting, the UPM or production coordinator will send out a call sheet to everyone crew member and personnel involved in production. The sheet will have all the pertinent information regarding the shoot for that specific day including: Names and contact information for all crew members. talent and above the line personnel Times when each person needs to be on set (call times) The forecasted weather along with time of sunrise and sunset The nearest hospital Address and directions to the set(s) The description of all the scenes that will be shot and the script page numbers associated with each scene The times designated for mealsHere' a link to a free call sheet template CLICK TO DOWNLOAD
Camera Coverage	Camera coverage pertains to the number of angles that are used to capture a particular scene. The more action and the more characters in a scene, the more coverage required. The goal of camera coverage is to give the film editor a variety of choices to use in post-production.
Camera Loader	This is the person who is responsible for operating the clap board at the beginning of each take as well as loading the film stock into the camera.
Camera Operator	This person uses the camera under the direction of the Director of Photography. He/she is the one looking through the view finder, and coordinating the movement of the camera. This does not include the movement of any dollies, rigs or steadicams.
Campy Movie	A story is campy when it deliberately tries to be ridiculous or absurd and the characters are oblivious to these absurdities. Having loud costumes or having characters speak with unconventional accents for comedic appeal are examples of ways to incorporate campiness to a film. Some examples of campy movies include:ROCKY HORROR PICTURE SHOW, ZOOLANDER, AUSTIN POWERS, BATMAN FOREVER, BRIDE OF CHUCKY
Capability	Capability is the a term used in movie-marketing. This describes a film' ability as an idea alone to generate interest within its target audience. In other words, if someone were to give you the logline or the overall concept of the film, would you be interested in seeing it without knowing what it looked like or who it starred? Most high-concept movies have high capability. A comedy about a lawyer who gets placed with a curse that prevents him from lying has high capability. A remake of Superman has high capability.
Cash Break Even	Cash break even is the point in time when the gross receipts for a film equal the sum of the distribution fee, distribution expenses, negative costs, studio overhead, and interest.
Cast-Contingent Mean	The term cast-contingent describes a project (film or TV pilot) that must hire or a attach an actor(s) that is approved by the financier before it is greenlit. For example, TV networks usually wont green light a comedy pilot unless they hire a comedic actor whom they know can deliver the humor in the script.
Casting Associate	A casting associate works directly for the casting director. It is their job to do most of the scouting, administrative work and day-to-day tasks like coordinating audition schedules, locking down casting rooms, filing resumes, and responding to candidates. Most casting directors start off as a casting associate and gain years of experience before going off on their own.
Casting Director	The person who organizes the casting of actors for all roles in a given project (film, TV, theater). They also negotiate fees and contracts for the actors.
Chain of Title	If you're acquiring a piece of intellectual property whether it' a book, a script, a previously made movie it's absolutely vital that you have clear ownership before you proceed. Chain of title is a trail of documents which illustrates the change and transfer of ownership of a piece or property from the moment it was created to the current point in time where you claim to own the rights to the property. Having an improper chain of title means that you have no clear certainty or proof of your ownership of a project and you are not legally allowed to produce and distribute whatever media you intend on producing.
Chyron	You'll often see this word in screenplays. It's just another fancy term for "title card" or "caption" - a set group of words (or word) displayed across the screen. This can be over black or superimposed on top of the screen image.
Clap Board	At the beginning of every shot/take, once the camera is rolling, the camera loader places a clap board in front of the camera, waits until the operator has the shot in focus and "marks" it by snapping the top of the board. The clap board serves two main purposes.1) During production, the visual and the audio is captured separately. The point of the clap board is so that the editor can synchronize the sound with the picture. So when they hear the sound of the clap on the audio track, they match it to the visual of the instant the clapper snaps on the board. The camera loader is typically responsible for operating the clap board.2) In post-production, when sorting through all the footage and choosing which shots to use, the editor needs information about the particular take so that they know what shot they're looking at. The information conveyed on a clap board include, take number, which scene, date, which camera roll, director' name and of course the name of the project.
Close Up	Camera frame shows head and some of the neck.
Co-Producer	In the scripted television world, this is the title usually given to a mid-level writer.
Co-star	One-episode guest whose character's storyline may or may not be central to that episode (since co-star billing actually depends more on negotiation than size of the role), anywhere from one line to multiple scenes.
Cold Read	To perform sides with no prior preparation.
Cold reading	Reading a script for the first time in an audition or play reading situation.
Company Move	During a film shoot, after youre done shooting at one location, you have to pack up all the equipment, clean up, gather the crew, and transport them all to the next location. This is called a COMPANY MOVE. Line producers and coordinators try to plan their shoots with the least amount of company moves possible. This saves both time and money.
Completion Bond	This is basically referred to as completion "insurance". There are companies in the film industry who specialize in insuring that a film gets made. It' a safe guard to guarantee the financier that the film will be completed. A partially made film has zero value. The bond company will collect a flat fee usually between 2-5 percent of the budget depending on market conditions and they will keep a close eye on the progress of production. They will receive daily production reports. As soon as they feel that a film is over-budget, or that it will not be completed on time, the bond company will step in and take over production. All major financiers will require a completion bond before they will contribute any money to a film. This sounds very intimidating, but rest assured, bond companies really don't want to step in and take over a film. They're there to help you and support you to get the film made on time and on budget. Having them take over a film is an absolute last resort. The major bond companies in Hollywood include "Film Finances Inc."The Motion Picture Bond Company", and "International Film Guarantors Inc."
Continuity	Continuity is always a concern for any filmmaker. When making a motion picture, the filmmaker usually has to shoot a particular scene more than once in order to get the best performance and with different angles in order to get sufficient coverage. When he/she does this, it is crucial to maintain continuity. To maintain continuity is to maintain consistency with the appearance of a set, position of the actors, dialogue, and physical state of props as scenes get shot over and over again. In other words, when a film switches to a different angle, we want to make sure that all the elements within the frame remain consistent through out the scene. This may seem trivial, but youd be surprised how many mistakes actually occur in movies. Check out www.movie-mistakes.com when you have a spare moment.
Contract Role	A soap opera AFTRA contract term for a daytime series regular or recurring character.
Controller Personality Type	Outgoing and task oriented. Decisive, often a leader, and will be focused on getting things done as quickly as possible. They want things done their way and don't mind ruffling a few feather to get it.
Coverage	Coverage is written document that readers, and assistants usually write after reading a piece of material that is being considered for development. The specific format of this formal document will differ from company to company, but the main components include a logline, accurate but concise synopsis of the story, comments regarding specific elements (character, plot, tone), overall rating, and a recommendation (pass or consider). The coverage is then handed on to executives who otherwise do not have time to read all the scripts that pass through the studio. Coverage is a quick and convenient way for executives to learn about a piece of material, before they commit to reading it.
Covering Agent	Within an agency, the job of most agents is to service their clients, get them jobs and collect commission. There are other agents, however, who' job is to monitor the needs of studios, financiers and productions companies so that they can put clients up for jobs the moment theyre posted. These are known as "covering agents. Each covering agent is assigned a group of studios, networks, production companies to "cover and develop relationships with their executives. It's the job of a covering agent to know when these companies have any ODAs, OWAs or casting roles that need to be filled. The covering agents will then share this information with all the point agents so they can then put their clients up for the job assignments. Covering agents usually dont have a client roster they directly service, and if they do they share it with a team of other agents. Their main purpose is to stay on top of their assigned companies so that their agency' clients get put up for available jobs before their competition does. This is a win-win for both sides. The agency has direct communication lines to all the potential employers and the employers have direct lines to an agent at each agency who' job it is to answer their calls and give them great candidates.
Craft Services	It' the person (or people) responsible for providing the crew with snacks and refreshments. Not to be confused with the caterer who provides the meals. The craft services table (aka crafty) is everyone' favorite area of a film set. If you're producing a film, do not cheap out on this expense. The key to running a great film set is to make sure nobody is hungry.
Dailies	Dailies are raw, unedited footage (usually synced to sound) showing all the entire takes that were shot on particular day. They are called this because usually at the end of a shooting day, the film is processed so that the director and crew can view it right away. The idea behind this is to review their day' work and look for mistakes or improvements that they can apply to later shots. Sometimes they will notice mistakes that will warrant a re-shoot. Dailies are also used to show studio executives so that they can keep up to date on the crew' progress, and provide feedback if needed.
Day and Date	This term is used to describe the release of a film. When a film is released day and date, this means that all the exhibitors (theatres) will release the film on the same day. It's also referred to as simultaneous release. This contrasts with "Platform Release".
Day-Out-Of-Days Schedule	After the shooting schedule is made, the production manager will also make a day-out-of days schedule which is a special chart that shows when each actor works during the course of the shooting schedule. This is important for the producer to structure the best actor deals, and for the director to know when each actor will be needed on which day. The chart will show the following information indicated by a specific letter: Start (S) Work Day (W) Travel Day (T) Rehearsal Day (R) Hold Day (H) Finish (F)
Debt Financing	This type of financing is typically done through a bank who will lend you money with a set interest rate. This is an extremely difficult loan to get approved. Unless you have an amazing track record, usually a bank wont lend you money for a film unless you have presales set in place. This lowers their risk and in essence allows them to offer a lower interest rate because the distributor will make sure the film is made. The advantage of debt financing is that you dont give up any ownership of your film. After the bank has been paid off, your responsibility to them is done and none of the film' revenue will go to them.
Deferment	A deferment is a fixed payment that is made to talent and is usually drawn from gross receipts after a film breaks even. This amount is not included in the budget. Therefore, some producers might use this as a strategy to reduce their budget in order to secure financing for your film. For example, if you were to pay an actor 5 million dollars up front, this would add a 5 million dollar expense to your budget. But if the you were to pay the actor with a deferment, you will reduce your budget by 5 million dollars. However, because your talent isnt being paid upfront and is reliant on the success of the film he/she will want to receive a larger payment. Also, by reducing your budget, you will reduce the amount your film can be sold for based on the budget/sales corollary. So there are obvious pros and cons to paying your talent via deferment. You as a producer must decide what is best for your film.
Denouement	These are the concluding scenes after the climax of a film where we tie up all the story elements and finish our character' arc. This is a crucial part in the story telling process as it determines the final feeling you leave with your audience when they leave the theatre. The original denouement for THE SHAWSHANK REDEMPTION had Red sitting on a bus headed for Zihuatanejo and the film ended as we pulled back watching the bus drive off in the distance. Director Frank Darabont was not satisfied with this and fought tooth and nail to convince the studio to let him shoot the final scene where Red finds Andy on the beach fixing his boat. Could you imagine if the movie ended with the original denouement? The feeling and overall impression of the movie would not have been the same. Never underestimate the effectiveness of your denouement.
Derivative Works	Derivative works are any forms of media based on or derived from another already existing piece of material. This includes, sequels, remakes, books, TV spinoffs, and plays. When attached to a film, directors and producers will want the right to first negotiations to direct/produce derivative works.
Development	This is the first phase of the film making process. The producer will usually be the most heavily involved person in this phase. During development, you are finding material either by creating an original script by working with a writer (you could also be the writer), or discovering some one else's material and optioning it. Either way, you are attaining ownership in the material. Once you have optioned or purchased the rights, you are working the material to generate an amazing script. This could mean adapting a book, comic, play, web series, short film, or feature script. Or this could also mean reworking an already existing script. Once the first draft of the script is complete, it's your job to come up with great notes and convey them properly to the writer in order for him/her to write a better second draft. Depending on the agreement you make with the writer, the development process could involve multiple drafts of the script. Either way, the main objective is to work with the writer to generate a screenplay that you are happy with. This is one of the most difficult but most important skills to acquire as a producer. All studios and networks have specific departments devoted solely to development. Once you have the script at a place where you are happy with, your next job is to secure financing (which is a whole new ball game). Once the financing is secured, you are ready to move on to the next phase; PRE-PRODUCTION.
Development Deal	This is an agreement where a writer or producer agrees to develop or write a certain number of projects for a studio or production company. These companies are basically paying to have exclusive access to a writer or producer' material.
Diegetic Sound	This term describes sound for a motion picture where the source of that particular sound is visible on the screen or whose source is implied to be present by the action of the film.
Director of Photography	This person is also known as the DP, or the head cinematographer. It has been argued that, besides the director, the DP is the most important person on a set when it comes to the visual aspect of the film. The DP has to make sure that the scene is lit properly, the right lenses are being used and scene is framed correctly. DP' have been said to "paint with light". It is also the DP' responsibility to make sure that the movement of the camera and the change in focus is executed properly while shooting a scene.
Distribution Fee	This is the fee charged by a studio/distributor to the exhibitor in order to have their film exhibited in their theater(s). This is usually in the form of a percentage of revenue generated at the box office in any given market. This percentage can range from as low as 10% all the way up to 50%. A typical distribution fee is 30%. This is not to be confused with film rentals which is the studio' portion of the box office calculated after the distribution fee has been paid.NOTE: When it comes to accounting numbers, distribution fee is not factored in as "revenue" or "earnings" even though the money goes straight to the studio/distributor. This is just another one of those strange accounting principles practiced in the movie industry.
DIT	This stands for digital imaging technician. This person works in collaboration with the cinematographer and the editor to organize all the raw files of the footage while on set and create a manageable workflow for the editor when he receives the footage. During production, after the digital memory card of the camera is full, the 2nd AC will bring the card to the DIT for him/her to load onto the main hard drive. From there, the DIT will transcode the footage and organize/label the files in a manner that' best suited for the editor.
DMA	Also known as Designated Market Area, this is the area whose population receives all the same TV signals. In the USA, there are over 200 DMAs. Most DMAs have one channel for every major network.
Docudrama	This is a specific genre of scripted drama in film where actors are used to re-create events that actually happened in real life. Great examples of docudramas include CAPTAIN PHILLIPS, 127 HOURS, YOU DONT KNOW JACK, RAY, UNITED 93, THE FIGHTER, CINDERELLA MAN
Documentary	Shot to document reality, non-fiction, in order to educate or preserve history. No actors are cast. A real documentary should use real life and real situations only.
Domestic Territory	When it comes to the theatrical box office, this includes ticket sales in both USA and Canada. When it comes to the film market, this only refers to the USA. Canada is considered a foreign or separate territory than the United States when selling the distribution rights to a film.
Dutch Tilt	Also known as a dutch angle or an oblique angle, a dutch tilt is a camera shot where the camera angle is deliberately slanted to one side. This can be used for dramatic effect and helps portray unease, disorientation, intoxication, madness, etc.
Editor' Cut	This is the first cut of a TV episode or film which is compiled solely by the editor. Usually the director, executives and financiers have not looked at the cut up until this point.
Elements of a Motion Picture	Elements are the various parts that come together to make a motion picture. This includes everything from a concept, a screenplay, producer, director, DP, lead actors, supporting cast, crew, distributor etc. These are all elements of a film. Each of these elements can have a significant outcome to the final product.
Equal Likeness	This is a clause in an actor' contract that states that if any other actor' photograph or likeness appears in a paid advertisement relating to the motion picture, a photograph of the actor of equal size and prominence must also appear in such advertisement.
EQUITY	Short for Actors Equity Association. The union representing stage actors.
Equity Financing	In this type of financing, a person or company with deep pockets will finance all or part of your film in exchange for ownership of a percentage of the film (equity). This means that from here on out, unless otherwise agreed upon, the investor will receive a certain percentage of all profits generated by the movie. The advantage of this type of financing is that you are not legally obligated to pay back the financier if the film doesn't generate enough revenue. The down side is that, in success, a portion of your profits will belong to the financier who essentially owns part of your film.
ETHNICALLY AMBIGUOUS	Meaning a persons race is not easily defined by appearance.
Event Series	This is a TV series who's story line is based on one single event. Examples of past series include shows like LOST and JERICHO. However, nowadays, event series have been synonymous with mini series seeing as that the stories our close-ended and typically conclude after one season. Networks and creators know they can't drag on a story based on an event for more than one season. What networks will often do instead is once the story concludes in the first season, they will use the built-in brand of that show and use to create another event series based on the same premise. Recent examples of event series of this nature are TRUE DETECTIVE, AMERICAN HORROR STORY and FARGO. The first season of each has as a close ended story, but they will use the show's brand to create and market and fresh new story with new characters for the following season. Be aware that event and mini series are NOT interchangeable with "limited series".
Executive Producer	An executive producer (EP) for film is very different from an executive producer for TV. For film, an EP is a very abstract credit. It can mean a number of things. To put it simply, an executive producer is some one who provides an important contribution to the project. This could be financing, or it could mean that you manage one the A-list talent that was part of the film. It could even indicate that you were a high level employee working at the production company. In any film production, there are many people who are heavily involved in the producing of the movie, however, there can only be so many people with producer credit (the Academy has a 5 producer limit for the best picture category). So to provide these people with the appropriate credit, they will receive an executive producer title. But at the end of the day, if you want to be recognized for your merits as a producer on a film, the credit you want is "produced by".
Executive Producer for TV	Not to be confused with an Executive Producer (EP) for film, the EP for a television show is the highest credit you can receive. There are usually several executive producers of a television show and it typically includes the showrunner(s), the creator(s), senior level writers, and the principal(s) of the production company. Television EPs are ultimately responsible for putting together and creating a television show. Of all the EP's, it's the showrunner that holds the highest title. They're the ones that usually receive the "created by" credit at the end of the opening credits. There are cases, however, where a creator of a show will not have enough experience to run a show and the network will bring in an experienced showrunner to fill that role. In this case, the showrunner will just take and EP credit.
Exhibitor	An exhibitor another term for a movie theater. Generally speaking, movie theatres get 50% of the box office revenue. So when you read in the news that a movie grossed a certain amount in domestic box office, only half of that money actually goes to the distributor/studio. However, some times a distributor will strike a deal where they will get more than 50% for the couple weeks and then take less than 50 percent for the remaining weeks. In Hollywood, every deal is negotiable.
Exit Poll	This is a method used in market-research where moviegoers are interviewed as they leave the theatre after watching a movie. This is done in order to gauge the audience's reaction to the film.
Exploitation Film	This is a type of feature film which contains obligatory or gratuitous sex, violence, horror, catastrophic events or a combination of any or all of such themes which has little socially redeeming value. The film blatantly uses these themes and elements to attract audiences.
EXT. (Exterior)	A scene shot outside.
EXTRA	Background performer, used only in non-principal roles.
Extras	Extras are non-speaking roles given to actors who are meant to contribute to the background or the overall setting of a film. For example, if you had a scene in a subway stations or a restaurant or a concert, you would hire extras to fill in the space to make it seem like a crowded setting.
EYE LINE	Eye line is the direction an actor should look off-screen to match a reverse angle or a P.O.V. (point of view) shot. It is best to give the actor an actual thing or spot to look at rather than a blank spot on an empty wall or an empty space in mid air.
Fair Use	"Fair Use is the term that describes a particular trademark in a film stating that it did not violate any laws by being in the film. The laws state that you can use a trademarked product or symbol in a film so long as youre not misleading the audience when it comes to its application and its purpose. The law also states that a trademark is fair use if it' not implying to the audience that it was responsible for the making of the film. The sum this all up, if you want to use a trademarked product in your film, you are within your legal rights to do it so long as the consumer can buy the product and that it is being used for it' intended purpose in the film.Also check out this article about using branded items in your film and what should be aware of when it comes to WORKS OF ART.
Featured	Principal role in the film with one or more lines but easily cut from the final version of the film. Unfortunately, many extras have started using the term "featured" to describe their extra work and that means casting directors are less and less convinced that a job listed as "featured" actually was a featured principal role.
FEATURED EXTRA	When an extra is clearly visible on camera and not just a blur in the background.
Featurette	A featurette is a behind-the-scenes video depiction of a motion picture and how it was made. It usually includes footage from the film (much like a trailer) complimented with interviews with lead actors, the director, writer and producer. Featurettes are created to air on television and stream online for the purpose of marketing and promotion. In my opinion, I think they do a better job in promoting a movie than a traditional trailer and I believe studios should use them more often. Trailers do a great job in illustrating tone, and story , but having the actors whom the audience is already drawn to speak and talk about the process and emotion behind making the film only helps to peak people' interest to buy a ticket.
Femme Fatale	This literally means "deadly woman". It' a character used in a lot of dark dramas and film noir. Essentially, a femme fatale is a seductive woman who uses her charm and physical attributes to lure men into compromising, dangerous and often deadly situations in order to get what she wants. Examples include Isabella Rossellini' character in BLUE VELVET, and Sharon Stone' character in BASIC INSTINCT
FI-CORE	‘financial core' status is an option within the Screen Actors Guild (SAG-AFTRA) allowing actors to work both union and non-union jobs.
Film Director	A film director is responsible for the entire creative execution of the film. He/she is in charge of the entire creative process from pre-production all the way to the end of post-production. Despite the fact that the director is ultimately responsible for all the aspects of the film, he/she usually has a reliable crew and department heads to look after these aspects. For example the DP will be responsible for the look, color, lighting and framing of a shot. There will also be department heads for production design, wardrobe, visual effects, and makeup etc. However, there is one responsibility that the director has that nobody else helps with and that is working with the actors. In saying that, the number one job of a director is to work with their actors and get the best performances out of them. Nobody else is supposed to give direction to the actors except for the director. More importantly, it' important to know that it' not the director' responsibility to be an expert on all the creative aspects of a film. However, it is his/her job to accurately convey to the department head what his/her vision is for the film and allow the department head to use their expertise to execute the vision.
Film Noir	Some times referred as a genre on its own, Film Noir (French for "black film") is a term used to describe a very stylized form of Hollywood crime dramas particularly those that emphasize cynical attitudes and sexual motivations. The classic film noir of Hollywood were made in the 1940s and 50s. It is important to understand that the term describes more of the mood and tone of the film than it does the particular plot of characters. Most of these films, however, involve a private eye or some sort of law enforcement and the story centers around a crime mystery or murder. Classic Film Noir films include THE MALTESE FALCON, DOUBLE INDEMNITY, LAURA, GUN CRAZY and THE BIG SLEEP.
Film Producer	You could ask five different film producers what the definition of their job title is and they would likely give you five different answers. To put it simply, a producer' job is to get the film made. What an actual producer does will always change depending on the film that he or she is working on. Their involvement will usually depend on the budget, and the extent to which they can hire the appropriate people to work on their film. In general, the producer oversees the entire film-making process from start to finish. This includes finding source material (a book, comic, original idea, script, news article), optioning that source material, hiring a screenwriter, developing a script, securing financing, finding distribution, hiring a great director, overseeing the production process, overseeing the post-production process, and marketing the film. It is ultimately to producer' responsibility that the film gets made well, and under budget. In the feature film word, "producers" is the highest producer credit one can receive (unlike television where the highest producing credit goes to the "executive producer"). When a film wins an academy award for best picture, the trophy goes to the producer(s) and only the producer(s). If you want a good reference for film producing, I recommend the book "So you want to be a PRODUCER" by Lawrence Turman (the producer of THE GRADUATE, and the chairman of the infamous Peter Stark Producing Program at USC).
Film Rentals	This term can be confusing as it has nothing to do with renting movies. This is the portion of the box office revenue paid by the theatres to the distributor. This is not to be confused with the distribution fee. A film rental is paid AFTER the distribution fee has been paid. This percentage will vary depending on the deal that is made for a particular film. Generally speaking, box office revenue is split 50/50 between the theatres and distributor (studio). However there cases where the studio will receive a higher percentage on the opening weekend, or the first week of release. Some deals, the percentage varies each week where the first 2-3 weeks the distributor will get a higher perecentage, but each subsequent week their cut will decrease and the exhibitor' portion will increase. So when you see that a movie grossed $20M over the weekend, this generally means that the studio receives $10M of that revenue, while the remaining $10M goes to the theaters.
Final Cut	Unless you are a well-established and successful director, studios (or whoever finances the film) will have the final say as to what the finished product will look like. This is known in the film business as "final cut". If, however, a director has final cut, he/she has full creative freedom to make the film the way he/she wants regardless of what the studio says. In this scenario, there are still certain restrictions such as duration and MPAA rating that the director will have to adhere to, but overall, the director has full control of the final product.
FIRST A.D.	First Assistant Director; person responsible for the running of the set. Gives instructions to crew and talent, including calling for "first team," "quiet," "rehearsal," and "take five.".
First Assistant Camera	AKA the First AC or Focus Puller, this crew member is responsible for making sure that the camera stays in focus through out the duration of the shot. Often times the depth of field changes, or the object that is being shot changes position and it is the job of the first AC to make sure the focus is adjusted properly when these changes happen.
First Assistant Director	More commonly known as the first AD, this person' responsibility is to make sure everything during production is running smoothly and on time. They make sure that everyone is at the appropriate place at the appropriate time. They're the one' with the clip board (and some times the megaphone) making sure that all the scenes are shot on schedule. If shooting is falling behind schedule, they're the ones telling the director to hurry up. They're the ones that tell everyone when it' time for lunch or screaming at the top of their lungs "QUIET ON SET!!". During pre-production, it is usually the AD' job to break down the script and devise a shooting schedule. The first AD must be approved by the director.
First Dollar Gross	This is the first monies received by the film distributor after releasing their film before any of taxes, fees, expenses or debts are paid off. If an actor or director receives a first dollar gross deal, this means that they get a percentage of this gross revenue received by the studio. This is very rare these days, but if possible, every talent wants to get a first dollar gross deal because this means that so long as the movie generates revenue, they will be guaranteed money before any of it is put towards taxes, debts, expenses and other fees.
First Position	This term usually pertains to writers, directors and actors. A person's "position" on a project, whether it be a television show or a feature film, basically determines the project's priority in that person's work schedule. This is one of the deal points that an agent or a manager will negotiate with a studio or financier for their client. A lot of the times a writer/director/actor will have several projects on the go at one time and studios will want their project as high up on that priority list as possible. So if a specific project is in first position, contractually, the talent must put this project at a higher priority than any other project he/she may be working on. If the talent is working on other projects, those project may be in second or third position, meaning the other commitments take priority.
First-Look Deal	Let's say you just directed a film that won the Grand Jury Prize at Sundance, or you're an actor attached to a film that did gangbusters in the box office, or you're the creator of a nationally syndicated TV show. You are what we call a PROVEN TALENT. The studios and TV networks need people like you to create content for them and hedge their risk in this volatile business. To do this, they will offer you a first-look deal.
Foley	Foley is a performed in post-production. It is a process where a foley artist will artificially create sounds that are meant to be the source sounds on the screen and incorporate them in the movie' sound design. For example, a foley artist may bang coconut shells together to simulate the sound of a horse galloping or break a piece of celery to simulate a bone breaking. The foley artist will be on a special foley stage, and a sound engineer will record all the sounds that the artist is making while watching the film. The sound will then be incorporated into the film' main soundtrack.
FORCED CALL	A call to work less than 12 hours after dismissal on the previous day.
FOREGROUND CROSS	Action in a scene in which an Extra Performer passes between the camera and the principal actors; sometimes called a "wipe".
Four Walling	This is a technique used by producers who are handling their own distribution of a film and not dealing with any distribution companies. The producer will approach theatres individually and offer them a set negotiated flat fee to rent out their space. Essentially, they're paying for the 'four walls' of the theatre and for the use of their screen. The rental period could be for a night, a whole week, a month or just a weekend. Often times, the producer will have to also pay for the personnel like the projectionist, the ticket booth agent, concession and custodials. This minimizes the risk for theatre owner as the rental fee is guaranteed regardless of the film's ticket sales. However, the owner is foregoing any opportunity to show other film(s) in their theatre during the rental period. On the other hand, this is a huge risk on the producer, but he/she will get to keep 100% of the ticket sales should the film do well.
FOURTH WALL	Refers to the imaginary, illusory invisible plane through which the film viewer or audience is thought to look through toward the action; the fourth wall that separates the audience from the characters is 'broken through' when the barrier between the fictional world of the film's story and the "real world" of the audience is shattered - when an actor speaks directly to the viewers by making an aside.
Free Fall	Living out the imaginary circumstance (scene) moment to moment. Give up all thoughts of hoping they like you, or trying to be perfect. To FREE FALL you must be in the moment, when the only thing that matters is the conversation you're having right NOW.
Fringes	Fringes are benefits that an employee (ie actor) will receive that is beyond their payable income. This includes pension, guild costs, and other fees. Each union will have set types of fringe benefits that every production must provide their workers.
FX (Effects)	Special Effects.
Gaffer	The gaffer is the head of the electrical department which mainly deals with the lighting on set. He/she is responsible for the execution of the lighting plan which is conveyed by the DP.
Gap / Mezzanine Financing	This type of financing is ideal for investors who want to be conservative and play it safe, because they're simply "closing the gap" that is left in the film finance package. In other words, they're the last investor in and others have already taken on a large portion of the risk. Gap financiers will either invest in return for a percentage of the film, or lend against unsold presales.
GOLDEN TIME	Refers to the 16th hour of a shooting day. When Golden Time begins, Union extras receive their base pay for each additional hour until released for the day.
Greeking	Greeking is the process of masking or concealing trademarks that the production has not received legal clearance to use in the film.
GREENROOM	The actors' lounge. Either in a theatre or production studio.
Greensman	A greensman is a member of the construction crew responsible for on-set greenery: plants, flowers, grass shrubs, bushes etc.
Grindhouse Theatre	These theatres are mainly found in the USA and they specialize in showing B movies. The tickets are much cheaper than the regular theatres and serve a niche audience of movie-goers. B movies are low budget, violent, exploitative and racy movies that are of lower quality in production value, and actor performance than the movies you typically see in the major theatre chain.
Grip	Also know as a "key grip", a grip is a highly skilled person who works on production sets. They specialize in the set-up, adjustment, moving and maintenance of most production equipment on set. Typical duties include setting up dollies, c-stands, flags, scrims, reflectors and apple boxes.
GRIPS	Members of the film crew who are responsible for moving set pieces, lighting equipment, dolly track and other physical movement of equipment.
Gross Receipts vs Gross Rentals	Gross receipts refers to all the money that is received by the distributor from the exploitation of a particular motion picture on any platform. This includes theatrical box office sales, home video, pay television, DVD sales, television syndication etc. Gross rentals only refers to total monies paid to the distributor from the box office. This is also referred to as "film rentals".
Guest Star	One-episode guest whose character's storyline is central to that episode, works at a weekly rate (and is under contract for the week, even if only shooting a day or two).
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 MODEL	A performer whose hands are used to double for others.
Hashtag (#)	The symbol used to categorize specific topics in social media posts. The hashtag will allow people looking for the exact same topic to find your posts. Effectively using this symbol gains you followers and exposure to your content.
Helmer	Just another fancy word for director.
High Concept Idea	Anyone who wants to make a commercially viable movie loves a high concept idea. This is a premise or an idea that can be described succinctly in very few words and can be effectively advertised. It' often an idea that isn't grounded in reality but can easily be imagined if it was. High concept narratives are typically associated with a "what if?" scenario that sets the story in motion. Here are some examples of successful high concept films:LIAR LIAR (What if you were a lawyer and couldn't lie for one day?)BACK TO THE FUTURE (What if you could travel back in time and change your future?)JURASSIC PARK (What if you could clone dinosaurs?)GROUNDHOG DAY (What if you repeated the same day over again and again?)FREAKY FRIDAY (What if you and your teenage daughter switched bodies?)BRUCE ALMIGHTY (What if you were given all the powers of God?)BIG (What if a young boy physically ages to adulthood overnight?)TOY STORY (What if toys came to life when humans weren't around)
Hip Pocket Someone	The term "hip pocket" is used by agents and managers when they unofficially represent a writer, director, actor, producer etc. This means they're just helping that person out without making them an official client.
HOLDING	The designated area to which the Extra Performers report and stay while waiting to go on set.
HONEY WAGON	A towed vehicle containing one or more dressing rooms, as well as crew bathrooms.
Honeywagon	This is a mobile trailer that is used on location for actors to use as dressing rooms.
Hot Set	This term is used to describe a movie set where the art department and prop persons have finalized placing funiture and props etc for filming a scene. Hence why we call it this so nobody touches the set until filming is complete.
I.A.T.S.E	This stands for International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees. It's the largest labor union in the entertainment industry with about 115,000 members. While the DGA is the union for directors, WGA for writers, SAG-AFTRA for actors, IBT for teamsters, IATSE is a labor union for pretty much everyone else. This includes editors, production designers, DPs, camera operators, ADs, ACs, makeup artists, grips, gaffers, electricians, best boys, set builders, sound designers, sound mixers and many more workers.
I.B.T.	Stands for the International Brotherhood Of Teamsters. It's the labor union for both Canada and the United States that represents and protects the interests of teamsters. The union has approximately 1.3M members.
If Come Deal	This is a type of development deal that a TV studio may choose to sign with a writer. When the studio acquires a project, it must make a development deal with the writer in order to secure its rights to the show before pitching to networks. There are two basic kinds of development deals. IF-COMES and PAY-OR-PLAY. An if-come deal states that the studio pays the writer only the pitch is bought by the network. If the pitch doesnt sell to a network, the writer doesnt get paid and the studio loses no money.
IMPLUSE	A natural response that an actor responds to in the moment.
IMPROVISATION	Setting out to do a scene with no pre-planned or written idea. A process leading to spontaneous discovery that allows the actor to find real, organic impulses within themselves.
Improvising	To perform spontaneously without planning ahead.
Independent Film	When we here this term, we normally think arthouse, film festival, and cheap. This can be true for most independent films, however, not all independent films will share these attributes. To put it simply, an independent film is a film that is financed outside of the traditional studio system. In other words, the money used to finance the film comes from a place/person other than a studio. In most cases, independent filmmakers have to find distributors on their own. This could be a major studio, but often times they'll have to sell the distribution rights for a specific territory to an independent film distributor. This is usually done through international film markets and festivals. Some well known indie film distributors include, Magnolia Pictures, Film District, The Weinstein Company, Participant Media and Road Side Attractions. Some of the major studios have an "independent division" which is used to finance and distribute more arthouse (or less commercial) films. Universal's is Focus Features. 20th Century Fox has Fox Searchlight. Sony's is Sony Pictures Classics. Paramount's is Paramount Vantage and Warner Bros has Warner Independent.
INDICATING	Showing what your character is feeling or doing without really feeling or doing, leading to a false and shallow performance.
INDUSTRIALS	Industrial Film. Refers to films made for corporations. Training films, product education, Human resource training, etc. Work on industrials often involves memorizing a lot of technical writing.
INNER ACTION	A physical action verb chosen by the actor in the pursuit of an objective. It always begins with the word "to" i.e. to attack, to soothe, to tickle.
INNER MONOLOGUE	A character's active, imaginative inner thoughts while the actor is playing a role.
INSTINCT	A compelling or powerful impulse.
INSTRUMENT	The actor's collective working of the body, voice, mind, and imagination.
INT. (Interior)	A scene shot indoors.
Key Art	This is the primary art work used in all the ads and posters for a motion picture. This includes images, portrayal of the actors and the font of the title. All this has to be approved by the marketing team (if there is one), producers and director.
Key Grip	The key grip is the head of the grip department. Their job is to set up, maintain, and move production equipment such as lights, C-stands, dollies, cranes, platforms, scaffolding, and camera cars. If something needs to be set up or moved, you call the grip department.
Lead	Principal role in the film, in most scenes, on-screen credit is often in the credits that start the film (as well as in the complete end credits).
Lead-In	A lead-in is a TV show that precedes another show. Often times when a network premieres a new show, the will air it after a show that already has a lot of viewers. That already-established show is the lead-in for the new show.Also see lead-out.
Lead-Out	A lead-out is a TV show following another show. When a network premieres a new show, they will often have it be the lead-out to an already established show with lots of viewers in the hopes that they will stay tuned in for the new show.Also see lead-in.
Leave-Behind	This is a document that is left with potential buyers as a refresher after a pitch meeting. This can be a one pager which acts as a small movie poster, or it can be a treatment.
LEGIT ACTING	Refers to Acting for Theatre, Film & TV only. Not commercials.
Letter of Intent	This is a written document from a director, actor, writer or other person (or company) expressing their intent toward providing their services for a specific project. So why not just sign a contract? In some cases, when a project is being put together, a piece of talent may only want to legally sign on to provide his/her services if other conditions are met. The letter of intent will be drafted and used to help convince other parties to be part of the film without the writer of the letter having to fully commit to the project. So for example, if a producer is trying to get financing for a film, and a director wont attach himself to the film unless the film has a certain budget raised for production, the producer will get the director to express this in a letter of intent in order to convince financiers to invest in the film. In most cases, the letter of intent is not legally binding. It' just a formal way of people to say, "Im very interested in being a part of this project so long as certain conditions are met."
LIGHT BOARD	Either manual or computer operated. Operates the stage lights.
LIGHT CUES	A change in the stage lighting.
Line by Line	A method to gather information and develop an in depth understanding of the script by reading EVERYTHING on the page and figuring out the writer's intention for each line.
Line Cut	This is a term used in the sitcom arena. When filming a multi-cam sitcom, it will shoot in chronological order in front of a live audience. The director often works with a recordist who uses a video switcher to make an in-the-moment edited version of the live show, much like a sporting event being edited live. This edit is known as a LINE CUT. This will play on the monitors above the audience' heads to help them see the show and understand how it will look on television. This also serves as a template for editors who begin splice together the show after the taping wraps.
Line Producer	A line producer is different from a producer in the sense that a line producer is not involved in the creative aspects of the film-making process. Their job is to manage the budget on a film, and make sure the film stays on budget. They are usually on set every day (hence why they can only work on one project at a time), and they work closely with the production manager to keep everything on budget and on schedule. Line producers are experts on knowing how much everything costs. If there' a specific location, type of shot, stunt sequence, vfx scene or music clearance needed, a good line producer would know how much it would cost to achieve it.
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.
Location Manager	A location manager is a key member of the crew who deals with all matters involved with the use of a sites used to shoot a film other than a studio lot. Usually the location manager will identify the locations that are required by a given script, scout the location, take location photographs with the DP and director, be the liaison with the owner of the location, be the liaison with the local film commission regarding location permits, and budget the cost of using that location.
Location Permit	This is a written agreement or a license granted by the local film commissions (ie governing bodies that regulating all film-related activities in its jurisdiction) for the privilege of using a private or government owned property to shoot scenes for a movie.
Logline	A log line is one or two sentences that describe what your movie or TV show is about. A good logline should include a protagonist, a setting, an obstacle and stakes.Examples:ROMEO AND JULIET: In medieval Italy, a young man falls in love with the daughter of a sworn enemy, and together, they elope only to face tragic consequences.JURASSIC PARK: A team of researchers and a family struggle to escape and island park filled with genetically restored dinosaurs. BACK TO THE FUTURE: After traveling back to 1955, Marty McFly accidentally interferes with his parents courtship and must make them fall in love" or else he will never be born.
LONG SHOT (LS)	A camera shot which captures the performer's full body.
Looping	Also know as Sound Looping, this is part of the sound editing process where the sound designer takes the separately recorded dialogue and synchronizes it with the corresponding film image. Also see SOUND DESIGN and ADR
M.O.W.	This stands for "Move Of The Week". It was originally coined by ABC back in the early sixties when they would produce and air a made-for-tv movie every Tuesday night. Nowadays, this is the general term used to describe a made-for-tv movie. In other words, if someone describes a film as an M.O.W., they are referring to the movie as a lower grade film that isn't worthy of theatrical distribution and should only be seen on television by a smaller niche audience.
Macguffin	A macGuffin is a person, place or thing that' used as a plot device that the protagonist pursues. It' what motivates his or her choices and drives our story forward. Often times a macguffin will have little or no narrative explanation as to why it is considered important. A macGuffin can sometimes take a more abstract form, victory, pride, survival, power, love, or even something that is entirely unexplained, as long as it strongly motivates key characters within our plot.Examples of macguffin' include: unobtaimium in AVATAR, the briefcase in PULP FICTION, Terry Benedict' money in OCEANS ELEVEN, The Golden Idol in RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARK, One Eyed Willy' treasure in THE GOONIES.
Manager	The person in charge of guiding new actors' careers. For A-list actors, they manage their schedule and offer career advice. Agents and managers are different but sometimes with beginner actors they take on both roles interchangeably.
MARK	The exact position(s) given to an actor on a set to insure that he/she is in the proper light and camera angle; generally marked on the ground with tape or chalk.
Marketability Mean	Marketability is a film' ability to appeal to an audience based on its creative elements. This is the primary force that' going to drive people to buy tickets and sit in a theater. This includes, special effects, over-all look, director, cast, stunts, and brand. This does not include the story or plot, unless the story is a recognizable pre-existing brand. A movie about Superman directed by Steven Spielberg with huge CGI effects starring A-list actors is going to have more marketability than a love story taking place on a farm starring no-name actors. It' not to say that the latter movie is a poor movie. For all we know it could be an amazing film, however, it would be difficult film for a studio to green-light because it lacks marketability.
Martini	No, it' not the preferred drink for spies. It' what production crews refer to as the final shot of the day.
Master Shot	Sometimes referred to as an establishing shot, a master shot is a positions the camera in a way that captures all the action/dialogue in an entire scene and is typically composed as the widest and longest shot. For example, if a scene involves people seated at a dinner table, a master shot would be wide enough to see everyone seated at the table. This is crucial for the editing process as this is the scene to which all coverage shots (close-ups, cutaways, medium shots) are referenced and synchronized to. If any of the other takes or angles dont work in post production, the editor can always go back to a master shot.
MATCHING ACTIONS	The requirement that the actor match the same physical movements in a scene from take to take in order to preserve the visual continuity.
MEAL PENALTY	All film productions should break at least once every six hours to allow for cast and crew meals. If production does not halt for meals at least once every six hours then Union actors and extras are entitled to a "meal penalty" payment for every half hour over the six hours you are not fed.
Mean to Receive Points	In the film and TV business, points is just another fancy term for back end participation.
Media Conglomerate	A conglomerate, by definition, is a combination of two or more corporations engaged in entirely different businesses that fall under one corporate entity. In other words, it's a large company (usually publicly traded) that owns several smaller companies that function in different businesses. A media conglomerate is a large company that owns several companies that provide products/services in you guessed it the media industry. Media includes tv networks, movie studios, theme parks,online digital companies, news papers, record labels, publishing companies, magazines and radio stations. For example, News Corporation owns 20th Century Fox Movies Studios, Fox TV Network, Fox TV Studios, New York Post, Wall Street Journal, Harper Collins Publishing and dozens of more companies. Media conglomerates are basically massive vertically integrated that control the entertainment industry. The five major media conglomerates are News Corporation, Walt Disney Company, Comcast, Viacom and Time Warner. Other major media conglomerates include CBS Corporation, A
Medium Close Up	When the camera's frame is slightly above the head to between the upper belly/chest.
MEISNER TECHNIQUE	An acting program that uses (among other things) repetitive and in-the-moment exercises first devised by Sanford Meisner of the Group Theatre. The technique emphasizes "moment-to-moment" spontaneity through communication with other actors to generate behavior that is "truthful under imaginary circumstances." Meisner also emphasized using the actor's imagination to create emotional reality—the creative "as-if"— over the personal, emotional experience philosophy championed by fellow Group Theatre member Lee Strasberg.
Method acting	A method of acting that involves using real life experiences to get into character. Coined by acting teacher Lee Strasberg, who defines Method acting as: What all actors have always done whenever they acted well. It is known proverbially as an acting process where the actor absolutely becomes the character.
Mini-Major Studio	Besides the BIG SIX major studios, there are other film studios that are capable of distributing movies to the major theater chains around the world. Although they're not as big and do not release as many films as the big six, the mini-majors compete directly with them and have the full potential to perform just as well as them in the box office. Here are the notable mini-major studios: CBS Films The To-Do List, The Woman In Black, Seven Psychopaths Dreamworks Lincoln, War Horse, The Help, Tropic Thunder, Madagascar, Shrek Franchise, Disturbia, Shark Tale, The Terminal, Anchorman, Collateral, Old School Lionsgate/Summit The Twilight Saga, The Hunger Games, The Expendables, Tyler Perry Films, Saw FranchiseMGM James Bond, 21 Jump Street, Hot Tub Time Machine, The Amityville HorrorRelativity Media Mirror Mirror, Limitless, Machine Gun Preacher, Don JonThe Weinstein Company The Kings Speech, The Artist, The Butler, Django Unchained, Silver Linings Playbook, Inglourious Basterds
Minimum Guarantee	A minimum guarantee is a commitment that a film distributor makes in order to pay the owner of a film for the rights to distribute in a certain territory. This is usually done as a presale where, before the movie is made, a distributor will agree to pay the filmmaker a specific dollar amount for the distribution rights for that film. That price is referred to as a minimum guarantee.
MND MEAL (NON DEDUCTABLE MEAL)	A 15 minute meal break provided to actors by the production company to bring actors in sync with crew break time. It must be completed within 2 hours of performers call time.
Mockumentary	Shot like a documentary but under fictional circumstances. Examples: The Office, Modern Family, Parks and Recreation.
MOCUMENTARY	A fictional, farcical film that has the style, 'look and feel' of a documentary, with irreverent humor, parody, or slapstick, that is deliberately designed to 'mock' the documentary or subject that it features.
Moment of Decision	A moment where your character weighs their options, or are required to make a decision that changes the direction of the scene/story.
Moment of Discovery	A moment when your character discovers new information that changes the direction of the scene and/or story.
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.
MONOLOGUE	A scene or a portion of a script in which an actor gives a lengthy, unbroken speech without interruption by another character.
MOS (Mit Out Sound/Motion Only Shot)	Any shot without dialogue or sound recording. Also sometimes called S.O.C. , silent on-camera.
MOTIVATION	The Why? The reason a character pursues a particular objective or super objective.
Movie Distributor	A distributor is the owner and licensor of motion picture rights. They are responsible for getting the film into theaters, and licensing the rights to desired third parties. Distributors include the major studios (WB, Universal, Columbia, Paramount, 20th Century Fox, Disney), the mini majors (MGM, Lionsgate Summit, Weinstein Company, CBS Films, Relativity) and the smaller independent companies (Magnolia Pictures, Participant Media, Road Side Attractions, IFC Films etc).
MPAA	Stands for Motion Picture Association of America. It's an American trade association that represents all the film distributors in North America. Its main purpose is to provide and enforce guidelines for creating film content. Basically, it's their job to protect the viewers from watching inappropriate or unexpected content. They do this by implementing the Production Code which spells out what is acceptable and not acceptable content for motion pictures. And of course they administer the MPAA film rating system which determines a film's rating.
Multi-cam	Multiple cameras (4 cameras) that record simultaneously and are only used in sitcoms (situational comedy TV shows) and soap operas. Since these shows record simultaneously, the actors only have to perform the scene a few times to get all actors' footage. Example: Big Bang Theory, Friends, The King of Queens.
Multi-Cam Comedy	There are basically two formats for TV sitcoms: single cam and multi-cam. A multi-cam comedy is shot on a sound stage. Production designers and construction artists build sets as the backdrop and setting for the series to take place. This elaborate set could be a house like in EVERYBODY LOVES RAYMOND, an apartment like in SEINFELD, a restaurant like in CHEERS or a coffee shop like in FRIENDS. The scenes are shot with multiple cameras (at least four) all rolling at the same time capturing different angles and views of the characters while the scene is taking place. The entire episode is typically shot in front of a live studio audience who provide the laugh track (one of the major differences between a multi-cam and single cam show). This plays a crucial role in the writing of the series. If a joke doesn't get a good reaction from the crowd, the team of writers will literally come up with a new lines on the spot for the actors to perform. They will decide in post production which take got the most laughs and incorporate into the final product.
Mumblecore	The term mumblecore refers to a sub-genre of independent style filmmaking characterized by low budget but still high-quality production value, B-List but talented actors and simplistic plots set in grounded settings. Filmmakers often associated with this include:
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.
Name Value	Celebrities that will bring popularity to your film and ultimately make the studio or network a profit. Other name value synonyms might include: name actor, A-name, or A-lister. Lesser-known name values are called B-list, C-list, or D-list actors.
NC-17	AKA: NC-17, X-Rated, X Rated, X. This is an official rating issued by the MPAA indicating that no person aged 17 or under will be allowed to attend a screening of the movie. This category was formerly called "X", but many people' mistaken association of "X" films with XXX films caused the MPAA to change this on September 27, 1990.
NCOPM	The National Conference of Personal Managers Inc. is the nation's oldest trade association of personal managers who provide professional management of talent engaged in entertainment, media and performing arts.
Negative Cost of a Film	Negative cost is the actual cost of producing and shooting a film. This does not include marketing, legal and distribution costs. This is synonymous with the "budget" of the film.
Nielsen Rating	A rating, unlike a share, is a percentage of all the Americans that own a TV set and a measure of how many of those people are watching a specific show at a specific time. In other words, it expresses how many Americans were watching a particular show, regardless of whether or not they had the television turned on.
Non-Diegetic Sound	This term describes sound from a motion picture where its source is neither visible on the screen nor has been implied to be present in the action.
Non-Theatrical Mean	This refers to the exploitation of a film in small venue screens such schools, military bases, churches, and commercial airplanes. Note: "Non-theatrical" does NOT mean "any media other than theatrical". Pay-TV, for example, though not theatrical, is not referred to as non-theatrical" it's simply in its own category.
O.D.A.	Stands for Open Directing Assignment. When a studio or production company needs to attach a director to one of their projects, they reach out to all the agencies and managements companies with an ODA. It' basically a job posting. Theyll send out the script along with the details of the project (auspices attached, salary, talent attached, timeline etc). Once agencies and management companies get word of the ODA, they submit the clients whom they feel will best fit the job. It' the agent' job to stay on top of all the studios and production companies and be aware of all the ODAs at any given time.
O.W.A.	When a studio or production company acquires a property with no writer attached (this property could be a book, article, play, board game, foreign movie or even just a concept) , they reach out to all the agencies and managements companies with an open writing assignment (OWA) stating that they need to hire a screenwriter to adapt the property into a script. It's basically a job posting for writers. The OWA will describe what the job entails, talent attachment (if any), the deadline for the script, the auspices attached and the salary. Once agencies and management companies get word of the OWA, they submit the clients whom they feel will best fit the job. It's the agent's job to stay on top of all the studios and production companies and be aware of all the OWAs at any given time.
OBJECTIVE	A character's pursuit of a specific goal in a scene. Also referred to as the intention or driving question.
OBSTACLE	The conflict and stumbling blocks to a character's struggle in pursuit of an action or objective.
OFF BOOK	You have your characters lines completely memorized. Usually you will have a deadline by which you need to be memorized or 'off book'.
Off-book	Having your sides completely memorized including: knowing your lines, stage direction, and anything relevant to the scene.
OFF-CAMERA (OC or OS)	Dialogue delivered without being on screen.
Off-The-Tops	These are the deductions that are applied first before calculating first dollar gross. This includes taxes, residuals, trade dues, and collection fees. So technically it' not really "first dollar". According to state laws and union laws, specific entities and people need to be paid off before any of the first dollar gross participants.
Offer	A specific amount of compensation a studio/network will pay the talent if they accept the job in their project.
Offer Only	No audition necessary. The actor works from offer base only. This term is generally used for most name value actors.
Omnies	These are extras who have to speak but only say atmospheric words that are supposed to be part of a big group of people. For example, youll need omnies if your scene takes place on the floor of the stock exchange, a crowded restaurant, or a cocktail party.
ON BOOK	With the script in your hand. Usually refers to the time you are working with the script but 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.
On/Off/Off-Off Broadway	On-Broadway productions are staged in New York City's official theater district, between Sixth to Eighth Avenues and 41st to 54th Streets. These theaters have 500 or more seats. Off-Broadway designates professional theaters with 100 to 499 seats, and off-off Broadway is one with less than 100 seats.
One-Off TV Script Deal	This is a typical deal that a studio will make with a writer for a TV series where the pilot script has yet to be written… especially if you're an unestablished writer. The writer is typically engaged to perform the initial step of writing a pilot script, and from there the studio is given the option to further engage the writer to render additional services on the pilot episode and/or series both from a writing and producing capacity. The studio can stop the process of development with that writer at any time. This is a way for the studio to hedge their risk when they're developing a TV series for a network. If the studio is unhappy with the script, they can cut their losses early having only committed to the fee for the pilot.
Option	An option is the right to acquire a piece of property by subsequent payment of additional money. Once you have discovered a piece of property that you want to acquire the rights for, the first thing you usually do is draft an option agreement with the owner. With an option, you pay a small sum (to be negotiated with the owner) which then gives you exclusive control of the rights for a specified period of time. Once that period of time is over, you must either pay for the ownership of the rights, let them go, or extend the option. In other words, with an option, you are paying to reserve the rights to a property in case you decide to buy them in the future. The specified period of time is known as the 'option period'. You can negotiate the length of this time with the owner. During this time you as the producer will try to put the movie together by assembling all the appropriate elements. Should you decide that you want to own the rights and exercise your option, you would pay the remaining amount of the purchase price. Should you decide not to exercise your option, the rights would then revert back to the owner.
Option Agreement	This is a contract signed between the owner of the rights to a particular property and a producer (or writer) who would like to exploit the property in some form of consumable content. The agreement outlines the terms in which the producer will be granted the exclusive access to the rights of the property and the option to purchase the rights to the property once the option period has expired.The general terms outlined in an option agreement include the option period (the amount of time in which you have exclusive access to the rights), cost of the option, the extension period (the amount time in which you can extend the option period), cost of the option extension, purchase price (once the option period is over, this is the cost of purchasing the rights), and which specific rights you will be granted.Also see "What is an Option?"
OUT OF FRAME	An actor outside the camera range.
Output Deal	This agreement commits a studio to acquire the rights to a specified number of motion pictures from one production company. Essentially this is a pre-sale agreement for a number of unspecified films. The distributor or licensee believes in the abilities of the production company that it is willing to risk paying for the films before they're produced. This benefits both parties as the production company is guaranteed to have a buyer/distributor for their films before they go into production, and the studio will have no competition for the distribution rights and they'll be able to get them at a low price.
OVER-THE-SHOULDER	A shot over the shoulder of one actor, focusing entirely on the face and upper torso of the other actor in a scene; generally shot in pairs so both actors expressions can later be edited together.
Overages	When it comes to feature films, overages refer to the amount of money that a distributor earns from the box office rentals that exceed what they initial paid for the distribution rights.For example, let' say through a presale, a distributor agrees to pay a minimum guarantee of a million dollars for the rights to distribute in Italy. Once the film is complete, the distributors pays the million dollars to the producers, and puts it in theaters all across Italy. The movie is a hit! After 2 weeks in theaters, the box office has grossed $3M dollars. Half of that goes to the exhibitors and the remaining $1.5M goes to the distributor who just made a $500K profit from the film. That $500k is referred to as the overage.
Overall Deal	This is basically a first look deal except anything that the producer develops while under this agreement must stay within the studio and cannot be taken elsewhere even if the studio passes. In return, the studio will pay an annual fee to the producer and cover all of his/her overhead costs. Both TV and film studios make overall deals with production companies and writers.
OVERDUBBING	In studio singing or voice work, the process of laying one soundtrack over another.
Owned vs. Operated TV Stations	These stations are, you guessed it, owned and operated by the network and play to a specific location. The reason why networks dont just own and operate all their local stations is that the FCC mandates that networks arent allowed to own a station that reaches more than 39 percent of the population.
P.A.	When referring to a film or TV set, this term stands for production assistant. This person is technically the assistant to the first assistant director, however, they generally serve any of the department heads to carry out any tasks they need. This position is the lowest on the totem pole. PA' can be asked to do any general task. This could involve working directly on set, or performing menial work like getting coffee. If you are looking to work on set or in production, becoming a PA is one of the easiest ways to get your foot in the door. Most accomplished film directors started out as a PA.
PACE	The speed at which you pick up your cue and deliver the next line of your dialogue. Pace can also be the speed that creates a style for the piece.
Package Fee	In the TV arena, this is a fee that TV studios or networks pay an agency when they purchase a TV series. This fee is to compensate the agency for attaching all the key auspices for a television series. This includes an upfront fee they get as soon as the show is purchased, and a back-end percentage (usually around 10 percent) for any gross profits the show generates. Most of the time, only one agency receives the package fee, but on the rare occasion, if two agencies attach to big pieces of talent onto a series, they will split the package fee.Furthermore, any clients of that agency that are working on that show do NOT have to pay their agency commission because it' a show that their agents packaged. For example, youll often hear that a TV show is a "WME package". This simply means that the show was packaged by WME before selling to the studio.
Packaging	Movie packaging is one of the primary services that an agency can provide. This is a key role played by all the major agencies. Packaging involves putting together more than one element for a project before presenting it to buyers. Often times, this is essential for producing an independent film. A producer will approach a packaging agent with a script and possibly one piece of talent attached (ie director or actor). If the agent feels that the project has potential he will attach the remaining pieces of talent - usually all represented by that same agency - and put together the best "package" for financiers. The better the talent, the more appealing it is for financiers. If an agency packages a project that contains all of their clients attached, they will not charge their clients a commission. Instead, what they will do is take a packaging fee from the financier. The agency may also act as the sales agent for the film and collect a fee for all the territories sold in the independent film market.
PAN	A camera shot which sweeps from side-to-side.
PANTOMIME	An art form related to the dance; not to be confused with "silent scenes" or a "scene without words.".
Pause	Often written in scripts, the pause is a hotly debated term. It should be a short 1-3 second pause. A pause often indicates a thought change similar to a beat.
Pay and Play	This is a contractual provision where if the talent on a film is not going to be used in a motion picture for any reason, he or she will still be paid full compensation. All above-the-line talent want "pay or play" in their contract. No matter what happens, the talent (writer, actor, director) will get paid. Think of this like a penalty that the studio has to pay if they choose not to use a particular talent. An agent will typically try and negotiate this in the agreement terms so that it incentives the studio/production company to use their client in the film.
Pay or Play	This is a contractual provision where if the talent on a film is not going to be used in a motion picture for any reason, he or she will still be paid full compensation. All above-the-line talent want "pay or play" in their contract. No matter what happens, the talent (writer, actor, director) will get paid. Think of this like a penalty that the studio has to pay if they choose not to use a particular talent. An agent will typically try and negotiate this in the agreement terms so that it incentives the studio/production company to use their client in the film.
PER DIEM	Fee paid by producer on location shoots to compensate performer for expenditures for meals not provided by the producer.
Period Piece	A period piece describes a motion picture that takes place in a past era. In other words, it takes place at a time far enough in the past where culture, customs, technology, fashion, speech
Personal Secret	An emotional link. What makes you, as the actor, personally and emotionally invested in the scene. Take what you care about most and use an imaginary circumstance to hook it into the situation in the scene. Gets you out of your head and into your gut, where you will fight for what matters to you the most.
PFD Agreement	If you want to play in the studio system as producer, a PFD agreement is ultimately what you're looking for. PFD stands for Production/Finance/Distribution. This is an agreement between a studio and a production company. The agreement basically states that the studio will hire the production company to produce a particular film and pay them a substantial producer fee. In return, the studio will finance and distribute the film. The studio has full control and ownership of all rights pertaining to the film in perpetuity throughout the world. PFD agreements will also include the back-end deal and residuals the production company will receive after the film hits theatres.
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.
PICK UP	Starting a scene from a place other than the beginning.
Pickups	AKA Pickup shots, are scenes or shots that are filmed after principal photography is complete. Often times a director will look through the dailies or watch a rough cut of a film and realize that certain shots can be added, fixed or replaced in order to make the film better. These shots are called "pickups" and most productions will set aside budget and time to capture these after principal photography.
PICTURE'S UP!	Warning that the sequence of cues to shoot a scene is about to begin.
Pilot	The very first episode of the first season of any TV show.
Pilot Episode	This is the first episode of a television series. In most cases, a network will shoot a pilot first before deciding if they will air a series on television.
Pilot Season	The early months (typically January & February) where brand new TV shows are being cast. As new studios emerge, more pilots are being cast all year round.
Platform Release	This method of release allows a film to be played in a few theaters in specific areas for the purpose of building up an audience and establishing it' reputation before expanding the release to additional theaters. This contrasts with "Day and Date release".
Platform Release vs Wide Release	When it comes to releasing a feature film in theatres, there are two ways to do it. Platforming is a method of release where the film is opened in a single theatre or a small group of theatres in a particular territory for the purpose of building an audience before releasing into other territories. This can be done in one step or in phases once the film has established itself in the market. A wide release, on the other hand, is where a film is released on a large number of screens in several territories all at one time. Any number of screens ranging from 100 to >3000 is considered a wide release. Most, if not all, studio films exhibit wide releases. Most independent films will release in a couple theaters in Los Angeles and/or New York before exhibiting in other cities.
Playability	A term used in film-marketing that describes the ability to appeal to an audience over a long period of time. In other words, it describes how good your film is…how good the story is…how good the acting is etc. A film's playability is ultimately responsible for it's sustainability and longevity over time.
PLAYBILL	A program usually containing information about the play, cast, crew, supporters, and advertisers.
PLAYWRIGHT	A person who writes or adapts properties known as play; in most traditions, the first and most creative artist of all those who collaborate to make theatre. It is the playwright's property that stimulates the impetus for a full-fledged production. In musicals, the writers include the writers of the music, the lyrics, and the book.
Plus Ten	The standard process when agents collect their commission is to take that 10% directly from their client' gross pay. So if my salary for acting in a film was $2,000, I would pay my agent $200 which would leave me with $1,800 in my bank account. If someone offers me scale plus ten, this means that they will pay me scale rate and they would also pay my agent his/her 10% commission on top of that. This way, I get to keep all my money and my agent still gets paid. In the former scenario, I would have $2000 in my bank account and the production company or studio would pay my agent $200 separately. This is a common negotiation tactic that agents use to get their clients more money.
POD	Stands for "Production Overall Deal". Even though this is the name given to a type of deal, over time it's become the term used to describe a production company with an overall deal at a studio. In a POD deal, studios will pay writers/producers/directors/actors to have exclusivity to their projects.
Point Agent	Often times when someone wants to reach out to the agent of a particular talent, you'll hear them ask, "Who runs point on him/her?" They're essentially asking who the point agent is. Most clients, especially the big ones, have a team of agents that service him/her. Within that team is the client' primary agent who deals with all initial inquiries and is the first person you call when you're interested in that client' services. This is known as the point agent, or the agent who runs point on that client. For example, Jonah Hill has four agents on his team, but if you have inquiry on his availability you call his point agent Sharon Jackson.
Poor-Man' Process	This term generally refers to interior vehicle scenes. It describes a situation where a stage is used - and sometimes green screen - to simulate a moving vehicle. The vehicle will be stationary and the actors will act out the scene while a footage will be projected behind the vehicle to make it look like it's in motion. This is much cheaper than blocking off a road, setting up a car mount, with insert car and filming outside…hence why they call it the poor man's process.
Post-Production	Commonly referred to as "post". Post production includes all the process that happens after the footage has been captured. This includes editing, sound design, sound mixing, VFX and coloring. The cameras have been put away and now it's time to put the footage, and sound together into a meaningful motion picture. Initially when you think of post you think film editing and this, of course, is a huge part of post-production. A the entire story can be told in many different ways depending on how it is edited, and that's why your editor is one of the most crucial people you hire for a film. Sound design includes sound effects, ADR, foley, and music.
POV	A shot that shows the scene through the character's eyes. We see the world from their point of view.
Pre-Production	This is the second phase of the film making process (after development). You engage in this phase once you have secured financing for your project and your the final draft of your script has been written. The main objective of this task is to assemble your team, derive a schedule, finalize your budget and secure your locations. Assuming you have secured all of your above the line talent, one of the first things you'll need to do is hire your casting director to cast the remaining roles of the film. Have him/her start searching for and narrowing down the actors to approximately 5-10 for each role. While your casting director is doing that you can assemble the rest of your crew.
Pre-Read	This is the first stage of auditions where the actor only reads for the casting director. If the casting director likes the audition, he/she will call the actor back in for a second read (aka call-back).
Premium Cable	Premium cable refers to a cable to network that viewers pay a subscription to (commonly through their TV provider) in order to watch their content. Usually their content is considered more arthouse and less broad. Any R-Rated contented intended only for adult audience can be found on premium cable networks. When people throw around the term "premium cable" they're usually referring to the HBO, Showtime, AMC and Starz.
Presale	If you want to thrive in the independent film world, this is a term you need to become familiar with. It' an agreement made between a distributor (usually foreign and specific to only one country) and the production company before the film is completed and often times even before production of a film has even commenced. This is a strategy that producers use to get their film financed. You may here that a producer financed a film via foreign presales alone. This means that a distributor pays for the distribution rights for their territory before they even see the finish product. In return, they will get to pay a significantly reduced cost for these rights as opposed to if they waited to buy the rights to the completed film in the open market. They are banking on the film doing well in the box office based on the script, director, producer and actors that are attached to the film in return for a discount. Some presale agreements involve the distributor and producer agreeing prior to production on a fixed amount to be paid upon delivery of the film. This is called an advance or a minimum guarantee. The ultimate objective for an independent film production company is to close enough foreign presale agreements in order to cover the negative cost of their film.
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 official opening night. Usually invited friends. No press.
PRINCIPAL	A performer with lines.
Principle Photography	Once your schedule is made, your crew recruited, your actors have been casted, and your locations are secured, it' time start production and push record. Production, also referred to as principle photography, is where the footage gets captured and the actual film making process takes place. This is where your director really takes over and does his job. As a producer, your job is to oversee, solve problems, and offer opinions, but at the end of the day, your director is calling the shots creatively during this process. The ultimate objective is to stay on schedule, get all the shots/coverage that you need, get the best performances from your actors, maintain continuity, and stay on budget.
Procedural	This is a term used to describe a specific type of drama that uses a set "procedure" or routine within each episode to propel the characters through the story. Contrasted with serialized dramas, procedurals do not require the audience to have seen the previous episode in order to understand the plot of the next. Each episode contains the same characters but has an isolated story which ends at the conclusion of the hour. For example, in CSI, Gil Grissom and his team of crime scene investigators come across a dead body and a set of clues. Each clue, through a series of unforeseen plot turns, leads our characters to another until they ultimately solve the murder by the end of the episode. Each episode is a different murder and the viewers dont need to know what happened in the previous episode in order to appreciate the current one. CSI, along with shows like LAW
PRODUCER	Often called the Line Producer; the person responsible for the day-to-day decision.
Product Placement	This is a method that producers of both TV and film use to lower the budget of their project. Knowing that there will be millions of eyes watching the motion picture, they will ask companies pay a fee in order to have their product, logo and brand featured on the screen. For example, FedEx outbid UPS and DHL to have their company be the featured courier in CAST AWAY. The company paid the studio an undisclosed amount which went directly toward the negative cost of the film. There are many opportunities in a typical film for producers to take advantage of product placement opportunities. This could include cellphones, cars, beverages, restaurants, computers and shoes.
Production Assistant (PA)	An assistant to anyone who needs help on set. Tasks vary based on need.
Production Designer	AKA PD. This is one of the key creative rolesin a film. Youll see this high up in the credits in the same group as the director of photography and editor. This person is an artist who is responsible for designing the overall appearance of a film. They work closely with the director and producer to establish what the setting and environment of every scene looks like. Basically everything you see on the screen that is not living (furniture, vegetiation, wall color, cars etc) is designed and created by the PD and his/her team. This, however, does not include wardrobe and hair.
Production Manager	The production manager (aka PM) is responsible for supervising the entire operational aspect of production (not creative). This includes the crew, budget, schedule, equipment, and food. It is usually the production managers responsibility to make sure the day-to-day operations are on schedule and on budget. They look after salaries, production costs, equipment rental costs, and food costs. They make sure everyone is on set at the right time. They make sure that the food is ready and on time. The PM usually works under the line producer.
PROFILE	Often in auditions, the CD will call for profile. The actor stands facing camera in normal posture, picture taken or filmed, then to each side showing the actors profile from front, right and left side.
Project Turnaround	A lot of times, a project in development will not make it into the production process. When this happens, the project is abandoned by the studio and placed into turnaround. In other words, the studio makes it official that theyre not going to green light the project in the foreseeable future. This gives the opportunity for the producer to shop the project to other studios or film companies who might show more interest in producing it. If there isnt a producer attached, other studios or financiers can try and acquire the rights to the project.
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.
Promoter Personality Type	Outgoing and people oriented. All about the fun. Life of the party. If it's not fun, what's the point? Tend to be popular and center of attention. Have great ideas but not so good about following through and getting things done.
Prompt side	Stage Left. This term comes from the term to prompt an actor. This occurs when the actor forgets a line and the stage manager tells them the line from the side of the stage.
Prop	A prop is any solid object that an actor has contact with in a scene. This could anything from a sword, a phone, helmet, shoe, computer, to a golf club. This, however, does not include vehicles, furniture, or wardrobe. The exception is if the actor were to use the furniture or wardrobe for something that it' not meant to be used for. ie Using a chair as a weapon.
Prop Master	This person is in charge of the prop department which works directly with the production designer. The prop master is not on set as much as the "prop person". It is the prop masters job to go out and find or create the perfect props for the director and have the ready at a moments notice.
PROPS	Any objects used by actors in a scene.
Protagonist	In its purest definition, an antagonist is a character in a story that stands in the way of our protagonist's goal. And yes, an antagonist for all intents and purpose is an actual character. In other words, a tornado is not an antagonist and neither is society. Often times we refer to the antagonist as the villain in a story, but we all know that not all stories have a villain and even if they do, they may not be an essential part of the entire story. For example, in TOY STORY, Sid Phillips is our villain, but he is not our antagonist - Buzz Lightyear is the antagonist who stands in Woody's way of being Andy's favorite toy.
PSA	Public Service Announcement.
Put Pilot	This is a provision that a TV studio or writer may include in a deal with a network in regards to a certain project. This guarantees the studio that the pilot will be shot, or the studio will be paid a fee if the pilot is not shot. This is done for high-profile projects or as incentive when more that one network is bidding for the project. Script penalties can range from $50,000 to $200,000. Pilot penalties can range all the way up to $1M.
Q RATING	Refers to an ad research rating that gauges how easily a celebrity is recognized — and how well the celebrity is liked.
Racking Focus	This is a technique used in filmmaking where the focus of the lens is changed during a shot to focus from one object in the frame to another object without a lot of movement with the camera. The purpose is to shift the attention from one element in the frame to another without having to cut to a different angle. The more shallow the focus, the more noticeable this technique is to the viewer. For example, perhaps you have a character in the foreground who is unaware of a character standing behind him. To reveal this, the camera might focus on the main character, and the rack focus so the we can see the character in the background.Here' an example from CSI where they use rack focus to draw attention from the broken artifact to the scientist who is trying to piece it together.
REACTION SHOT	The camera shooting a character's emotional or physical response or reaction to something that is happening in the scene.
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.
Reader	The readers are at the bottom of the studio hierarchy. Their job is you guessed it to read material. They are given, books, scripts, and articles to read, and once they have read them, they write coverage on them. The coverage will be used as an initial reference point for studio executives who have not read the piece of material being covered. Becoming a reader is a great way to start working in the entertainment industry as it allows you to not only work with executives, but it also allows you to learn the craft of story telling. To learn more about how to become a reader click here.
Recurring	Character returns over multiple episodes, either on standing contract or contracted periodically, based on negotiations and number of appearances.Character returns over multiple episodes, either on standing contract or contracted periodically, based on negotiations and number of appearances.
Recurring Role vs a Regular Role	In the world of television, there are basically three types of roles on a show. A regular, a recurring, and a guest. A guest is role that only appears once or a few times in a series. This happens a lot with case-of-week procedurals. A recurring role is for a character who is continually brought back to show and is an important part of the series storyline, however, they do not appear in every episode. In ENTOURAGE, Vince' director Billy Walsh is a recurring role. A series regular is a role that appears in every episode of the series.
Red Band Trailer	A red band trailer is a movie trailer that is given an "R" MPAA rating and is only intended for mature audiences. You'll know it's a red band trailer when the opening frame reveals a red background. R rated films create these trailers in order to convey the appropriate tone, dialogue and humor behind the film.
REGIONAL THEATRE	Also called resident theatre. A term applied to permanent nonprofit professional theatre companies that have established roots outside the major theatre centers. Besides bringing first-rate theatre to their region, they often have programs to nurture local talent and to encourage new plays of special regional interest.
Remake vs. a Reboot	A remake is when you take an existing film, usually produced at least ten years earlier, and you essentially produce it once again with the same story. Example of this remakes include OCEAN'S ELEVEN, FOOTLOOSE. A reboot is when you take the concept and/or characters from an existing film but you discard all continuity from the previous story and recreate its secondary characters, timeline and/or backstory. A recent example of a reboot is THE AMAZING SPIDERMAN starring Andrew Garfield. This is the same concept, but told with a completely different story and had no connection the previous Spiderman movies starring Tobey Maguire. Same with the Christopher Nolan's Batman trilogy. The concept is the same as the previous Batman films, but the back story and premise are completely different.
Reshooting	Reshooting not a bad thing and should be regarded as part of the the filmmaking process. There have been many famous reshoots. Parts of JAWS were reshot in the swimming pool of film executive's house. FATAL ATTRACTION altered much of the last sequence of the film. The producers and director changed the ending from a more fatalistic approach to something much more dynamic, exciting and eventually satisfying for the audience. Most recently WORLD WAR Z virtually replaced the entire third act - turning it into one of the biggest hits of the past summer.
RESIDUAL	The fee paid to a performers for rebroadcast of a commercial, film or TV program. Tracked by the Actors Unions.
RESUME	List of credits, usually attached to an 8×10 headshot.
Ripomatic vs. a Sizzle Reel	In Hollywood, executives love visuals. Nothing will help you sell a project better than a video presentation. For scripted projects, a lot of the time we use short films depicting the overall concept and tone of our project. With unscripted projects, we often shoot a sizzle reel and send this to buyers along with a treatment for the series. A sizzle reel is basically a trailer which consists of on-location footage and interviews with the characters of your reality show. It's edited in a way that easily conveys what the show is about, how each episode will be formatted, what the locations will look like and what your characters' personalities are like. A sizzle reel should be no longer than 3 minutes. Another way to sell your scripted movie is to shoot a trailer (just like any other trailer you've seen). However, it can get extremely expensive to shoot all the footage required for a proper trailer. This is where the RIPOMATIC comes in. It's edited and presented exactly like a trailer, except it uses footage/audio from already-made movies. If done correctly, they can be extremely effective. They are, however, technically illegal to make as it infringes upon copyrighted material - hence why it's quite hard to find good ripomatics online to show you. But don't worry, executives and buyers don't really care. So long as they're excited about the movie, they could care less as to how you made your trailer. So when you make your ripomatic, as long as you don't release it to the public, you should be fine to use it as a sales tool behind closed doors.
Roll Calls	Rolling calls is one of the many essential tasks assigned to an assistant. This is the process where the assistant will connect a call between his/her boss and a third party. He/she will stay on the line and when the call is finished, he/she will connect their boss to another call. This allows the boss to make several phone calls without ever having to hang up or dial.
ROLLING!	The verbal cue for the camera film and audio tape to start rolling.
ROM-COM	Showbiz slag for a Romantic Comedy.
Royalties vs Residuals	In the world of TV, a royalty is a fee one receives for every episode of their show that gets produced. This is usually reserved for the show' creator and/or the pilot director. For example, even though Martin Scorsese never directed any other episode of BOARDWALK EMPIRE except for the pilot, because he directed the pilot and created the overall look and feel of the show, he gets a royalty fee for every episode that gets produced. Same goes to Terrence Winter, the show' creator. Unlike royalties, residuals are fees that writers, actors and directors receive every time their episode airs on television. A royalty is only based on whether episodes of your show goes into production, NOT whether or not it airs on television.
Run	A "run" describes a TV show' specific cycle of airing. A series first airing on a network is its "network run" or "broadcast run". If it first airs on a cable network, then it' referred to as a "cable run". Its subsequent airing in syndication is know as its "second run."
RUSH CALL	The last minute booking of an actor or extra. This usually occurs when another actor or extra cancels at the last minute.
SAG	The Screen Actor's Guild is an American labor union founded in 1933 which now represents over 105,000 film and television performers. According to SAG's Mission Statement, the Guild seeks to: negotiate and enforce collective bargaining agreements that establish equitable levels of compensation, benefits, and working conditions for its performers; collect compensation for exploitation of recorded performances by its members, and provide protection against unauthorized use of those performances; and preserve and expand work opportunities for its members.
Sample	Otherwise known as a "writing sample", this is a script that a screenwriter writes for the purposes of showcasing his/her talent as a writer. Most of the time, when deciding to write a sample, a screenwriter will do so without the intention of selling or producing that script. In this way they don't need to worry about budgetary, casting or any other creative constraints.
Scale	All the unions have standard minimum payments that their members must be paid by law when working on a project. If you are being paid "scale" (aka union scale), this means you are being paid the minimum amount of money required by your designated guild. All the guilds set these minimums in order to protect their members from being underpaid in the industry.
Scene Shift	The arc of the scene, the direction in which the story moves for your character. Every scene will shift from positive to negative, or negative to positive. All scenes shift.
Screener	A screener refers to a DVD copy of a feature film (usually made before its official DVD release) that is used for promotional purposes. DVD screeners are often sent to members of all the guilds in preparation for awards season.
Scribe	A scribe is another term for writer. Aaron Sorkin is the scribe for THE SOCIAL NETWORK.
SCRIPT	The written form of a screenplay, teleplay, radio or stage play.
SCRIPT ANALYSIS	The close study of a play or screenplay. This incorporates all of the dialogue and stage directions to find the answers necessary to create a full and rich character and to craft a performance that serves the script. The exploration of the script may include the questions of theme, story, character, and overall elements of the play and characters.
Script Coordinator	This person works for the writers room of a TV series. His/her job is to support the show' writing staff and is responsible for tracking script changes, archiving scripts, distributing drafts and organizing scripts to be printed for the writers when needed. This is often a great starter position to get into a writers room.
Script Supervisor	This is one of the most important positions on a set (aka the "script soop"). The script supervisor usually stands right next to the director, and it is they're job to make sure continuity is maintained throughout production. They will mark directly on the script what angels were shot for which scenes, and how many takes were done of each. It is their job to make sure that for every take, the actors' lines are consistent with other takes. In general, they need to make sure that a movie that is shot out of sequence will piece together and make sense for the editor. On that note, even though the script supervisor works directly with the director, her responsibility lies equally with the editor in making sure he/she has a clear understand of how many takes were done of each scene and all the details pertaining to each take. Every time footage is sent to the editor, the script supervisor's production report will be sent along with them. This includes a report of all the takes, how long each of them were, and a breakdown of all the scenes with director notes. She will also submit a copy of the script that is marked up with vertical lines (aka a "lined script"). Each line represents the start and stop of every camera setup/angle. This allows the editor to quickly reference which camera setups cover which portion of the script.
SCRIPTY	The script supervisor.
Second Assistant Camera	This crew member (aka Second AC, or Clapper Loader) is responsible for preparing and operating the clapper at the beginning of each take. The second AC is also responsible for loading the camera if a designated camera loader has not been appointed.
Second Assistant Director	It is 2nd AD' job to carry out the demands of the first AD. They are usually the ones that coordinate the extras, or scenes that dont involved the primary actors. They also help communicate with other below-the-line crew such as wardrobe, hair/make-up.
SECOND TEAM!	The verbal cue for the stand-ins to come to the set and be ready to stand in.
Self tape	A screen test recorded without the assistance of a casting director. It can be done at home or at a self taping business.
Selling a TV Show With a Penalty	If you're one of the lucky ones who sell a TV show to a network, often times theyll pay for your pilot script (or pay to have your pilot written if it hasn't already been done so) and that' the end of the road for you. They might even produce your pilot and never air it. I've watched dozens of pilots that have never seen the light of day. To avoid this, high profile producers/writers will demand a penalty in their purchase agreement. This is also referred to as a PUT PILOT. This means that if the pilot doesn't get produced and aired on TV, the network must pay a huge fee to the producer/writer of the show. This can range for low six figures to low seven figures depending on the contract. On rare occasions,a deal may include a series penalty which means if the network doesn't order the show to series, they must pay a penalty. Networks can also use this as a bargaining tool to incentivise the producer/writer to sell the show to them and not one of their competitors. Proven talent like J.J Abrams (LOST, ALIAS) and David E. Kelly (THE PRACTICE, CHICAGO HOPE) usually get this term incorporated into their contract.
SENSE MEMORY	(emotional recall) The basis for Lee Strasberg's Method Acting. "Sense memory" is used to refer to the recall of physical sensations: sight, touch, taste, smell, and sound. These physical sensations surround an emotional event, instead of the emotions themselves.
SENSORY	Connecting the character to the body and mind through the senses; to taste, hear, feel, see, think, perceive; to know through the physical inner self, as opposed to the instinctive.
Series Regular	Contract role with exclusivity to the series, network, and production company for a term of a year or more; paid for a predetermined number of episodes produced, on contract for all episodes, even those in which the character doesn't appear.
SET	The immediate location where the scene is being filmed.
SET-UP	Each time the camera changes position.
Setpiece	This is a term most often used in both production and development. It describes a really important dramatic or comedic scene or sequence in the story - particularly those that plant seeds, provide some sort of payoff, convey character traits, or provide resolution. These scenes are so pertinent to the story that they cannot be eliminated or augmented without affecting the integrity of the film. For example, the opening scene in the THE SIXTH SENSE where Bruce Willis' character gets shot is an important setpiece - the twist at the end wouldn't work without it.
SFX	Sound effects.
Share	This is part of Nielsen Media's rating system. Shares, as opposed to ratings, indicate the percentage of households or individuals that are a watching a particular show at a specific time, based on the total number of individuals in the USA who own television sets and actually have them turned on at that time. In other words, if the Nielsen share of a particular show is 2, this means of that of all the people who were watching TV at that particular time, 2% were watching that show.
Shooting Day for Night	This means that a shoot is done during the day but simulates night time, using filters, underexposure, and other techniques to create a feeling of darkness. BUT WHY NOT JUST SHOOT AT NIGHT? One of the reasons why this is done is because of scheduling. If we need to shoot night scenes but it follows a day shoot, the crew and actors will have no time to rest and if we wait until the following evening, we lose a full day of shooting. Another reason to shoot day-for-night is energy cost. Even though you your scene is at night, you still need to light it and if youre outside away from electric plug-ins, it' going to cost money for generators and fuel. If you notice, many of the night scenes in WINTERS BONE was shot during the day.
Shooting Script	This is the official final draft of the script from which the movie is made by the actors, director and all the other crew members. Often times, however, certain parts of the script will be re-written during production (especially in TV) so in order to make sure everyone has the correct draft, the new draft will be written on different colored paper.
Showrunner	A showrunner is in charge of all the creative decisions regarding a television show. Not only are they head writer and run the writer's room, but they are usually on set making sure production runs smoothly and in the editing bay supervising the cut. All showrunners receive EP credit and are usually the creators of the show as well. Unlike feature film where the director is king, in television, the showrunner outranks the director in all creative processes.
Sides	A few pages directly from a script given to an actor for the purpose of auditioning without divulging the whole story.
SIGN-IN SHEET	A sheet at the casting office where talent will sign their Name, Agency, Phone number and time arrived to the casting office. The Talent are generally called into the audition room based on the time they arrived.
Single Cam Comedy	A single cam comedy is shot and presented using the conventional methods of motion picture story telling. In other words, it looks and feels like your watching a movie with NO laugh track. In a single cam comedy, typically one camera is used and filming requires different set ups where the actors have to act out the same scene for each set up. The best angles and takes are then assembled in post-production - the same process used in conventional film making. Unlike a mutli-cam sitcom, there is no live audience, no laugh track and you can usually see the entire 360 degree setting.
Single-cam	Traditionally only one camera used. In these shows/films, actors repeat the scene multiple times to get every actor's individual shot. Examples: Bates Motel, The League, The Office.
Sitcom	This is a term many people use to describe shows like SEINFELD, CHEERS, FRIENDS, FRASIER, I LOVE LUCY etc but have no idea what it actually means. First off, it has nothing to do with sitting. Visual comedic entertainment can be broken down into three main categories. Standup comedy, sketch comedy and situational comedy (also known as SITCOMS). A sitcom is a genre of comedy that involves multiple characters sharing a common environment, like a home or a workplace, with humorous dialogue and a compelling storyline. Often times the show will be accompanied by a laugh track unless it's a single cam comedy like MODERN FAMILY or MY NAME IS EARL.
SLATE	A small chalkboard and clapper device, often electronic, used to mark and identify shots on film for editing; also the process of verbal identification by a performer in a taped audition (e.g., "Slate your name!").
Slip a script	To 'slip' a script to someone means to send it to them for their eyes only and for their knowledge only. They are being sent the material with the trust that they will not share with anyone nor will they let anyone know that they are in possession of the script.
Soft Money	The reason this is called soft money, is because you're not actually getting financing for your film. Soft money is a way to reduce your budget with tax credits, incentives, subsidies, rebates, etc from the local government. When you film in certain countries or states, the local film commission will subsidize a set percentage of your budget because you are essentially providing jobs for local workers. Every film commission has their own website you can visit to see what incentives they have to offer. It's not uncommon to see large productions being filmed outside of Hollywood as they can literally save millions of dollars in doing so.
SOLILOQUY	A speech given directly to the audience, ordinarily with no one else on stage. Usually played as a direct address to the audience, sometimes played as a character thinking aloud in the audience's presence.
Sotto	Often times youll read dialogue in a script and come across the word "sotto" in parenthesis before the actual dialogue. This simply means that the character is saying the proceeding words to him/herself and not directing it to anyone else.
SOUND CUES	Sound effects (music, doorbell, a car door, dog barking, etc.).
Sound Design	Sound is one of the most important elements of a film. It's hard for the general audience to appreciate on screen, but if designed properly, sound alone can change the direction of a story. It is truly a skill and an art-form to capture and produce great quality sound in motion picture. When it comes to film making, there are five kinds of sounds: Background/Ambiance, Effects, Dialogue/ADR, Music (score and source) and Foley.
Sound Stage	Commonly located on a movie studio lot, a sound stage is a massive sound-proof structure similar to an airplane hanger where the space is used to construct a set and use for motion picture production.
Spec Script	AKA speculative screenplay, this is a non-commissioned script that a screenwriter chooses to write for free. You'll often hear the phrase "write on spec" which simply means "write for free". It's usually written by a screenwriter who hopes to have the script optioned/purchased by a production company or studio. The spec market is extremely tough these days. Very few spec scripts are being bought especially if there are no other attachments. Nowadays, the main purpose for a writer to spec a script is to prove his/her writing ability and get representation from an agent and/or manager. From there, the goal is to use that script to get the attention of studios and productions companies and have them commission the writer to write the screenplay one of their projects.
Special Effects Supervisor	A special effects supervisor is exactly what it sounds like. This person is present on set during production and is in charge of making sure the special effects are executed properly and safely. During preproduction he/she is responsible for acquiring all the materials and personnel within the budget and have it prepared for when needed on set.
Special Effects vs. Visual Effects	To put it simply, special effects are carried out on set during production, and visual effects are done in post-production. That isn't to say that the visual effects team isn't involved in production and the special effects team isn't involved in post, but the creative decisions made by each team generally pertains to their respective phases in the film-making process. Special effects can be broken down into two categories: optical, and mechanical. Optical effects are done by manipulating the camera and lighting which in turn will make your scene look different than what it looks like to the naked eye. This could involve working with camera lenses, types of lighting, or camera movements that give a certain look to the shot. The special effects supervisor is in charge of making the creative decisions and works directly with the director on set to achieve what he/she wants. Mechanical effects involve working during a live-action shot and usually pertains to making things look/seem like something they aren't. For example manipulating weather conditions like wind and snow is a huge part of mechanical effects. Pyrotechnics and working with scale models is another aspect of mechanical effects. Visual effects has emerged as a paramount part of modern-day film making. You will rarely ever see a film without visual effects. This could be filling in a green screen, creating computer generated imagery (CGI), 3D rendering or animation. The visual effects supervisor (not to be confused with the visual effects producer or coordinator) makes all the creative decisions and works directly with the director off and on set to make sure he/she gets the visual image desired. The visual effects coordinator works for the visual effects supervisor in post-production, and the visual effects producer works like a line producer and manages the cost of the visual effects which can get outrageously high (sometimes over half of a film's budget).
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 LENS	Looking directly into the lens during a scene; since it destroys the illusion of realism, actors should never spike the lens unless specifically directed to do so for specific effect.
Staff Writer	This is the title given to the lowest level writer on a scripted television series.
Stage Direction	All action written in the script, excluding dialog.
STAGE DOOR	A back entrance to the theater used by the cast and production crew. Want to catch a glimpse (or the autograph) of your favorite star after a show? This is where you want to be.
Stage Left and Stage Right	Stage left (left of stage) is from the actor's point of view as if he/she was looking out at the audience.
STAGE MANAGER	The person who will become your best friend. 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). He/she is in charge of the production after opening night.
STAGE RIGHT	To the performer's right side, to the audience's left side. Likewise, STAGE LEFT is to the performer's left, the audience's right. Stage directions are for actors, not audiences, therefore they are always given from the actor's point of view to the audience.
STAGE WHISPER	Sounds like a whisper but is loud enough for the audience to hear.
STAND-INS	Extra Performers used as substitutes for featured players, for the purpose of setting lights and rehearsing camera moves; also known as the second team.
Station 12	Station 12 is the strange name given to the process where a producer follows up with SAG to make sure an actor is of good standing prior to hiring them for a project. As soon as the actor books the job, he or she becomes "SAG Eligible." Thirty days later, the actor becomes "SAG Must Join," and can no longer work SAG jobs without joining the union. The union enforces this rule by requiring producers to verify the actor's status by contacting the union, a procedure oddly called "Station 12." There doesn't seem to be any Stations 1 through 11.
Status	The other character's relationship to you. They can be your superior, inferior, or equal. This is not established by their title, but by how you feel about them.
Steadicam	You've probably seen these at live sporting events or variety shows - like when you see a cameraman walk backwards while following a boxer entering the arena before a boxing match. The device he is wearing is called a Steadicam. This is an apparatus that one wears in order to stabilize camera movement. It's designed mechanically separate the movement of the camera operator from camera in order allow for smooth shot even when the operator is running or moving abruptly over an uneven surface. There are camera operators who train specifically to use this equipment and specialize only in the operation of a steadicam.
Story Editor	This is the title given to a lower level writer on a scripted TV series. This is one rank higher than a staff writer.
Story vs Plot	What' the difference between the two? "Story" is what your film is about. "Plot" is what happens in your film; two very different things. Your plot conveys your story. The first and foremost important thing you must know before you embark on producing any film or TV is story. You must understand what your movie is about. Why are we watching this movie? You can usually express this is 1-2 sentences. It' very similar to a logline. However, loglines are often used as a selling tool (ie when pitching your film). Loglines meant to captivate and intrigue the person who hears it. Story is used as a practical producing tool. It' used for creative people to gain an understanding how they are to work towards making a film. Often times, producers and writers focus too much on the events that happen in their film, but lose sight of what the story is about. Steven Spielberg was a master at this. He always emphasized to his crew to never lose sight of what the film was about. For example, "Schindler' List" is about a man who wanted to make a difference; not about Nazi concentration camps. "Transformers" is about the relationship between a boy and his car; not about cars that turn into robots.
STRIKE	After the final performance, the set is taken apart, lighting instruments are taken down and props and costumes are put away. This is called 'strike'. Sometimes actors will be asked to volunteer to help. You are never obligated to help (unless you are a member of the theatre company) but it is a good idea to help if you can. Usually there's good camaraderie, pizza and beer! This is not the case in larger union theatres where there are paid technical crews to take care of strike.
SUBMISSION	An actor's or agent's suggestion to a casting director for a role in a certain production.
SUBPLOT	A secondary, subordinate, or auxiliary plotline, often complementary but independent from the main plot (the A story), and often involving supporting characters; not the same as multiple plotlines; aka the B story or C story.
SUBTEXT	The character's complex thoughts, feelings, motives, etc. created and layered under the actual words and actions of the character by the actor.
SUPER OBJECTIVE	Stanislavsky developed the concept of the super- objective (referred to here as The Happiness) that would carry the 'through line of action,' mapped out for the character through the entire play.
Supporter Personality Type	Reserved and peoples oriented. supporters put others ahead of themselves. Always making sure everyone else is okay first, sometimes at their own expense. Won't rock the boat or create confrontations. Passive, go with the flow type.
Supporting	Principal role in the film, in one or more scenes but not a lead character although important to the storyline.
SW	A notation on a call sheet that an actor is starting on that day and working on that day.
SWF	A notation on a call sheet that an actor is starting, working, and finished on that day.
Syndication	This is the goal for any television show. When a show goes into syndication, it means the studio (owner of the show) has sold the broadcast rights to a TV station other than it's initial airing network. This is usually on a per episode basis and occurs when a series is on its 3-4th season. This is where studios begin to see profits from their television shows. When a network buys a television show from a studio, the cost to purchase the show is usually less than the cost to produce the show. In other words, studios don't make a profit by selling their shows to the initial network. Profit is usually made when the show goes into syndication…and we're talking a lot of profit. Usually a station will by multiple season of a particular show as a package. Price of the package can range from $10-000-$850,00 per episode.
Table Read	This process is used in both TV and film where the producer and director will gather all the actors in a room (usually sitting around a table) and read through the script with each actor saying their respective lines. There will usually be a designated individual (ie the writers assistant) who reads the descriptions and sluglines. The purpose of the table read is for the actors to practice their lines with each other and for the writer(s) to determine what dialogue needs to be reworked. It' one thing to read the words on a script, but to have the actor use his/her voice and convey the lines out loud provides the writer(s) with so much more insight to help them figure out what lines work and what ones dont.
TABLE-READ	A stage of film, television and theatre production when an organized reading around a table of the screenplay or script by the actors with speaking parts is conducted.
TAFT-HARTLEY	Refers to a legislative ruling also known as the National Labor Relations Act. Allows non-union actors to work their first union job and any others within a 30-day period of the first booking without having to join the union. They may not work any union job after the 30-day period without joining the union.
TAG LINE	A clever phrase or short sentence to memorably characterize a film, and tease and attract potential viewers, or sell the movie; also creates a catchy 'soundbite' often repeated or presented in a trailer or on a film's poster, sometimes along with the film's leitmotif.
TAKE	The clapboard indication of a shot "taken" or printed.
Talent	This term generally refers to actors. The talent division in an agency represents actors. In film packaging, attaching talent means to attach an actor for the major roles.
Talent Holding Deal	Much like how studios can offer writers and producers first look deals, they can also make a similar type of offer to actors, especially in the TV arena. Often times a network/studio will recognize an actor for his/her talents, but won't have the right project to attach them too. They don't want them to take another starring role elsewhere so what the network/studio will do is pay them a fee (ranging from low six figures to low seven figures) to "put them on hold" while they develop the right project for them to star in. The network may even give them a recurring role on another airing series during the course of the deal. These agreements typically last a year. When they are locked in this holding deal, they are not allowed to accept any starring role in any TV show until the agreement expires.
Targeting	Acting concept which says that actors should always have a target (image/focus) in mind when they are acting.
Tax Credit	A tax credit is by definition an amount of money that a taxpayer is able to subtract from the amount of tax that they owe to the government. In the world of film and television, certain states and countries throughout the world will provide a tax credit to production companies who film their respective locations and hire local crew. The amount ranges depending on which country or state. This is a very common tactic used by governments to stimulate employment in their constituencies. Refer to soft money to see what types of tax credits are offered within the USA.
Teamsters	Teamsters are people who drive vehicles for the purpose of pick-up/delivery, or chauffeuring personnel. Vehicles can include, vans, cars, trucks, motorcycles, limousines, golf carts, and trailers. These drivers are all part of union known as the IBT (International Brotherhood of Teamsters).
TECH REHERSAL	Technical Rehearsal. This is when the director will work the set, lights and sound cues into the rehearsal process. This usually takes several days and is long and boring for the actors. Tech is very important and actors must stay focused and be patient during this process. The focus of the rehearsal is solely on the technical aspects of the show. It is for the technicians and the designers, and the 'acting' must take a back seat.
Teleplay By vs Written By	Often times, in the credits of a TV show, you wont see a "written by" credit but instead youll see a "teleplay by" credit. What' the difference?In TV, a lot of the time someone will develop the story for an episode but will not write the actual script for that particular episode. If this is the case, the writer will get a "teleplay by" credit and the person who developed the story will get a "story by" credit.
TELEPROMPTER	The brand name of a device which enables a broadcaster to read a script while looking into the camera lens.
TEMPO	The level of speed with which the scene or play is acted out. The general effect creates a specific mood or tone to the work.
Tenpercentary	A tenpercentary is a reference to a talent agency. This is in regards to the typical ten percent commission fee that talent agencies earn from the deals they make for their clients.
Testing	TESTING is one of the most over-looked, but under rated tasks that is executed by a director or producer. Testing is done in pre-production and it' exactly what it sounds like. The purpose is to gather your creative team with your talent and test how the different visual creative elements look on camera. This includes costumes, make-up, hair, production design and even rehearsal. This process is absolutely essential and beneficial for a number of reasons.1. Gives your creative team an opportunity to make sure their vision looks the way they want it to look on camera. Often times creative problems will arise and you dont want to be sorting out these sort of issues during production. This is fairly obvious.2. Allows your actor(s) to interact with the artists and build a good rapport with them before production. This is extremely important as you do not unseen personality clashes to occur during production.3. Allows your director to make sure his creative team is on the same page as him/her.3. Be sure to take pictures of hair, make-up and costumes especially after the actor and director has approved of them. As a producer, this protects you if creative disputes arise during production. For example, if youre on set ready to shoot, and the director is happy with an actor' make-up but the actor is not, you can use the previously taken photo, which was approved by the unhappy actor, to help you deal with the actor.Make sure you give yourself plenty of time at least one month before shooting starts in order to allow your creative team to test with the talent.
The Pitch	The most essential selling tool in Hollywood. A pitch is basically a verbal presentation you give to someone regarding your project. Reasons for pitching could be as simple as sparking interest, or getting someone to finance your project. It's arguably the most important skill to possess as a producer. Pitching is a huge part of how projects get bought and greenlit in this industry, and the better you are at pitching, the better chance you have of getting projects in motion. The duration of a pitch can last from 30 seconds to 20 minutes depending on what your project is, what environment you are pitching in , and who you are pitching to. Sometimes youll only have 30 seconds capture the attention of an agent on the phone. Other times, you might have 10 minutes to sell your TV idea to an executive in a board room. Read "The Do' and Donts of pitching."
The Studio System	Today, the studios stand as the mainstream of filmmaking in North America. They are the primary source for obtaining funds and distribution for films. Their sole purpose is to find commercial material for a film, attach the right talent to that material, produce the film, market the film, and distribute the film. The studios usually own the rights to the property, and their primary method of generating revenue is from box-office ticket sales. Studios are situated on a large piece of land on which sound stages are built on. These sound stages are constantly being used to house movie-sets where most of the off-location scenes are shot. Currently there are 6 major studios in North America: Universal, Warner Brothers, Columbia, Disney, Paramount, and 20th Century Fox. There are also smaller studios known as mini-majors which include MGM, Lionsgate/Summit, The Weinstein Company, Relativity. As a film producer, your goal is to have a studio fund and distribute your film. You also want the studio to hire you as the producer, however, the studio system rarely attaches inexperience producers to their projects. The mere existence of independent films is a result of the studios reluctance to work with new producers. Within the studios, like any other business or company, there is a many divisions and in each division there is a hierarchy of employees. There are four main divisions within a studio: development, physical production, business affairs, and marketing.
The Three Crazy Seasons of Broadcast Television	Since the birth of the television, broadcast networks and studios have followed a regimented yearly schedule which leads to getting scripted shows on the air. While cable networks don't have a strict schedule and basically accept pitches and staff shows year round, broadcast networks had always stuck by the same schedule for decades. Just like how we're all aware of the four seasons when it comes to climate, anyone looking to work with any of the five broadcast networks is well aware their three seasons: DEVELOPMENT SEASON / July - November, PILOT SEASON / January - May, STAFFING SEASON / May - June
TIGHT SHOT (Go in Tight)	Framing of a shot with little or no space around the central figure(s) of feature(s); usually a close-up.
Top of Show	TOP OF SHOW is a term used when determining an actor' salary for a TV series. It' the highest total rate an actor can receive for an appearance on a particular episode regardless of how many days they are required to be on set. In other words, if it takes 8 days to shoot an episode of a TV show, no matter how many days of those 8 a certain actor works, he or she will be paid as if the worked all 8 days. This 8-day rate is referred to as top of show. Normally if a guest star is only needed for one day, he or she will get paid a day rate (negotiated by their agent). But often times if the actor works for more than one day he or she will make top of show.
TOURING COMPANY	A company of performers who travel with a show that they present in essentially the same way it was originally created in a theatre center such as New York.
TRACKING SHOT	A shot taken while the camera is moving, either on a dolly or a mounted on a moving vehicle.
TRADES	Short for "trade papers" The newspapers and periodicals such as the Hollywood Reporter and Variety that specifically feature information on the entertainment industry.
Treatment	here is no precise definition of what a treatment is. Every treatment is written in a different format or a different style based on what it is used for. Generally speaking, a treatment is a document that summarizes a particular project. It could be for a narrative film, a scripted television show, a reality show, a documentary, YOU NAME IT. The content of a treatment varies along with the length. I've seen treatments ranging from 1-20 pages long. At the very least, a treatment should have an overview which describes what the project is about. If it's a scripted film, explain what the story is. If it's a reality show, explain the overall premise. If it's a scripted TV show, explain what the series will look like. You should also include descriptions of the main characters and for TV shows, always include several story ideas. If it's a reality series, be sure to include the format of the show.
TRIGGER	An emotional or physical signal that signals or sparks a bonfire of emotion to break through to the surface.
TRIPLE THREAT	Refers to an actor or actress who can sing, dance and act skillfully and equally well on a consistent basis; usually applicable to performers in the musicals genre; it also could refer to a person who can act, direct, and screenwrite!.
TURNAROUND	(a) The number of hours between dismissal one day and call time the next day. (b) To shoot a scene from another direction.
TV Affiliates	These are privately owned television stations that are partnered with a broadcast network. In most cases, the network pays their affiliates a fee (network compensation) to broadcast their shows and in return, the network is allowed to sell the ad space and keep the ad revenue for themselves. There are, however, some local ad spaces that the affiliate will sell on its own. In some cases, like with the CW, the affiliate station will pay a fee to CW (reverse comp) and generate revenue through selling ad space.
TV Format	A TV format is the concept or formula demonstrated in an already existing TV show from which another producer can use to create a similar show in a different territory. In other words, if I'm a TV producer in the USA and I take notice of a TV show that airs in Denmark that could potentially be a hit in America, I would purchase the rights to that particular format, and reproduce the show for American audiences. A great example of this is singing competition shows. POP IDOL exists in the states as AMERICAN IDOL, in Canada as CANADIAN IDOL etc. There's also THE VOICE which exists in several different countries all produced in different languages and use different judges. The most popular in the game show arena is WHO WANTS TO BE A MILLIONAIRE which has be sold to 108 territories. In the scripted world, a great example is THE OFFICE, which first started as a British series created by Ricky Gervais, and then sold as a format to NBC by executive producer Greg Daniels.
TV Network	TV networks are the companies that distribute televisions shows. This includes the four major broadcasters - ABC, CBS, NBC, FOX. This also includes cable channels such as Lifetime, Food Network, CW, MTV, and SyFy. In addition to these channels you also have premium cable channels such as HBO, Showtime, Bravo, AMC and FX.
TV Residuals	Simply put, residuals are additional payments made to a director, actor, writer or producer for reusing material that they already helped create. For example, every time you see an episode of SEINFELD on TV, no matter what channel or what time of day it is, the writer, director and all the lead cast members will receive residual payments for that episode. The dollar value of residuals can vary a great deal depending the agreement made. For examples, writers can make anywhere from $2K and upwards of $5K per episode depending on how well they negotiate their contract. Do note, however, that as the particular episode continues to re-air, residual payments decrease.
TV Spec	Much like a feature spec, this is a TV script that a writer chooses to write for free. However, in TV, a spec is an original episode of an already-existing television show. Screenwriters who are looking to get hired as a write on a TV show will often submit a TV spec to prove their writing ability. The idea is to show the studio/network/showrunner that the writer can write for a show they didn't create, and depict characters that aren't theirs.
TV Spinoff	In television, a spinoff is a series derived from an already existing series, which focuses in more detail on one aspect of that original series. This particular detail can be a character like Frasier Crane who was spun off from CHEERS, or it can be a premise like CSI: NEW YORK is the same premise as the original CSI but instead of being set in Vegas it' set in New York City.
Two-Hander	This is a term used to describe a motion picture which has two lead characters. Many successful television series are considered two handers with two characters sharing equal screen time.
TWO-SHOT	A camera framing two persons; a TREE-SHOT would be a 3 person shot.
TYPECAST	In television, film, and theatre, typecasting is the process by which a particular actor becomes strongly identified with a specific character; one or more particular roles; or, characters having the same traits or coming from the same social or ethnic groups. There have been instances in which an actor has been so strongly identified with a role as to make it difficult for him or her to find work playing other characters.
Types of Talent Agents	Within a talent agency, there different types of agents who specialize in a particular type of client" not all of them are referred to as "talent agents". Literary agents work with writers and directors. Motion picture lit agents represent writers/directors who work in feature film and TV lit agents represent writers/directors who work in" you guessed it, TV.Talent agents represent with actors
U5	An under-five, also known as an under-5 or a (U/5) is an SAG-AFTRA contract term for an American television or film actor whose character has fewer than five lines of dialogue.
Ultimates Model	An ultimates model is a financial model used to determine the value of a film. This is usually established by the distributor of the film and is based on all revenue streams generated by the film including domestic theatrical box, DVD, network TV, pay TV, cable TV, and other ancillary markets within a 10 year period. The domestic theatrical box office is the main driver behind the ultimates valuation. Ultimates serve three main purposes. One is to determine the anticipated value of a film in order to attain financing from a lender. This ultimates value will allow the lender to derive an appropriate amount to lend to the filmmaker. Another purpose is determining the price for post-release sales. This could be to foreign TV, pay TV or any other ancillary markets. When determining the price to sell a film to another distributor after the film has been released, the price will be based off the ultimates value of the film. This is usually derived from domestic theatrical box office revenue. The third purpose is collateral for lending. In other words, if you were borrowing money from a lender, the lender could lend against your library and the value of your library is based on the ultimates model which is applied to each of the films in that particular library.
Under 5	An AFTRA-only contract term for a character with between one and five lines.
UNDERSTUDY	Actor hired to perform in a show if the actor originally cast in the role is sick or unable to perform that night. Often an understudy will never actually perform, but must be ready to go on with as little as 10 minutes notice. It is very common for an understudy to cover more than one role.
Unit Production Manager	A unit production manager, better known as the UPM, is crucial to a smooth running film set. The role is very similar to that of a line producer, and a lot of times, the two terms can mean the same role, which is to manage the cost of production. A UPM will help the producer and director derive the budget, but once the budget has been created, it is the UPM's job to make sure that the production stays on budget. During pre-production, the producer will usually deal with hiring the above the line talent, the direct will look after hiring the key heads that work below the line (cinematographer, editor, production designer etc), but the UPM will usually look after hiring the other below the line crew members. The UPM will also work with the first AD in securing equipment and locations. During production, the UPM is in charge of managing below the line crew members, approving expenditures, approving call sheets, and maintaining the schedule. The UPM's are represented by the Director's Guild of America.
UP STAGE	(a) The area located at the back of the stage. Down Stage is the area in front of the performer. (b) To draw attention to oneself at the expense of a fellow performer.
Upfronts	Formally known as "upfront presentations" or "upfront announcements", this is the most important time of year for TV networks. This is an event held in New York once a year in early May where all the TV networks reveal their fall schedule (both old shows and new ones) to advertisers around the world. The networks mandate is to sell as much of their commercial ad space (inventory) as possible before the fall season starts. This is the most critical time of year as networks typically sell 80 percent of their next year' ad space during upfronts. Advertisers are incentivized by lower prices, guaranteed audience levels and exit clauses. The upfront buying season usually lasts until August, however, early May is when the networks present the advertisers with trailers, sales pitches and other forms of presentations in order to woo advertisers. Unsold ad space can still be purchased after upfront season, however, they will be sold at a premium price and audience levels arent guaranteed. It'sestimated that advertisers spend approximately $25B on broadcast television ad space and roughly $13B on cable. Because this time of year is so important, showrunners and TV producers must work extremely hard to get their pilots complete before the end of April in time for upfronts. This typically only gives them three months once the pilot is ordered; not a lot of time, especially for an hour long drama which is essentially half of a feature film!
UPGRADE	Like getting a raise or promotion, an upgrade is when an individual is moved from being an Extra to a Stand In, Photo Double, or Principal Player. Upgrades also provide higher pay rates.
UPSCALE	Term for actors and extras who appear clean and nicely dressed. Upscale often means Extras will appear wearing expensive and/or fancy looking clothing. The exact opposite of Downscale.
V.O.	Voice-Over. An off-camera voice coming either from an actor not in the frame, or from a secondary source such as a speakerphone or answering machine.
Vertical Programming	This is a TV scheduling strategy where networks will air the same show at many different times on the daily schedule with the hopes that audiences will tune in randomly, and once they do, theyll be hooked.
VFX: Supervisor vs. Coordinator vs. Producer	The visual effects supervisor makes all the creative decisions and works directly with the director off and on set to make sure he/she gets the visual image desired. The VFX supervisor in charge of all the vfx artists and directs them to create the visuals that the director asks for. With so much time and man power needed to create all the different elements to a VFX image, a smooth work flow is essential to the success of the film. This is where the visual effects coordinator comes in. He/she works directly under the visual effects supervisor in post-production and keeps the work flow of all the artists organized and running smoothly, making sure all the creative demands are met and delivered on time. The visual effects producer works like a line producer and manages the cost of the visual effects which can get outrageously high (sometimes over half of a film' budget).
Video Village	During production, this is the area where a portable grouping of TV monitors are located. These monitors are connected to the camera(s) that are being used to film on set and they allow the director, production staff and crew to see what the camera sees.
VOUCHER	Time slip with all pertinent information needed for getting paid properly.
W/N	Will Notify. A notation on a call sheet that tells the actor that he/she will probably work that day but the specific time has not yet been decided.
WALK-ON	A minor role consisting of a single, brief appearance on the screen, usually not appearing in the credits and without dialogue; contrast with extras, bit parts, and non-speaking roles.
WARDROBE	The clothing a performer wears on camera.
WARDROBE ALLOWANCE	A maintenance fee paid to on-camera talent for the use (and dry cleaning) of talent's own clothing.
WARDROBE FITTING	A session held prior to production to prepare a performer's costumes.
WEATHER PERMIT CALL	Due to weather conditions, the production company has the option to release an actor four hours after the call time (if the camera has not started to roll) with a reduced rate of pay for the day.
WGA	Stands for the Writers Guild Of America. It's the labor union that represents and protects the interest of writers in film, television, radio, and new media. There are approximately 20,000 members.
Wild Lines	A wild line is dialogue that is recorded on location, but not at the same time as it' complimentary footage. Some times when filming on location, certain dialogue or lines are not recorded properly for one reason or another (unexpected loud ambient noise). When the footage has been captured, a director might want to get wild lines so that they can be used to replace the poorly recorded sound in post-production.
WRAP	The completion of a day's filming or of the entire production.
Writer-Work-For-Hire Agreement	A work-for-hire agreement is a legal contract that is made between a producer (or studio) and screenwriter. The purpose of this document is to state that you are solely hiring the writer to write the script, and to assure that you will be the owner of the rights to that script once it's completed. Terms such as payment, length, number of revisions and deadlines can vary between agreements. Often times, an agent will negotiate these terms on behalf of the writer.

Term

Definition

'IN' TIME

The actual call time or start time; also, return time from a break.

'NAME TALENT ONLY'

Meaning only celebrity Actors.

'RHUBARB'

Background conversation by extras. So-called because extras were often asked to mutter the word "rhubarb" to produce the effect of genuine conversation, with their mouths moving convincingly. Also known as "walla".

'TAKE 5′

The announcement of periodic five minute breaks.

"OUT" TIME

The actual time when you are released after you have changed out of wardrobe and make- up.

18-TO-PLAY-YOUNGER

A performer legally 18 years old, who can convincingly be cast as a younger age.

8×10

Commonly used size of a performer's Headshot/photos. Another term for headshot. Black and white was the standard in the old days, today headshots are in color.

A-LIST

Usually refers to top-tier actors/actresses who are paid upwards of $20 million per feature film; can also refer to producers, directors and writers who can be guaranteed to have a film made and released

A.C.E.

This stands for American Cinema Editors which is an honorary society of film editors that are voted in based on the qualities of professional achievements, their education of others, and their dedication to editing. Keep in mind this is a designation, not a union. The union for editors is called Motion Picture Editors Guild (MPEG) which is part of IATSE

A.D.

The Assistant Director.

Abandonment Provision

This is a clause within production-financing agreement which sets out the circumstances under which the financier may be permitted to stop production and further financing of a film. For example, this provision may state that if a particular piece of talent quits, or there are too many weather delays, the financier can call off the production and cease any further injection of funds into the film.

Above-The-Line

Above-the-line refers to the individuals who play a major role in the producing of a film or TV show. This include the writer(s), producer(s), director(s) and primary actor(s). The term comes from budgeting, as the costs of these individuals are listed at the top of the budget "above a line" that separates them from the other crew members.See also below-the-line.

ACTION!

The command from the director for the scene to begin. It also means that the camera is rolling.

Actioning

A method of using transitive verbs such as to convince to each line of your monologue or scene. The method gives the work more nuance, direction and energy.

ACTORS REEL

Video footage of on-camera productions the actor has been cast in. Can be footage from Films, TV Shows & Commercials.

AD LIB

Spoken words (sometimes witty comments) said out loud that are not in the script. They can also be given “off the cuff” when another actor forgets a line.

ADR

This stands for Automated Dialogue Replacement and is done in post-production. This is when your actor records his/her voice in a sound booth for the purposes of replacing unwanted or unrecorded dialogue that was captured during production.See also foley.

Agency

Agencies act as the central hub in the entertainment industry. They are privately run businesses that employ agents who represent all forms of talent in the industry. This includes actors, writers, directors, authors, public speakers etc. Their job is to get their clients hired on the the best jobs and build their careers. When an offer comes across an agent's desk, it is up to agent to negotiate the best contract for their client. Agencies commission a state-authorized maximum of 10% of their clients' gross income in compensation for work done on their behalf. Thus, if a client received a $50,000 fee for a project, the agency would be entitled to $5,000 for services rendered. If the project received additional monies as deferred compensation or a form of percentage from the project's profits, the agency would be entitled to 10% of that as well. Keep in mind, however, agents are salaried employees, and the commissions that are collected are payable to the agency as a whole, not to individual agent. Often times if an agent reaches a certain level of commissions, he/she will receive a percentage of any additional commissions as bonus pay. In Los Angeles alone there are over 200 agencies. The top agencies in the world include Creative Artists Agency (CAA), William Morris Endeaver (WME), United Talent Agency (UTA) and ICM Partners (ICM). The next tier includes Paradigm, Gersh, APA and Resolution.

Agent vs Manager

Often times talent will have both an agent and a manager. But why do you need both? Why give away more commission?Essentially, the main purpose of both these people is to build your career. When it comes to getting you hired on recurring jobs, both your manager and agent will expend their resources to make that happen and there will be a lot of overlap in their responsibilities. Theyll get you in meetings, submit you for jobs and market your name. Aside from that, their a certain duties that one is more responsible for than the other. A manager will work with you to improve your talent and help you become better at what you do. If youre an actor, a manager may take the time to go over sides with you and practices scenes. If youre a writer, a manager will give you script notes and develop your projects. An agent on the other hand, wont usually perform any of those tasks. They will, however, scour the town for the right jobs for you, negotiate your contract and get the best deal. It' their job to get you your quote, make sure youre looked after on the back-end, and that your next job will be get you equal or more pay than the previous.Another reason to have both a manager and an agent is access to a wider talent base. In other words, reps love to package projects with as many of their clients as possible. So if youre repped by an agent and a manager, you get easier access to both of their talent pools and better your chances of attaching them to your projects.Another key difference is that managers can and will get producer or executive producer credit on any of your projects you set up. Agents, by law, are not allowed to receive producer credit.Top agencies include: CAA, WME, UTA, ICM, Paradigm, Gersh, Resolution

Analytical Personality Type

Reserved and Task oriented. An intellectual type that's slow to make a decision because they want to all the data first. Want to get things done, but done right. Tend to be more emotionally detached. Logical and cautious.

Ancillary Market

This is a geographical or technological area of demand for a film product which is supplemental to the theatrical market. In other words, this is a market to exploit a particular property that includes everything except theatrical distribution. This could include TV network, pay cable, video on demand, home video, or online streaming.Also see Rights

Antagonist

In its purest definition, an antagonist is a character in a story that stands in the way of our protagonist's goal. And yes, an antagonist for all intents and purpose is an actual character. In other words, a tornado is not an antagonist and neither is society. Often times we refer to the antagonist as the villain in a story, but we all know that not all stories have a villain and even if they do, they may not be an essential part of the entire story.

Antihero

An antihero is the protagonist in a story who, unlike a traditional hero, doesn't posses conventional heroic qualities like morality, integrity, idealism, loyalty and sympathy. Great movies and TV shows of the past have shown that we don't need a likeable heroic protagonists in order to have a great story. All that really matters to our audience is that our main character is interesting and makes compelling decisions.

Armorer

Also known as a weapons master, an armorer manages all the prop firearms on set and is present whenever a scene with a weapon is being shot. It is his or her duty to guarantee their weapons do not cause any harm to the cast and crew. It is also their responsibility to make sure the prop weapons function correctly on set.

Art Director

The art director is generally works directly under the production designer. They perform a lot of the hands-on work on set and their job is to execute the production designer's vision.

Assistant Editor

This is the person who is assigned to directly assist the film editor. He/she usually wont be in charge of any creative decisions, but must have thorough knowledge of the work flow and the technical elements associated with editing. Duties may include synching dailies, taking screening notes, organizing footage, assembling selected takes and obtaining cutting-room facilities.

Associate Producer

This is a credit that does not have a definitive meaning. There is no specific duty of an associate producer. He/she could help with anything from financing the film, to post-production work, or to finding talent. You will often see this title given to friends, relatives, or managers who played a smaller role in producing a film. This individual performs a limited number of producing functions delegated to her/him by a producer, under the direct supervision and control of that producer.

Auspice

An auspice usually refers to the above the line people who are responsible for creating and producing a specific project. In film, the auspices usually refer to the producer, financier (if independent), writer and director (depeneding on how early he/she was brought on to the project). Studio execs are not usually thought of as auspices. In television, auspices usually refer to the creator of the show, writer of the pilot (if different from creator), executive producers (which includes upper level writers and heads of production companies) and showrunners. This could also include the director of the pilot depending on how early he/she was involved in the conception of the project. Studio and network execs are not considered auspices when it comes to television shows.

Auteur

It's the French word for "author" and we apply it to film because it pertains to filmmakers whose personal and artisitic influence on a moive is so significant that he/she is regarded as the "author" of the movie. Auteurs are filmmakers who come up with a concept, flesh out the story, write the script, raise capital, direct the film and sometimes even edit the film. They're involved in every creative process from start to finish and they have a very unqiue style that audiences can recognize.

Axis of Action

When it comes to continuity and editing, the "Axis of Action" is an imaginary line that passes through the two main actors of a scene, defining the spatial relations of all the elements of the scene as being to the right or left. The camera is not supposed to cross the axis at a cut and thus reverse those spatial relations. This will confuse the audience as to where in relation to one another the actors are standing. In other words, if two actors are talking to each other if we are shooting an actor's face and he/she is looking toward screen right, when the camera flips to the other actor whom he/she is talking to, that actor should be looking toward screen left. This is also called the "180? line."

Baby Writer

This the term given to a writer who has yet to be staffed on or hired for an actual televisions show.In the feature film word, this is a writer who has yet to be commissioned by a studio or production company to write a feature screenplay.

Back to One (or Reset)

All relevant crew, actors, and extras return to their established starting point for that shot.

Back-End Payment

Also commonly referred to as "participation" or "contingency", a back-end payment is a type of compensation usually given to an above-the-line talent on a film. This means that the talent will receive a percentage of the revenue generated after the film is completed and is typically given to the talent in addition to his or her fixed upfront fee. This could include box office sales, foreign sales, VOD sales, DVD sales, and sales from other ancillary markets. How the back-end payment is defined varies from project to project, and depends solely on what the talent negotiates. Often times the agent will negotiate this deal. The talent may negotiate for "gross-participation" in which the talent receives a percentage of the revenue before certain expenses have been deducted. This is often referred to as "First-Dollar-Gross", which is every talent' objective to attain in a back-end negotiation. In other words, as soon as the first-dollar of revenue has been generated, the talent starts receiving a percentage of that revenue. The talent may negotiate for a percentage of "distributor' adjusted gross" which means that the talent will receive a percentage of the revenue after a defined break-even point has been reached. The talent may also negotiate for a percentage of "net-profit", however, this is type of deal is rarely done as a film, according to standard accounting principles, rarely reaches net profit.

Backdoor Pilot

For all intents and purposes, a backdoor pilot is still the first episode in a series, however, it' filmed like a standalone movie. Often times these pilots can be two hours long. The episode still has inherent commercial value, so they can still air it if they decide not to order to series. Networks do this to hedge their risk and use it as a proof of concept to see if the show is worth turning into a series. They will air it, see what type of ratings/reception it receives and use that information to determine whether or not they will order to series.The term "back door" comes from a tactic that networks often use to test spinoff series. What they do is produce an episode within a series that introduces new characters and "sneak" this episode into the season" hence the term "back door". The network will use the ratings and viewer feedback from that episode to decide if they want to create a spinoff series. The best of example of this is NCIS which is a spinoff from JAG. In season 8 of JAG, there was a dual episode that introduced the characters for what would become NCIS. And then, in season 6, they aired the two-part episode "Legend" which introduced the characters for what is now NCIS: Los Angeles. Again, this all goes back to strategy of creating a TV episode that "test the waters" to see if it' worth bank rolling into a new series.

BACKGROUND

The Extra performers. On the set, "Background!" is a verbal cue for the Extras to start their action.

Background / Ambient Sound

The terms "background" and "ambient" are usually interchangeable in the world of sound. This is used to describe sound that is not the focus off attention, but is just as crucial for your film. Ambient sound serves many purposes. It can be used to convey setting. For example, if you hear traffic in your background noise, it establishes a metropolitan city setting. The sound of waves establishes an ocean or a beach setting. It can also be used to determine time of day. For example, if you here crickets in the background, it establishes the time of day as the evening. No matter what, there will always be background sound in your film. Even if you are conveying part of your film where the actors are silent and standing still in an empty room, the "sound" of that empty, quiet room is very important to capture. The audience will notice if this sound is not there. We refer to this sound as "room tone".

Backlot

This is the portion of a studio lot used for filming exterior shots. Often times theyll have this part of the lot dressed with fake buildings, side walks, alleys, plant life, famous streets, landmarks or houses etc to make it look like a particular setting.

Bankable

This is a descriptive term that is used in the film business to describe someone or something (actor, director, brand, script, producer, writer) whose attachment to a particular project can increase its chances of being successful in the box office. In other words, you can take your project "to the bank" where that bank (a financier or film studio), will more likely invest in your project partly because of the prior success of your attachment. An example of a bankable actress is Jennifer Lawrence. Her past movies have all been successful in the box office. A bankable director is James Cameron who' past two films of the highest grossing movies of all time.

Basic Cable Network

The term refers to all the cable networks that use commercial advertising to generate revenue. Networks like Comedy Central, Lifetime, History, MTV, USA, TNT are all examples of basic cable networks. These are contrasted with premium cable networks which generate their revenue from subscription-based model (HBO, Showtime and Starz).

Beat

"Beat" is a term used a lot when developing or explaining a story. Think of it like a unit of measurement within a story. It is a piece of information that can be conveyed in a quick moment, a sequence, or in an entire scene that moves the story forward. Beats are extremely important in communicating the direction of a story. Often times when writers are trying to figure out their story, they will use what' called a beat sheet. A beat can often be described in one sentence. For example, "The big bad wolf blows the straw house down." This helps the writer determine what' important in the story and what moments are needed in order to compel an audience.

Below-the-Line

This refers to the costs and roles assigned to people who are not above-the-line. (I know this is a lame definition. Youll get a better understanding of this term after learning what "above-the-line" means).

Best Boy Electric

This person is the assistant to the gaffer (it can be a boy or a girl). They are responsible for running the daily lighting equipment, and coordinating which lights and grip equipment to have ready on set for a particular scene. They are also responsible for organizing and preparing all the stingers (electric chords) so they can used at a moments notice.

Biopic

A film based on an individual' life story or a significant part of an individual' life.Eg. Malcolm X, Ali, Nixon, Lincoln, Milk, Capote, Man on the Moon, Ray, Walk The Line

Black Comedy

AKA dark comedy, this is a genre of film where the humor is derived from topics and themes that are generally considered to be "serious" like death, racism, abortions, war and murder. Examples of dark comedy films include FARGO, DR. STRANGELOVE, SHAUN OF THE DEAD, BAD SANTA, FEAR AND LOATHING IN LAS VEGAS. A great example is the TV show THE BIG C which finds the humor in cancer.

Blind Script Agreement

This agreement commits a writer to write for an "undecided project". A studio (TV or film) will do this if they know that they want to work with a particular writer and have confidence that whatever he/she writes will be great. In this way, another studio cant hire the writer for his/her next script. This will commit the writer to write a screenplay for the studio once he/she decides what that project is. The studio, of course, must approve of the idea. The writer will usually pitch a few ideas to the studio who will then pick which one they want him/her to write.

Blocking

This is an exercise that a director does with the actors before rehearsing or shooting scene. The purpose is to choreograph the movement and position of the actors and determine exactly where/when they need to situate themselves within a scene. There is no dialogue, no acting, just movement.

Boom Operator

A boom operator is a member of the on-set sound department who is responsible for operating the boom (a microphone held at the end of a long pole so the sound/dialogue can be captured accurately during production without having to place body microphones on the actors.

Bridge Financing

Bridge financing is a short term loan which is granted in anticipation of a long term loan. It provides a "bridge" to get to the longer term (and often larger dollar amount) loan that you need to finance your project.

Broadcast Network

In the TV world, this refers to the five major TV networks: ABC, CBS, FOX and The CW. Every other TV channel is referred to as a cable network. Often times, instead of saying "broadcast network, people will just say "network". The two are interchangeable. "A medical procedural might be more appropriate for network as opposed to cable."

Budget

A budget, also referred to as the negative cost of a film, is the cost of producing a motion picture. This includes, above-the-line costs, below-the-line costs, insurance, legal fees, fringes, completion bond fee, and contigency. A budget may also refer the actual document that lists all the costs associated with the film.Read more about the importance of a budget.

Budget/Sales Corollary

This is the term used to describe the percentage of a film' budget that is used by distributors to determine the price to acquire a film. In other words, one of the main factors that distributors use to figure out how much they are going to pay for a certain film is the film' negative cost. This is usually a percentage, and every distributor has a different percentage that they apply to particular films. Therefore, the higher the film budget, the higher a distributor is likely to pay for it.

C47

Just a fancy term grips and gaffers use for a clothes pin.

Cable Network

Although we use the term freely, cable networks (Comedy Central, HBO, History, USA, TNT, Lifetime, MTV, VH1, ESPN, TLC, BRAVO, E!) arent actually networks because they lack an actual network of TV stations. Instead, these cable networks send their shows via satellite to different cable providers (Comcast, Time Warner, DirecTV) which then distributes them to subscribers. We dont need to get into the technical aspect of how cable networks operate. Just know that when someone says "cable" they mean any TV distributor that is not ABC, NBC, CBS, CW or FOX.Some major cable networks include MTV, VH1, Comedy Central, Showtime, TBS, TNT, USA, Lifetime, TLC, Discovery, AMC, History, E!, Bravo, ESPN and HBO.

Cable Provider

These are the companies which provide house holds with access to TV channels. They bundle their channels and offer them at a monthly rate to consumers. Major cable providers include DirecTV, Time Warner Cable, Dish Network, Verizon Fios, AT

Call back

If you are successful in an initial audition you may be called back. This is simply a secondary audition for the same role.

Call Sheet

They is the key document to keeping everyone organized during production. The night before any day of shooting, the UPM or production coordinator will send out a call sheet to everyone crew member and personnel involved in production. The sheet will have all the pertinent information regarding the shoot for that specific day including: Names and contact information for all crew members. talent and above the line personnel Times when each person needs to be on set (call times) The forecasted weather along with time of sunrise and sunset The nearest hospital Address and directions to the set(s) The description of all the scenes that will be shot and the script page numbers associated with each scene The times designated for mealsHere' a link to a free call sheet template CLICK TO DOWNLOAD

Camera Coverage

Camera coverage pertains to the number of angles that are used to capture a particular scene. The more action and the more characters in a scene, the more coverage required. The goal of camera coverage is to give the film editor a variety of choices to use in post-production.

Camera Loader

This is the person who is responsible for operating the clap board at the beginning of each take as well as loading the film stock into the camera.

Camera Operator

This person uses the camera under the direction of the Director of Photography. He/she is the one looking through the view finder, and coordinating the movement of the camera. This does not include the movement of any dollies, rigs or steadicams.

Campy Movie

A story is campy when it deliberately tries to be ridiculous or absurd and the characters are oblivious to these absurdities. Having loud costumes or having characters speak with unconventional accents for comedic appeal are examples of ways to incorporate campiness to a film. Some examples of campy movies include:ROCKY HORROR PICTURE SHOW, ZOOLANDER, AUSTIN POWERS, BATMAN FOREVER, BRIDE OF CHUCKY

Capability

Capability is the a term used in movie-marketing. This describes a film' ability as an idea alone to generate interest within its target audience. In other words, if someone were to give you the logline or the overall concept of the film, would you be interested in seeing it without knowing what it looked like or who it starred? Most high-concept movies have high capability. A comedy about a lawyer who gets placed with a curse that prevents him from lying has high capability. A remake of Superman has high capability.

Cash Break Even

Cash break even is the point in time when the gross receipts for a film equal the sum of the distribution fee, distribution expenses, negative costs, studio overhead, and interest.

Cast-Contingent Mean

The term cast-contingent describes a project (film or TV pilot) that must hire or a attach an actor(s) that is approved by the financier before it is greenlit. For example, TV networks usually wont green light a comedy pilot unless they hire a comedic actor whom they know can deliver the humor in the script.

Casting Associate

A casting associate works directly for the casting director. It is their job to do most of the scouting, administrative work and day-to-day tasks like coordinating audition schedules, locking down casting rooms, filing resumes, and responding to candidates. Most casting directors start off as a casting associate and gain years of experience before going off on their own.

Casting Director

The person who organizes the casting of actors for all roles in a given project (film, TV, theater). They also negotiate fees and contracts for the actors.

Chain of Title

If you're acquiring a piece of intellectual property whether it' a book, a script, a previously made movie it's absolutely vital that you have clear ownership before you proceed. Chain of title is a trail of documents which illustrates the change and transfer of ownership of a piece or property from the moment it was created to the current point in time where you claim to own the rights to the property. Having an improper chain of title means that you have no clear certainty or proof of your ownership of a project and you are not legally allowed to produce and distribute whatever media you intend on producing.

Chyron

You'll often see this word in screenplays. It's just another fancy term for "title card" or "caption" - a set group of words (or word) displayed across the screen. This can be over black or superimposed on top of the screen image.

Clap Board

At the beginning of every shot/take, once the camera is rolling, the camera loader places a clap board in front of the camera, waits until the operator has the shot in focus and "marks" it by snapping the top of the board. The clap board serves two main purposes.1) During production, the visual and the audio is captured separately. The point of the clap board is so that the editor can synchronize the sound with the picture. So when they hear the sound of the clap on the audio track, they match it to the visual of the instant the clapper snaps on the board. The camera loader is typically responsible for operating the clap board.2) In post-production, when sorting through all the footage and choosing which shots to use, the editor needs information about the particular take so that they know what shot they're looking at. The information conveyed on a clap board include, take number, which scene, date, which camera roll, director' name and of course the name of the project.

Close Up

Camera frame shows head and some of the neck.

Co-Producer

In the scripted television world, this is the title usually given to a mid-level writer.

Co-star

One-episode guest whose character's storyline may or may not be central to that episode (since co-star billing actually depends more on negotiation than size of the role), anywhere from one line to multiple scenes.

Cold Read

To perform sides with no prior preparation.

Cold reading

Reading a script for the first time in an audition or play reading situation.

Company Move

During a film shoot, after youre done shooting at one location, you have to pack up all the equipment, clean up, gather the crew, and transport them all to the next location. This is called a COMPANY MOVE. Line producers and coordinators try to plan their shoots with the least amount of company moves possible. This saves both time and money.

Completion Bond

This is basically referred to as completion "insurance". There are companies in the film industry who specialize in insuring that a film gets made. It' a safe guard to guarantee the financier that the film will be completed. A partially made film has zero value. The bond company will collect a flat fee usually between 2-5 percent of the budget depending on market conditions and they will keep a close eye on the progress of production. They will receive daily production reports. As soon as they feel that a film is over-budget, or that it will not be completed on time, the bond company will step in and take over production. All major financiers will require a completion bond before they will contribute any money to a film. This sounds very intimidating, but rest assured, bond companies really don't want to step in and take over a film. They're there to help you and support you to get the film made on time and on budget. Having them take over a film is an absolute last resort. The major bond companies in Hollywood include "Film Finances Inc."The Motion Picture Bond Company", and "International Film Guarantors Inc."

Continuity

Continuity is always a concern for any filmmaker. When making a motion picture, the filmmaker usually has to shoot a particular scene more than once in order to get the best performance and with different angles in order to get sufficient coverage. When he/she does this, it is crucial to maintain continuity. To maintain continuity is to maintain consistency with the appearance of a set, position of the actors, dialogue, and physical state of props as scenes get shot over and over again. In other words, when a film switches to a different angle, we want to make sure that all the elements within the frame remain consistent through out the scene. This may seem trivial, but youd be surprised how many mistakes actually occur in movies. Check out www.movie-mistakes.com when you have a spare moment.

Contract Role

A soap opera AFTRA contract term for a daytime series regular or recurring character.

Controller Personality Type

Outgoing and task oriented. Decisive, often a leader, and will be focused on getting things done as quickly as possible. They want things done their way and don't mind ruffling a few feather to get it.

Coverage

Coverage is written document that readers, and assistants usually write after reading a piece of material that is being considered for development. The specific format of this formal document will differ from company to company, but the main components include a logline, accurate but concise synopsis of the story, comments regarding specific elements (character, plot, tone), overall rating, and a recommendation (pass or consider). The coverage is then handed on to executives who otherwise do not have time to read all the scripts that pass through the studio. Coverage is a quick and convenient way for executives to learn about a piece of material, before they commit to reading it.

Covering Agent

Within an agency, the job of most agents is to service their clients, get them jobs and collect commission. There are other agents, however, who' job is to monitor the needs of studios, financiers and productions companies so that they can put clients up for jobs the moment theyre posted. These are known as "covering agents. Each covering agent is assigned a group of studios, networks, production companies to "cover and develop relationships with their executives. It's the job of a covering agent to know when these companies have any ODAs, OWAs or casting roles that need to be filled. The covering agents will then share this information with all the point agents so they can then put their clients up for the job assignments. Covering agents usually dont have a client roster they directly service, and if they do they share it with a team of other agents. Their main purpose is to stay on top of their assigned companies so that their agency' clients get put up for available jobs before their competition does. This is a win-win for both sides. The agency has direct communication lines to all the potential employers and the employers have direct lines to an agent at each agency who' job it is to answer their calls and give them great candidates.

Craft Services

It' the person (or people) responsible for providing the crew with snacks and refreshments. Not to be confused with the caterer who provides the meals. The craft services table (aka crafty) is everyone' favorite area of a film set. If you're producing a film, do not cheap out on this expense. The key to running a great film set is to make sure nobody is hungry.

Dailies

Dailies are raw, unedited footage (usually synced to sound) showing all the entire takes that were shot on particular day. They are called this because usually at the end of a shooting day, the film is processed so that the director and crew can view it right away. The idea behind this is to review their day' work and look for mistakes or improvements that they can apply to later shots. Sometimes they will notice mistakes that will warrant a re-shoot. Dailies are also used to show studio executives so that they can keep up to date on the crew' progress, and provide feedback if needed.

Day and Date

This term is used to describe the release of a film. When a film is released day and date, this means that all the exhibitors (theatres) will release the film on the same day. It's also referred to as simultaneous release. This contrasts with "Platform Release".

Day-Out-Of-Days Schedule

After the shooting schedule is made, the production manager will also make a day-out-of days schedule which is a special chart that shows when each actor works during the course of the shooting schedule. This is important for the producer to structure the best actor deals, and for the director to know when each actor will be needed on which day. The chart will show the following information indicated by a specific letter: Start (S) Work Day (W) Travel Day (T) Rehearsal Day (R) Hold Day (H) Finish (F)

Debt Financing

This type of financing is typically done through a bank who will lend you money with a set interest rate. This is an extremely difficult loan to get approved. Unless you have an amazing track record, usually a bank wont lend you money for a film unless you have presales set in place. This lowers their risk and in essence allows them to offer a lower interest rate because the distributor will make sure the film is made. The advantage of debt financing is that you dont give up any ownership of your film. After the bank has been paid off, your responsibility to them is done and none of the film' revenue will go to them.

Deferment

A deferment is a fixed payment that is made to talent and is usually drawn from gross receipts after a film breaks even. This amount is not included in the budget. Therefore, some producers might use this as a strategy to reduce their budget in order to secure financing for your film. For example, if you were to pay an actor 5 million dollars up front, this would add a 5 million dollar expense to your budget. But if the you were to pay the actor with a deferment, you will reduce your budget by 5 million dollars. However, because your talent isnt being paid upfront and is reliant on the success of the film he/she will want to receive a larger payment. Also, by reducing your budget, you will reduce the amount your film can be sold for based on the budget/sales corollary. So there are obvious pros and cons to paying your talent via deferment. You as a producer must decide what is best for your film.

Denouement

These are the concluding scenes after the climax of a film where we tie up all the story elements and finish our character' arc. This is a crucial part in the story telling process as it determines the final feeling you leave with your audience when they leave the theatre. The original denouement for THE SHAWSHANK REDEMPTION had Red sitting on a bus headed for Zihuatanejo and the film ended as we pulled back watching the bus drive off in the distance. Director Frank Darabont was not satisfied with this and fought tooth and nail to convince the studio to let him shoot the final scene where Red finds Andy on the beach fixing his boat. Could you imagine if the movie ended with the original denouement? The feeling and overall impression of the movie would not have been the same. Never underestimate the effectiveness of your denouement.

Derivative Works

Derivative works are any forms of media based on or derived from another already existing piece of material. This includes, sequels, remakes, books, TV spinoffs, and plays. When attached to a film, directors and producers will want the right to first negotiations to direct/produce derivative works.

Development

This is the first phase of the film making process. The producer will usually be the most heavily involved person in this phase. During development, you are finding material either by creating an original script by working with a writer (you could also be the writer), or discovering some one else's material and optioning it. Either way, you are attaining ownership in the material. Once you have optioned or purchased the rights, you are working the material to generate an amazing script. This could mean adapting a book, comic, play, web series, short film, or feature script. Or this could also mean reworking an already existing script. Once the first draft of the script is complete, it's your job to come up with great notes and convey them properly to the writer in order for him/her to write a better second draft. Depending on the agreement you make with the writer, the development process could involve multiple drafts of the script. Either way, the main objective is to work with the writer to generate a screenplay that you are happy with. This is one of the most difficult but most important skills to acquire as a producer. All studios and networks have specific departments devoted solely to development. Once you have the script at a place where you are happy with, your next job is to secure financing (which is a whole new ball game). Once the financing is secured, you are ready to move on to the next phase; PRE-PRODUCTION.

Development Deal

This is an agreement where a writer or producer agrees to develop or write a certain number of projects for a studio or production company. These companies are basically paying to have exclusive access to a writer or producer' material.

Diegetic Sound

This term describes sound for a motion picture where the source of that particular sound is visible on the screen or whose source is implied to be present by the action of the film.

Director of Photography

This person is also known as the DP, or the head cinematographer. It has been argued that, besides the director, the DP is the most important person on a set when it comes to the visual aspect of the film. The DP has to make sure that the scene is lit properly, the right lenses are being used and scene is framed correctly. DP' have been said to "paint with light". It is also the DP' responsibility to make sure that the movement of the camera and the change in focus is executed properly while shooting a scene.

Distribution Fee

This is the fee charged by a studio/distributor to the exhibitor in order to have their film exhibited in their theater(s). This is usually in the form of a percentage of revenue generated at the box office in any given market. This percentage can range from as low as 10% all the way up to 50%. A typical distribution fee is 30%. This is not to be confused with film rentals which is the studio' portion of the box office calculated after the distribution fee has been paid.NOTE: When it comes to accounting numbers, distribution fee is not factored in as "revenue" or "earnings" even though the money goes straight to the studio/distributor. This is just another one of those strange accounting principles practiced in the movie industry.

DIT

This stands for digital imaging technician. This person works in collaboration with the cinematographer and the editor to organize all the raw files of the footage while on set and create a manageable workflow for the editor when he receives the footage. During production, after the digital memory card of the camera is full, the 2nd AC will bring the card to the DIT for him/her to load onto the main hard drive. From there, the DIT will transcode the footage and organize/label the files in a manner that' best suited for the editor.

DMA

Also known as Designated Market Area, this is the area whose population receives all the same TV signals. In the USA, there are over 200 DMAs. Most DMAs have one channel for every major network.

Docudrama

This is a specific genre of scripted drama in film where actors are used to re-create events that actually happened in real life. Great examples of docudramas include CAPTAIN PHILLIPS, 127 HOURS, YOU DONT KNOW JACK, RAY, UNITED 93, THE FIGHTER, CINDERELLA MAN

Documentary

Shot to document reality, non-fiction, in order to educate or preserve history. No actors are cast. A real documentary should use real life and real situations only.

Domestic Territory

When it comes to the theatrical box office, this includes ticket sales in both USA and Canada. When it comes to the film market, this only refers to the USA. Canada is considered a foreign or separate territory than the United States when selling the distribution rights to a film.

Dutch Tilt

Also known as a dutch angle or an oblique angle, a dutch tilt is a camera shot where the camera angle is deliberately slanted to one side. This can be used for dramatic effect and helps portray unease, disorientation, intoxication, madness, etc.

Editor' Cut

This is the first cut of a TV episode or film which is compiled solely by the editor. Usually the director, executives and financiers have not looked at the cut up until this point.

Elements of a Motion Picture

Elements are the various parts that come together to make a motion picture. This includes everything from a concept, a screenplay, producer, director, DP, lead actors, supporting cast, crew, distributor etc. These are all elements of a film. Each of these elements can have a significant outcome to the final product.

Equal Likeness

This is a clause in an actor' contract that states that if any other actor' photograph or likeness appears in a paid advertisement relating to the motion picture, a photograph of the actor of equal size and prominence must also appear in such advertisement.

EQUITY

Short for Actors Equity Association. The union representing stage actors.

Equity Financing

In this type of financing, a person or company with deep pockets will finance all or part of your film in exchange for ownership of a percentage of the film (equity). This means that from here on out, unless otherwise agreed upon, the investor will receive a certain percentage of all profits generated by the movie. The advantage of this type of financing is that you are not legally obligated to pay back the financier if the film doesn't generate enough revenue. The down side is that, in success, a portion of your profits will belong to the financier who essentially owns part of your film.

ETHNICALLY AMBIGUOUS

Meaning a persons race is not easily defined by appearance.

Event Series

This is a TV series who's story line is based on one single event. Examples of past series include shows like LOST and JERICHO. However, nowadays, event series have been synonymous with mini series seeing as that the stories our close-ended and typically conclude after one season. Networks and creators know they can't drag on a story based on an event for more than one season. What networks will often do instead is once the story concludes in the first season, they will use the built-in brand of that show and use to create another event series based on the same premise. Recent examples of event series of this nature are TRUE DETECTIVE, AMERICAN HORROR STORY and FARGO. The first season of each has as a close ended story, but they will use the show's brand to create and market and fresh new story with new characters for the following season. Be aware that event and mini series are NOT interchangeable with "limited series".

Executive Producer

An executive producer (EP) for film is very different from an executive producer for TV. For film, an EP is a very abstract credit. It can mean a number of things. To put it simply, an executive producer is some one who provides an important contribution to the project. This could be financing, or it could mean that you manage one the A-list talent that was part of the film. It could even indicate that you were a high level employee working at the production company. In any film production, there are many people who are heavily involved in the producing of the movie, however, there can only be so many people with producer credit (the Academy has a 5 producer limit for the best picture category). So to provide these people with the appropriate credit, they will receive an executive producer title. But at the end of the day, if you want to be recognized for your merits as a producer on a film, the credit you want is "produced by".

Executive Producer for TV

Not to be confused with an Executive Producer (EP) for film, the EP for a television show is the highest credit you can receive. There are usually several executive producers of a television show and it typically includes the showrunner(s), the creator(s), senior level writers, and the principal(s) of the production company. Television EPs are ultimately responsible for putting together and creating a television show. Of all the EP's, it's the showrunner that holds the highest title. They're the ones that usually receive the "created by" credit at the end of the opening credits. There are cases, however, where a creator of a show will not have enough experience to run a show and the network will bring in an experienced showrunner to fill that role. In this case, the showrunner will just take and EP credit.

Exhibitor

An exhibitor another term for a movie theater. Generally speaking, movie theatres get 50% of the box office revenue. So when you read in the news that a movie grossed a certain amount in domestic box office, only half of that money actually goes to the distributor/studio. However, some times a distributor will strike a deal where they will get more than 50% for the couple weeks and then take less than 50 percent for the remaining weeks. In Hollywood, every deal is negotiable.

Exit Poll

This is a method used in market-research where moviegoers are interviewed as they leave the theatre after watching a movie. This is done in order to gauge the audience's reaction to the film.

Exploitation Film

This is a type of feature film which contains obligatory or gratuitous sex, violence, horror, catastrophic events or a combination of any or all of such themes which has little socially redeeming value. The film blatantly uses these themes and elements to attract audiences.

EXT. (Exterior)

A scene shot outside.

EXTRA

Background performer, used only in non-principal roles.

Extras

Extras are non-speaking roles given to actors who are meant to contribute to the background or the overall setting of a film. For example, if you had a scene in a subway stations or a restaurant or a concert, you would hire extras to fill in the space to make it seem like a crowded setting.

EYE LINE

Eye line is the direction an actor should look off-screen to match a reverse angle or a P.O.V. (point of view) shot. It is best to give the actor an actual thing or spot to look at rather than a blank spot on an empty wall or an empty space in mid air.

Fair Use

"Fair Use is the term that describes a particular trademark in a film stating that it did not violate any laws by being in the film. The laws state that you can use a trademarked product or symbol in a film so long as youre not misleading the audience when it comes to its application and its purpose. The law also states that a trademark is fair use if it' not implying to the audience that it was responsible for the making of the film. The sum this all up, if you want to use a trademarked product in your film, you are within your legal rights to do it so long as the consumer can buy the product and that it is being used for it' intended purpose in the film.Also check out this article about using branded items in your film and what should be aware of when it comes to WORKS OF ART.

Featured

Principal role in the film with one or more lines but easily cut from the final version of the film. Unfortunately, many extras have started using the term "featured" to describe their extra work and that means casting directors are less and less convinced that a job listed as "featured" actually was a featured principal role.

FEATURED EXTRA

When an extra is clearly visible on camera and not just a blur in the background.

Featurette

A featurette is a behind-the-scenes video depiction of a motion picture and how it was made. It usually includes footage from the film (much like a trailer) complimented with interviews with lead actors, the director, writer and producer. Featurettes are created to air on television and stream online for the purpose of marketing and promotion. In my opinion, I think they do a better job in promoting a movie than a traditional trailer and I believe studios should use them more often. Trailers do a great job in illustrating tone, and story , but having the actors whom the audience is already drawn to speak and talk about the process and emotion behind making the film only helps to peak people' interest to buy a ticket.

Femme Fatale

This literally means "deadly woman". It' a character used in a lot of dark dramas and film noir. Essentially, a femme fatale is a seductive woman who uses her charm and physical attributes to lure men into compromising, dangerous and often deadly situations in order to get what she wants. Examples include Isabella Rossellini' character in BLUE VELVET, and Sharon Stone' character in BASIC INSTINCT

FI-CORE

‘financial core' status is an option within the Screen Actors Guild (SAG-AFTRA) allowing actors to work both union and non-union jobs.

Film Director

A film director is responsible for the entire creative execution of the film. He/she is in charge of the entire creative process from pre-production all the way to the end of post-production. Despite the fact that the director is ultimately responsible for all the aspects of the film, he/she usually has a reliable crew and department heads to look after these aspects. For example the DP will be responsible for the look, color, lighting and framing of a shot. There will also be department heads for production design, wardrobe, visual effects, and makeup etc. However, there is one responsibility that the director has that nobody else helps with and that is working with the actors. In saying that, the number one job of a director is to work with their actors and get the best performances out of them. Nobody else is supposed to give direction to the actors except for the director. More importantly, it' important to know that it' not the director' responsibility to be an expert on all the creative aspects of a film. However, it is his/her job to accurately convey to the department head what his/her vision is for the film and allow the department head to use their expertise to execute the vision.

Film Noir

Some times referred as a genre on its own, Film Noir (French for "black film") is a term used to describe a very stylized form of Hollywood crime dramas particularly those that emphasize cynical attitudes and sexual motivations. The classic film noir of Hollywood were made in the 1940s and 50s. It is important to understand that the term describes more of the mood and tone of the film than it does the particular plot of characters. Most of these films, however, involve a private eye or some sort of law enforcement and the story centers around a crime mystery or murder. Classic Film Noir films include THE MALTESE FALCON, DOUBLE INDEMNITY, LAURA, GUN CRAZY and THE BIG SLEEP.

Film Producer

You could ask five different film producers what the definition of their job title is and they would likely give you five different answers. To put it simply, a producer' job is to get the film made. What an actual producer does will always change depending on the film that he or she is working on. Their involvement will usually depend on the budget, and the extent to which they can hire the appropriate people to work on their film. In general, the producer oversees the entire film-making process from start to finish. This includes finding source material (a book, comic, original idea, script, news article), optioning that source material, hiring a screenwriter, developing a script, securing financing, finding distribution, hiring a great director, overseeing the production process, overseeing the post-production process, and marketing the film. It is ultimately to producer' responsibility that the film gets made well, and under budget. In the feature film word, "producers" is the highest producer credit one can receive (unlike television where the highest producing credit goes to the "executive producer"). When a film wins an academy award for best picture, the trophy goes to the producer(s) and only the producer(s). If you want a good reference for film producing, I recommend the book "So you want to be a PRODUCER" by Lawrence Turman (the producer of THE GRADUATE, and the chairman of the infamous Peter Stark Producing Program at USC).

Film Rentals

This term can be confusing as it has nothing to do with renting movies. This is the portion of the box office revenue paid by the theatres to the distributor. This is not to be confused with the distribution fee. A film rental is paid AFTER the distribution fee has been paid. This percentage will vary depending on the deal that is made for a particular film. Generally speaking, box office revenue is split 50/50 between the theatres and distributor (studio). However there cases where the studio will receive a higher percentage on the opening weekend, or the first week of release. Some deals, the percentage varies each week where the first 2-3 weeks the distributor will get a higher perecentage, but each subsequent week their cut will decrease and the exhibitor' portion will increase. So when you see that a movie grossed $20M over the weekend, this generally means that the studio receives $10M of that revenue, while the remaining $10M goes to the theaters.

Final Cut

Unless you are a well-established and successful director, studios (or whoever finances the film) will have the final say as to what the finished product will look like. This is known in the film business as "final cut". If, however, a director has final cut, he/she has full creative freedom to make the film the way he/she wants regardless of what the studio says. In this scenario, there are still certain restrictions such as duration and MPAA rating that the director will have to adhere to, but overall, the director has full control of the final product.

FIRST A.D.

First Assistant Director; person responsible for the running of the set. Gives instructions to crew and talent, including calling for "first team," "quiet," "rehearsal," and "take five.".

First Assistant Camera

AKA the First AC or Focus Puller, this crew member is responsible for making sure that the camera stays in focus through out the duration of the shot. Often times the depth of field changes, or the object that is being shot changes position and it is the job of the first AC to make sure the focus is adjusted properly when these changes happen.

First Assistant Director

More commonly known as the first AD, this person' responsibility is to make sure everything during production is running smoothly and on time. They make sure that everyone is at the appropriate place at the appropriate time. They're the one' with the clip board (and some times the megaphone) making sure that all the scenes are shot on schedule. If shooting is falling behind schedule, they're the ones telling the director to hurry up. They're the ones that tell everyone when it' time for lunch or screaming at the top of their lungs "QUIET ON SET!!". During pre-production, it is usually the AD' job to break down the script and devise a shooting schedule. The first AD must be approved by the director.

First Dollar Gross

This is the first monies received by the film distributor after releasing their film before any of taxes, fees, expenses or debts are paid off. If an actor or director receives a first dollar gross deal, this means that they get a percentage of this gross revenue received by the studio. This is very rare these days, but if possible, every talent wants to get a first dollar gross deal because this means that so long as the movie generates revenue, they will be guaranteed money before any of it is put towards taxes, debts, expenses and other fees.

First Position

This term usually pertains to writers, directors and actors. A person's "position" on a project, whether it be a television show or a feature film, basically determines the project's priority in that person's work schedule. This is one of the deal points that an agent or a manager will negotiate with a studio or financier for their client. A lot of the times a writer/director/actor will have several projects on the go at one time and studios will want their project as high up on that priority list as possible. So if a specific project is in first position, contractually, the talent must put this project at a higher priority than any other project he/she may be working on. If the talent is working on other projects, those project may be in second or third position, meaning the other commitments take priority.

First-Look Deal

Let's say you just directed a film that won the Grand Jury Prize at Sundance, or you're an actor attached to a film that did gangbusters in the box office, or you're the creator of a nationally syndicated TV show. You are what we call a PROVEN TALENT. The studios and TV networks need people like you to create content for them and hedge their risk in this volatile business. To do this, they will offer you a first-look deal.

Foley

Foley is a performed in post-production. It is a process where a foley artist will artificially create sounds that are meant to be the source sounds on the screen and incorporate them in the movie' sound design. For example, a foley artist may bang coconut shells together to simulate the sound of a horse galloping or break a piece of celery to simulate a bone breaking. The foley artist will be on a special foley stage, and a sound engineer will record all the sounds that the artist is making while watching the film. The sound will then be incorporated into the film' main soundtrack.

FORCED CALL

A call to work less than 12 hours after dismissal on the previous day.

FOREGROUND CROSS

Action in a scene in which an Extra Performer passes between the camera and the principal actors; sometimes called a "wipe".

Four Walling

This is a technique used by producers who are handling their own distribution of a film and not dealing with any distribution companies. The producer will approach theatres individually and offer them a set negotiated flat fee to rent out their space. Essentially, they're paying for the 'four walls' of the theatre and for the use of their screen. The rental period could be for a night, a whole week, a month or just a weekend. Often times, the producer will have to also pay for the personnel like the projectionist, the ticket booth agent, concession and custodials. This minimizes the risk for theatre owner as the rental fee is guaranteed regardless of the film's ticket sales. However, the owner is foregoing any opportunity to show other film(s) in their theatre during the rental period. On the other hand, this is a huge risk on the producer, but he/she will get to keep 100% of the ticket sales should the film do well.

FOURTH WALL

Refers to the imaginary, illusory invisible plane through which the film viewer or audience is thought to look through toward the action; the fourth wall that separates the audience from the characters is 'broken through' when the barrier between the fictional world of the film's story and the "real world" of the audience is shattered - when an actor speaks directly to the viewers by making an aside.

Free Fall

Living out the imaginary circumstance (scene) moment to moment. Give up all thoughts of hoping they like you, or trying to be perfect. To FREE FALL you must be in the moment, when the only thing that matters is the conversation you're having right NOW.

Fringes

Fringes are benefits that an employee (ie actor) will receive that is beyond their payable income. This includes pension, guild costs, and other fees. Each union will have set types of fringe benefits that every production must provide their workers.

FX (Effects)

Special Effects.

Gaffer

The gaffer is the head of the electrical department which mainly deals with the lighting on set. He/she is responsible for the execution of the lighting plan which is conveyed by the DP.

Gap / Mezzanine Financing

This type of financing is ideal for investors who want to be conservative and play it safe, because they're simply "closing the gap" that is left in the film finance package. In other words, they're the last investor in and others have already taken on a large portion of the risk. Gap financiers will either invest in return for a percentage of the film, or lend against unsold presales.

GOLDEN TIME

Refers to the 16th hour of a shooting day. When Golden Time begins, Union extras receive their base pay for each additional hour until released for the day.

Greeking

Greeking is the process of masking or concealing trademarks that the production has not received legal clearance to use in the film.

GREENROOM

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

Greensman

A greensman is a member of the construction crew responsible for on-set greenery: plants, flowers, grass shrubs, bushes etc.

Grindhouse Theatre

These theatres are mainly found in the USA and they specialize in showing B movies. The tickets are much cheaper than the regular theatres and serve a niche audience of movie-goers. B movies are low budget, violent, exploitative and racy movies that are of lower quality in production value, and actor performance than the movies you typically see in the major theatre chain.

Grip

Also know as a "key grip", a grip is a highly skilled person who works on production sets. They specialize in the set-up, adjustment, moving and maintenance of most production equipment on set. Typical duties include setting up dollies, c-stands, flags, scrims, reflectors and apple boxes.

GRIPS

Members of the film crew who are responsible for moving set pieces, lighting equipment, dolly track and other physical movement of equipment.

Gross Receipts vs Gross Rentals

Gross receipts refers to all the money that is received by the distributor from the exploitation of a particular motion picture on any platform. This includes theatrical box office sales, home video, pay television, DVD sales, television syndication etc. Gross rentals only refers to total monies paid to the distributor from the box office. This is also referred to as "film rentals".

Guest Star

One-episode guest whose character's storyline is central to that episode, works at a weekly rate (and is under contract for the week, even if only shooting a day or two).

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 MODEL

A performer whose hands are used to double for others.

Hashtag (#)

The symbol used to categorize specific topics in social media posts. The hashtag will allow people looking for the exact same topic to find your posts. Effectively using this symbol gains you followers and exposure to your content.

Helmer

Just another fancy word for director.

High Concept Idea

Anyone who wants to make a commercially viable movie loves a high concept idea. This is a premise or an idea that can be described succinctly in very few words and can be effectively advertised. It' often an idea that isn't grounded in reality but can easily be imagined if it was. High concept narratives are typically associated with a "what if?" scenario that sets the story in motion. Here are some examples of successful high concept films:LIAR LIAR (What if you were a lawyer and couldn't lie for one day?)BACK TO THE FUTURE (What if you could travel back in time and change your future?)JURASSIC PARK (What if you could clone dinosaurs?)GROUNDHOG DAY (What if you repeated the same day over again and again?)FREAKY FRIDAY (What if you and your teenage daughter switched bodies?)BRUCE ALMIGHTY (What if you were given all the powers of God?)BIG (What if a young boy physically ages to adulthood overnight?)TOY STORY (What if toys came to life when humans weren't around)

Hip Pocket Someone

The term "hip pocket" is used by agents and managers when they unofficially represent a writer, director, actor, producer etc. This means they're just helping that person out without making them an official client.

HOLDING

The designated area to which the Extra Performers report and stay while waiting to go on set.

HONEY WAGON

A towed vehicle containing one or more dressing rooms, as well as crew bathrooms.

Honeywagon

This is a mobile trailer that is used on location for actors to use as dressing rooms.

Hot Set

This term is used to describe a movie set where the art department and prop persons have finalized placing funiture and props etc for filming a scene. Hence why we call it this so nobody touches the set until filming is complete.

I.A.T.S.E

This stands for International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees. It's the largest labor union in the entertainment industry with about 115,000 members. While the DGA is the union for directors, WGA for writers, SAG-AFTRA for actors, IBT for teamsters, IATSE is a labor union for pretty much everyone else. This includes editors, production designers, DPs, camera operators, ADs, ACs, makeup artists, grips, gaffers, electricians, best boys, set builders, sound designers, sound mixers and many more workers.

I.B.T.

Stands for the International Brotherhood Of Teamsters. It's the labor union for both Canada and the United States that represents and protects the interests of teamsters. The union has approximately 1.3M members.

If Come Deal

This is a type of development deal that a TV studio may choose to sign with a writer. When the studio acquires a project, it must make a development deal with the writer in order to secure its rights to the show before pitching to networks. There are two basic kinds of development deals. IF-COMES and PAY-OR-PLAY. An if-come deal states that the studio pays the writer only the pitch is bought by the network. If the pitch doesnt sell to a network, the writer doesnt get paid and the studio loses no money.

IMPLUSE

A natural response that an actor responds to in the moment.

IMPROVISATION

Setting out to do a scene with no pre-planned or written idea. A process leading to spontaneous discovery that allows the actor to find real, organic impulses within themselves.

Improvising

To perform spontaneously without planning ahead.

Independent Film

When we here this term, we normally think arthouse, film festival, and cheap. This can be true for most independent films, however, not all independent films will share these attributes. To put it simply, an independent film is a film that is financed outside of the traditional studio system. In other words, the money used to finance the film comes from a place/person other than a studio. In most cases, independent filmmakers have to find distributors on their own. This could be a major studio, but often times they'll have to sell the distribution rights for a specific territory to an independent film distributor. This is usually done through international film markets and festivals. Some well known indie film distributors include, Magnolia Pictures, Film District, The Weinstein Company, Participant Media and Road Side Attractions. Some of the major studios have an "independent division" which is used to finance and distribute more arthouse (or less commercial) films. Universal's is Focus Features. 20th Century Fox has Fox Searchlight. Sony's is Sony Pictures Classics. Paramount's is Paramount Vantage and Warner Bros has Warner Independent.

INDICATING

Showing what your character is feeling or doing without really feeling or doing, leading to a false and shallow performance.

INDUSTRIALS

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

INNER ACTION

A physical action verb chosen by the actor in the pursuit of an objective. It always begins with the word "to" i.e. to attack, to soothe, to tickle.

INNER MONOLOGUE

A character's active, imaginative inner thoughts while the actor is playing a role.

INSTINCT

A compelling or powerful impulse.

INSTRUMENT

The actor's collective working of the body, voice, mind, and imagination.

INT. (Interior)

A scene shot indoors.

Key Art

This is the primary art work used in all the ads and posters for a motion picture. This includes images, portrayal of the actors and the font of the title. All this has to be approved by the marketing team (if there is one), producers and director.

Key Grip

The key grip is the head of the grip department. Their job is to set up, maintain, and move production equipment such as lights, C-stands, dollies, cranes, platforms, scaffolding, and camera cars. If something needs to be set up or moved, you call the grip department.

Lead

Principal role in the film, in most scenes, on-screen credit is often in the credits that start the film (as well as in the complete end credits).

Lead-In

A lead-in is a TV show that precedes another show. Often times when a network premieres a new show, the will air it after a show that already has a lot of viewers. That already-established show is the lead-in for the new show.Also see lead-out.

Lead-Out

A lead-out is a TV show following another show. When a network premieres a new show, they will often have it be the lead-out to an already established show with lots of viewers in the hopes that they will stay tuned in for the new show.Also see lead-in.

Leave-Behind

This is a document that is left with potential buyers as a refresher after a pitch meeting. This can be a one pager which acts as a small movie poster, or it can be a treatment.

LEGIT ACTING

Refers to Acting for Theatre, Film & TV only. Not commercials.

Letter of Intent

This is a written document from a director, actor, writer or other person (or company) expressing their intent toward providing their services for a specific project. So why not just sign a contract? In some cases, when a project is being put together, a piece of talent may only want to legally sign on to provide his/her services if other conditions are met. The letter of intent will be drafted and used to help convince other parties to be part of the film without the writer of the letter having to fully commit to the project. So for example, if a producer is trying to get financing for a film, and a director wont attach himself to the film unless the film has a certain budget raised for production, the producer will get the director to express this in a letter of intent in order to convince financiers to invest in the film. In most cases, the letter of intent is not legally binding. It' just a formal way of people to say, "Im very interested in being a part of this project so long as certain conditions are met."

LIGHT BOARD

Either manual or computer operated. Operates the stage lights.

LIGHT CUES

A change in the stage lighting.

Line by Line

A method to gather information and develop an in depth understanding of the script by reading EVERYTHING on the page and figuring out the writer's intention for each line.

Line Cut

This is a term used in the sitcom arena. When filming a multi-cam sitcom, it will shoot in chronological order in front of a live audience. The director often works with a recordist who uses a video switcher to make an in-the-moment edited version of the live show, much like a sporting event being edited live. This edit is known as a LINE CUT. This will play on the monitors above the audience' heads to help them see the show and understand how it will look on television. This also serves as a template for editors who begin splice together the show after the taping wraps.

Line Producer

A line producer is different from a producer in the sense that a line producer is not involved in the creative aspects of the film-making process. Their job is to manage the budget on a film, and make sure the film stays on budget. They are usually on set every day (hence why they can only work on one project at a time), and they work closely with the production manager to keep everything on budget and on schedule. Line producers are experts on knowing how much everything costs. If there' a specific location, type of shot, stunt sequence, vfx scene or music clearance needed, a good line producer would know how much it would cost to achieve it.

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.

Location Manager

A location manager is a key member of the crew who deals with all matters involved with the use of a sites used to shoot a film other than a studio lot. Usually the location manager will identify the locations that are required by a given script, scout the location, take location photographs with the DP and director, be the liaison with the owner of the location, be the liaison with the local film commission regarding location permits, and budget the cost of using that location.

Location Permit

This is a written agreement or a license granted by the local film commissions (ie governing bodies that regulating all film-related activities in its jurisdiction) for the privilege of using a private or government owned property to shoot scenes for a movie.

Logline

A log line is one or two sentences that describe what your movie or TV show is about. A good logline should include a protagonist, a setting, an obstacle and stakes.Examples:ROMEO AND JULIET: In medieval Italy, a young man falls in love with the daughter of a sworn enemy, and together, they elope only to face tragic consequences.JURASSIC PARK: A team of researchers and a family struggle to escape and island park filled with genetically restored dinosaurs. BACK TO THE FUTURE: After traveling back to 1955, Marty McFly accidentally interferes with his parents courtship and must make them fall in love" or else he will never be born.

LONG SHOT (LS)

A camera shot which captures the performer's full body.

Looping

Also know as Sound Looping, this is part of the sound editing process where the sound designer takes the separately recorded dialogue and synchronizes it with the corresponding film image. Also see SOUND DESIGN and ADR

M.O.W.

This stands for "Move Of The Week". It was originally coined by ABC back in the early sixties when they would produce and air a made-for-tv movie every Tuesday night. Nowadays, this is the general term used to describe a made-for-tv movie. In other words, if someone describes a film as an M.O.W., they are referring to the movie as a lower grade film that isn't worthy of theatrical distribution and should only be seen on television by a smaller niche audience.

Macguffin

A macGuffin is a person, place or thing that' used as a plot device that the protagonist pursues. It' what motivates his or her choices and drives our story forward. Often times a macguffin will have little or no narrative explanation as to why it is considered important. A macGuffin can sometimes take a more abstract form, victory, pride, survival, power, love, or even something that is entirely unexplained, as long as it strongly motivates key characters within our plot.Examples of macguffin' include: unobtaimium in AVATAR, the briefcase in PULP FICTION, Terry Benedict' money in OCEANS ELEVEN, The Golden Idol in RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARK, One Eyed Willy' treasure in THE GOONIES.

Manager

The person in charge of guiding new actors' careers. For A-list actors, they manage their schedule and offer career advice. Agents and managers are different but sometimes with beginner actors they take on both roles interchangeably.

MARK

The exact position(s) given to an actor on a set to insure that he/she is in the proper light and camera angle; generally marked on the ground with tape or chalk.

Marketability Mean

Marketability is a film' ability to appeal to an audience based on its creative elements. This is the primary force that' going to drive people to buy tickets and sit in a theater. This includes, special effects, over-all look, director, cast, stunts, and brand. This does not include the story or plot, unless the story is a recognizable pre-existing brand. A movie about Superman directed by Steven Spielberg with huge CGI effects starring A-list actors is going to have more marketability than a love story taking place on a farm starring no-name actors. It' not to say that the latter movie is a poor movie. For all we know it could be an amazing film, however, it would be difficult film for a studio to green-light because it lacks marketability.

Martini

No, it' not the preferred drink for spies. It' what production crews refer to as the final shot of the day.

Master Shot

Sometimes referred to as an establishing shot, a master shot is a positions the camera in a way that captures all the action/dialogue in an entire scene and is typically composed as the widest and longest shot. For example, if a scene involves people seated at a dinner table, a master shot would be wide enough to see everyone seated at the table. This is crucial for the editing process as this is the scene to which all coverage shots (close-ups, cutaways, medium shots) are referenced and synchronized to. If any of the other takes or angles dont work in post production, the editor can always go back to a master shot.

MATCHING ACTIONS

The requirement that the actor match the same physical movements in a scene from take to take in order to preserve the visual continuity.

MEAL PENALTY

All film productions should break at least once every six hours to allow for cast and crew meals. If production does not halt for meals at least once every six hours then Union actors and extras are entitled to a "meal penalty" payment for every half hour over the six hours you are not fed.

Mean to Receive Points

In the film and TV business, points is just another fancy term for back end participation.

Media Conglomerate

A conglomerate, by definition, is a combination of two or more corporations engaged in entirely different businesses that fall under one corporate entity. In other words, it's a large company (usually publicly traded) that owns several smaller companies that function in different businesses. A media conglomerate is a large company that owns several companies that provide products/services in you guessed it the media industry. Media includes tv networks, movie studios, theme parks,online digital companies, news papers, record labels, publishing companies, magazines and radio stations. For example, News Corporation owns 20th Century Fox Movies Studios, Fox TV Network, Fox TV Studios, New York Post, Wall Street Journal, Harper Collins Publishing and dozens of more companies. Media conglomerates are basically massive vertically integrated that control the entertainment industry. The five major media conglomerates are News Corporation, Walt Disney Company, Comcast, Viacom and Time Warner. Other major media conglomerates include CBS Corporation, A

Medium Close Up

When the camera's frame is slightly above the head to between the upper belly/chest.

MEISNER TECHNIQUE

An acting program that uses (among other things) repetitive and in-the-moment exercises first devised by Sanford Meisner of the Group Theatre. The technique emphasizes "moment-to-moment" spontaneity through communication with other actors to generate behavior that is "truthful under imaginary circumstances." Meisner also emphasized using the actor's imagination to create emotional reality—the creative "as-if"— over the personal, emotional experience philosophy championed by fellow Group Theatre member Lee Strasberg.

Method acting

A method of acting that involves using real life experiences to get into character. Coined by acting teacher Lee Strasberg, who defines Method acting as: What all actors have always done whenever they acted well. It is known proverbially as an acting process where the actor absolutely becomes the character.

Mini-Major Studio

Besides the BIG SIX major studios, there are other film studios that are capable of distributing movies to the major theater chains around the world. Although they're not as big and do not release as many films as the big six, the mini-majors compete directly with them and have the full potential to perform just as well as them in the box office. Here are the notable mini-major studios: CBS Films The To-Do List, The Woman In Black, Seven Psychopaths Dreamworks Lincoln, War Horse, The Help, Tropic Thunder, Madagascar, Shrek Franchise, Disturbia, Shark Tale, The Terminal, Anchorman, Collateral, Old School Lionsgate/Summit The Twilight Saga, The Hunger Games, The Expendables, Tyler Perry Films, Saw FranchiseMGM James Bond, 21 Jump Street, Hot Tub Time Machine, The Amityville HorrorRelativity Media Mirror Mirror, Limitless, Machine Gun Preacher, Don JonThe Weinstein Company The Kings Speech, The Artist, The Butler, Django Unchained, Silver Linings Playbook, Inglourious Basterds

Minimum Guarantee

A minimum guarantee is a commitment that a film distributor makes in order to pay the owner of a film for the rights to distribute in a certain territory. This is usually done as a presale where, before the movie is made, a distributor will agree to pay the filmmaker a specific dollar amount for the distribution rights for that film. That price is referred to as a minimum guarantee.

MND MEAL (NON DEDUCTABLE MEAL)

A 15 minute meal break provided to actors by the production company to bring actors in sync with crew break time. It must be completed within 2 hours of performers call time.

Mockumentary

Shot like a documentary but under fictional circumstances. Examples: The Office, Modern Family, Parks and Recreation.

MOCUMENTARY

A fictional, farcical film that has the style, 'look and feel' of a documentary, with irreverent humor, parody, or slapstick, that is deliberately designed to 'mock' the documentary or subject that it features.

Moment of Decision

A moment where your character weighs their options, or are required to make a decision that changes the direction of the scene/story.

Moment of Discovery

A moment when your character discovers new information that changes the direction of the scene and/or story.

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.

MONOLOGUE

A scene or a portion of a script in which an actor gives a lengthy, unbroken speech without interruption by another character.

MOS (Mit Out Sound/Motion Only Shot)

Any shot without dialogue or sound recording. Also sometimes called S.O.C. , silent on-camera.

MOTIVATION

The Why? The reason a character pursues a particular objective or super objective.

Movie Distributor

A distributor is the owner and licensor of motion picture rights. They are responsible for getting the film into theaters, and licensing the rights to desired third parties. Distributors include the major studios (WB, Universal, Columbia, Paramount, 20th Century Fox, Disney), the mini majors (MGM, Lionsgate Summit, Weinstein Company, CBS Films, Relativity) and the smaller independent companies (Magnolia Pictures, Participant Media, Road Side Attractions, IFC Films etc).

MPAA

Stands for Motion Picture Association of America. It's an American trade association that represents all the film distributors in North America. Its main purpose is to provide and enforce guidelines for creating film content. Basically, it's their job to protect the viewers from watching inappropriate or unexpected content. They do this by implementing the Production Code which spells out what is acceptable and not acceptable content for motion pictures. And of course they administer the MPAA film rating system which determines a film's rating.

Multi-cam

Multiple cameras (4 cameras) that record simultaneously and are only used in sitcoms (situational comedy TV shows) and soap operas. Since these shows record simultaneously, the actors only have to perform the scene a few times to get all actors' footage. Example: Big Bang Theory, Friends, The King of Queens.

Multi-Cam Comedy

There are basically two formats for TV sitcoms: single cam and multi-cam. A multi-cam comedy is shot on a sound stage. Production designers and construction artists build sets as the backdrop and setting for the series to take place. This elaborate set could be a house like in EVERYBODY LOVES RAYMOND, an apartment like in SEINFELD, a restaurant like in CHEERS or a coffee shop like in FRIENDS. The scenes are shot with multiple cameras (at least four) all rolling at the same time capturing different angles and views of the characters while the scene is taking place. The entire episode is typically shot in front of a live studio audience who provide the laugh track (one of the major differences between a multi-cam and single cam show). This plays a crucial role in the writing of the series. If a joke doesn't get a good reaction from the crowd, the team of writers will literally come up with a new lines on the spot for the actors to perform. They will decide in post production which take got the most laughs and incorporate into the final product.

Mumblecore

The term mumblecore refers to a sub-genre of independent style filmmaking characterized by low budget but still high-quality production value, B-List but talented actors and simplistic plots set in grounded settings. Filmmakers often associated with this include:

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.

Name Value

Celebrities that will bring popularity to your film and ultimately make the studio or network a profit. Other name value synonyms might include: name actor, A-name, or A-lister. Lesser-known name values are called B-list, C-list, or D-list actors.

NC-17

AKA: NC-17, X-Rated, X Rated, X. This is an official rating issued by the MPAA indicating that no person aged 17 or under will be allowed to attend a screening of the movie. This category was formerly called "X", but many people' mistaken association of "X" films with XXX films caused the MPAA to change this on September 27, 1990.

NCOPM

The National Conference of Personal Managers Inc. is the nation's oldest trade association of personal managers who provide professional management of talent engaged in entertainment, media and performing arts.

Negative Cost of a Film

Negative cost is the actual cost of producing and shooting a film. This does not include marketing, legal and distribution costs. This is synonymous with the "budget" of the film.

Nielsen Rating

A rating, unlike a share, is a percentage of all the Americans that own a TV set and a measure of how many of those people are watching a specific show at a specific time. In other words, it expresses how many Americans were watching a particular show, regardless of whether or not they had the television turned on.

Non-Diegetic Sound

This term describes sound from a motion picture where its source is neither visible on the screen nor has been implied to be present in the action.

Non-Theatrical Mean

This refers to the exploitation of a film in small venue screens such schools, military bases, churches, and commercial airplanes. Note: "Non-theatrical" does NOT mean "any media other than theatrical". Pay-TV, for example, though not theatrical, is not referred to as non-theatrical" it's simply in its own category.

O.D.A.

Stands for Open Directing Assignment. When a studio or production company needs to attach a director to one of their projects, they reach out to all the agencies and managements companies with an ODA. It' basically a job posting. Theyll send out the script along with the details of the project (auspices attached, salary, talent attached, timeline etc). Once agencies and management companies get word of the ODA, they submit the clients whom they feel will best fit the job. It' the agent' job to stay on top of all the studios and production companies and be aware of all the ODAs at any given time.

O.W.A.

When a studio or production company acquires a property with no writer attached (this property could be a book, article, play, board game, foreign movie or even just a concept) , they reach out to all the agencies and managements companies with an open writing assignment (OWA) stating that they need to hire a screenwriter to adapt the property into a script. It's basically a job posting for writers. The OWA will describe what the job entails, talent attachment (if any), the deadline for the script, the auspices attached and the salary. Once agencies and management companies get word of the OWA, they submit the clients whom they feel will best fit the job. It's the agent's job to stay on top of all the studios and production companies and be aware of all the OWAs at any given time.

OBJECTIVE

A character's pursuit of a specific goal in a scene. Also referred to as the intention or driving question.

OBSTACLE

The conflict and stumbling blocks to a character's struggle in pursuit of an action or objective.

OFF BOOK

You have your characters lines completely memorized. Usually you will have a deadline by which you need to be memorized or 'off book'.

Off-book

Having your sides completely memorized including: knowing your lines, stage direction, and anything relevant to the scene.

OFF-CAMERA (OC or OS)

Dialogue delivered without being on screen.

Off-The-Tops

These are the deductions that are applied first before calculating first dollar gross. This includes taxes, residuals, trade dues, and collection fees. So technically it' not really "first dollar". According to state laws and union laws, specific entities and people need to be paid off before any of the first dollar gross participants.

Offer

A specific amount of compensation a studio/network will pay the talent if they accept the job in their project.

Offer Only

No audition necessary. The actor works from offer base only. This term is generally used for most name value actors.

Omnies

These are extras who have to speak but only say atmospheric words that are supposed to be part of a big group of people. For example, youll need omnies if your scene takes place on the floor of the stock exchange, a crowded restaurant, or a cocktail party.

ON BOOK

With the script in your hand. Usually refers to the time you are working with the script but 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.

On/Off/Off-Off Broadway

On-Broadway productions are staged in New York City's official theater district, between Sixth to Eighth Avenues and 41st to 54th Streets. These theaters have 500 or more seats. Off-Broadway designates professional theaters with 100 to 499 seats, and off-off Broadway is one with less than 100 seats.

One-Off TV Script Deal

This is a typical deal that a studio will make with a writer for a TV series where the pilot script has yet to be written… especially if you're an unestablished writer. The writer is typically engaged to perform the initial step of writing a pilot script, and from there the studio is given the option to further engage the writer to render additional services on the pilot episode and/or series both from a writing and producing capacity. The studio can stop the process of development with that writer at any time. This is a way for the studio to hedge their risk when they're developing a TV series for a network. If the studio is unhappy with the script, they can cut their losses early having only committed to the fee for the pilot.

Option

An option is the right to acquire a piece of property by subsequent payment of additional money. Once you have discovered a piece of property that you want to acquire the rights for, the first thing you usually do is draft an option agreement with the owner. With an option, you pay a small sum (to be negotiated with the owner) which then gives you exclusive control of the rights for a specified period of time. Once that period of time is over, you must either pay for the ownership of the rights, let them go, or extend the option. In other words, with an option, you are paying to reserve the rights to a property in case you decide to buy them in the future. The specified period of time is known as the 'option period'. You can negotiate the length of this time with the owner. During this time you as the producer will try to put the movie together by assembling all the appropriate elements. Should you decide that you want to own the rights and exercise your option, you would pay the remaining amount of the purchase price. Should you decide not to exercise your option, the rights would then revert back to the owner.

Option Agreement

This is a contract signed between the owner of the rights to a particular property and a producer (or writer) who would like to exploit the property in some form of consumable content. The agreement outlines the terms in which the producer will be granted the exclusive access to the rights of the property and the option to purchase the rights to the property once the option period has expired.The general terms outlined in an option agreement include the option period (the amount of time in which you have exclusive access to the rights), cost of the option, the extension period (the amount time in which you can extend the option period), cost of the option extension, purchase price (once the option period is over, this is the cost of purchasing the rights), and which specific rights you will be granted.Also see "What is an Option?"

OUT OF FRAME

An actor outside the camera range.

Output Deal

This agreement commits a studio to acquire the rights to a specified number of motion pictures from one production company. Essentially this is a pre-sale agreement for a number of unspecified films. The distributor or licensee believes in the abilities of the production company that it is willing to risk paying for the films before they're produced. This benefits both parties as the production company is guaranteed to have a buyer/distributor for their films before they go into production, and the studio will have no competition for the distribution rights and they'll be able to get them at a low price.

OVER-THE-SHOULDER

A shot over the shoulder of one actor, focusing entirely on the face and upper torso of the other actor in a scene; generally shot in pairs so both actors expressions can later be edited together.

Overages

When it comes to feature films, overages refer to the amount of money that a distributor earns from the box office rentals that exceed what they initial paid for the distribution rights.For example, let' say through a presale, a distributor agrees to pay a minimum guarantee of a million dollars for the rights to distribute in Italy. Once the film is complete, the distributors pays the million dollars to the producers, and puts it in theaters all across Italy. The movie is a hit! After 2 weeks in theaters, the box office has grossed $3M dollars. Half of that goes to the exhibitors and the remaining $1.5M goes to the distributor who just made a $500K profit from the film. That $500k is referred to as the overage.

Overall Deal

This is basically a first look deal except anything that the producer develops while under this agreement must stay within the studio and cannot be taken elsewhere even if the studio passes. In return, the studio will pay an annual fee to the producer and cover all of his/her overhead costs. Both TV and film studios make overall deals with production companies and writers.

OVERDUBBING

In studio singing or voice work, the process of laying one soundtrack over another.

Owned vs. Operated TV Stations

These stations are, you guessed it, owned and operated by the network and play to a specific location. The reason why networks dont just own and operate all their local stations is that the FCC mandates that networks arent allowed to own a station that reaches more than 39 percent of the population.

P.A.

When referring to a film or TV set, this term stands for production assistant. This person is technically the assistant to the first assistant director, however, they generally serve any of the department heads to carry out any tasks they need. This position is the lowest on the totem pole. PA' can be asked to do any general task. This could involve working directly on set, or performing menial work like getting coffee. If you are looking to work on set or in production, becoming a PA is one of the easiest ways to get your foot in the door. Most accomplished film directors started out as a PA.

PACE

The speed at which you pick up your cue and deliver the next line of your dialogue. Pace can also be the speed that creates a style for the piece.

Package Fee

In the TV arena, this is a fee that TV studios or networks pay an agency when they purchase a TV series. This fee is to compensate the agency for attaching all the key auspices for a television series. This includes an upfront fee they get as soon as the show is purchased, and a back-end percentage (usually around 10 percent) for any gross profits the show generates. Most of the time, only one agency receives the package fee, but on the rare occasion, if two agencies attach to big pieces of talent onto a series, they will split the package fee.Furthermore, any clients of that agency that are working on that show do NOT have to pay their agency commission because it' a show that their agents packaged. For example, youll often hear that a TV show is a "WME package". This simply means that the show was packaged by WME before selling to the studio.

Packaging

Movie packaging is one of the primary services that an agency can provide. This is a key role played by all the major agencies. Packaging involves putting together more than one element for a project before presenting it to buyers. Often times, this is essential for producing an independent film. A producer will approach a packaging agent with a script and possibly one piece of talent attached (ie director or actor). If the agent feels that the project has potential he will attach the remaining pieces of talent - usually all represented by that same agency - and put together the best "package" for financiers. The better the talent, the more appealing it is for financiers. If an agency packages a project that contains all of their clients attached, they will not charge their clients a commission. Instead, what they will do is take a packaging fee from the financier. The agency may also act as the sales agent for the film and collect a fee for all the territories sold in the independent film market.

PAN

A camera shot which sweeps from side-to-side.

PANTOMIME

An art form related to the dance; not to be confused with "silent scenes" or a "scene without words.".

Pause

Often written in scripts, the pause is a hotly debated term. It should be a short 1-3 second pause. A pause often indicates a thought change similar to a beat.

Pay and Play

This is a contractual provision where if the talent on a film is not going to be used in a motion picture for any reason, he or she will still be paid full compensation. All above-the-line talent want "pay or play" in their contract. No matter what happens, the talent (writer, actor, director) will get paid. Think of this like a penalty that the studio has to pay if they choose not to use a particular talent. An agent will typically try and negotiate this in the agreement terms so that it incentives the studio/production company to use their client in the film.

Pay or Play

PER DIEM

Fee paid by producer on location shoots to compensate performer for expenditures for meals not provided by the producer.

Period Piece

A period piece describes a motion picture that takes place in a past era. In other words, it takes place at a time far enough in the past where culture, customs, technology, fashion, speech

Personal Secret

An emotional link. What makes you, as the actor, personally and emotionally invested in the scene. Take what you care about most and use an imaginary circumstance to hook it into the situation in the scene. Gets you out of your head and into your gut, where you will fight for what matters to you the most.

PFD Agreement

If you want to play in the studio system as producer, a PFD agreement is ultimately what you're looking for. PFD stands for Production/Finance/Distribution. This is an agreement between a studio and a production company. The agreement basically states that the studio will hire the production company to produce a particular film and pay them a substantial producer fee. In return, the studio will finance and distribute the film. The studio has full control and ownership of all rights pertaining to the film in perpetuity throughout the world. PFD agreements will also include the back-end deal and residuals the production company will receive after the film hits theatres.

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.

PICK UP

Starting a scene from a place other than the beginning.

Pickups

AKA Pickup shots, are scenes or shots that are filmed after principal photography is complete. Often times a director will look through the dailies or watch a rough cut of a film and realize that certain shots can be added, fixed or replaced in order to make the film better. These shots are called "pickups" and most productions will set aside budget and time to capture these after principal photography.

PICTURE'S UP!

Warning that the sequence of cues to shoot a scene is about to begin.

Pilot

The very first episode of the first season of any TV show.

Pilot Episode

This is the first episode of a television series. In most cases, a network will shoot a pilot first before deciding if they will air a series on television.

Pilot Season

The early months (typically January & February) where brand new TV shows are being cast. As new studios emerge, more pilots are being cast all year round.

Platform Release

This method of release allows a film to be played in a few theaters in specific areas for the purpose of building up an audience and establishing it' reputation before expanding the release to additional theaters. This contrasts with "Day and Date release".

Platform Release vs Wide Release

When it comes to releasing a feature film in theatres, there are two ways to do it. Platforming is a method of release where the film is opened in a single theatre or a small group of theatres in a particular territory for the purpose of building an audience before releasing into other territories. This can be done in one step or in phases once the film has established itself in the market. A wide release, on the other hand, is where a film is released on a large number of screens in several territories all at one time. Any number of screens ranging from 100 to >3000 is considered a wide release. Most, if not all, studio films exhibit wide releases. Most independent films will release in a couple theaters in Los Angeles and/or New York before exhibiting in other cities.

Playability

A term used in film-marketing that describes the ability to appeal to an audience over a long period of time. In other words, it describes how good your film is…how good the story is…how good the acting is etc. A film's playability is ultimately responsible for it's sustainability and longevity over time.

PLAYBILL

A program usually containing information about the play, cast, crew, supporters, and advertisers.

PLAYWRIGHT

A person who writes or adapts properties known as play; in most traditions, the first and most creative artist of all those who collaborate to make theatre. It is the playwright's property that stimulates the impetus for a full-fledged production. In musicals, the writers include the writers of the music, the lyrics, and the book.

Plus Ten

The standard process when agents collect their commission is to take that 10% directly from their client' gross pay. So if my salary for acting in a film was $2,000, I would pay my agent $200 which would leave me with $1,800 in my bank account. If someone offers me scale plus ten, this means that they will pay me scale rate and they would also pay my agent his/her 10% commission on top of that. This way, I get to keep all my money and my agent still gets paid. In the former scenario, I would have $2000 in my bank account and the production company or studio would pay my agent $200 separately. This is a common negotiation tactic that agents use to get their clients more money.

POD

Stands for "Production Overall Deal". Even though this is the name given to a type of deal, over time it's become the term used to describe a production company with an overall deal at a studio. In a POD deal, studios will pay writers/producers/directors/actors to have exclusivity to their projects.

Point Agent

Often times when someone wants to reach out to the agent of a particular talent, you'll hear them ask, "Who runs point on him/her?" They're essentially asking who the point agent is. Most clients, especially the big ones, have a team of agents that service him/her. Within that team is the client' primary agent who deals with all initial inquiries and is the first person you call when you're interested in that client' services. This is known as the point agent, or the agent who runs point on that client. For example, Jonah Hill has four agents on his team, but if you have inquiry on his availability you call his point agent Sharon Jackson.

Poor-Man' Process

This term generally refers to interior vehicle scenes. It describes a situation where a stage is used - and sometimes green screen - to simulate a moving vehicle. The vehicle will be stationary and the actors will act out the scene while a footage will be projected behind the vehicle to make it look like it's in motion. This is much cheaper than blocking off a road, setting up a car mount, with insert car and filming outside…hence why they call it the poor man's process.

Post-Production

Commonly referred to as "post". Post production includes all the process that happens after the footage has been captured. This includes editing, sound design, sound mixing, VFX and coloring. The cameras have been put away and now it's time to put the footage, and sound together into a meaningful motion picture. Initially when you think of post you think film editing and this, of course, is a huge part of post-production. A the entire story can be told in many different ways depending on how it is edited, and that's why your editor is one of the most crucial people you hire for a film. Sound design includes sound effects, ADR, foley, and music.

POV

A shot that shows the scene through the character's eyes. We see the world from their point of view.

Pre-Production

This is the second phase of the film making process (after development). You engage in this phase once you have secured financing for your project and your the final draft of your script has been written. The main objective of this task is to assemble your team, derive a schedule, finalize your budget and secure your locations. Assuming you have secured all of your above the line talent, one of the first things you'll need to do is hire your casting director to cast the remaining roles of the film. Have him/her start searching for and narrowing down the actors to approximately 5-10 for each role. While your casting director is doing that you can assemble the rest of your crew.

Pre-Read

This is the first stage of auditions where the actor only reads for the casting director. If the casting director likes the audition, he/she will call the actor back in for a second read (aka call-back).

Premium Cable

Premium cable refers to a cable to network that viewers pay a subscription to (commonly through their TV provider) in order to watch their content. Usually their content is considered more arthouse and less broad. Any R-Rated contented intended only for adult audience can be found on premium cable networks. When people throw around the term "premium cable" they're usually referring to the HBO, Showtime, AMC and Starz.

Presale

If you want to thrive in the independent film world, this is a term you need to become familiar with. It' an agreement made between a distributor (usually foreign and specific to only one country) and the production company before the film is completed and often times even before production of a film has even commenced. This is a strategy that producers use to get their film financed. You may here that a producer financed a film via foreign presales alone. This means that a distributor pays for the distribution rights for their territory before they even see the finish product. In return, they will get to pay a significantly reduced cost for these rights as opposed to if they waited to buy the rights to the completed film in the open market. They are banking on the film doing well in the box office based on the script, director, producer and actors that are attached to the film in return for a discount. Some presale agreements involve the distributor and producer agreeing prior to production on a fixed amount to be paid upon delivery of the film. This is called an advance or a minimum guarantee. The ultimate objective for an independent film production company is to close enough foreign presale agreements in order to cover the negative cost of their film.

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 official opening night. Usually invited friends. No press.

PRINCIPAL

A performer with lines.

Principle Photography

Once your schedule is made, your crew recruited, your actors have been casted, and your locations are secured, it' time start production and push record. Production, also referred to as principle photography, is where the footage gets captured and the actual film making process takes place. This is where your director really takes over and does his job. As a producer, your job is to oversee, solve problems, and offer opinions, but at the end of the day, your director is calling the shots creatively during this process. The ultimate objective is to stay on schedule, get all the shots/coverage that you need, get the best performances from your actors, maintain continuity, and stay on budget.

Procedural

This is a term used to describe a specific type of drama that uses a set "procedure" or routine within each episode to propel the characters through the story. Contrasted with serialized dramas, procedurals do not require the audience to have seen the previous episode in order to understand the plot of the next. Each episode contains the same characters but has an isolated story which ends at the conclusion of the hour. For example, in CSI, Gil Grissom and his team of crime scene investigators come across a dead body and a set of clues. Each clue, through a series of unforeseen plot turns, leads our characters to another until they ultimately solve the murder by the end of the episode. Each episode is a different murder and the viewers dont need to know what happened in the previous episode in order to appreciate the current one. CSI, along with shows like LAW

PRODUCER

Often called the Line Producer; the person responsible for the day-to-day decision.

Product Placement

This is a method that producers of both TV and film use to lower the budget of their project. Knowing that there will be millions of eyes watching the motion picture, they will ask companies pay a fee in order to have their product, logo and brand featured on the screen. For example, FedEx outbid UPS and DHL to have their company be the featured courier in CAST AWAY. The company paid the studio an undisclosed amount which went directly toward the negative cost of the film. There are many opportunities in a typical film for producers to take advantage of product placement opportunities. This could include cellphones, cars, beverages, restaurants, computers and shoes.

Production Assistant (PA)

An assistant to anyone who needs help on set. Tasks vary based on need.

Production Designer

AKA PD. This is one of the key creative rolesin a film. Youll see this high up in the credits in the same group as the director of photography and editor. This person is an artist who is responsible for designing the overall appearance of a film. They work closely with the director and producer to establish what the setting and environment of every scene looks like. Basically everything you see on the screen that is not living (furniture, vegetiation, wall color, cars etc) is designed and created by the PD and his/her team. This, however, does not include wardrobe and hair.

Production Manager

The production manager (aka PM) is responsible for supervising the entire operational aspect of production (not creative). This includes the crew, budget, schedule, equipment, and food. It is usually the production managers responsibility to make sure the day-to-day operations are on schedule and on budget. They look after salaries, production costs, equipment rental costs, and food costs. They make sure everyone is on set at the right time. They make sure that the food is ready and on time. The PM usually works under the line producer.

PROFILE

Often in auditions, the CD will call for profile. The actor stands facing camera in normal posture, picture taken or filmed, then to each side showing the actors profile from front, right and left side.

Project Turnaround

A lot of times, a project in development will not make it into the production process. When this happens, the project is abandoned by the studio and placed into turnaround. In other words, the studio makes it official that theyre not going to green light the project in the foreseeable future. This gives the opportunity for the producer to shop the project to other studios or film companies who might show more interest in producing it. If there isnt a producer attached, other studios or financiers can try and acquire the rights to the project.

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.

Promoter Personality Type

Outgoing and people oriented. All about the fun. Life of the party. If it's not fun, what's the point? Tend to be popular and center of attention. Have great ideas but not so good about following through and getting things done.

Prompt side

Stage Left. This term comes from the term to prompt an actor. This occurs when the actor forgets a line and the stage manager tells them the line from the side of the stage.

Prop

A prop is any solid object that an actor has contact with in a scene. This could anything from a sword, a phone, helmet, shoe, computer, to a golf club. This, however, does not include vehicles, furniture, or wardrobe. The exception is if the actor were to use the furniture or wardrobe for something that it' not meant to be used for. ie Using a chair as a weapon.

Prop Master

This person is in charge of the prop department which works directly with the production designer. The prop master is not on set as much as the "prop person". It is the prop masters job to go out and find or create the perfect props for the director and have the ready at a moments notice.

PROPS

Any objects used by actors in a scene.

Protagonist

PSA

Public Service Announcement.

Put Pilot

This is a provision that a TV studio or writer may include in a deal with a network in regards to a certain project. This guarantees the studio that the pilot will be shot, or the studio will be paid a fee if the pilot is not shot. This is done for high-profile projects or as incentive when more that one network is bidding for the project. Script penalties can range from $50,000 to $200,000. Pilot penalties can range all the way up to $1M.

Q RATING

Refers to an ad research rating that gauges how easily a celebrity is recognized — and how well the celebrity is liked.

Racking Focus

This is a technique used in filmmaking where the focus of the lens is changed during a shot to focus from one object in the frame to another object without a lot of movement with the camera. The purpose is to shift the attention from one element in the frame to another without having to cut to a different angle. The more shallow the focus, the more noticeable this technique is to the viewer. For example, perhaps you have a character in the foreground who is unaware of a character standing behind him. To reveal this, the camera might focus on the main character, and the rack focus so the we can see the character in the background.Here' an example from CSI where they use rack focus to draw attention from the broken artifact to the scientist who is trying to piece it together.

REACTION SHOT

The camera shooting a character's emotional or physical response or reaction to something that is happening in the scene.

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.

Reader

The readers are at the bottom of the studio hierarchy. Their job is you guessed it to read material. They are given, books, scripts, and articles to read, and once they have read them, they write coverage on them. The coverage will be used as an initial reference point for studio executives who have not read the piece of material being covered. Becoming a reader is a great way to start working in the entertainment industry as it allows you to not only work with executives, but it also allows you to learn the craft of story telling. To learn more about how to become a reader click here.

Recurring

Character returns over multiple episodes, either on standing contract or contracted periodically, based on negotiations and number of appearances.Character returns over multiple episodes, either on standing contract or contracted periodically, based on negotiations and number of appearances.

Recurring Role vs a Regular Role

In the world of television, there are basically three types of roles on a show. A regular, a recurring, and a guest. A guest is role that only appears once or a few times in a series. This happens a lot with case-of-week procedurals. A recurring role is for a character who is continually brought back to show and is an important part of the series storyline, however, they do not appear in every episode. In ENTOURAGE, Vince' director Billy Walsh is a recurring role. A series regular is a role that appears in every episode of the series.

Red Band Trailer

A red band trailer is a movie trailer that is given an "R" MPAA rating and is only intended for mature audiences. You'll know it's a red band trailer when the opening frame reveals a red background. R rated films create these trailers in order to convey the appropriate tone, dialogue and humor behind the film.

REGIONAL THEATRE

Also called resident theatre. A term applied to permanent nonprofit professional theatre companies that have established roots outside the major theatre centers. Besides bringing first-rate theatre to their region, they often have programs to nurture local talent and to encourage new plays of special regional interest.

Remake vs. a Reboot

A remake is when you take an existing film, usually produced at least ten years earlier, and you essentially produce it once again with the same story. Example of this remakes include OCEAN'S ELEVEN, FOOTLOOSE. A reboot is when you take the concept and/or characters from an existing film but you discard all continuity from the previous story and recreate its secondary characters, timeline and/or backstory. A recent example of a reboot is THE AMAZING SPIDERMAN starring Andrew Garfield. This is the same concept, but told with a completely different story and had no connection the previous Spiderman movies starring Tobey Maguire. Same with the Christopher Nolan's Batman trilogy. The concept is the same as the previous Batman films, but the back story and premise are completely different.

Reshooting

Reshooting not a bad thing and should be regarded as part of the the filmmaking process. There have been many famous reshoots. Parts of JAWS were reshot in the swimming pool of film executive's house. FATAL ATTRACTION altered much of the last sequence of the film. The producers and director changed the ending from a more fatalistic approach to something much more dynamic, exciting and eventually satisfying for the audience. Most recently WORLD WAR Z virtually replaced the entire third act - turning it into one of the biggest hits of the past summer.

RESIDUAL

The fee paid to a performers for rebroadcast of a commercial, film or TV program. Tracked by the Actors Unions.

RESUME

List of credits, usually attached to an 8×10 headshot.

Ripomatic vs. a Sizzle Reel

In Hollywood, executives love visuals. Nothing will help you sell a project better than a video presentation. For scripted projects, a lot of the time we use short films depicting the overall concept and tone of our project. With unscripted projects, we often shoot a sizzle reel and send this to buyers along with a treatment for the series. A sizzle reel is basically a trailer which consists of on-location footage and interviews with the characters of your reality show. It's edited in a way that easily conveys what the show is about, how each episode will be formatted, what the locations will look like and what your characters' personalities are like. A sizzle reel should be no longer than 3 minutes. Another way to sell your scripted movie is to shoot a trailer (just like any other trailer you've seen). However, it can get extremely expensive to shoot all the footage required for a proper trailer. This is where the RIPOMATIC comes in. It's edited and presented exactly like a trailer, except it uses footage/audio from already-made movies. If done correctly, they can be extremely effective. They are, however, technically illegal to make as it infringes upon copyrighted material - hence why it's quite hard to find good ripomatics online to show you. But don't worry, executives and buyers don't really care. So long as they're excited about the movie, they could care less as to how you made your trailer. So when you make your ripomatic, as long as you don't release it to the public, you should be fine to use it as a sales tool behind closed doors.

Roll Calls

Rolling calls is one of the many essential tasks assigned to an assistant. This is the process where the assistant will connect a call between his/her boss and a third party. He/she will stay on the line and when the call is finished, he/she will connect their boss to another call. This allows the boss to make several phone calls without ever having to hang up or dial.

ROLLING!

The verbal cue for the camera film and audio tape to start rolling.

ROM-COM

Showbiz slag for a Romantic Comedy.

Royalties vs Residuals

In the world of TV, a royalty is a fee one receives for every episode of their show that gets produced. This is usually reserved for the show' creator and/or the pilot director. For example, even though Martin Scorsese never directed any other episode of BOARDWALK EMPIRE except for the pilot, because he directed the pilot and created the overall look and feel of the show, he gets a royalty fee for every episode that gets produced. Same goes to Terrence Winter, the show' creator. Unlike royalties, residuals are fees that writers, actors and directors receive every time their episode airs on television. A royalty is only based on whether episodes of your show goes into production, NOT whether or not it airs on television.

Run

A "run" describes a TV show' specific cycle of airing. A series first airing on a network is its "network run" or "broadcast run". If it first airs on a cable network, then it' referred to as a "cable run". Its subsequent airing in syndication is know as its "second run."

RUSH CALL

The last minute booking of an actor or extra. This usually occurs when another actor or extra cancels at the last minute.

SAG

The Screen Actor's Guild is an American labor union founded in 1933 which now represents over 105,000 film and television performers. According to SAG's Mission Statement, the Guild seeks to: negotiate and enforce collective bargaining agreements that establish equitable levels of compensation, benefits, and working conditions for its performers; collect compensation for exploitation of recorded performances by its members, and provide protection against unauthorized use of those performances; and preserve and expand work opportunities for its members.

Sample

Otherwise known as a "writing sample", this is a script that a screenwriter writes for the purposes of showcasing his/her talent as a writer. Most of the time, when deciding to write a sample, a screenwriter will do so without the intention of selling or producing that script. In this way they don't need to worry about budgetary, casting or any other creative constraints.

Scale

All the unions have standard minimum payments that their members must be paid by law when working on a project. If you are being paid "scale" (aka union scale), this means you are being paid the minimum amount of money required by your designated guild. All the guilds set these minimums in order to protect their members from being underpaid in the industry.

Scene Shift

The arc of the scene, the direction in which the story moves for your character. Every scene will shift from positive to negative, or negative to positive. All scenes shift.

Screener

A screener refers to a DVD copy of a feature film (usually made before its official DVD release) that is used for promotional purposes. DVD screeners are often sent to members of all the guilds in preparation for awards season.

Scribe

A scribe is another term for writer. Aaron Sorkin is the scribe for THE SOCIAL NETWORK.

SCRIPT

The written form of a screenplay, teleplay, radio or stage play.

SCRIPT ANALYSIS

The close study of a play or screenplay. This incorporates all of the dialogue and stage directions to find the answers necessary to create a full and rich character and to craft a performance that serves the script. The exploration of the script may include the questions of theme, story, character, and overall elements of the play and characters.

Script Coordinator

This person works for the writers room of a TV series. His/her job is to support the show' writing staff and is responsible for tracking script changes, archiving scripts, distributing drafts and organizing scripts to be printed for the writers when needed. This is often a great starter position to get into a writers room.

Script Supervisor

This is one of the most important positions on a set (aka the "script soop"). The script supervisor usually stands right next to the director, and it is they're job to make sure continuity is maintained throughout production. They will mark directly on the script what angels were shot for which scenes, and how many takes were done of each. It is their job to make sure that for every take, the actors' lines are consistent with other takes. In general, they need to make sure that a movie that is shot out of sequence will piece together and make sense for the editor. On that note, even though the script supervisor works directly with the director, her responsibility lies equally with the editor in making sure he/she has a clear understand of how many takes were done of each scene and all the details pertaining to each take. Every time footage is sent to the editor, the script supervisor's production report will be sent along with them. This includes a report of all the takes, how long each of them were, and a breakdown of all the scenes with director notes. She will also submit a copy of the script that is marked up with vertical lines (aka a "lined script"). Each line represents the start and stop of every camera setup/angle. This allows the editor to quickly reference which camera setups cover which portion of the script.

SCRIPTY

The script supervisor.

Second Assistant Camera

This crew member (aka Second AC, or Clapper Loader) is responsible for preparing and operating the clapper at the beginning of each take. The second AC is also responsible for loading the camera if a designated camera loader has not been appointed.

Second Assistant Director

It is 2nd AD' job to carry out the demands of the first AD. They are usually the ones that coordinate the extras, or scenes that dont involved the primary actors. They also help communicate with other below-the-line crew such as wardrobe, hair/make-up.

SECOND TEAM!

The verbal cue for the stand-ins to come to the set and be ready to stand in.

Self tape

A screen test recorded without the assistance of a casting director. It can be done at home or at a self taping business.

Selling a TV Show With a Penalty

If you're one of the lucky ones who sell a TV show to a network, often times theyll pay for your pilot script (or pay to have your pilot written if it hasn't already been done so) and that' the end of the road for you. They might even produce your pilot and never air it. I've watched dozens of pilots that have never seen the light of day. To avoid this, high profile producers/writers will demand a penalty in their purchase agreement. This is also referred to as a PUT PILOT. This means that if the pilot doesn't get produced and aired on TV, the network must pay a huge fee to the producer/writer of the show. This can range for low six figures to low seven figures depending on the contract. On rare occasions,a deal may include a series penalty which means if the network doesn't order the show to series, they must pay a penalty. Networks can also use this as a bargaining tool to incentivise the producer/writer to sell the show to them and not one of their competitors. Proven talent like J.J Abrams (LOST, ALIAS) and David E. Kelly (THE PRACTICE, CHICAGO HOPE) usually get this term incorporated into their contract.

SENSE MEMORY

(emotional recall) The basis for Lee Strasberg's Method Acting. "Sense memory" is used to refer to the recall of physical sensations: sight, touch, taste, smell, and sound. These physical sensations surround an emotional event, instead of the emotions themselves.

SENSORY

Connecting the character to the body and mind through the senses; to taste, hear, feel, see, think, perceive; to know through the physical inner self, as opposed to the instinctive.

Series Regular

Contract role with exclusivity to the series, network, and production company for a term of a year or more; paid for a predetermined number of episodes produced, on contract for all episodes, even those in which the character doesn't appear.

SET

The immediate location where the scene is being filmed.

SET-UP

Each time the camera changes position.

Setpiece

This is a term most often used in both production and development. It describes a really important dramatic or comedic scene or sequence in the story - particularly those that plant seeds, provide some sort of payoff, convey character traits, or provide resolution. These scenes are so pertinent to the story that they cannot be eliminated or augmented without affecting the integrity of the film. For example, the opening scene in the THE SIXTH SENSE where Bruce Willis' character gets shot is an important setpiece - the twist at the end wouldn't work without it.

SFX

Sound effects.

Share

This is part of Nielsen Media's rating system. Shares, as opposed to ratings, indicate the percentage of households or individuals that are a watching a particular show at a specific time, based on the total number of individuals in the USA who own television sets and actually have them turned on at that time. In other words, if the Nielsen share of a particular show is 2, this means of that of all the people who were watching TV at that particular time, 2% were watching that show.

Shooting Day for Night

This means that a shoot is done during the day but simulates night time, using filters, underexposure, and other techniques to create a feeling of darkness. BUT WHY NOT JUST SHOOT AT NIGHT? One of the reasons why this is done is because of scheduling. If we need to shoot night scenes but it follows a day shoot, the crew and actors will have no time to rest and if we wait until the following evening, we lose a full day of shooting. Another reason to shoot day-for-night is energy cost. Even though you your scene is at night, you still need to light it and if youre outside away from electric plug-ins, it' going to cost money for generators and fuel. If you notice, many of the night scenes in WINTERS BONE was shot during the day.

Shooting Script

This is the official final draft of the script from which the movie is made by the actors, director and all the other crew members. Often times, however, certain parts of the script will be re-written during production (especially in TV) so in order to make sure everyone has the correct draft, the new draft will be written on different colored paper.

Showrunner

A showrunner is in charge of all the creative decisions regarding a television show. Not only are they head writer and run the writer's room, but they are usually on set making sure production runs smoothly and in the editing bay supervising the cut. All showrunners receive EP credit and are usually the creators of the show as well. Unlike feature film where the director is king, in television, the showrunner outranks the director in all creative processes.

Sides

A few pages directly from a script given to an actor for the purpose of auditioning without divulging the whole story.

SIGN-IN SHEET

A sheet at the casting office where talent will sign their Name, Agency, Phone number and time arrived to the casting office. The Talent are generally called into the audition room based on the time they arrived.

Single Cam Comedy

A single cam comedy is shot and presented using the conventional methods of motion picture story telling. In other words, it looks and feels like your watching a movie with NO laugh track. In a single cam comedy, typically one camera is used and filming requires different set ups where the actors have to act out the same scene for each set up. The best angles and takes are then assembled in post-production - the same process used in conventional film making. Unlike a mutli-cam sitcom, there is no live audience, no laugh track and you can usually see the entire 360 degree setting.

Single-cam

Traditionally only one camera used. In these shows/films, actors repeat the scene multiple times to get every actor's individual shot. Examples: Bates Motel, The League, The Office.

Sitcom

This is a term many people use to describe shows like SEINFELD, CHEERS, FRIENDS, FRASIER, I LOVE LUCY etc but have no idea what it actually means. First off, it has nothing to do with sitting. Visual comedic entertainment can be broken down into three main categories. Standup comedy, sketch comedy and situational comedy (also known as SITCOMS). A sitcom is a genre of comedy that involves multiple characters sharing a common environment, like a home or a workplace, with humorous dialogue and a compelling storyline. Often times the show will be accompanied by a laugh track unless it's a single cam comedy like MODERN FAMILY or MY NAME IS EARL.

SLATE

A small chalkboard and clapper device, often electronic, used to mark and identify shots on film for editing; also the process of verbal identification by a performer in a taped audition (e.g., "Slate your name!").

Slip a script

To 'slip' a script to someone means to send it to them for their eyes only and for their knowledge only. They are being sent the material with the trust that they will not share with anyone nor will they let anyone know that they are in possession of the script.

Soft Money

The reason this is called soft money, is because you're not actually getting financing for your film. Soft money is a way to reduce your budget with tax credits, incentives, subsidies, rebates, etc from the local government. When you film in certain countries or states, the local film commission will subsidize a set percentage of your budget because you are essentially providing jobs for local workers. Every film commission has their own website you can visit to see what incentives they have to offer. It's not uncommon to see large productions being filmed outside of Hollywood as they can literally save millions of dollars in doing so.

SOLILOQUY

A speech given directly to the audience, ordinarily with no one else on stage. Usually played as a direct address to the audience, sometimes played as a character thinking aloud in the audience's presence.

Sotto

Often times youll read dialogue in a script and come across the word "sotto" in parenthesis before the actual dialogue. This simply means that the character is saying the proceeding words to him/herself and not directing it to anyone else.

SOUND CUES

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

Sound Design

Sound is one of the most important elements of a film. It's hard for the general audience to appreciate on screen, but if designed properly, sound alone can change the direction of a story. It is truly a skill and an art-form to capture and produce great quality sound in motion picture. When it comes to film making, there are five kinds of sounds: Background/Ambiance, Effects, Dialogue/ADR, Music (score and source) and Foley.

Sound Stage

Commonly located on a movie studio lot, a sound stage is a massive sound-proof structure similar to an airplane hanger where the space is used to construct a set and use for motion picture production.

Spec Script

AKA speculative screenplay, this is a non-commissioned script that a screenwriter chooses to write for free. You'll often hear the phrase "write on spec" which simply means "write for free". It's usually written by a screenwriter who hopes to have the script optioned/purchased by a production company or studio. The spec market is extremely tough these days. Very few spec scripts are being bought especially if there are no other attachments. Nowadays, the main purpose for a writer to spec a script is to prove his/her writing ability and get representation from an agent and/or manager. From there, the goal is to use that script to get the attention of studios and productions companies and have them commission the writer to write the screenplay one of their projects.

Special Effects Supervisor

A special effects supervisor is exactly what it sounds like. This person is present on set during production and is in charge of making sure the special effects are executed properly and safely. During preproduction he/she is responsible for acquiring all the materials and personnel within the budget and have it prepared for when needed on set.

Special Effects vs. Visual Effects

To put it simply, special effects are carried out on set during production, and visual effects are done in post-production. That isn't to say that the visual effects team isn't involved in production and the special effects team isn't involved in post, but the creative decisions made by each team generally pertains to their respective phases in the film-making process. Special effects can be broken down into two categories: optical, and mechanical. Optical effects are done by manipulating the camera and lighting which in turn will make your scene look different than what it looks like to the naked eye. This could involve working with camera lenses, types of lighting, or camera movements that give a certain look to the shot. The special effects supervisor is in charge of making the creative decisions and works directly with the director on set to achieve what he/she wants. Mechanical effects involve working during a live-action shot and usually pertains to making things look/seem like something they aren't. For example manipulating weather conditions like wind and snow is a huge part of mechanical effects. Pyrotechnics and working with scale models is another aspect of mechanical effects. Visual effects has emerged as a paramount part of modern-day film making. You will rarely ever see a film without visual effects. This could be filling in a green screen, creating computer generated imagery (CGI), 3D rendering or animation. The visual effects supervisor (not to be confused with the visual effects producer or coordinator) makes all the creative decisions and works directly with the director off and on set to make sure he/she gets the visual image desired. The visual effects coordinator works for the visual effects supervisor in post-production, and the visual effects producer works like a line producer and manages the cost of the visual effects which can get outrageously high (sometimes over half of a film's budget).

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 LENS

Looking directly into the lens during a scene; since it destroys the illusion of realism, actors should never spike the lens unless specifically directed to do so for specific effect.

Staff Writer

This is the title given to the lowest level writer on a scripted television series.

Stage Direction

All action written in the script, excluding dialog.

STAGE DOOR

A back entrance to the theater used by the cast and production crew. Want to catch a glimpse (or the autograph) of your favorite star after a show? This is where you want to be.

Stage Left and Stage Right

Stage left (left of stage) is from the actor's point of view as if he/she was looking out at the audience.

STAGE MANAGER

The person who will become your best friend. 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). He/she is in charge of the production after opening night.

STAGE RIGHT

To the performer's right side, to the audience's left side. Likewise, STAGE LEFT is to the performer's left, the audience's right. Stage directions are for actors, not audiences, therefore they are always given from the actor's point of view to the audience.

STAGE WHISPER

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

STAND-INS

Extra Performers used as substitutes for featured players, for the purpose of setting lights and rehearsing camera moves; also known as the second team.

Station 12

Station 12 is the strange name given to the process where a producer follows up with SAG to make sure an actor is of good standing prior to hiring them for a project. As soon as the actor books the job, he or she becomes "SAG Eligible." Thirty days later, the actor becomes "SAG Must Join," and can no longer work SAG jobs without joining the union. The union enforces this rule by requiring producers to verify the actor's status by contacting the union, a procedure oddly called "Station 12." There doesn't seem to be any Stations 1 through 11.

Status

The other character's relationship to you. They can be your superior, inferior, or equal. This is not established by their title, but by how you feel about them.

Steadicam

You've probably seen these at live sporting events or variety shows - like when you see a cameraman walk backwards while following a boxer entering the arena before a boxing match. The device he is wearing is called a Steadicam. This is an apparatus that one wears in order to stabilize camera movement. It's designed mechanically separate the movement of the camera operator from camera in order allow for smooth shot even when the operator is running or moving abruptly over an uneven surface. There are camera operators who train specifically to use this equipment and specialize only in the operation of a steadicam.

Story Editor

This is the title given to a lower level writer on a scripted TV series. This is one rank higher than a staff writer.

Story vs Plot

What' the difference between the two? "Story" is what your film is about. "Plot" is what happens in your film; two very different things. Your plot conveys your story. The first and foremost important thing you must know before you embark on producing any film or TV is story. You must understand what your movie is about. Why are we watching this movie? You can usually express this is 1-2 sentences. It' very similar to a logline. However, loglines are often used as a selling tool (ie when pitching your film). Loglines meant to captivate and intrigue the person who hears it. Story is used as a practical producing tool. It' used for creative people to gain an understanding how they are to work towards making a film. Often times, producers and writers focus too much on the events that happen in their film, but lose sight of what the story is about. Steven Spielberg was a master at this. He always emphasized to his crew to never lose sight of what the film was about. For example, "Schindler' List" is about a man who wanted to make a difference; not about Nazi concentration camps. "Transformers" is about the relationship between a boy and his car; not about cars that turn into robots.

STRIKE

After the final performance, the set is taken apart, lighting instruments are taken down and props and costumes are put away. This is called 'strike'. Sometimes actors will be asked to volunteer to help. You are never obligated to help (unless you are a member of the theatre company) but it is a good idea to help if you can. Usually there's good camaraderie, pizza and beer! This is not the case in larger union theatres where there are paid technical crews to take care of strike.

SUBMISSION

An actor's or agent's suggestion to a casting director for a role in a certain production.

SUBPLOT

A secondary, subordinate, or auxiliary plotline, often complementary but independent from the main plot (the A story), and often involving supporting characters; not the same as multiple plotlines; aka the B story or C story.

SUBTEXT

The character's complex thoughts, feelings, motives, etc. created and layered under the actual words and actions of the character by the actor.

SUPER OBJECTIVE

Stanislavsky developed the concept of the super- objective (referred to here as The Happiness) that would carry the 'through line of action,' mapped out for the character through the entire play.

Supporter Personality Type

Reserved and peoples oriented. supporters put others ahead of themselves. Always making sure everyone else is okay first, sometimes at their own expense. Won't rock the boat or create confrontations. Passive, go with the flow type.

Supporting

Principal role in the film, in one or more scenes but not a lead character although important to the storyline.

A notation on a call sheet that an actor is starting on that day and working on that day.

SWF

A notation on a call sheet that an actor is starting, working, and finished on that day.

Syndication

This is the goal for any television show. When a show goes into syndication, it means the studio (owner of the show) has sold the broadcast rights to a TV station other than it's initial airing network. This is usually on a per episode basis and occurs when a series is on its 3-4th season. This is where studios begin to see profits from their television shows. When a network buys a television show from a studio, the cost to purchase the show is usually less than the cost to produce the show. In other words, studios don't make a profit by selling their shows to the initial network. Profit is usually made when the show goes into syndication…and we're talking a lot of profit. Usually a station will by multiple season of a particular show as a package. Price of the package can range from $10-000-$850,00 per episode.

Table Read

This process is used in both TV and film where the producer and director will gather all the actors in a room (usually sitting around a table) and read through the script with each actor saying their respective lines. There will usually be a designated individual (ie the writers assistant) who reads the descriptions and sluglines. The purpose of the table read is for the actors to practice their lines with each other and for the writer(s) to determine what dialogue needs to be reworked. It' one thing to read the words on a script, but to have the actor use his/her voice and convey the lines out loud provides the writer(s) with so much more insight to help them figure out what lines work and what ones dont.

TABLE-READ

A stage of film, television and theatre production when an organized reading around a table of the screenplay or script by the actors with speaking parts is conducted.

TAFT-HARTLEY

Refers to a legislative ruling also known as the National Labor Relations Act. Allows non-union actors to work their first union job and any others within a 30-day period of the first booking without having to join the union. They may not work any union job after the 30-day period without joining the union.

TAG LINE

A clever phrase or short sentence to memorably characterize a film, and tease and attract potential viewers, or sell the movie; also creates a catchy 'soundbite' often repeated or presented in a trailer or on a film's poster, sometimes along with the film's leitmotif.

TAKE

The clapboard indication of a shot "taken" or printed.

Talent

This term generally refers to actors. The talent division in an agency represents actors. In film packaging, attaching talent means to attach an actor for the major roles.

Talent Holding Deal

Much like how studios can offer writers and producers first look deals, they can also make a similar type of offer to actors, especially in the TV arena. Often times a network/studio will recognize an actor for his/her talents, but won't have the right project to attach them too. They don't want them to take another starring role elsewhere so what the network/studio will do is pay them a fee (ranging from low six figures to low seven figures) to "put them on hold" while they develop the right project for them to star in. The network may even give them a recurring role on another airing series during the course of the deal. These agreements typically last a year. When they are locked in this holding deal, they are not allowed to accept any starring role in any TV show until the agreement expires.

Targeting

Acting concept which says that actors should always have a target (image/focus) in mind when they are acting.

Tax Credit

A tax credit is by definition an amount of money that a taxpayer is able to subtract from the amount of tax that they owe to the government. In the world of film and television, certain states and countries throughout the world will provide a tax credit to production companies who film their respective locations and hire local crew. The amount ranges depending on which country or state. This is a very common tactic used by governments to stimulate employment in their constituencies. Refer to soft money to see what types of tax credits are offered within the USA.

Teamsters

Teamsters are people who drive vehicles for the purpose of pick-up/delivery, or chauffeuring personnel. Vehicles can include, vans, cars, trucks, motorcycles, limousines, golf carts, and trailers. These drivers are all part of union known as the IBT (International Brotherhood of Teamsters).

TECH REHERSAL

Technical Rehearsal. This is when the director will work the set, lights and sound cues into the rehearsal process. This usually takes several days and is long and boring for the actors. Tech is very important and actors must stay focused and be patient during this process. The focus of the rehearsal is solely on the technical aspects of the show. It is for the technicians and the designers, and the 'acting' must take a back seat.

Teleplay By vs Written By

Often times, in the credits of a TV show, you wont see a "written by" credit but instead youll see a "teleplay by" credit. What' the difference?In TV, a lot of the time someone will develop the story for an episode but will not write the actual script for that particular episode. If this is the case, the writer will get a "teleplay by" credit and the person who developed the story will get a "story by" credit.

TELEPROMPTER

The brand name of a device which enables a broadcaster to read a script while looking into the camera lens.

TEMPO

The level of speed with which the scene or play is acted out. The general effect creates a specific mood or tone to the work.

Tenpercentary

A tenpercentary is a reference to a talent agency. This is in regards to the typical ten percent commission fee that talent agencies earn from the deals they make for their clients.

Testing

TESTING is one of the most over-looked, but under rated tasks that is executed by a director or producer. Testing is done in pre-production and it' exactly what it sounds like. The purpose is to gather your creative team with your talent and test how the different visual creative elements look on camera. This includes costumes, make-up, hair, production design and even rehearsal. This process is absolutely essential and beneficial for a number of reasons.1. Gives your creative team an opportunity to make sure their vision looks the way they want it to look on camera. Often times creative problems will arise and you dont want to be sorting out these sort of issues during production. This is fairly obvious.2. Allows your actor(s) to interact with the artists and build a good rapport with them before production. This is extremely important as you do not unseen personality clashes to occur during production.3. Allows your director to make sure his creative team is on the same page as him/her.3. Be sure to take pictures of hair, make-up and costumes especially after the actor and director has approved of them. As a producer, this protects you if creative disputes arise during production. For example, if youre on set ready to shoot, and the director is happy with an actor' make-up but the actor is not, you can use the previously taken photo, which was approved by the unhappy actor, to help you deal with the actor.Make sure you give yourself plenty of time at least one month before shooting starts in order to allow your creative team to test with the talent.

The Pitch

The most essential selling tool in Hollywood. A pitch is basically a verbal presentation you give to someone regarding your project. Reasons for pitching could be as simple as sparking interest, or getting someone to finance your project. It's arguably the most important skill to possess as a producer. Pitching is a huge part of how projects get bought and greenlit in this industry, and the better you are at pitching, the better chance you have of getting projects in motion. The duration of a pitch can last from 30 seconds to 20 minutes depending on what your project is, what environment you are pitching in , and who you are pitching to. Sometimes youll only have 30 seconds capture the attention of an agent on the phone. Other times, you might have 10 minutes to sell your TV idea to an executive in a board room. Read "The Do' and Donts of pitching."

The Studio System

Today, the studios stand as the mainstream of filmmaking in North America. They are the primary source for obtaining funds and distribution for films. Their sole purpose is to find commercial material for a film, attach the right talent to that material, produce the film, market the film, and distribute the film. The studios usually own the rights to the property, and their primary method of generating revenue is from box-office ticket sales. Studios are situated on a large piece of land on which sound stages are built on. These sound stages are constantly being used to house movie-sets where most of the off-location scenes are shot. Currently there are 6 major studios in North America: Universal, Warner Brothers, Columbia, Disney, Paramount, and 20th Century Fox. There are also smaller studios known as mini-majors which include MGM, Lionsgate/Summit, The Weinstein Company, Relativity. As a film producer, your goal is to have a studio fund and distribute your film. You also want the studio to hire you as the producer, however, the studio system rarely attaches inexperience producers to their projects. The mere existence of independent films is a result of the studios reluctance to work with new producers. Within the studios, like any other business or company, there is a many divisions and in each division there is a hierarchy of employees. There are four main divisions within a studio: development, physical production, business affairs, and marketing.

The Three Crazy Seasons of Broadcast Television

Since the birth of the television, broadcast networks and studios have followed a regimented yearly schedule which leads to getting scripted shows on the air. While cable networks don't have a strict schedule and basically accept pitches and staff shows year round, broadcast networks had always stuck by the same schedule for decades. Just like how we're all aware of the four seasons when it comes to climate, anyone looking to work with any of the five broadcast networks is well aware their three seasons: DEVELOPMENT SEASON / July - November, PILOT SEASON / January - May, STAFFING SEASON / May - June

TIGHT SHOT (Go in Tight)

Framing of a shot with little or no space around the central figure(s) of feature(s); usually a close-up.

Top of Show

TOP OF SHOW is a term used when determining an actor' salary for a TV series. It' the highest total rate an actor can receive for an appearance on a particular episode regardless of how many days they are required to be on set. In other words, if it takes 8 days to shoot an episode of a TV show, no matter how many days of those 8 a certain actor works, he or she will be paid as if the worked all 8 days. This 8-day rate is referred to as top of show. Normally if a guest star is only needed for one day, he or she will get paid a day rate (negotiated by their agent). But often times if the actor works for more than one day he or she will make top of show.

TOURING COMPANY

A company of performers who travel with a show that they present in essentially the same way it was originally created in a theatre center such as New York.

TRACKING SHOT

A shot taken while the camera is moving, either on a dolly or a mounted on a moving vehicle.

TRADES

Short for "trade papers" The newspapers and periodicals such as the Hollywood Reporter and Variety that specifically feature information on the entertainment industry.

Treatment

here is no precise definition of what a treatment is. Every treatment is written in a different format or a different style based on what it is used for. Generally speaking, a treatment is a document that summarizes a particular project. It could be for a narrative film, a scripted television show, a reality show, a documentary, YOU NAME IT. The content of a treatment varies along with the length. I've seen treatments ranging from 1-20 pages long. At the very least, a treatment should have an overview which describes what the project is about. If it's a scripted film, explain what the story is. If it's a reality show, explain the overall premise. If it's a scripted TV show, explain what the series will look like. You should also include descriptions of the main characters and for TV shows, always include several story ideas. If it's a reality series, be sure to include the format of the show.

TRIGGER

An emotional or physical signal that signals or sparks a bonfire of emotion to break through to the surface.

TRIPLE THREAT

Refers to an actor or actress who can sing, dance and act skillfully and equally well on a consistent basis; usually applicable to performers in the musicals genre; it also could refer to a person who can act, direct, and screenwrite!.

TURNAROUND

(a) The number of hours between dismissal one day and call time the next day. (b) To shoot a scene from another direction.

TV Affiliates

These are privately owned television stations that are partnered with a broadcast network. In most cases, the network pays their affiliates a fee (network compensation) to broadcast their shows and in return, the network is allowed to sell the ad space and keep the ad revenue for themselves. There are, however, some local ad spaces that the affiliate will sell on its own. In some cases, like with the CW, the affiliate station will pay a fee to CW (reverse comp) and generate revenue through selling ad space.

TV Format

A TV format is the concept or formula demonstrated in an already existing TV show from which another producer can use to create a similar show in a different territory. In other words, if I'm a TV producer in the USA and I take notice of a TV show that airs in Denmark that could potentially be a hit in America, I would purchase the rights to that particular format, and reproduce the show for American audiences. A great example of this is singing competition shows. POP IDOL exists in the states as AMERICAN IDOL, in Canada as CANADIAN IDOL etc. There's also THE VOICE which exists in several different countries all produced in different languages and use different judges. The most popular in the game show arena is WHO WANTS TO BE A MILLIONAIRE which has be sold to 108 territories. In the scripted world, a great example is THE OFFICE, which first started as a British series created by Ricky Gervais, and then sold as a format to NBC by executive producer Greg Daniels.

TV Network

TV networks are the companies that distribute televisions shows. This includes the four major broadcasters - ABC, CBS, NBC, FOX. This also includes cable channels such as Lifetime, Food Network, CW, MTV, and SyFy. In addition to these channels you also have premium cable channels such as HBO, Showtime, Bravo, AMC and FX.

TV Residuals

Simply put, residuals are additional payments made to a director, actor, writer or producer for reusing material that they already helped create. For example, every time you see an episode of SEINFELD on TV, no matter what channel or what time of day it is, the writer, director and all the lead cast members will receive residual payments for that episode. The dollar value of residuals can vary a great deal depending the agreement made. For examples, writers can make anywhere from $2K and upwards of $5K per episode depending on how well they negotiate their contract. Do note, however, that as the particular episode continues to re-air, residual payments decrease.

TV Spec

Much like a feature spec, this is a TV script that a writer chooses to write for free. However, in TV, a spec is an original episode of an already-existing television show. Screenwriters who are looking to get hired as a write on a TV show will often submit a TV spec to prove their writing ability. The idea is to show the studio/network/showrunner that the writer can write for a show they didn't create, and depict characters that aren't theirs.

TV Spinoff

In television, a spinoff is a series derived from an already existing series, which focuses in more detail on one aspect of that original series. This particular detail can be a character like Frasier Crane who was spun off from CHEERS, or it can be a premise like CSI: NEW YORK is the same premise as the original CSI but instead of being set in Vegas it' set in New York City.

Two-Hander

This is a term used to describe a motion picture which has two lead characters. Many successful television series are considered two handers with two characters sharing equal screen time.

TWO-SHOT

A camera framing two persons; a TREE-SHOT would be a 3 person shot.

TYPECAST

In television, film, and theatre, typecasting is the process by which a particular actor becomes strongly identified with a specific character; one or more particular roles; or, characters having the same traits or coming from the same social or ethnic groups. There have been instances in which an actor has been so strongly identified with a role as to make it difficult for him or her to find work playing other characters.

Types of Talent Agents

Within a talent agency, there different types of agents who specialize in a particular type of client" not all of them are referred to as "talent agents". Literary agents work with writers and directors. Motion picture lit agents represent writers/directors who work in feature film and TV lit agents represent writers/directors who work in" you guessed it, TV.Talent agents represent with actors

An under-five, also known as an under-5 or a (U/5) is an SAG-AFTRA contract term for an American television or film actor whose character has fewer than five lines of dialogue.

Ultimates Model

An ultimates model is a financial model used to determine the value of a film. This is usually established by the distributor of the film and is based on all revenue streams generated by the film including domestic theatrical box, DVD, network TV, pay TV, cable TV, and other ancillary markets within a 10 year period. The domestic theatrical box office is the main driver behind the ultimates valuation. Ultimates serve three main purposes. One is to determine the anticipated value of a film in order to attain financing from a lender. This ultimates value will allow the lender to derive an appropriate amount to lend to the filmmaker. Another purpose is determining the price for post-release sales. This could be to foreign TV, pay TV or any other ancillary markets. When determining the price to sell a film to another distributor after the film has been released, the price will be based off the ultimates value of the film. This is usually derived from domestic theatrical box office revenue. The third purpose is collateral for lending. In other words, if you were borrowing money from a lender, the lender could lend against your library and the value of your library is based on the ultimates model which is applied to each of the films in that particular library.

Under 5

An AFTRA-only contract term for a character with between one and five lines.

UNDERSTUDY

Actor hired to perform in a show if the actor originally cast in the role is sick or unable to perform that night. Often an understudy will never actually perform, but must be ready to go on with as little as 10 minutes notice. It is very common for an understudy to cover more than one role.

Unit Production Manager

A unit production manager, better known as the UPM, is crucial to a smooth running film set. The role is very similar to that of a line producer, and a lot of times, the two terms can mean the same role, which is to manage the cost of production. A UPM will help the producer and director derive the budget, but once the budget has been created, it is the UPM's job to make sure that the production stays on budget. During pre-production, the producer will usually deal with hiring the above the line talent, the direct will look after hiring the key heads that work below the line (cinematographer, editor, production designer etc), but the UPM will usually look after hiring the other below the line crew members. The UPM will also work with the first AD in securing equipment and locations. During production, the UPM is in charge of managing below the line crew members, approving expenditures, approving call sheets, and maintaining the schedule. The UPM's are represented by the Director's Guild of America.

UP STAGE

(a) The area located at the back of the stage. Down Stage is the area in front of the performer. (b) To draw attention to oneself at the expense of a fellow performer.

Upfronts

Formally known as "upfront presentations" or "upfront announcements", this is the most important time of year for TV networks. This is an event held in New York once a year in early May where all the TV networks reveal their fall schedule (both old shows and new ones) to advertisers around the world. The networks mandate is to sell as much of their commercial ad space (inventory) as possible before the fall season starts. This is the most critical time of year as networks typically sell 80 percent of their next year' ad space during upfronts. Advertisers are incentivized by lower prices, guaranteed audience levels and exit clauses. The upfront buying season usually lasts until August, however, early May is when the networks present the advertisers with trailers, sales pitches and other forms of presentations in order to woo advertisers. Unsold ad space can still be purchased after upfront season, however, they will be sold at a premium price and audience levels arent guaranteed. It'sestimated that advertisers spend approximately $25B on broadcast television ad space and roughly $13B on cable. Because this time of year is so important, showrunners and TV producers must work extremely hard to get their pilots complete before the end of April in time for upfronts. This typically only gives them three months once the pilot is ordered; not a lot of time, especially for an hour long drama which is essentially half of a feature film!

UPGRADE

Like getting a raise or promotion, an upgrade is when an individual is moved from being an Extra to a Stand In, Photo Double, or Principal Player. Upgrades also provide higher pay rates.

UPSCALE

Term for actors and extras who appear clean and nicely dressed. Upscale often means Extras will appear wearing expensive and/or fancy looking clothing. The exact opposite of Downscale.

V.O.

Voice-Over. An off-camera voice coming either from an actor not in the frame, or from a secondary source such as a speakerphone or answering machine.

Vertical Programming

This is a TV scheduling strategy where networks will air the same show at many different times on the daily schedule with the hopes that audiences will tune in randomly, and once they do, theyll be hooked.

VFX: Supervisor vs. Coordinator vs. Producer

The visual effects supervisor makes all the creative decisions and works directly with the director off and on set to make sure he/she gets the visual image desired. The VFX supervisor in charge of all the vfx artists and directs them to create the visuals that the director asks for. With so much time and man power needed to create all the different elements to a VFX image, a smooth work flow is essential to the success of the film. This is where the visual effects coordinator comes in. He/she works directly under the visual effects supervisor in post-production and keeps the work flow of all the artists organized and running smoothly, making sure all the creative demands are met and delivered on time. The visual effects producer works like a line producer and manages the cost of the visual effects which can get outrageously high (sometimes over half of a film' budget).

Video Village

During production, this is the area where a portable grouping of TV monitors are located. These monitors are connected to the camera(s) that are being used to film on set and they allow the director, production staff and crew to see what the camera sees.

VOUCHER

Time slip with all pertinent information needed for getting paid properly.

W/N

Will Notify. A notation on a call sheet that tells the actor that he/she will probably work that day but the specific time has not yet been decided.

WALK-ON

A minor role consisting of a single, brief appearance on the screen, usually not appearing in the credits and without dialogue; contrast with extras, bit parts, and non-speaking roles.

WARDROBE

The clothing a performer wears on camera.

WARDROBE ALLOWANCE

A maintenance fee paid to on-camera talent for the use (and dry cleaning) of talent's own clothing.

WARDROBE FITTING

A session held prior to production to prepare a performer's costumes.

WEATHER PERMIT CALL

Due to weather conditions, the production company has the option to release an actor four hours after the call time (if the camera has not started to roll) with a reduced rate of pay for the day.

WGA

Stands for the Writers Guild Of America. It's the labor union that represents and protects the interest of writers in film, television, radio, and new media. There are approximately 20,000 members.

Wild Lines

A wild line is dialogue that is recorded on location, but not at the same time as it' complimentary footage. Some times when filming on location, certain dialogue or lines are not recorded properly for one reason or another (unexpected loud ambient noise). When the footage has been captured, a director might want to get wild lines so that they can be used to replace the poorly recorded sound in post-production.

WRAP

The completion of a day's filming or of the entire production.

Writer-Work-For-Hire Agreement

A work-for-hire agreement is a legal contract that is made between a producer (or studio) and screenwriter. The purpose of this document is to state that you are solely hiring the writer to write the script, and to assure that you will be the owner of the rights to that script once it's completed. Terms such as payment, length, number of revisions and deadlines can vary between agreements. Often times, an agent will negotiate these terms on behalf of the writer.

Term	Definition
'IN' TIME	The actual call time or start time; also, return time from a break.
'NAME TALENT ONLY'	Meaning only celebrity Actors.
'RHUBARB'	Background conversation by extras. So-called because extras were often asked to mutter the word "rhubarb" to produce the effect of genuine conversation, with their mouths moving convincingly. Also known as "walla".
'TAKE 5′	The announcement of periodic five minute breaks.
"OUT" TIME	The actual time when you are released after you have changed out of wardrobe and make- up.
18-TO-PLAY-YOUNGER	A performer legally 18 years old, who can convincingly be cast as a younger age.
8×10	Commonly used size of a performer's Headshot/photos. Another term for headshot. Black and white was the standard in the old days, today headshots are in color.
A-LIST	Usually refers to top-tier actors/actresses who are paid upwards of $20 million per feature film; can also refer to producers, directors and writers who can be guaranteed to have a film made and released
A.C.E.	This stands for American Cinema Editors which is an honorary society of film editors that are voted in based on the qualities of professional achievements, their education of others, and their dedication to editing. Keep in mind this is a designation, not a union. The union for editors is called Motion Picture Editors Guild (MPEG) which is part of IATSE
A.D.	The Assistant Director.
Abandonment Provision	This is a clause within production-financing agreement which sets out the circumstances under which the financier may be permitted to stop production and further financing of a film. For example, this provision may state that if a particular piece of talent quits, or there are too many weather delays, the financier can call off the production and cease any further injection of funds into the film.
Above-The-Line	Above-the-line refers to the individuals who play a major role in the producing of a film or TV show. This include the writer(s), producer(s), director(s) and primary actor(s). The term comes from budgeting, as the costs of these individuals are listed at the top of the budget "above a line" that separates them from the other crew members.See also below-the-line.
ACTION!	The command from the director for the scene to begin. It also means that the camera is rolling.
Actioning	A method of using transitive verbs such as to convince to each line of your monologue or scene. The method gives the work more nuance, direction and energy.
ACTORS REEL	Video footage of on-camera productions the actor has been cast in. Can be footage from Films, TV Shows & Commercials.
AD LIB	Spoken words (sometimes witty comments) said out loud that are not in the script. They can also be given “off the cuff” when another actor forgets a line.
ADR	This stands for Automated Dialogue Replacement and is done in post-production. This is when your actor records his/her voice in a sound booth for the purposes of replacing unwanted or unrecorded dialogue that was captured during production.See also foley.
Agency	Agencies act as the central hub in the entertainment industry. They are privately run businesses that employ agents who represent all forms of talent in the industry. This includes actors, writers, directors, authors, public speakers etc. Their job is to get their clients hired on the the best jobs and build their careers. When an offer comes across an agent's desk, it is up to agent to negotiate the best contract for their client. Agencies commission a state-authorized maximum of 10% of their clients' gross income in compensation for work done on their behalf. Thus, if a client received a $50,000 fee for a project, the agency would be entitled to $5,000 for services rendered. If the project received additional monies as deferred compensation or a form of percentage from the project's profits, the agency would be entitled to 10% of that as well. Keep in mind, however, agents are salaried employees, and the commissions that are collected are payable to the agency as a whole, not to individual agent. Often times if an agent reaches a certain level of commissions, he/she will receive a percentage of any additional commissions as bonus pay. In Los Angeles alone there are over 200 agencies. The top agencies in the world include Creative Artists Agency (CAA), William Morris Endeaver (WME), United Talent Agency (UTA) and ICM Partners (ICM). The next tier includes Paradigm, Gersh, APA and Resolution.
Agent vs Manager	Often times talent will have both an agent and a manager. But why do you need both? Why give away more commission?Essentially, the main purpose of both these people is to build your career. When it comes to getting you hired on recurring jobs, both your manager and agent will expend their resources to make that happen and there will be a lot of overlap in their responsibilities. Theyll get you in meetings, submit you for jobs and market your name. Aside from that, their a certain duties that one is more responsible for than the other. A manager will work with you to improve your talent and help you become better at what you do. If youre an actor, a manager may take the time to go over sides with you and practices scenes. If youre a writer, a manager will give you script notes and develop your projects. An agent on the other hand, wont usually perform any of those tasks. They will, however, scour the town for the right jobs for you, negotiate your contract and get the best deal. It' their job to get you your quote, make sure youre looked after on the back-end, and that your next job will be get you equal or more pay than the previous.Another reason to have both a manager and an agent is access to a wider talent base. In other words, reps love to package projects with as many of their clients as possible. So if youre repped by an agent and a manager, you get easier access to both of their talent pools and better your chances of attaching them to your projects.Another key difference is that managers can and will get producer or executive producer credit on any of your projects you set up. Agents, by law, are not allowed to receive producer credit.Top agencies include: CAA, WME, UTA, ICM, Paradigm, Gersh, Resolution
Analytical Personality Type	Reserved and Task oriented. An intellectual type that's slow to make a decision because they want to all the data first. Want to get things done, but done right. Tend to be more emotionally detached. Logical and cautious.
Ancillary Market	This is a geographical or technological area of demand for a film product which is supplemental to the theatrical market. In other words, this is a market to exploit a particular property that includes everything except theatrical distribution. This could include TV network, pay cable, video on demand, home video, or online streaming.Also see Rights
Antagonist	In its purest definition, an antagonist is a character in a story that stands in the way of our protagonist's goal. And yes, an antagonist for all intents and purpose is an actual character. In other words, a tornado is not an antagonist and neither is society. Often times we refer to the antagonist as the villain in a story, but we all know that not all stories have a villain and even if they do, they may not be an essential part of the entire story.
Antihero	An antihero is the protagonist in a story who, unlike a traditional hero, doesn't posses conventional heroic qualities like morality, integrity, idealism, loyalty and sympathy. Great movies and TV shows of the past have shown that we don't need a likeable heroic protagonists in order to have a great story. All that really matters to our audience is that our main character is interesting and makes compelling decisions.
Armorer	Also known as a weapons master, an armorer manages all the prop firearms on set and is present whenever a scene with a weapon is being shot. It is his or her duty to guarantee their weapons do not cause any harm to the cast and crew. It is also their responsibility to make sure the prop weapons function correctly on set.
Art Director	The art director is generally works directly under the production designer. They perform a lot of the hands-on work on set and their job is to execute the production designer's vision.
Assistant Editor	This is the person who is assigned to directly assist the film editor. He/she usually wont be in charge of any creative decisions, but must have thorough knowledge of the work flow and the technical elements associated with editing. Duties may include synching dailies, taking screening notes, organizing footage, assembling selected takes and obtaining cutting-room facilities.
Associate Producer	This is a credit that does not have a definitive meaning. There is no specific duty of an associate producer. He/she could help with anything from financing the film, to post-production work, or to finding talent. You will often see this title given to friends, relatives, or managers who played a smaller role in producing a film. This individual performs a limited number of producing functions delegated to her/him by a producer, under the direct supervision and control of that producer.
Auspice	An auspice usually refers to the above the line people who are responsible for creating and producing a specific project. In film, the auspices usually refer to the producer, financier (if independent), writer and director (depeneding on how early he/she was brought on to the project). Studio execs are not usually thought of as auspices. In television, auspices usually refer to the creator of the show, writer of the pilot (if different from creator), executive producers (which includes upper level writers and heads of production companies) and showrunners. This could also include the director of the pilot depending on how early he/she was involved in the conception of the project. Studio and network execs are not considered auspices when it comes to television shows.
Auteur	It's the French word for "author" and we apply it to film because it pertains to filmmakers whose personal and artisitic influence on a moive is so significant that he/she is regarded as the "author" of the movie. Auteurs are filmmakers who come up with a concept, flesh out the story, write the script, raise capital, direct the film and sometimes even edit the film. They're involved in every creative process from start to finish and they have a very unqiue style that audiences can recognize.
Axis of Action	When it comes to continuity and editing, the "Axis of Action" is an imaginary line that passes through the two main actors of a scene, defining the spatial relations of all the elements of the scene as being to the right or left. The camera is not supposed to cross the axis at a cut and thus reverse those spatial relations. This will confuse the audience as to where in relation to one another the actors are standing. In other words, if two actors are talking to each other if we are shooting an actor's face and he/she is looking toward screen right, when the camera flips to the other actor whom he/she is talking to, that actor should be looking toward screen left. This is also called the "180? line."
Baby Writer	This the term given to a writer who has yet to be staffed on or hired for an actual televisions show.In the feature film word, this is a writer who has yet to be commissioned by a studio or production company to write a feature screenplay.
Back to One (or Reset)	All relevant crew, actors, and extras return to their established starting point for that shot.
Back-End Payment	Also commonly referred to as "participation" or "contingency", a back-end payment is a type of compensation usually given to an above-the-line talent on a film. This means that the talent will receive a percentage of the revenue generated after the film is completed and is typically given to the talent in addition to his or her fixed upfront fee. This could include box office sales, foreign sales, VOD sales, DVD sales, and sales from other ancillary markets. How the back-end payment is defined varies from project to project, and depends solely on what the talent negotiates. Often times the agent will negotiate this deal. The talent may negotiate for "gross-participation" in which the talent receives a percentage of the revenue before certain expenses have been deducted. This is often referred to as "First-Dollar-Gross", which is every talent' objective to attain in a back-end negotiation. In other words, as soon as the first-dollar of revenue has been generated, the talent starts receiving a percentage of that revenue. The talent may negotiate for a percentage of "distributor' adjusted gross" which means that the talent will receive a percentage of the revenue after a defined break-even point has been reached. The talent may also negotiate for a percentage of "net-profit", however, this is type of deal is rarely done as a film, according to standard accounting principles, rarely reaches net profit.
Backdoor Pilot	For all intents and purposes, a backdoor pilot is still the first episode in a series, however, it' filmed like a standalone movie. Often times these pilots can be two hours long. The episode still has inherent commercial value, so they can still air it if they decide not to order to series. Networks do this to hedge their risk and use it as a proof of concept to see if the show is worth turning into a series. They will air it, see what type of ratings/reception it receives and use that information to determine whether or not they will order to series.The term "back door" comes from a tactic that networks often use to test spinoff series. What they do is produce an episode within a series that introduces new characters and "sneak" this episode into the season" hence the term "back door". The network will use the ratings and viewer feedback from that episode to decide if they want to create a spinoff series. The best of example of this is NCIS which is a spinoff from JAG. In season 8 of JAG, there was a dual episode that introduced the characters for what would become NCIS. And then, in season 6, they aired the two-part episode "Legend" which introduced the characters for what is now NCIS: Los Angeles. Again, this all goes back to strategy of creating a TV episode that "test the waters" to see if it' worth bank rolling into a new series.
BACKGROUND	The Extra performers. On the set, "Background!" is a verbal cue for the Extras to start their action.
Background / Ambient Sound	The terms "background" and "ambient" are usually interchangeable in the world of sound. This is used to describe sound that is not the focus off attention, but is just as crucial for your film. Ambient sound serves many purposes. It can be used to convey setting. For example, if you hear traffic in your background noise, it establishes a metropolitan city setting. The sound of waves establishes an ocean or a beach setting. It can also be used to determine time of day. For example, if you here crickets in the background, it establishes the time of day as the evening. No matter what, there will always be background sound in your film. Even if you are conveying part of your film where the actors are silent and standing still in an empty room, the "sound" of that empty, quiet room is very important to capture. The audience will notice if this sound is not there. We refer to this sound as "room tone".
Backlot	This is the portion of a studio lot used for filming exterior shots. Often times theyll have this part of the lot dressed with fake buildings, side walks, alleys, plant life, famous streets, landmarks or houses etc to make it look like a particular setting.
Bankable	This is a descriptive term that is used in the film business to describe someone or something (actor, director, brand, script, producer, writer) whose attachment to a particular project can increase its chances of being successful in the box office. In other words, you can take your project "to the bank" where that bank (a financier or film studio), will more likely invest in your project partly because of the prior success of your attachment. An example of a bankable actress is Jennifer Lawrence. Her past movies have all been successful in the box office. A bankable director is James Cameron who' past two films of the highest grossing movies of all time.
Basic Cable Network	The term refers to all the cable networks that use commercial advertising to generate revenue. Networks like Comedy Central, Lifetime, History, MTV, USA, TNT are all examples of basic cable networks. These are contrasted with premium cable networks which generate their revenue from subscription-based model (HBO, Showtime and Starz).
Beat	"Beat" is a term used a lot when developing or explaining a story. Think of it like a unit of measurement within a story. It is a piece of information that can be conveyed in a quick moment, a sequence, or in an entire scene that moves the story forward. Beats are extremely important in communicating the direction of a story. Often times when writers are trying to figure out their story, they will use what' called a beat sheet. A beat can often be described in one sentence. For example, "The big bad wolf blows the straw house down." This helps the writer determine what' important in the story and what moments are needed in order to compel an audience.
Below-the-Line	This refers to the costs and roles assigned to people who are not above-the-line. (I know this is a lame definition. Youll get a better understanding of this term after learning what "above-the-line" means).
Best Boy Electric	This person is the assistant to the gaffer (it can be a boy or a girl). They are responsible for running the daily lighting equipment, and coordinating which lights and grip equipment to have ready on set for a particular scene. They are also responsible for organizing and preparing all the stingers (electric chords) so they can used at a moments notice.
Biopic	A film based on an individual' life story or a significant part of an individual' life.Eg. Malcolm X, Ali, Nixon, Lincoln, Milk, Capote, Man on the Moon, Ray, Walk The Line
Black Comedy	AKA dark comedy, this is a genre of film where the humor is derived from topics and themes that are generally considered to be "serious" like death, racism, abortions, war and murder. Examples of dark comedy films include FARGO, DR. STRANGELOVE, SHAUN OF THE DEAD, BAD SANTA, FEAR AND LOATHING IN LAS VEGAS. A great example is the TV show THE BIG C which finds the humor in cancer.
Blind Script Agreement	This agreement commits a writer to write for an "undecided project". A studio (TV or film) will do this if they know that they want to work with a particular writer and have confidence that whatever he/she writes will be great. In this way, another studio cant hire the writer for his/her next script. This will commit the writer to write a screenplay for the studio once he/she decides what that project is. The studio, of course, must approve of the idea. The writer will usually pitch a few ideas to the studio who will then pick which one they want him/her to write.
Blocking	This is an exercise that a director does with the actors before rehearsing or shooting scene. The purpose is to choreograph the movement and position of the actors and determine exactly where/when they need to situate themselves within a scene. There is no dialogue, no acting, just movement.
Boom Operator	A boom operator is a member of the on-set sound department who is responsible for operating the boom (a microphone held at the end of a long pole so the sound/dialogue can be captured accurately during production without having to place body microphones on the actors.
Bridge Financing	Bridge financing is a short term loan which is granted in anticipation of a long term loan. It provides a "bridge" to get to the longer term (and often larger dollar amount) loan that you need to finance your project.
Broadcast Network	In the TV world, this refers to the five major TV networks: ABC, CBS, FOX and The CW. Every other TV channel is referred to as a cable network. Often times, instead of saying "broadcast network, people will just say "network". The two are interchangeable. "A medical procedural might be more appropriate for network as opposed to cable."
Budget	A budget, also referred to as the negative cost of a film, is the cost of producing a motion picture. This includes, above-the-line costs, below-the-line costs, insurance, legal fees, fringes, completion bond fee, and contigency. A budget may also refer the actual document that lists all the costs associated with the film.Read more about the importance of a budget.
Budget/Sales Corollary	This is the term used to describe the percentage of a film' budget that is used by distributors to determine the price to acquire a film. In other words, one of the main factors that distributors use to figure out how much they are going to pay for a certain film is the film' negative cost. This is usually a percentage, and every distributor has a different percentage that they apply to particular films. Therefore, the higher the film budget, the higher a distributor is likely to pay for it.
C47	Just a fancy term grips and gaffers use for a clothes pin.
Cable Network	Although we use the term freely, cable networks (Comedy Central, HBO, History, USA, TNT, Lifetime, MTV, VH1, ESPN, TLC, BRAVO, E!) arent actually networks because they lack an actual network of TV stations. Instead, these cable networks send their shows via satellite to different cable providers (Comcast, Time Warner, DirecTV) which then distributes them to subscribers. We dont need to get into the technical aspect of how cable networks operate. Just know that when someone says "cable" they mean any TV distributor that is not ABC, NBC, CBS, CW or FOX.Some major cable networks include MTV, VH1, Comedy Central, Showtime, TBS, TNT, USA, Lifetime, TLC, Discovery, AMC, History, E!, Bravo, ESPN and HBO.
Cable Provider	These are the companies which provide house holds with access to TV channels. They bundle their channels and offer them at a monthly rate to consumers. Major cable providers include DirecTV, Time Warner Cable, Dish Network, Verizon Fios, AT
Call back	If you are successful in an initial audition you may be called back. This is simply a secondary audition for the same role.
Call Sheet	They is the key document to keeping everyone organized during production. The night before any day of shooting, the UPM or production coordinator will send out a call sheet to everyone crew member and personnel involved in production. The sheet will have all the pertinent information regarding the shoot for that specific day including: Names and contact information for all crew members. talent and above the line personnel Times when each person needs to be on set (call times) The forecasted weather along with time of sunrise and sunset The nearest hospital Address and directions to the set(s) The description of all the scenes that will be shot and the script page numbers associated with each scene The times designated for mealsHere' a link to a free call sheet template CLICK TO DOWNLOAD
Camera Coverage	Camera coverage pertains to the number of angles that are used to capture a particular scene. The more action and the more characters in a scene, the more coverage required. The goal of camera coverage is to give the film editor a variety of choices to use in post-production.
Camera Loader	This is the person who is responsible for operating the clap board at the beginning of each take as well as loading the film stock into the camera.
Camera Operator	This person uses the camera under the direction of the Director of Photography. He/she is the one looking through the view finder, and coordinating the movement of the camera. This does not include the movement of any dollies, rigs or steadicams.
Campy Movie	A story is campy when it deliberately tries to be ridiculous or absurd and the characters are oblivious to these absurdities. Having loud costumes or having characters speak with unconventional accents for comedic appeal are examples of ways to incorporate campiness to a film. Some examples of campy movies include:ROCKY HORROR PICTURE SHOW, ZOOLANDER, AUSTIN POWERS, BATMAN FOREVER, BRIDE OF CHUCKY
Capability	Capability is the a term used in movie-marketing. This describes a film' ability as an idea alone to generate interest within its target audience. In other words, if someone were to give you the logline or the overall concept of the film, would you be interested in seeing it without knowing what it looked like or who it starred? Most high-concept movies have high capability. A comedy about a lawyer who gets placed with a curse that prevents him from lying has high capability. A remake of Superman has high capability.
Cash Break Even	Cash break even is the point in time when the gross receipts for a film equal the sum of the distribution fee, distribution expenses, negative costs, studio overhead, and interest.
Cast-Contingent Mean	The term cast-contingent describes a project (film or TV pilot) that must hire or a attach an actor(s) that is approved by the financier before it is greenlit. For example, TV networks usually wont green light a comedy pilot unless they hire a comedic actor whom they know can deliver the humor in the script.
Casting Associate	A casting associate works directly for the casting director. It is their job to do most of the scouting, administrative work and day-to-day tasks like coordinating audition schedules, locking down casting rooms, filing resumes, and responding to candidates. Most casting directors start off as a casting associate and gain years of experience before going off on their own.
Casting Director	The person who organizes the casting of actors for all roles in a given project (film, TV, theater). They also negotiate fees and contracts for the actors.
Chain of Title	If you're acquiring a piece of intellectual property whether it' a book, a script, a previously made movie it's absolutely vital that you have clear ownership before you proceed. Chain of title is a trail of documents which illustrates the change and transfer of ownership of a piece or property from the moment it was created to the current point in time where you claim to own the rights to the property. Having an improper chain of title means that you have no clear certainty or proof of your ownership of a project and you are not legally allowed to produce and distribute whatever media you intend on producing.
Chyron	You'll often see this word in screenplays. It's just another fancy term for "title card" or "caption" - a set group of words (or word) displayed across the screen. This can be over black or superimposed on top of the screen image.
Clap Board	At the beginning of every shot/take, once the camera is rolling, the camera loader places a clap board in front of the camera, waits until the operator has the shot in focus and "marks" it by snapping the top of the board. The clap board serves two main purposes.1) During production, the visual and the audio is captured separately. The point of the clap board is so that the editor can synchronize the sound with the picture. So when they hear the sound of the clap on the audio track, they match it to the visual of the instant the clapper snaps on the board. The camera loader is typically responsible for operating the clap board.2) In post-production, when sorting through all the footage and choosing which shots to use, the editor needs information about the particular take so that they know what shot they're looking at. The information conveyed on a clap board include, take number, which scene, date, which camera roll, director' name and of course the name of the project.
Close Up	Camera frame shows head and some of the neck.
Co-Producer	In the scripted television world, this is the title usually given to a mid-level writer.
Co-star	One-episode guest whose character's storyline may or may not be central to that episode (since co-star billing actually depends more on negotiation than size of the role), anywhere from one line to multiple scenes.
Cold Read	To perform sides with no prior preparation.
Cold reading	Reading a script for the first time in an audition or play reading situation.
Company Move	During a film shoot, after youre done shooting at one location, you have to pack up all the equipment, clean up, gather the crew, and transport them all to the next location. This is called a COMPANY MOVE. Line producers and coordinators try to plan their shoots with the least amount of company moves possible. This saves both time and money.
Completion Bond	This is basically referred to as completion "insurance". There are companies in the film industry who specialize in insuring that a film gets made. It' a safe guard to guarantee the financier that the film will be completed. A partially made film has zero value. The bond company will collect a flat fee usually between 2-5 percent of the budget depending on market conditions and they will keep a close eye on the progress of production. They will receive daily production reports. As soon as they feel that a film is over-budget, or that it will not be completed on time, the bond company will step in and take over production. All major financiers will require a completion bond before they will contribute any money to a film. This sounds very intimidating, but rest assured, bond companies really don't want to step in and take over a film. They're there to help you and support you to get the film made on time and on budget. Having them take over a film is an absolute last resort. The major bond companies in Hollywood include "Film Finances Inc."The Motion Picture Bond Company", and "International Film Guarantors Inc."
Continuity	Continuity is always a concern for any filmmaker. When making a motion picture, the filmmaker usually has to shoot a particular scene more than once in order to get the best performance and with different angles in order to get sufficient coverage. When he/she does this, it is crucial to maintain continuity. To maintain continuity is to maintain consistency with the appearance of a set, position of the actors, dialogue, and physical state of props as scenes get shot over and over again. In other words, when a film switches to a different angle, we want to make sure that all the elements within the frame remain consistent through out the scene. This may seem trivial, but youd be surprised how many mistakes actually occur in movies. Check out www.movie-mistakes.com when you have a spare moment.
Contract Role	A soap opera AFTRA contract term for a daytime series regular or recurring character.
Controller Personality Type	Outgoing and task oriented. Decisive, often a leader, and will be focused on getting things done as quickly as possible. They want things done their way and don't mind ruffling a few feather to get it.
Coverage	Coverage is written document that readers, and assistants usually write after reading a piece of material that is being considered for development. The specific format of this formal document will differ from company to company, but the main components include a logline, accurate but concise synopsis of the story, comments regarding specific elements (character, plot, tone), overall rating, and a recommendation (pass or consider). The coverage is then handed on to executives who otherwise do not have time to read all the scripts that pass through the studio. Coverage is a quick and convenient way for executives to learn about a piece of material, before they commit to reading it.
Covering Agent	Within an agency, the job of most agents is to service their clients, get them jobs and collect commission. There are other agents, however, who' job is to monitor the needs of studios, financiers and productions companies so that they can put clients up for jobs the moment theyre posted. These are known as "covering agents. Each covering agent is assigned a group of studios, networks, production companies to "cover and develop relationships with their executives. It's the job of a covering agent to know when these companies have any ODAs, OWAs or casting roles that need to be filled. The covering agents will then share this information with all the point agents so they can then put their clients up for the job assignments. Covering agents usually dont have a client roster they directly service, and if they do they share it with a team of other agents. Their main purpose is to stay on top of their assigned companies so that their agency' clients get put up for available jobs before their competition does. This is a win-win for both sides. The agency has direct communication lines to all the potential employers and the employers have direct lines to an agent at each agency who' job it is to answer their calls and give them great candidates.
Craft Services	It' the person (or people) responsible for providing the crew with snacks and refreshments. Not to be confused with the caterer who provides the meals. The craft services table (aka crafty) is everyone' favorite area of a film set. If you're producing a film, do not cheap out on this expense. The key to running a great film set is to make sure nobody is hungry.
Dailies	Dailies are raw, unedited footage (usually synced to sound) showing all the entire takes that were shot on particular day. They are called this because usually at the end of a shooting day, the film is processed so that the director and crew can view it right away. The idea behind this is to review their day' work and look for mistakes or improvements that they can apply to later shots. Sometimes they will notice mistakes that will warrant a re-shoot. Dailies are also used to show studio executives so that they can keep up to date on the crew' progress, and provide feedback if needed.
Day and Date	This term is used to describe the release of a film. When a film is released day and date, this means that all the exhibitors (theatres) will release the film on the same day. It's also referred to as simultaneous release. This contrasts with "Platform Release".
Day-Out-Of-Days Schedule	After the shooting schedule is made, the production manager will also make a day-out-of days schedule which is a special chart that shows when each actor works during the course of the shooting schedule. This is important for the producer to structure the best actor deals, and for the director to know when each actor will be needed on which day. The chart will show the following information indicated by a specific letter: Start (S) Work Day (W) Travel Day (T) Rehearsal Day (R) Hold Day (H) Finish (F)
Debt Financing	This type of financing is typically done through a bank who will lend you money with a set interest rate. This is an extremely difficult loan to get approved. Unless you have an amazing track record, usually a bank wont lend you money for a film unless you have presales set in place. This lowers their risk and in essence allows them to offer a lower interest rate because the distributor will make sure the film is made. The advantage of debt financing is that you dont give up any ownership of your film. After the bank has been paid off, your responsibility to them is done and none of the film' revenue will go to them.
Deferment	A deferment is a fixed payment that is made to talent and is usually drawn from gross receipts after a film breaks even. This amount is not included in the budget. Therefore, some producers might use this as a strategy to reduce their budget in order to secure financing for your film. For example, if you were to pay an actor 5 million dollars up front, this would add a 5 million dollar expense to your budget. But if the you were to pay the actor with a deferment, you will reduce your budget by 5 million dollars. However, because your talent isnt being paid upfront and is reliant on the success of the film he/she will want to receive a larger payment. Also, by reducing your budget, you will reduce the amount your film can be sold for based on the budget/sales corollary. So there are obvious pros and cons to paying your talent via deferment. You as a producer must decide what is best for your film.
Denouement	These are the concluding scenes after the climax of a film where we tie up all the story elements and finish our character' arc. This is a crucial part in the story telling process as it determines the final feeling you leave with your audience when they leave the theatre. The original denouement for THE SHAWSHANK REDEMPTION had Red sitting on a bus headed for Zihuatanejo and the film ended as we pulled back watching the bus drive off in the distance. Director Frank Darabont was not satisfied with this and fought tooth and nail to convince the studio to let him shoot the final scene where Red finds Andy on the beach fixing his boat. Could you imagine if the movie ended with the original denouement? The feeling and overall impression of the movie would not have been the same. Never underestimate the effectiveness of your denouement.
Derivative Works	Derivative works are any forms of media based on or derived from another already existing piece of material. This includes, sequels, remakes, books, TV spinoffs, and plays. When attached to a film, directors and producers will want the right to first negotiations to direct/produce derivative works.
Development	This is the first phase of the film making process. The producer will usually be the most heavily involved person in this phase. During development, you are finding material either by creating an original script by working with a writer (you could also be the writer), or discovering some one else's material and optioning it. Either way, you are attaining ownership in the material. Once you have optioned or purchased the rights, you are working the material to generate an amazing script. This could mean adapting a book, comic, play, web series, short film, or feature script. Or this could also mean reworking an already existing script. Once the first draft of the script is complete, it's your job to come up with great notes and convey them properly to the writer in order for him/her to write a better second draft. Depending on the agreement you make with the writer, the development process could involve multiple drafts of the script. Either way, the main objective is to work with the writer to generate a screenplay that you are happy with. This is one of the most difficult but most important skills to acquire as a producer. All studios and networks have specific departments devoted solely to development. Once you have the script at a place where you are happy with, your next job is to secure financing (which is a whole new ball game). Once the financing is secured, you are ready to move on to the next phase; PRE-PRODUCTION.
Development Deal	This is an agreement where a writer or producer agrees to develop or write a certain number of projects for a studio or production company. These companies are basically paying to have exclusive access to a writer or producer' material.
Diegetic Sound	This term describes sound for a motion picture where the source of that particular sound is visible on the screen or whose source is implied to be present by the action of the film.
Director of Photography	This person is also known as the DP, or the head cinematographer. It has been argued that, besides the director, the DP is the most important person on a set when it comes to the visual aspect of the film. The DP has to make sure that the scene is lit properly, the right lenses are being used and scene is framed correctly. DP' have been said to "paint with light". It is also the DP' responsibility to make sure that the movement of the camera and the change in focus is executed properly while shooting a scene.
Distribution Fee	This is the fee charged by a studio/distributor to the exhibitor in order to have their film exhibited in their theater(s). This is usually in the form of a percentage of revenue generated at the box office in any given market. This percentage can range from as low as 10% all the way up to 50%. A typical distribution fee is 30%. This is not to be confused with film rentals which is the studio' portion of the box office calculated after the distribution fee has been paid.NOTE: When it comes to accounting numbers, distribution fee is not factored in as "revenue" or "earnings" even though the money goes straight to the studio/distributor. This is just another one of those strange accounting principles practiced in the movie industry.
DIT	This stands for digital imaging technician. This person works in collaboration with the cinematographer and the editor to organize all the raw files of the footage while on set and create a manageable workflow for the editor when he receives the footage. During production, after the digital memory card of the camera is full, the 2nd AC will bring the card to the DIT for him/her to load onto the main hard drive. From there, the DIT will transcode the footage and organize/label the files in a manner that' best suited for the editor.
DMA	Also known as Designated Market Area, this is the area whose population receives all the same TV signals. In the USA, there are over 200 DMAs. Most DMAs have one channel for every major network.
Docudrama	This is a specific genre of scripted drama in film where actors are used to re-create events that actually happened in real life. Great examples of docudramas include CAPTAIN PHILLIPS, 127 HOURS, YOU DONT KNOW JACK, RAY, UNITED 93, THE FIGHTER, CINDERELLA MAN
Documentary	Shot to document reality, non-fiction, in order to educate or preserve history. No actors are cast. A real documentary should use real life and real situations only.
Domestic Territory	When it comes to the theatrical box office, this includes ticket sales in both USA and Canada. When it comes to the film market, this only refers to the USA. Canada is considered a foreign or separate territory than the United States when selling the distribution rights to a film.
Dutch Tilt	Also known as a dutch angle or an oblique angle, a dutch tilt is a camera shot where the camera angle is deliberately slanted to one side. This can be used for dramatic effect and helps portray unease, disorientation, intoxication, madness, etc.
Editor' Cut	This is the first cut of a TV episode or film which is compiled solely by the editor. Usually the director, executives and financiers have not looked at the cut up until this point.
Elements of a Motion Picture	Elements are the various parts that come together to make a motion picture. This includes everything from a concept, a screenplay, producer, director, DP, lead actors, supporting cast, crew, distributor etc. These are all elements of a film. Each of these elements can have a significant outcome to the final product.
Equal Likeness	This is a clause in an actor' contract that states that if any other actor' photograph or likeness appears in a paid advertisement relating to the motion picture, a photograph of the actor of equal size and prominence must also appear in such advertisement.
EQUITY	Short for Actors Equity Association. The union representing stage actors.
Equity Financing	In this type of financing, a person or company with deep pockets will finance all or part of your film in exchange for ownership of a percentage of the film (equity). This means that from here on out, unless otherwise agreed upon, the investor will receive a certain percentage of all profits generated by the movie. The advantage of this type of financing is that you are not legally obligated to pay back the financier if the film doesn't generate enough revenue. The down side is that, in success, a portion of your profits will belong to the financier who essentially owns part of your film.
ETHNICALLY AMBIGUOUS	Meaning a persons race is not easily defined by appearance.
Event Series	This is a TV series who's story line is based on one single event. Examples of past series include shows like LOST and JERICHO. However, nowadays, event series have been synonymous with mini series seeing as that the stories our close-ended and typically conclude after one season. Networks and creators know they can't drag on a story based on an event for more than one season. What networks will often do instead is once the story concludes in the first season, they will use the built-in brand of that show and use to create another event series based on the same premise. Recent examples of event series of this nature are TRUE DETECTIVE, AMERICAN HORROR STORY and FARGO. The first season of each has as a close ended story, but they will use the show's brand to create and market and fresh new story with new characters for the following season. Be aware that event and mini series are NOT interchangeable with "limited series".
Executive Producer	An executive producer (EP) for film is very different from an executive producer for TV. For film, an EP is a very abstract credit. It can mean a number of things. To put it simply, an executive producer is some one who provides an important contribution to the project. This could be financing, or it could mean that you manage one the A-list talent that was part of the film. It could even indicate that you were a high level employee working at the production company. In any film production, there are many people who are heavily involved in the producing of the movie, however, there can only be so many people with producer credit (the Academy has a 5 producer limit for the best picture category). So to provide these people with the appropriate credit, they will receive an executive producer title. But at the end of the day, if you want to be recognized for your merits as a producer on a film, the credit you want is "produced by".
Executive Producer for TV	Not to be confused with an Executive Producer (EP) for film, the EP for a television show is the highest credit you can receive. There are usually several executive producers of a television show and it typically includes the showrunner(s), the creator(s), senior level writers, and the principal(s) of the production company. Television EPs are ultimately responsible for putting together and creating a television show. Of all the EP's, it's the showrunner that holds the highest title. They're the ones that usually receive the "created by" credit at the end of the opening credits. There are cases, however, where a creator of a show will not have enough experience to run a show and the network will bring in an experienced showrunner to fill that role. In this case, the showrunner will just take and EP credit.
Exhibitor	An exhibitor another term for a movie theater. Generally speaking, movie theatres get 50% of the box office revenue. So when you read in the news that a movie grossed a certain amount in domestic box office, only half of that money actually goes to the distributor/studio. However, some times a distributor will strike a deal where they will get more than 50% for the couple weeks and then take less than 50 percent for the remaining weeks. In Hollywood, every deal is negotiable.
Exit Poll	This is a method used in market-research where moviegoers are interviewed as they leave the theatre after watching a movie. This is done in order to gauge the audience's reaction to the film.
Exploitation Film	This is a type of feature film which contains obligatory or gratuitous sex, violence, horror, catastrophic events or a combination of any or all of such themes which has little socially redeeming value. The film blatantly uses these themes and elements to attract audiences.
EXT. (Exterior)	A scene shot outside.
EXTRA	Background performer, used only in non-principal roles.
Extras	Extras are non-speaking roles given to actors who are meant to contribute to the background or the overall setting of a film. For example, if you had a scene in a subway stations or a restaurant or a concert, you would hire extras to fill in the space to make it seem like a crowded setting.
EYE LINE	Eye line is the direction an actor should look off-screen to match a reverse angle or a P.O.V. (point of view) shot. It is best to give the actor an actual thing or spot to look at rather than a blank spot on an empty wall or an empty space in mid air.
Fair Use	"Fair Use is the term that describes a particular trademark in a film stating that it did not violate any laws by being in the film. The laws state that you can use a trademarked product or symbol in a film so long as youre not misleading the audience when it comes to its application and its purpose. The law also states that a trademark is fair use if it' not implying to the audience that it was responsible for the making of the film. The sum this all up, if you want to use a trademarked product in your film, you are within your legal rights to do it so long as the consumer can buy the product and that it is being used for it' intended purpose in the film.Also check out this article about using branded items in your film and what should be aware of when it comes to WORKS OF ART.
Featured	Principal role in the film with one or more lines but easily cut from the final version of the film. Unfortunately, many extras have started using the term "featured" to describe their extra work and that means casting directors are less and less convinced that a job listed as "featured" actually was a featured principal role.
FEATURED EXTRA	When an extra is clearly visible on camera and not just a blur in the background.
Featurette	A featurette is a behind-the-scenes video depiction of a motion picture and how it was made. It usually includes footage from the film (much like a trailer) complimented with interviews with lead actors, the director, writer and producer. Featurettes are created to air on television and stream online for the purpose of marketing and promotion. In my opinion, I think they do a better job in promoting a movie than a traditional trailer and I believe studios should use them more often. Trailers do a great job in illustrating tone, and story , but having the actors whom the audience is already drawn to speak and talk about the process and emotion behind making the film only helps to peak people' interest to buy a ticket.
Femme Fatale	This literally means "deadly woman". It' a character used in a lot of dark dramas and film noir. Essentially, a femme fatale is a seductive woman who uses her charm and physical attributes to lure men into compromising, dangerous and often deadly situations in order to get what she wants. Examples include Isabella Rossellini' character in BLUE VELVET, and Sharon Stone' character in BASIC INSTINCT
FI-CORE	‘financial core' status is an option within the Screen Actors Guild (SAG-AFTRA) allowing actors to work both union and non-union jobs.
Film Director	A film director is responsible for the entire creative execution of the film. He/she is in charge of the entire creative process from pre-production all the way to the end of post-production. Despite the fact that the director is ultimately responsible for all the aspects of the film, he/she usually has a reliable crew and department heads to look after these aspects. For example the DP will be responsible for the look, color, lighting and framing of a shot. There will also be department heads for production design, wardrobe, visual effects, and makeup etc. However, there is one responsibility that the director has that nobody else helps with and that is working with the actors. In saying that, the number one job of a director is to work with their actors and get the best performances out of them. Nobody else is supposed to give direction to the actors except for the director. More importantly, it' important to know that it' not the director' responsibility to be an expert on all the creative aspects of a film. However, it is his/her job to accurately convey to the department head what his/her vision is for the film and allow the department head to use their expertise to execute the vision.
Film Noir	Some times referred as a genre on its own, Film Noir (French for "black film") is a term used to describe a very stylized form of Hollywood crime dramas particularly those that emphasize cynical attitudes and sexual motivations. The classic film noir of Hollywood were made in the 1940s and 50s. It is important to understand that the term describes more of the mood and tone of the film than it does the particular plot of characters. Most of these films, however, involve a private eye or some sort of law enforcement and the story centers around a crime mystery or murder. Classic Film Noir films include THE MALTESE FALCON, DOUBLE INDEMNITY, LAURA, GUN CRAZY and THE BIG SLEEP.
Film Producer	You could ask five different film producers what the definition of their job title is and they would likely give you five different answers. To put it simply, a producer' job is to get the film made. What an actual producer does will always change depending on the film that he or she is working on. Their involvement will usually depend on the budget, and the extent to which they can hire the appropriate people to work on their film. In general, the producer oversees the entire film-making process from start to finish. This includes finding source material (a book, comic, original idea, script, news article), optioning that source material, hiring a screenwriter, developing a script, securing financing, finding distribution, hiring a great director, overseeing the production process, overseeing the post-production process, and marketing the film. It is ultimately to producer' responsibility that the film gets made well, and under budget. In the feature film word, "producers" is the highest producer credit one can receive (unlike television where the highest producing credit goes to the "executive producer"). When a film wins an academy award for best picture, the trophy goes to the producer(s) and only the producer(s). If you want a good reference for film producing, I recommend the book "So you want to be a PRODUCER" by Lawrence Turman (the producer of THE GRADUATE, and the chairman of the infamous Peter Stark Producing Program at USC).
Film Rentals	This term can be confusing as it has nothing to do with renting movies. This is the portion of the box office revenue paid by the theatres to the distributor. This is not to be confused with the distribution fee. A film rental is paid AFTER the distribution fee has been paid. This percentage will vary depending on the deal that is made for a particular film. Generally speaking, box office revenue is split 50/50 between the theatres and distributor (studio). However there cases where the studio will receive a higher percentage on the opening weekend, or the first week of release. Some deals, the percentage varies each week where the first 2-3 weeks the distributor will get a higher perecentage, but each subsequent week their cut will decrease and the exhibitor' portion will increase. So when you see that a movie grossed $20M over the weekend, this generally means that the studio receives $10M of that revenue, while the remaining $10M goes to the theaters.
Final Cut	Unless you are a well-established and successful director, studios (or whoever finances the film) will have the final say as to what the finished product will look like. This is known in the film business as "final cut". If, however, a director has final cut, he/she has full creative freedom to make the film the way he/she wants regardless of what the studio says. In this scenario, there are still certain restrictions such as duration and MPAA rating that the director will have to adhere to, but overall, the director has full control of the final product.
FIRST A.D.	First Assistant Director; person responsible for the running of the set. Gives instructions to crew and talent, including calling for "first team," "quiet," "rehearsal," and "take five.".
First Assistant Camera	AKA the First AC or Focus Puller, this crew member is responsible for making sure that the camera stays in focus through out the duration of the shot. Often times the depth of field changes, or the object that is being shot changes position and it is the job of the first AC to make sure the focus is adjusted properly when these changes happen.
First Assistant Director	More commonly known as the first AD, this person' responsibility is to make sure everything during production is running smoothly and on time. They make sure that everyone is at the appropriate place at the appropriate time. They're the one' with the clip board (and some times the megaphone) making sure that all the scenes are shot on schedule. If shooting is falling behind schedule, they're the ones telling the director to hurry up. They're the ones that tell everyone when it' time for lunch or screaming at the top of their lungs "QUIET ON SET!!". During pre-production, it is usually the AD' job to break down the script and devise a shooting schedule. The first AD must be approved by the director.
First Dollar Gross	This is the first monies received by the film distributor after releasing their film before any of taxes, fees, expenses or debts are paid off. If an actor or director receives a first dollar gross deal, this means that they get a percentage of this gross revenue received by the studio. This is very rare these days, but if possible, every talent wants to get a first dollar gross deal because this means that so long as the movie generates revenue, they will be guaranteed money before any of it is put towards taxes, debts, expenses and other fees.
First Position	This term usually pertains to writers, directors and actors. A person's "position" on a project, whether it be a television show or a feature film, basically determines the project's priority in that person's work schedule. This is one of the deal points that an agent or a manager will negotiate with a studio or financier for their client. A lot of the times a writer/director/actor will have several projects on the go at one time and studios will want their project as high up on that priority list as possible. So if a specific project is in first position, contractually, the talent must put this project at a higher priority than any other project he/she may be working on. If the talent is working on other projects, those project may be in second or third position, meaning the other commitments take priority.
First-Look Deal	Let's say you just directed a film that won the Grand Jury Prize at Sundance, or you're an actor attached to a film that did gangbusters in the box office, or you're the creator of a nationally syndicated TV show. You are what we call a PROVEN TALENT. The studios and TV networks need people like you to create content for them and hedge their risk in this volatile business. To do this, they will offer you a first-look deal.
Foley	Foley is a performed in post-production. It is a process where a foley artist will artificially create sounds that are meant to be the source sounds on the screen and incorporate them in the movie' sound design. For example, a foley artist may bang coconut shells together to simulate the sound of a horse galloping or break a piece of celery to simulate a bone breaking. The foley artist will be on a special foley stage, and a sound engineer will record all the sounds that the artist is making while watching the film. The sound will then be incorporated into the film' main soundtrack.
FORCED CALL	A call to work less than 12 hours after dismissal on the previous day.
FOREGROUND CROSS	Action in a scene in which an Extra Performer passes between the camera and the principal actors; sometimes called a "wipe".
Four Walling	This is a technique used by producers who are handling their own distribution of a film and not dealing with any distribution companies. The producer will approach theatres individually and offer them a set negotiated flat fee to rent out their space. Essentially, they're paying for the 'four walls' of the theatre and for the use of their screen. The rental period could be for a night, a whole week, a month or just a weekend. Often times, the producer will have to also pay for the personnel like the projectionist, the ticket booth agent, concession and custodials. This minimizes the risk for theatre owner as the rental fee is guaranteed regardless of the film's ticket sales. However, the owner is foregoing any opportunity to show other film(s) in their theatre during the rental period. On the other hand, this is a huge risk on the producer, but he/she will get to keep 100% of the ticket sales should the film do well.
FOURTH WALL	Refers to the imaginary, illusory invisible plane through which the film viewer or audience is thought to look through toward the action; the fourth wall that separates the audience from the characters is 'broken through' when the barrier between the fictional world of the film's story and the "real world" of the audience is shattered - when an actor speaks directly to the viewers by making an aside.
Free Fall	Living out the imaginary circumstance (scene) moment to moment. Give up all thoughts of hoping they like you, or trying to be perfect. To FREE FALL you must be in the moment, when the only thing that matters is the conversation you're having right NOW.
Fringes	Fringes are benefits that an employee (ie actor) will receive that is beyond their payable income. This includes pension, guild costs, and other fees. Each union will have set types of fringe benefits that every production must provide their workers.
FX (Effects)	Special Effects.
Gaffer	The gaffer is the head of the electrical department which mainly deals with the lighting on set. He/she is responsible for the execution of the lighting plan which is conveyed by the DP.
Gap / Mezzanine Financing	This type of financing is ideal for investors who want to be conservative and play it safe, because they're simply "closing the gap" that is left in the film finance package. In other words, they're the last investor in and others have already taken on a large portion of the risk. Gap financiers will either invest in return for a percentage of the film, or lend against unsold presales.
GOLDEN TIME	Refers to the 16th hour of a shooting day. When Golden Time begins, Union extras receive their base pay for each additional hour until released for the day.
Greeking	Greeking is the process of masking or concealing trademarks that the production has not received legal clearance to use in the film.
GREENROOM	The actors' lounge. Either in a theatre or production studio.
Greensman	A greensman is a member of the construction crew responsible for on-set greenery: plants, flowers, grass shrubs, bushes etc.
Grindhouse Theatre	These theatres are mainly found in the USA and they specialize in showing B movies. The tickets are much cheaper than the regular theatres and serve a niche audience of movie-goers. B movies are low budget, violent, exploitative and racy movies that are of lower quality in production value, and actor performance than the movies you typically see in the major theatre chain.
Grip	Also know as a "key grip", a grip is a highly skilled person who works on production sets. They specialize in the set-up, adjustment, moving and maintenance of most production equipment on set. Typical duties include setting up dollies, c-stands, flags, scrims, reflectors and apple boxes.
GRIPS	Members of the film crew who are responsible for moving set pieces, lighting equipment, dolly track and other physical movement of equipment.
Gross Receipts vs Gross Rentals	Gross receipts refers to all the money that is received by the distributor from the exploitation of a particular motion picture on any platform. This includes theatrical box office sales, home video, pay television, DVD sales, television syndication etc. Gross rentals only refers to total monies paid to the distributor from the box office. This is also referred to as "film rentals".
Guest Star	One-episode guest whose character's storyline is central to that episode, works at a weekly rate (and is under contract for the week, even if only shooting a day or two).
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 MODEL	A performer whose hands are used to double for others.
Hashtag (#)	The symbol used to categorize specific topics in social media posts. The hashtag will allow people looking for the exact same topic to find your posts. Effectively using this symbol gains you followers and exposure to your content.
Helmer	Just another fancy word for director.
High Concept Idea	Anyone who wants to make a commercially viable movie loves a high concept idea. This is a premise or an idea that can be described succinctly in very few words and can be effectively advertised. It' often an idea that isn't grounded in reality but can easily be imagined if it was. High concept narratives are typically associated with a "what if?" scenario that sets the story in motion. Here are some examples of successful high concept films:LIAR LIAR (What if you were a lawyer and couldn't lie for one day?)BACK TO THE FUTURE (What if you could travel back in time and change your future?)JURASSIC PARK (What if you could clone dinosaurs?)GROUNDHOG DAY (What if you repeated the same day over again and again?)FREAKY FRIDAY (What if you and your teenage daughter switched bodies?)BRUCE ALMIGHTY (What if you were given all the powers of God?)BIG (What if a young boy physically ages to adulthood overnight?)TOY STORY (What if toys came to life when humans weren't around)
Hip Pocket Someone	The term "hip pocket" is used by agents and managers when they unofficially represent a writer, director, actor, producer etc. This means they're just helping that person out without making them an official client.
HOLDING	The designated area to which the Extra Performers report and stay while waiting to go on set.
HONEY WAGON	A towed vehicle containing one or more dressing rooms, as well as crew bathrooms.
Honeywagon	This is a mobile trailer that is used on location for actors to use as dressing rooms.
Hot Set	This term is used to describe a movie set where the art department and prop persons have finalized placing funiture and props etc for filming a scene. Hence why we call it this so nobody touches the set until filming is complete.
I.A.T.S.E	This stands for International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees. It's the largest labor union in the entertainment industry with about 115,000 members. While the DGA is the union for directors, WGA for writers, SAG-AFTRA for actors, IBT for teamsters, IATSE is a labor union for pretty much everyone else. This includes editors, production designers, DPs, camera operators, ADs, ACs, makeup artists, grips, gaffers, electricians, best boys, set builders, sound designers, sound mixers and many more workers.
I.B.T.	Stands for the International Brotherhood Of Teamsters. It's the labor union for both Canada and the United States that represents and protects the interests of teamsters. The union has approximately 1.3M members.
If Come Deal	This is a type of development deal that a TV studio may choose to sign with a writer. When the studio acquires a project, it must make a development deal with the writer in order to secure its rights to the show before pitching to networks. There are two basic kinds of development deals. IF-COMES and PAY-OR-PLAY. An if-come deal states that the studio pays the writer only the pitch is bought by the network. If the pitch doesnt sell to a network, the writer doesnt get paid and the studio loses no money.
IMPLUSE	A natural response that an actor responds to in the moment.
IMPROVISATION	Setting out to do a scene with no pre-planned or written idea. A process leading to spontaneous discovery that allows the actor to find real, organic impulses within themselves.
Improvising	To perform spontaneously without planning ahead.
Independent Film	When we here this term, we normally think arthouse, film festival, and cheap. This can be true for most independent films, however, not all independent films will share these attributes. To put it simply, an independent film is a film that is financed outside of the traditional studio system. In other words, the money used to finance the film comes from a place/person other than a studio. In most cases, independent filmmakers have to find distributors on their own. This could be a major studio, but often times they'll have to sell the distribution rights for a specific territory to an independent film distributor. This is usually done through international film markets and festivals. Some well known indie film distributors include, Magnolia Pictures, Film District, The Weinstein Company, Participant Media and Road Side Attractions. Some of the major studios have an "independent division" which is used to finance and distribute more arthouse (or less commercial) films. Universal's is Focus Features. 20th Century Fox has Fox Searchlight. Sony's is Sony Pictures Classics. Paramount's is Paramount Vantage and Warner Bros has Warner Independent.
INDICATING	Showing what your character is feeling or doing without really feeling or doing, leading to a false and shallow performance.
INDUSTRIALS	Industrial Film. Refers to films made for corporations. Training films, product education, Human resource training, etc. Work on industrials often involves memorizing a lot of technical writing.
INNER ACTION	A physical action verb chosen by the actor in the pursuit of an objective. It always begins with the word "to" i.e. to attack, to soothe, to tickle.
INNER MONOLOGUE	A character's active, imaginative inner thoughts while the actor is playing a role.
INSTINCT	A compelling or powerful impulse.
INSTRUMENT	The actor's collective working of the body, voice, mind, and imagination.
INT. (Interior)	A scene shot indoors.
Key Art	This is the primary art work used in all the ads and posters for a motion picture. This includes images, portrayal of the actors and the font of the title. All this has to be approved by the marketing team (if there is one), producers and director.
Key Grip	The key grip is the head of the grip department. Their job is to set up, maintain, and move production equipment such as lights, C-stands, dollies, cranes, platforms, scaffolding, and camera cars. If something needs to be set up or moved, you call the grip department.
Lead	Principal role in the film, in most scenes, on-screen credit is often in the credits that start the film (as well as in the complete end credits).
Lead-In	A lead-in is a TV show that precedes another show. Often times when a network premieres a new show, the will air it after a show that already has a lot of viewers. That already-established show is the lead-in for the new show.Also see lead-out.
Lead-Out	A lead-out is a TV show following another show. When a network premieres a new show, they will often have it be the lead-out to an already established show with lots of viewers in the hopes that they will stay tuned in for the new show.Also see lead-in.
Leave-Behind	This is a document that is left with potential buyers as a refresher after a pitch meeting. This can be a one pager which acts as a small movie poster, or it can be a treatment.
LEGIT ACTING	Refers to Acting for Theatre, Film & TV only. Not commercials.
Letter of Intent	This is a written document from a director, actor, writer or other person (or company) expressing their intent toward providing their services for a specific project. So why not just sign a contract? In some cases, when a project is being put together, a piece of talent may only want to legally sign on to provide his/her services if other conditions are met. The letter of intent will be drafted and used to help convince other parties to be part of the film without the writer of the letter having to fully commit to the project. So for example, if a producer is trying to get financing for a film, and a director wont attach himself to the film unless the film has a certain budget raised for production, the producer will get the director to express this in a letter of intent in order to convince financiers to invest in the film. In most cases, the letter of intent is not legally binding. It' just a formal way of people to say, "Im very interested in being a part of this project so long as certain conditions are met."
LIGHT BOARD	Either manual or computer operated. Operates the stage lights.
LIGHT CUES	A change in the stage lighting.
Line by Line	A method to gather information and develop an in depth understanding of the script by reading EVERYTHING on the page and figuring out the writer's intention for each line.
Line Cut	This is a term used in the sitcom arena. When filming a multi-cam sitcom, it will shoot in chronological order in front of a live audience. The director often works with a recordist who uses a video switcher to make an in-the-moment edited version of the live show, much like a sporting event being edited live. This edit is known as a LINE CUT. This will play on the monitors above the audience' heads to help them see the show and understand how it will look on television. This also serves as a template for editors who begin splice together the show after the taping wraps.
Line Producer	A line producer is different from a producer in the sense that a line producer is not involved in the creative aspects of the film-making process. Their job is to manage the budget on a film, and make sure the film stays on budget. They are usually on set every day (hence why they can only work on one project at a time), and they work closely with the production manager to keep everything on budget and on schedule. Line producers are experts on knowing how much everything costs. If there' a specific location, type of shot, stunt sequence, vfx scene or music clearance needed, a good line producer would know how much it would cost to achieve it.
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.
Location Manager	A location manager is a key member of the crew who deals with all matters involved with the use of a sites used to shoot a film other than a studio lot. Usually the location manager will identify the locations that are required by a given script, scout the location, take location photographs with the DP and director, be the liaison with the owner of the location, be the liaison with the local film commission regarding location permits, and budget the cost of using that location.
Location Permit	This is a written agreement or a license granted by the local film commissions (ie governing bodies that regulating all film-related activities in its jurisdiction) for the privilege of using a private or government owned property to shoot scenes for a movie.
Logline	A log line is one or two sentences that describe what your movie or TV show is about. A good logline should include a protagonist, a setting, an obstacle and stakes.Examples:ROMEO AND JULIET: In medieval Italy, a young man falls in love with the daughter of a sworn enemy, and together, they elope only to face tragic consequences.JURASSIC PARK: A team of researchers and a family struggle to escape and island park filled with genetically restored dinosaurs. BACK TO THE FUTURE: After traveling back to 1955, Marty McFly accidentally interferes with his parents courtship and must make them fall in love" or else he will never be born.
LONG SHOT (LS)	A camera shot which captures the performer's full body.
Looping	Also know as Sound Looping, this is part of the sound editing process where the sound designer takes the separately recorded dialogue and synchronizes it with the corresponding film image. Also see SOUND DESIGN and ADR
M.O.W.	This stands for "Move Of The Week". It was originally coined by ABC back in the early sixties when they would produce and air a made-for-tv movie every Tuesday night. Nowadays, this is the general term used to describe a made-for-tv movie. In other words, if someone describes a film as an M.O.W., they are referring to the movie as a lower grade film that isn't worthy of theatrical distribution and should only be seen on television by a smaller niche audience.
Macguffin	A macGuffin is a person, place or thing that' used as a plot device that the protagonist pursues. It' what motivates his or her choices and drives our story forward. Often times a macguffin will have little or no narrative explanation as to why it is considered important. A macGuffin can sometimes take a more abstract form, victory, pride, survival, power, love, or even something that is entirely unexplained, as long as it strongly motivates key characters within our plot.Examples of macguffin' include: unobtaimium in AVATAR, the briefcase in PULP FICTION, Terry Benedict' money in OCEANS ELEVEN, The Golden Idol in RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARK, One Eyed Willy' treasure in THE GOONIES.
Manager	The person in charge of guiding new actors' careers. For A-list actors, they manage their schedule and offer career advice. Agents and managers are different but sometimes with beginner actors they take on both roles interchangeably.
MARK	The exact position(s) given to an actor on a set to insure that he/she is in the proper light and camera angle; generally marked on the ground with tape or chalk.
Marketability Mean	Marketability is a film' ability to appeal to an audience based on its creative elements. This is the primary force that' going to drive people to buy tickets and sit in a theater. This includes, special effects, over-all look, director, cast, stunts, and brand. This does not include the story or plot, unless the story is a recognizable pre-existing brand. A movie about Superman directed by Steven Spielberg with huge CGI effects starring A-list actors is going to have more marketability than a love story taking place on a farm starring no-name actors. It' not to say that the latter movie is a poor movie. For all we know it could be an amazing film, however, it would be difficult film for a studio to green-light because it lacks marketability.
Martini	No, it' not the preferred drink for spies. It' what production crews refer to as the final shot of the day.
Master Shot	Sometimes referred to as an establishing shot, a master shot is a positions the camera in a way that captures all the action/dialogue in an entire scene and is typically composed as the widest and longest shot. For example, if a scene involves people seated at a dinner table, a master shot would be wide enough to see everyone seated at the table. This is crucial for the editing process as this is the scene to which all coverage shots (close-ups, cutaways, medium shots) are referenced and synchronized to. If any of the other takes or angles dont work in post production, the editor can always go back to a master shot.
MATCHING ACTIONS	The requirement that the actor match the same physical movements in a scene from take to take in order to preserve the visual continuity.
MEAL PENALTY	All film productions should break at least once every six hours to allow for cast and crew meals. If production does not halt for meals at least once every six hours then Union actors and extras are entitled to a "meal penalty" payment for every half hour over the six hours you are not fed.
Mean to Receive Points	In the film and TV business, points is just another fancy term for back end participation.
Media Conglomerate	A conglomerate, by definition, is a combination of two or more corporations engaged in entirely different businesses that fall under one corporate entity. In other words, it's a large company (usually publicly traded) that owns several smaller companies that function in different businesses. A media conglomerate is a large company that owns several companies that provide products/services in you guessed it the media industry. Media includes tv networks, movie studios, theme parks,online digital companies, news papers, record labels, publishing companies, magazines and radio stations. For example, News Corporation owns 20th Century Fox Movies Studios, Fox TV Network, Fox TV Studios, New York Post, Wall Street Journal, Harper Collins Publishing and dozens of more companies. Media conglomerates are basically massive vertically integrated that control the entertainment industry. The five major media conglomerates are News Corporation, Walt Disney Company, Comcast, Viacom and Time Warner. Other major media conglomerates include CBS Corporation, A
Medium Close Up	When the camera's frame is slightly above the head to between the upper belly/chest.
MEISNER TECHNIQUE	An acting program that uses (among other things) repetitive and in-the-moment exercises first devised by Sanford Meisner of the Group Theatre. The technique emphasizes "moment-to-moment" spontaneity through communication with other actors to generate behavior that is "truthful under imaginary circumstances." Meisner also emphasized using the actor's imagination to create emotional reality—the creative "as-if"— over the personal, emotional experience philosophy championed by fellow Group Theatre member Lee Strasberg.
Method acting	A method of acting that involves using real life experiences to get into character. Coined by acting teacher Lee Strasberg, who defines Method acting as: What all actors have always done whenever they acted well. It is known proverbially as an acting process where the actor absolutely becomes the character.
Mini-Major Studio	Besides the BIG SIX major studios, there are other film studios that are capable of distributing movies to the major theater chains around the world. Although they're not as big and do not release as many films as the big six, the mini-majors compete directly with them and have the full potential to perform just as well as them in the box office. Here are the notable mini-major studios: CBS Films The To-Do List, The Woman In Black, Seven Psychopaths Dreamworks Lincoln, War Horse, The Help, Tropic Thunder, Madagascar, Shrek Franchise, Disturbia, Shark Tale, The Terminal, Anchorman, Collateral, Old School Lionsgate/Summit The Twilight Saga, The Hunger Games, The Expendables, Tyler Perry Films, Saw FranchiseMGM James Bond, 21 Jump Street, Hot Tub Time Machine, The Amityville HorrorRelativity Media Mirror Mirror, Limitless, Machine Gun Preacher, Don JonThe Weinstein Company The Kings Speech, The Artist, The Butler, Django Unchained, Silver Linings Playbook, Inglourious Basterds
Minimum Guarantee	A minimum guarantee is a commitment that a film distributor makes in order to pay the owner of a film for the rights to distribute in a certain territory. This is usually done as a presale where, before the movie is made, a distributor will agree to pay the filmmaker a specific dollar amount for the distribution rights for that film. That price is referred to as a minimum guarantee.
MND MEAL (NON DEDUCTABLE MEAL)	A 15 minute meal break provided to actors by the production company to bring actors in sync with crew break time. It must be completed within 2 hours of performers call time.
Mockumentary	Shot like a documentary but under fictional circumstances. Examples: The Office, Modern Family, Parks and Recreation.
MOCUMENTARY	A fictional, farcical film that has the style, 'look and feel' of a documentary, with irreverent humor, parody, or slapstick, that is deliberately designed to 'mock' the documentary or subject that it features.
Moment of Decision	A moment where your character weighs their options, or are required to make a decision that changes the direction of the scene/story.
Moment of Discovery	A moment when your character discovers new information that changes the direction of the scene and/or story.
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.
MONOLOGUE	A scene or a portion of a script in which an actor gives a lengthy, unbroken speech without interruption by another character.
MOS (Mit Out Sound/Motion Only Shot)	Any shot without dialogue or sound recording. Also sometimes called S.O.C. , silent on-camera.
MOTIVATION	The Why? The reason a character pursues a particular objective or super objective.
Movie Distributor	A distributor is the owner and licensor of motion picture rights. They are responsible for getting the film into theaters, and licensing the rights to desired third parties. Distributors include the major studios (WB, Universal, Columbia, Paramount, 20th Century Fox, Disney), the mini majors (MGM, Lionsgate Summit, Weinstein Company, CBS Films, Relativity) and the smaller independent companies (Magnolia Pictures, Participant Media, Road Side Attractions, IFC Films etc).
MPAA	Stands for Motion Picture Association of America. It's an American trade association that represents all the film distributors in North America. Its main purpose is to provide and enforce guidelines for creating film content. Basically, it's their job to protect the viewers from watching inappropriate or unexpected content. They do this by implementing the Production Code which spells out what is acceptable and not acceptable content for motion pictures. And of course they administer the MPAA film rating system which determines a film's rating.
Multi-cam	Multiple cameras (4 cameras) that record simultaneously and are only used in sitcoms (situational comedy TV shows) and soap operas. Since these shows record simultaneously, the actors only have to perform the scene a few times to get all actors' footage. Example: Big Bang Theory, Friends, The King of Queens.
Multi-Cam Comedy	There are basically two formats for TV sitcoms: single cam and multi-cam. A multi-cam comedy is shot on a sound stage. Production designers and construction artists build sets as the backdrop and setting for the series to take place. This elaborate set could be a house like in EVERYBODY LOVES RAYMOND, an apartment like in SEINFELD, a restaurant like in CHEERS or a coffee shop like in FRIENDS. The scenes are shot with multiple cameras (at least four) all rolling at the same time capturing different angles and views of the characters while the scene is taking place. The entire episode is typically shot in front of a live studio audience who provide the laugh track (one of the major differences between a multi-cam and single cam show). This plays a crucial role in the writing of the series. If a joke doesn't get a good reaction from the crowd, the team of writers will literally come up with a new lines on the spot for the actors to perform. They will decide in post production which take got the most laughs and incorporate into the final product.
Mumblecore	The term mumblecore refers to a sub-genre of independent style filmmaking characterized by low budget but still high-quality production value, B-List but talented actors and simplistic plots set in grounded settings. Filmmakers often associated with this include:
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.
Name Value	Celebrities that will bring popularity to your film and ultimately make the studio or network a profit. Other name value synonyms might include: name actor, A-name, or A-lister. Lesser-known name values are called B-list, C-list, or D-list actors.
NC-17	AKA: NC-17, X-Rated, X Rated, X. This is an official rating issued by the MPAA indicating that no person aged 17 or under will be allowed to attend a screening of the movie. This category was formerly called "X", but many people' mistaken association of "X" films with XXX films caused the MPAA to change this on September 27, 1990.
NCOPM	The National Conference of Personal Managers Inc. is the nation's oldest trade association of personal managers who provide professional management of talent engaged in entertainment, media and performing arts.
Negative Cost of a Film	Negative cost is the actual cost of producing and shooting a film. This does not include marketing, legal and distribution costs. This is synonymous with the "budget" of the film.
Nielsen Rating	A rating, unlike a share, is a percentage of all the Americans that own a TV set and a measure of how many of those people are watching a specific show at a specific time. In other words, it expresses how many Americans were watching a particular show, regardless of whether or not they had the television turned on.
Non-Diegetic Sound	This term describes sound from a motion picture where its source is neither visible on the screen nor has been implied to be present in the action.
Non-Theatrical Mean	This refers to the exploitation of a film in small venue screens such schools, military bases, churches, and commercial airplanes. Note: "Non-theatrical" does NOT mean "any media other than theatrical". Pay-TV, for example, though not theatrical, is not referred to as non-theatrical" it's simply in its own category.
O.D.A.	Stands for Open Directing Assignment. When a studio or production company needs to attach a director to one of their projects, they reach out to all the agencies and managements companies with an ODA. It' basically a job posting. Theyll send out the script along with the details of the project (auspices attached, salary, talent attached, timeline etc). Once agencies and management companies get word of the ODA, they submit the clients whom they feel will best fit the job. It' the agent' job to stay on top of all the studios and production companies and be aware of all the ODAs at any given time.
O.W.A.	When a studio or production company acquires a property with no writer attached (this property could be a book, article, play, board game, foreign movie or even just a concept) , they reach out to all the agencies and managements companies with an open writing assignment (OWA) stating that they need to hire a screenwriter to adapt the property into a script. It's basically a job posting for writers. The OWA will describe what the job entails, talent attachment (if any), the deadline for the script, the auspices attached and the salary. Once agencies and management companies get word of the OWA, they submit the clients whom they feel will best fit the job. It's the agent's job to stay on top of all the studios and production companies and be aware of all the OWAs at any given time.
OBJECTIVE	A character's pursuit of a specific goal in a scene. Also referred to as the intention or driving question.
OBSTACLE	The conflict and stumbling blocks to a character's struggle in pursuit of an action or objective.
OFF BOOK	You have your characters lines completely memorized. Usually you will have a deadline by which you need to be memorized or 'off book'.
Off-book	Having your sides completely memorized including: knowing your lines, stage direction, and anything relevant to the scene.
OFF-CAMERA (OC or OS)	Dialogue delivered without being on screen.
Off-The-Tops	These are the deductions that are applied first before calculating first dollar gross. This includes taxes, residuals, trade dues, and collection fees. So technically it' not really "first dollar". According to state laws and union laws, specific entities and people need to be paid off before any of the first dollar gross participants.
Offer	A specific amount of compensation a studio/network will pay the talent if they accept the job in their project.
Offer Only	No audition necessary. The actor works from offer base only. This term is generally used for most name value actors.
Omnies	These are extras who have to speak but only say atmospheric words that are supposed to be part of a big group of people. For example, youll need omnies if your scene takes place on the floor of the stock exchange, a crowded restaurant, or a cocktail party.
ON BOOK	With the script in your hand. Usually refers to the time you are working with the script but 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.
On/Off/Off-Off Broadway	On-Broadway productions are staged in New York City's official theater district, between Sixth to Eighth Avenues and 41st to 54th Streets. These theaters have 500 or more seats. Off-Broadway designates professional theaters with 100 to 499 seats, and off-off Broadway is one with less than 100 seats.
One-Off TV Script Deal	This is a typical deal that a studio will make with a writer for a TV series where the pilot script has yet to be written… especially if you're an unestablished writer. The writer is typically engaged to perform the initial step of writing a pilot script, and from there the studio is given the option to further engage the writer to render additional services on the pilot episode and/or series both from a writing and producing capacity. The studio can stop the process of development with that writer at any time. This is a way for the studio to hedge their risk when they're developing a TV series for a network. If the studio is unhappy with the script, they can cut their losses early having only committed to the fee for the pilot.
Option	An option is the right to acquire a piece of property by subsequent payment of additional money. Once you have discovered a piece of property that you want to acquire the rights for, the first thing you usually do is draft an option agreement with the owner. With an option, you pay a small sum (to be negotiated with the owner) which then gives you exclusive control of the rights for a specified period of time. Once that period of time is over, you must either pay for the ownership of the rights, let them go, or extend the option. In other words, with an option, you are paying to reserve the rights to a property in case you decide to buy them in the future. The specified period of time is known as the 'option period'. You can negotiate the length of this time with the owner. During this time you as the producer will try to put the movie together by assembling all the appropriate elements. Should you decide that you want to own the rights and exercise your option, you would pay the remaining amount of the purchase price. Should you decide not to exercise your option, the rights would then revert back to the owner.
Option Agreement	This is a contract signed between the owner of the rights to a particular property and a producer (or writer) who would like to exploit the property in some form of consumable content. The agreement outlines the terms in which the producer will be granted the exclusive access to the rights of the property and the option to purchase the rights to the property once the option period has expired.The general terms outlined in an option agreement include the option period (the amount of time in which you have exclusive access to the rights), cost of the option, the extension period (the amount time in which you can extend the option period), cost of the option extension, purchase price (once the option period is over, this is the cost of purchasing the rights), and which specific rights you will be granted.Also see "What is an Option?"
OUT OF FRAME	An actor outside the camera range.
Output Deal	This agreement commits a studio to acquire the rights to a specified number of motion pictures from one production company. Essentially this is a pre-sale agreement for a number of unspecified films. The distributor or licensee believes in the abilities of the production company that it is willing to risk paying for the films before they're produced. This benefits both parties as the production company is guaranteed to have a buyer/distributor for their films before they go into production, and the studio will have no competition for the distribution rights and they'll be able to get them at a low price.
OVER-THE-SHOULDER	A shot over the shoulder of one actor, focusing entirely on the face and upper torso of the other actor in a scene; generally shot in pairs so both actors expressions can later be edited together.
Overages	When it comes to feature films, overages refer to the amount of money that a distributor earns from the box office rentals that exceed what they initial paid for the distribution rights.For example, let' say through a presale, a distributor agrees to pay a minimum guarantee of a million dollars for the rights to distribute in Italy. Once the film is complete, the distributors pays the million dollars to the producers, and puts it in theaters all across Italy. The movie is a hit! After 2 weeks in theaters, the box office has grossed $3M dollars. Half of that goes to the exhibitors and the remaining $1.5M goes to the distributor who just made a $500K profit from the film. That $500k is referred to as the overage.
Overall Deal	This is basically a first look deal except anything that the producer develops while under this agreement must stay within the studio and cannot be taken elsewhere even if the studio passes. In return, the studio will pay an annual fee to the producer and cover all of his/her overhead costs. Both TV and film studios make overall deals with production companies and writers.
OVERDUBBING	In studio singing or voice work, the process of laying one soundtrack over another.
Owned vs. Operated TV Stations	These stations are, you guessed it, owned and operated by the network and play to a specific location. The reason why networks dont just own and operate all their local stations is that the FCC mandates that networks arent allowed to own a station that reaches more than 39 percent of the population.
P.A.	When referring to a film or TV set, this term stands for production assistant. This person is technically the assistant to the first assistant director, however, they generally serve any of the department heads to carry out any tasks they need. This position is the lowest on the totem pole. PA' can be asked to do any general task. This could involve working directly on set, or performing menial work like getting coffee. If you are looking to work on set or in production, becoming a PA is one of the easiest ways to get your foot in the door. Most accomplished film directors started out as a PA.
PACE	The speed at which you pick up your cue and deliver the next line of your dialogue. Pace can also be the speed that creates a style for the piece.
Package Fee	In the TV arena, this is a fee that TV studios or networks pay an agency when they purchase a TV series. This fee is to compensate the agency for attaching all the key auspices for a television series. This includes an upfront fee they get as soon as the show is purchased, and a back-end percentage (usually around 10 percent) for any gross profits the show generates. Most of the time, only one agency receives the package fee, but on the rare occasion, if two agencies attach to big pieces of talent onto a series, they will split the package fee.Furthermore, any clients of that agency that are working on that show do NOT have to pay their agency commission because it' a show that their agents packaged. For example, youll often hear that a TV show is a "WME package". This simply means that the show was packaged by WME before selling to the studio.
Packaging	Movie packaging is one of the primary services that an agency can provide. This is a key role played by all the major agencies. Packaging involves putting together more than one element for a project before presenting it to buyers. Often times, this is essential for producing an independent film. A producer will approach a packaging agent with a script and possibly one piece of talent attached (ie director or actor). If the agent feels that the project has potential he will attach the remaining pieces of talent - usually all represented by that same agency - and put together the best "package" for financiers. The better the talent, the more appealing it is for financiers. If an agency packages a project that contains all of their clients attached, they will not charge their clients a commission. Instead, what they will do is take a packaging fee from the financier. The agency may also act as the sales agent for the film and collect a fee for all the territories sold in the independent film market.
PAN	A camera shot which sweeps from side-to-side.
PANTOMIME	An art form related to the dance; not to be confused with "silent scenes" or a "scene without words.".
Pause	Often written in scripts, the pause is a hotly debated term. It should be a short 1-3 second pause. A pause often indicates a thought change similar to a beat.
Pay and Play	This is a contractual provision where if the talent on a film is not going to be used in a motion picture for any reason, he or she will still be paid full compensation. All above-the-line talent want "pay or play" in their contract. No matter what happens, the talent (writer, actor, director) will get paid. Think of this like a penalty that the studio has to pay if they choose not to use a particular talent. An agent will typically try and negotiate this in the agreement terms so that it incentives the studio/production company to use their client in the film.
Pay or Play	This is a contractual provision where if the talent on a film is not going to be used in a motion picture for any reason, he or she will still be paid full compensation. All above-the-line talent want "pay or play" in their contract. No matter what happens, the talent (writer, actor, director) will get paid. Think of this like a penalty that the studio has to pay if they choose not to use a particular talent. An agent will typically try and negotiate this in the agreement terms so that it incentives the studio/production company to use their client in the film.
PER DIEM	Fee paid by producer on location shoots to compensate performer for expenditures for meals not provided by the producer.
Period Piece	A period piece describes a motion picture that takes place in a past era. In other words, it takes place at a time far enough in the past where culture, customs, technology, fashion, speech
Personal Secret	An emotional link. What makes you, as the actor, personally and emotionally invested in the scene. Take what you care about most and use an imaginary circumstance to hook it into the situation in the scene. Gets you out of your head and into your gut, where you will fight for what matters to you the most.
PFD Agreement	If you want to play in the studio system as producer, a PFD agreement is ultimately what you're looking for. PFD stands for Production/Finance/Distribution. This is an agreement between a studio and a production company. The agreement basically states that the studio will hire the production company to produce a particular film and pay them a substantial producer fee. In return, the studio will finance and distribute the film. The studio has full control and ownership of all rights pertaining to the film in perpetuity throughout the world. PFD agreements will also include the back-end deal and residuals the production company will receive after the film hits theatres.
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.
PICK UP	Starting a scene from a place other than the beginning.
Pickups	AKA Pickup shots, are scenes or shots that are filmed after principal photography is complete. Often times a director will look through the dailies or watch a rough cut of a film and realize that certain shots can be added, fixed or replaced in order to make the film better. These shots are called "pickups" and most productions will set aside budget and time to capture these after principal photography.
PICTURE'S UP!	Warning that the sequence of cues to shoot a scene is about to begin.
Pilot	The very first episode of the first season of any TV show.
Pilot Episode	This is the first episode of a television series. In most cases, a network will shoot a pilot first before deciding if they will air a series on television.
Pilot Season	The early months (typically January & February) where brand new TV shows are being cast. As new studios emerge, more pilots are being cast all year round.
Platform Release	This method of release allows a film to be played in a few theaters in specific areas for the purpose of building up an audience and establishing it' reputation before expanding the release to additional theaters. This contrasts with "Day and Date release".
Platform Release vs Wide Release	When it comes to releasing a feature film in theatres, there are two ways to do it. Platforming is a method of release where the film is opened in a single theatre or a small group of theatres in a particular territory for the purpose of building an audience before releasing into other territories. This can be done in one step or in phases once the film has established itself in the market. A wide release, on the other hand, is where a film is released on a large number of screens in several territories all at one time. Any number of screens ranging from 100 to >3000 is considered a wide release. Most, if not all, studio films exhibit wide releases. Most independent films will release in a couple theaters in Los Angeles and/or New York before exhibiting in other cities.
Playability	A term used in film-marketing that describes the ability to appeal to an audience over a long period of time. In other words, it describes how good your film is…how good the story is…how good the acting is etc. A film's playability is ultimately responsible for it's sustainability and longevity over time.
PLAYBILL	A program usually containing information about the play, cast, crew, supporters, and advertisers.
PLAYWRIGHT	A person who writes or adapts properties known as play; in most traditions, the first and most creative artist of all those who collaborate to make theatre. It is the playwright's property that stimulates the impetus for a full-fledged production. In musicals, the writers include the writers of the music, the lyrics, and the book.
Plus Ten	The standard process when agents collect their commission is to take that 10% directly from their client' gross pay. So if my salary for acting in a film was $2,000, I would pay my agent $200 which would leave me with $1,800 in my bank account. If someone offers me scale plus ten, this means that they will pay me scale rate and they would also pay my agent his/her 10% commission on top of that. This way, I get to keep all my money and my agent still gets paid. In the former scenario, I would have $2000 in my bank account and the production company or studio would pay my agent $200 separately. This is a common negotiation tactic that agents use to get their clients more money.
POD	Stands for "Production Overall Deal". Even though this is the name given to a type of deal, over time it's become the term used to describe a production company with an overall deal at a studio. In a POD deal, studios will pay writers/producers/directors/actors to have exclusivity to their projects.
Point Agent	Often times when someone wants to reach out to the agent of a particular talent, you'll hear them ask, "Who runs point on him/her?" They're essentially asking who the point agent is. Most clients, especially the big ones, have a team of agents that service him/her. Within that team is the client' primary agent who deals with all initial inquiries and is the first person you call when you're interested in that client' services. This is known as the point agent, or the agent who runs point on that client. For example, Jonah Hill has four agents on his team, but if you have inquiry on his availability you call his point agent Sharon Jackson.
Poor-Man' Process	This term generally refers to interior vehicle scenes. It describes a situation where a stage is used - and sometimes green screen - to simulate a moving vehicle. The vehicle will be stationary and the actors will act out the scene while a footage will be projected behind the vehicle to make it look like it's in motion. This is much cheaper than blocking off a road, setting up a car mount, with insert car and filming outside…hence why they call it the poor man's process.
Post-Production	Commonly referred to as "post". Post production includes all the process that happens after the footage has been captured. This includes editing, sound design, sound mixing, VFX and coloring. The cameras have been put away and now it's time to put the footage, and sound together into a meaningful motion picture. Initially when you think of post you think film editing and this, of course, is a huge part of post-production. A the entire story can be told in many different ways depending on how it is edited, and that's why your editor is one of the most crucial people you hire for a film. Sound design includes sound effects, ADR, foley, and music.
POV	A shot that shows the scene through the character's eyes. We see the world from their point of view.
Pre-Production	This is the second phase of the film making process (after development). You engage in this phase once you have secured financing for your project and your the final draft of your script has been written. The main objective of this task is to assemble your team, derive a schedule, finalize your budget and secure your locations. Assuming you have secured all of your above the line talent, one of the first things you'll need to do is hire your casting director to cast the remaining roles of the film. Have him/her start searching for and narrowing down the actors to approximately 5-10 for each role. While your casting director is doing that you can assemble the rest of your crew.
Pre-Read	This is the first stage of auditions where the actor only reads for the casting director. If the casting director likes the audition, he/she will call the actor back in for a second read (aka call-back).
Premium Cable	Premium cable refers to a cable to network that viewers pay a subscription to (commonly through their TV provider) in order to watch their content. Usually their content is considered more arthouse and less broad. Any R-Rated contented intended only for adult audience can be found on premium cable networks. When people throw around the term "premium cable" they're usually referring to the HBO, Showtime, AMC and Starz.
Presale	If you want to thrive in the independent film world, this is a term you need to become familiar with. It' an agreement made between a distributor (usually foreign and specific to only one country) and the production company before the film is completed and often times even before production of a film has even commenced. This is a strategy that producers use to get their film financed. You may here that a producer financed a film via foreign presales alone. This means that a distributor pays for the distribution rights for their territory before they even see the finish product. In return, they will get to pay a significantly reduced cost for these rights as opposed to if they waited to buy the rights to the completed film in the open market. They are banking on the film doing well in the box office based on the script, director, producer and actors that are attached to the film in return for a discount. Some presale agreements involve the distributor and producer agreeing prior to production on a fixed amount to be paid upon delivery of the film. This is called an advance or a minimum guarantee. The ultimate objective for an independent film production company is to close enough foreign presale agreements in order to cover the negative cost of their film.
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 official opening night. Usually invited friends. No press.
PRINCIPAL	A performer with lines.
Principle Photography	Once your schedule is made, your crew recruited, your actors have been casted, and your locations are secured, it' time start production and push record. Production, also referred to as principle photography, is where the footage gets captured and the actual film making process takes place. This is where your director really takes over and does his job. As a producer, your job is to oversee, solve problems, and offer opinions, but at the end of the day, your director is calling the shots creatively during this process. The ultimate objective is to stay on schedule, get all the shots/coverage that you need, get the best performances from your actors, maintain continuity, and stay on budget.
Procedural	This is a term used to describe a specific type of drama that uses a set "procedure" or routine within each episode to propel the characters through the story. Contrasted with serialized dramas, procedurals do not require the audience to have seen the previous episode in order to understand the plot of the next. Each episode contains the same characters but has an isolated story which ends at the conclusion of the hour. For example, in CSI, Gil Grissom and his team of crime scene investigators come across a dead body and a set of clues. Each clue, through a series of unforeseen plot turns, leads our characters to another until they ultimately solve the murder by the end of the episode. Each episode is a different murder and the viewers dont need to know what happened in the previous episode in order to appreciate the current one. CSI, along with shows like LAW
PRODUCER	Often called the Line Producer; the person responsible for the day-to-day decision.
Product Placement	This is a method that producers of both TV and film use to lower the budget of their project. Knowing that there will be millions of eyes watching the motion picture, they will ask companies pay a fee in order to have their product, logo and brand featured on the screen. For example, FedEx outbid UPS and DHL to have their company be the featured courier in CAST AWAY. The company paid the studio an undisclosed amount which went directly toward the negative cost of the film. There are many opportunities in a typical film for producers to take advantage of product placement opportunities. This could include cellphones, cars, beverages, restaurants, computers and shoes.
Production Assistant (PA)	An assistant to anyone who needs help on set. Tasks vary based on need.
Production Designer	AKA PD. This is one of the key creative rolesin a film. Youll see this high up in the credits in the same group as the director of photography and editor. This person is an artist who is responsible for designing the overall appearance of a film. They work closely with the director and producer to establish what the setting and environment of every scene looks like. Basically everything you see on the screen that is not living (furniture, vegetiation, wall color, cars etc) is designed and created by the PD and his/her team. This, however, does not include wardrobe and hair.
Production Manager	The production manager (aka PM) is responsible for supervising the entire operational aspect of production (not creative). This includes the crew, budget, schedule, equipment, and food. It is usually the production managers responsibility to make sure the day-to-day operations are on schedule and on budget. They look after salaries, production costs, equipment rental costs, and food costs. They make sure everyone is on set at the right time. They make sure that the food is ready and on time. The PM usually works under the line producer.
PROFILE	Often in auditions, the CD will call for profile. The actor stands facing camera in normal posture, picture taken or filmed, then to each side showing the actors profile from front, right and left side.
Project Turnaround	A lot of times, a project in development will not make it into the production process. When this happens, the project is abandoned by the studio and placed into turnaround. In other words, the studio makes it official that theyre not going to green light the project in the foreseeable future. This gives the opportunity for the producer to shop the project to other studios or film companies who might show more interest in producing it. If there isnt a producer attached, other studios or financiers can try and acquire the rights to the project.
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.
Promoter Personality Type	Outgoing and people oriented. All about the fun. Life of the party. If it's not fun, what's the point? Tend to be popular and center of attention. Have great ideas but not so good about following through and getting things done.
Prompt side	Stage Left. This term comes from the term to prompt an actor. This occurs when the actor forgets a line and the stage manager tells them the line from the side of the stage.
Prop	A prop is any solid object that an actor has contact with in a scene. This could anything from a sword, a phone, helmet, shoe, computer, to a golf club. This, however, does not include vehicles, furniture, or wardrobe. The exception is if the actor were to use the furniture or wardrobe for something that it' not meant to be used for. ie Using a chair as a weapon.
Prop Master	This person is in charge of the prop department which works directly with the production designer. The prop master is not on set as much as the "prop person". It is the prop masters job to go out and find or create the perfect props for the director and have the ready at a moments notice.
PROPS	Any objects used by actors in a scene.
Protagonist	In its purest definition, an antagonist is a character in a story that stands in the way of our protagonist's goal. And yes, an antagonist for all intents and purpose is an actual character. In other words, a tornado is not an antagonist and neither is society. Often times we refer to the antagonist as the villain in a story, but we all know that not all stories have a villain and even if they do, they may not be an essential part of the entire story. For example, in TOY STORY, Sid Phillips is our villain, but he is not our antagonist - Buzz Lightyear is the antagonist who stands in Woody's way of being Andy's favorite toy.
PSA	Public Service Announcement.
Put Pilot	This is a provision that a TV studio or writer may include in a deal with a network in regards to a certain project. This guarantees the studio that the pilot will be shot, or the studio will be paid a fee if the pilot is not shot. This is done for high-profile projects or as incentive when more that one network is bidding for the project. Script penalties can range from $50,000 to $200,000. Pilot penalties can range all the way up to $1M.
Q RATING	Refers to an ad research rating that gauges how easily a celebrity is recognized — and how well the celebrity is liked.
Racking Focus	This is a technique used in filmmaking where the focus of the lens is changed during a shot to focus from one object in the frame to another object without a lot of movement with the camera. The purpose is to shift the attention from one element in the frame to another without having to cut to a different angle. The more shallow the focus, the more noticeable this technique is to the viewer. For example, perhaps you have a character in the foreground who is unaware of a character standing behind him. To reveal this, the camera might focus on the main character, and the rack focus so the we can see the character in the background.Here' an example from CSI where they use rack focus to draw attention from the broken artifact to the scientist who is trying to piece it together.
REACTION SHOT	The camera shooting a character's emotional or physical response or reaction to something that is happening in the scene.
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.
Reader	The readers are at the bottom of the studio hierarchy. Their job is you guessed it to read material. They are given, books, scripts, and articles to read, and once they have read them, they write coverage on them. The coverage will be used as an initial reference point for studio executives who have not read the piece of material being covered. Becoming a reader is a great way to start working in the entertainment industry as it allows you to not only work with executives, but it also allows you to learn the craft of story telling. To learn more about how to become a reader click here.
Recurring	Character returns over multiple episodes, either on standing contract or contracted periodically, based on negotiations and number of appearances.Character returns over multiple episodes, either on standing contract or contracted periodically, based on negotiations and number of appearances.
Recurring Role vs a Regular Role	In the world of television, there are basically three types of roles on a show. A regular, a recurring, and a guest. A guest is role that only appears once or a few times in a series. This happens a lot with case-of-week procedurals. A recurring role is for a character who is continually brought back to show and is an important part of the series storyline, however, they do not appear in every episode. In ENTOURAGE, Vince' director Billy Walsh is a recurring role. A series regular is a role that appears in every episode of the series.
Red Band Trailer	A red band trailer is a movie trailer that is given an "R" MPAA rating and is only intended for mature audiences. You'll know it's a red band trailer when the opening frame reveals a red background. R rated films create these trailers in order to convey the appropriate tone, dialogue and humor behind the film.
REGIONAL THEATRE	Also called resident theatre. A term applied to permanent nonprofit professional theatre companies that have established roots outside the major theatre centers. Besides bringing first-rate theatre to their region, they often have programs to nurture local talent and to encourage new plays of special regional interest.
Remake vs. a Reboot	A remake is when you take an existing film, usually produced at least ten years earlier, and you essentially produce it once again with the same story. Example of this remakes include OCEAN'S ELEVEN, FOOTLOOSE. A reboot is when you take the concept and/or characters from an existing film but you discard all continuity from the previous story and recreate its secondary characters, timeline and/or backstory. A recent example of a reboot is THE AMAZING SPIDERMAN starring Andrew Garfield. This is the same concept, but told with a completely different story and had no connection the previous Spiderman movies starring Tobey Maguire. Same with the Christopher Nolan's Batman trilogy. The concept is the same as the previous Batman films, but the back story and premise are completely different.
Reshooting	Reshooting not a bad thing and should be regarded as part of the the filmmaking process. There have been many famous reshoots. Parts of JAWS were reshot in the swimming pool of film executive's house. FATAL ATTRACTION altered much of the last sequence of the film. The producers and director changed the ending from a more fatalistic approach to something much more dynamic, exciting and eventually satisfying for the audience. Most recently WORLD WAR Z virtually replaced the entire third act - turning it into one of the biggest hits of the past summer.
RESIDUAL	The fee paid to a performers for rebroadcast of a commercial, film or TV program. Tracked by the Actors Unions.
RESUME	List of credits, usually attached to an 8×10 headshot.
Ripomatic vs. a Sizzle Reel	In Hollywood, executives love visuals. Nothing will help you sell a project better than a video presentation. For scripted projects, a lot of the time we use short films depicting the overall concept and tone of our project. With unscripted projects, we often shoot a sizzle reel and send this to buyers along with a treatment for the series. A sizzle reel is basically a trailer which consists of on-location footage and interviews with the characters of your reality show. It's edited in a way that easily conveys what the show is about, how each episode will be formatted, what the locations will look like and what your characters' personalities are like. A sizzle reel should be no longer than 3 minutes. Another way to sell your scripted movie is to shoot a trailer (just like any other trailer you've seen). However, it can get extremely expensive to shoot all the footage required for a proper trailer. This is where the RIPOMATIC comes in. It's edited and presented exactly like a trailer, except it uses footage/audio from already-made movies. If done correctly, they can be extremely effective. They are, however, technically illegal to make as it infringes upon copyrighted material - hence why it's quite hard to find good ripomatics online to show you. But don't worry, executives and buyers don't really care. So long as they're excited about the movie, they could care less as to how you made your trailer. So when you make your ripomatic, as long as you don't release it to the public, you should be fine to use it as a sales tool behind closed doors.
Roll Calls	Rolling calls is one of the many essential tasks assigned to an assistant. This is the process where the assistant will connect a call between his/her boss and a third party. He/she will stay on the line and when the call is finished, he/she will connect their boss to another call. This allows the boss to make several phone calls without ever having to hang up or dial.
ROLLING!	The verbal cue for the camera film and audio tape to start rolling.
ROM-COM	Showbiz slag for a Romantic Comedy.
Royalties vs Residuals	In the world of TV, a royalty is a fee one receives for every episode of their show that gets produced. This is usually reserved for the show' creator and/or the pilot director. For example, even though Martin Scorsese never directed any other episode of BOARDWALK EMPIRE except for the pilot, because he directed the pilot and created the overall look and feel of the show, he gets a royalty fee for every episode that gets produced. Same goes to Terrence Winter, the show' creator. Unlike royalties, residuals are fees that writers, actors and directors receive every time their episode airs on television. A royalty is only based on whether episodes of your show goes into production, NOT whether or not it airs on television.
Run	A "run" describes a TV show' specific cycle of airing. A series first airing on a network is its "network run" or "broadcast run". If it first airs on a cable network, then it' referred to as a "cable run". Its subsequent airing in syndication is know as its "second run."
RUSH CALL	The last minute booking of an actor or extra. This usually occurs when another actor or extra cancels at the last minute.
SAG	The Screen Actor's Guild is an American labor union founded in 1933 which now represents over 105,000 film and television performers. According to SAG's Mission Statement, the Guild seeks to: negotiate and enforce collective bargaining agreements that establish equitable levels of compensation, benefits, and working conditions for its performers; collect compensation for exploitation of recorded performances by its members, and provide protection against unauthorized use of those performances; and preserve and expand work opportunities for its members.
Sample	Otherwise known as a "writing sample", this is a script that a screenwriter writes for the purposes of showcasing his/her talent as a writer. Most of the time, when deciding to write a sample, a screenwriter will do so without the intention of selling or producing that script. In this way they don't need to worry about budgetary, casting or any other creative constraints.
Scale	All the unions have standard minimum payments that their members must be paid by law when working on a project. If you are being paid "scale" (aka union scale), this means you are being paid the minimum amount of money required by your designated guild. All the guilds set these minimums in order to protect their members from being underpaid in the industry.
Scene Shift	The arc of the scene, the direction in which the story moves for your character. Every scene will shift from positive to negative, or negative to positive. All scenes shift.
Screener	A screener refers to a DVD copy of a feature film (usually made before its official DVD release) that is used for promotional purposes. DVD screeners are often sent to members of all the guilds in preparation for awards season.
Scribe	A scribe is another term for writer. Aaron Sorkin is the scribe for THE SOCIAL NETWORK.
SCRIPT	The written form of a screenplay, teleplay, radio or stage play.
SCRIPT ANALYSIS	The close study of a play or screenplay. This incorporates all of the dialogue and stage directions to find the answers necessary to create a full and rich character and to craft a performance that serves the script. The exploration of the script may include the questions of theme, story, character, and overall elements of the play and characters.
Script Coordinator	This person works for the writers room of a TV series. His/her job is to support the show' writing staff and is responsible for tracking script changes, archiving scripts, distributing drafts and organizing scripts to be printed for the writers when needed. This is often a great starter position to get into a writers room.
Script Supervisor	This is one of the most important positions on a set (aka the "script soop"). The script supervisor usually stands right next to the director, and it is they're job to make sure continuity is maintained throughout production. They will mark directly on the script what angels were shot for which scenes, and how many takes were done of each. It is their job to make sure that for every take, the actors' lines are consistent with other takes. In general, they need to make sure that a movie that is shot out of sequence will piece together and make sense for the editor. On that note, even though the script supervisor works directly with the director, her responsibility lies equally with the editor in making sure he/she has a clear understand of how many takes were done of each scene and all the details pertaining to each take. Every time footage is sent to the editor, the script supervisor's production report will be sent along with them. This includes a report of all the takes, how long each of them were, and a breakdown of all the scenes with director notes. She will also submit a copy of the script that is marked up with vertical lines (aka a "lined script"). Each line represents the start and stop of every camera setup/angle. This allows the editor to quickly reference which camera setups cover which portion of the script.
SCRIPTY	The script supervisor.
Second Assistant Camera	This crew member (aka Second AC, or Clapper Loader) is responsible for preparing and operating the clapper at the beginning of each take. The second AC is also responsible for loading the camera if a designated camera loader has not been appointed.
Second Assistant Director	It is 2nd AD' job to carry out the demands of the first AD. They are usually the ones that coordinate the extras, or scenes that dont involved the primary actors. They also help communicate with other below-the-line crew such as wardrobe, hair/make-up.
SECOND TEAM!	The verbal cue for the stand-ins to come to the set and be ready to stand in.
Self tape	A screen test recorded without the assistance of a casting director. It can be done at home or at a self taping business.
Selling a TV Show With a Penalty	If you're one of the lucky ones who sell a TV show to a network, often times theyll pay for your pilot script (or pay to have your pilot written if it hasn't already been done so) and that' the end of the road for you. They might even produce your pilot and never air it. I've watched dozens of pilots that have never seen the light of day. To avoid this, high profile producers/writers will demand a penalty in their purchase agreement. This is also referred to as a PUT PILOT. This means that if the pilot doesn't get produced and aired on TV, the network must pay a huge fee to the producer/writer of the show. This can range for low six figures to low seven figures depending on the contract. On rare occasions,a deal may include a series penalty which means if the network doesn't order the show to series, they must pay a penalty. Networks can also use this as a bargaining tool to incentivise the producer/writer to sell the show to them and not one of their competitors. Proven talent like J.J Abrams (LOST, ALIAS) and David E. Kelly (THE PRACTICE, CHICAGO HOPE) usually get this term incorporated into their contract.
SENSE MEMORY	(emotional recall) The basis for Lee Strasberg's Method Acting. "Sense memory" is used to refer to the recall of physical sensations: sight, touch, taste, smell, and sound. These physical sensations surround an emotional event, instead of the emotions themselves.
SENSORY	Connecting the character to the body and mind through the senses; to taste, hear, feel, see, think, perceive; to know through the physical inner self, as opposed to the instinctive.
Series Regular	Contract role with exclusivity to the series, network, and production company for a term of a year or more; paid for a predetermined number of episodes produced, on contract for all episodes, even those in which the character doesn't appear.
SET	The immediate location where the scene is being filmed.
SET-UP	Each time the camera changes position.
Setpiece	This is a term most often used in both production and development. It describes a really important dramatic or comedic scene or sequence in the story - particularly those that plant seeds, provide some sort of payoff, convey character traits, or provide resolution. These scenes are so pertinent to the story that they cannot be eliminated or augmented without affecting the integrity of the film. For example, the opening scene in the THE SIXTH SENSE where Bruce Willis' character gets shot is an important setpiece - the twist at the end wouldn't work without it.
SFX	Sound effects.
Share	This is part of Nielsen Media's rating system. Shares, as opposed to ratings, indicate the percentage of households or individuals that are a watching a particular show at a specific time, based on the total number of individuals in the USA who own television sets and actually have them turned on at that time. In other words, if the Nielsen share of a particular show is 2, this means of that of all the people who were watching TV at that particular time, 2% were watching that show.
Shooting Day for Night	This means that a shoot is done during the day but simulates night time, using filters, underexposure, and other techniques to create a feeling of darkness. BUT WHY NOT JUST SHOOT AT NIGHT? One of the reasons why this is done is because of scheduling. If we need to shoot night scenes but it follows a day shoot, the crew and actors will have no time to rest and if we wait until the following evening, we lose a full day of shooting. Another reason to shoot day-for-night is energy cost. Even though you your scene is at night, you still need to light it and if youre outside away from electric plug-ins, it' going to cost money for generators and fuel. If you notice, many of the night scenes in WINTERS BONE was shot during the day.
Shooting Script	This is the official final draft of the script from which the movie is made by the actors, director and all the other crew members. Often times, however, certain parts of the script will be re-written during production (especially in TV) so in order to make sure everyone has the correct draft, the new draft will be written on different colored paper.
Showrunner	A showrunner is in charge of all the creative decisions regarding a television show. Not only are they head writer and run the writer's room, but they are usually on set making sure production runs smoothly and in the editing bay supervising the cut. All showrunners receive EP credit and are usually the creators of the show as well. Unlike feature film where the director is king, in television, the showrunner outranks the director in all creative processes.
Sides	A few pages directly from a script given to an actor for the purpose of auditioning without divulging the whole story.
SIGN-IN SHEET	A sheet at the casting office where talent will sign their Name, Agency, Phone number and time arrived to the casting office. The Talent are generally called into the audition room based on the time they arrived.
Single Cam Comedy	A single cam comedy is shot and presented using the conventional methods of motion picture story telling. In other words, it looks and feels like your watching a movie with NO laugh track. In a single cam comedy, typically one camera is used and filming requires different set ups where the actors have to act out the same scene for each set up. The best angles and takes are then assembled in post-production - the same process used in conventional film making. Unlike a mutli-cam sitcom, there is no live audience, no laugh track and you can usually see the entire 360 degree setting.
Single-cam	Traditionally only one camera used. In these shows/films, actors repeat the scene multiple times to get every actor's individual shot. Examples: Bates Motel, The League, The Office.
Sitcom	This is a term many people use to describe shows like SEINFELD, CHEERS, FRIENDS, FRASIER, I LOVE LUCY etc but have no idea what it actually means. First off, it has nothing to do with sitting. Visual comedic entertainment can be broken down into three main categories. Standup comedy, sketch comedy and situational comedy (also known as SITCOMS). A sitcom is a genre of comedy that involves multiple characters sharing a common environment, like a home or a workplace, with humorous dialogue and a compelling storyline. Often times the show will be accompanied by a laugh track unless it's a single cam comedy like MODERN FAMILY or MY NAME IS EARL.
SLATE	A small chalkboard and clapper device, often electronic, used to mark and identify shots on film for editing; also the process of verbal identification by a performer in a taped audition (e.g., "Slate your name!").
Slip a script	To 'slip' a script to someone means to send it to them for their eyes only and for their knowledge only. They are being sent the material with the trust that they will not share with anyone nor will they let anyone know that they are in possession of the script.
Soft Money	The reason this is called soft money, is because you're not actually getting financing for your film. Soft money is a way to reduce your budget with tax credits, incentives, subsidies, rebates, etc from the local government. When you film in certain countries or states, the local film commission will subsidize a set percentage of your budget because you are essentially providing jobs for local workers. Every film commission has their own website you can visit to see what incentives they have to offer. It's not uncommon to see large productions being filmed outside of Hollywood as they can literally save millions of dollars in doing so.
SOLILOQUY	A speech given directly to the audience, ordinarily with no one else on stage. Usually played as a direct address to the audience, sometimes played as a character thinking aloud in the audience's presence.
Sotto	Often times youll read dialogue in a script and come across the word "sotto" in parenthesis before the actual dialogue. This simply means that the character is saying the proceeding words to him/herself and not directing it to anyone else.
SOUND CUES	Sound effects (music, doorbell, a car door, dog barking, etc.).
Sound Design	Sound is one of the most important elements of a film. It's hard for the general audience to appreciate on screen, but if designed properly, sound alone can change the direction of a story. It is truly a skill and an art-form to capture and produce great quality sound in motion picture. When it comes to film making, there are five kinds of sounds: Background/Ambiance, Effects, Dialogue/ADR, Music (score and source) and Foley.
Sound Stage	Commonly located on a movie studio lot, a sound stage is a massive sound-proof structure similar to an airplane hanger where the space is used to construct a set and use for motion picture production.
Spec Script	AKA speculative screenplay, this is a non-commissioned script that a screenwriter chooses to write for free. You'll often hear the phrase "write on spec" which simply means "write for free". It's usually written by a screenwriter who hopes to have the script optioned/purchased by a production company or studio. The spec market is extremely tough these days. Very few spec scripts are being bought especially if there are no other attachments. Nowadays, the main purpose for a writer to spec a script is to prove his/her writing ability and get representation from an agent and/or manager. From there, the goal is to use that script to get the attention of studios and productions companies and have them commission the writer to write the screenplay one of their projects.
Special Effects Supervisor	A special effects supervisor is exactly what it sounds like. This person is present on set during production and is in charge of making sure the special effects are executed properly and safely. During preproduction he/she is responsible for acquiring all the materials and personnel within the budget and have it prepared for when needed on set.
Special Effects vs. Visual Effects	To put it simply, special effects are carried out on set during production, and visual effects are done in post-production. That isn't to say that the visual effects team isn't involved in production and the special effects team isn't involved in post, but the creative decisions made by each team generally pertains to their respective phases in the film-making process. Special effects can be broken down into two categories: optical, and mechanical. Optical effects are done by manipulating the camera and lighting which in turn will make your scene look different than what it looks like to the naked eye. This could involve working with camera lenses, types of lighting, or camera movements that give a certain look to the shot. The special effects supervisor is in charge of making the creative decisions and works directly with the director on set to achieve what he/she wants. Mechanical effects involve working during a live-action shot and usually pertains to making things look/seem like something they aren't. For example manipulating weather conditions like wind and snow is a huge part of mechanical effects. Pyrotechnics and working with scale models is another aspect of mechanical effects. Visual effects has emerged as a paramount part of modern-day film making. You will rarely ever see a film without visual effects. This could be filling in a green screen, creating computer generated imagery (CGI), 3D rendering or animation. The visual effects supervisor (not to be confused with the visual effects producer or coordinator) makes all the creative decisions and works directly with the director off and on set to make sure he/she gets the visual image desired. The visual effects coordinator works for the visual effects supervisor in post-production, and the visual effects producer works like a line producer and manages the cost of the visual effects which can get outrageously high (sometimes over half of a film's budget).
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 LENS	Looking directly into the lens during a scene; since it destroys the illusion of realism, actors should never spike the lens unless specifically directed to do so for specific effect.
Staff Writer	This is the title given to the lowest level writer on a scripted television series.
Stage Direction	All action written in the script, excluding dialog.
STAGE DOOR	A back entrance to the theater used by the cast and production crew. Want to catch a glimpse (or the autograph) of your favorite star after a show? This is where you want to be.
Stage Left and Stage Right	Stage left (left of stage) is from the actor's point of view as if he/she was looking out at the audience.
STAGE MANAGER	The person who will become your best friend. 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). He/she is in charge of the production after opening night.
STAGE RIGHT	To the performer's right side, to the audience's left side. Likewise, STAGE LEFT is to the performer's left, the audience's right. Stage directions are for actors, not audiences, therefore they are always given from the actor's point of view to the audience.
STAGE WHISPER	Sounds like a whisper but is loud enough for the audience to hear.
STAND-INS	Extra Performers used as substitutes for featured players, for the purpose of setting lights and rehearsing camera moves; also known as the second team.
Station 12	Station 12 is the strange name given to the process where a producer follows up with SAG to make sure an actor is of good standing prior to hiring them for a project. As soon as the actor books the job, he or she becomes "SAG Eligible." Thirty days later, the actor becomes "SAG Must Join," and can no longer work SAG jobs without joining the union. The union enforces this rule by requiring producers to verify the actor's status by contacting the union, a procedure oddly called "Station 12." There doesn't seem to be any Stations 1 through 11.
Status	The other character's relationship to you. They can be your superior, inferior, or equal. This is not established by their title, but by how you feel about them.
Steadicam	You've probably seen these at live sporting events or variety shows - like when you see a cameraman walk backwards while following a boxer entering the arena before a boxing match. The device he is wearing is called a Steadicam. This is an apparatus that one wears in order to stabilize camera movement. It's designed mechanically separate the movement of the camera operator from camera in order allow for smooth shot even when the operator is running or moving abruptly over an uneven surface. There are camera operators who train specifically to use this equipment and specialize only in the operation of a steadicam.
Story Editor	This is the title given to a lower level writer on a scripted TV series. This is one rank higher than a staff writer.
Story vs Plot	What' the difference between the two? "Story" is what your film is about. "Plot" is what happens in your film; two very different things. Your plot conveys your story. The first and foremost important thing you must know before you embark on producing any film or TV is story. You must understand what your movie is about. Why are we watching this movie? You can usually express this is 1-2 sentences. It' very similar to a logline. However, loglines are often used as a selling tool (ie when pitching your film). Loglines meant to captivate and intrigue the person who hears it. Story is used as a practical producing tool. It' used for creative people to gain an understanding how they are to work towards making a film. Often times, producers and writers focus too much on the events that happen in their film, but lose sight of what the story is about. Steven Spielberg was a master at this. He always emphasized to his crew to never lose sight of what the film was about. For example, "Schindler' List" is about a man who wanted to make a difference; not about Nazi concentration camps. "Transformers" is about the relationship between a boy and his car; not about cars that turn into robots.
STRIKE	After the final performance, the set is taken apart, lighting instruments are taken down and props and costumes are put away. This is called 'strike'. Sometimes actors will be asked to volunteer to help. You are never obligated to help (unless you are a member of the theatre company) but it is a good idea to help if you can. Usually there's good camaraderie, pizza and beer! This is not the case in larger union theatres where there are paid technical crews to take care of strike.
SUBMISSION	An actor's or agent's suggestion to a casting director for a role in a certain production.
SUBPLOT	A secondary, subordinate, or auxiliary plotline, often complementary but independent from the main plot (the A story), and often involving supporting characters; not the same as multiple plotlines; aka the B story or C story.
SUBTEXT	The character's complex thoughts, feelings, motives, etc. created and layered under the actual words and actions of the character by the actor.
SUPER OBJECTIVE	Stanislavsky developed the concept of the super- objective (referred to here as The Happiness) that would carry the 'through line of action,' mapped out for the character through the entire play.
Supporter Personality Type	Reserved and peoples oriented. supporters put others ahead of themselves. Always making sure everyone else is okay first, sometimes at their own expense. Won't rock the boat or create confrontations. Passive, go with the flow type.
Supporting	Principal role in the film, in one or more scenes but not a lead character although important to the storyline.
SW	A notation on a call sheet that an actor is starting on that day and working on that day.
SWF	A notation on a call sheet that an actor is starting, working, and finished on that day.
Syndication	This is the goal for any television show. When a show goes into syndication, it means the studio (owner of the show) has sold the broadcast rights to a TV station other than it's initial airing network. This is usually on a per episode basis and occurs when a series is on its 3-4th season. This is where studios begin to see profits from their television shows. When a network buys a television show from a studio, the cost to purchase the show is usually less than the cost to produce the show. In other words, studios don't make a profit by selling their shows to the initial network. Profit is usually made when the show goes into syndication…and we're talking a lot of profit. Usually a station will by multiple season of a particular show as a package. Price of the package can range from $10-000-$850,00 per episode.
Table Read	This process is used in both TV and film where the producer and director will gather all the actors in a room (usually sitting around a table) and read through the script with each actor saying their respective lines. There will usually be a designated individual (ie the writers assistant) who reads the descriptions and sluglines. The purpose of the table read is for the actors to practice their lines with each other and for the writer(s) to determine what dialogue needs to be reworked. It' one thing to read the words on a script, but to have the actor use his/her voice and convey the lines out loud provides the writer(s) with so much more insight to help them figure out what lines work and what ones dont.
TABLE-READ	A stage of film, television and theatre production when an organized reading around a table of the screenplay or script by the actors with speaking parts is conducted.
TAFT-HARTLEY	Refers to a legislative ruling also known as the National Labor Relations Act. Allows non-union actors to work their first union job and any others within a 30-day period of the first booking without having to join the union. They may not work any union job after the 30-day period without joining the union.
TAG LINE	A clever phrase or short sentence to memorably characterize a film, and tease and attract potential viewers, or sell the movie; also creates a catchy 'soundbite' often repeated or presented in a trailer or on a film's poster, sometimes along with the film's leitmotif.
TAKE	The clapboard indication of a shot "taken" or printed.
Talent	This term generally refers to actors. The talent division in an agency represents actors. In film packaging, attaching talent means to attach an actor for the major roles.
Talent Holding Deal	Much like how studios can offer writers and producers first look deals, they can also make a similar type of offer to actors, especially in the TV arena. Often times a network/studio will recognize an actor for his/her talents, but won't have the right project to attach them too. They don't want them to take another starring role elsewhere so what the network/studio will do is pay them a fee (ranging from low six figures to low seven figures) to "put them on hold" while they develop the right project for them to star in. The network may even give them a recurring role on another airing series during the course of the deal. These agreements typically last a year. When they are locked in this holding deal, they are not allowed to accept any starring role in any TV show until the agreement expires.
Targeting	Acting concept which says that actors should always have a target (image/focus) in mind when they are acting.
Tax Credit	A tax credit is by definition an amount of money that a taxpayer is able to subtract from the amount of tax that they owe to the government. In the world of film and television, certain states and countries throughout the world will provide a tax credit to production companies who film their respective locations and hire local crew. The amount ranges depending on which country or state. This is a very common tactic used by governments to stimulate employment in their constituencies. Refer to soft money to see what types of tax credits are offered within the USA.
Teamsters	Teamsters are people who drive vehicles for the purpose of pick-up/delivery, or chauffeuring personnel. Vehicles can include, vans, cars, trucks, motorcycles, limousines, golf carts, and trailers. These drivers are all part of union known as the IBT (International Brotherhood of Teamsters).
TECH REHERSAL	Technical Rehearsal. This is when the director will work the set, lights and sound cues into the rehearsal process. This usually takes several days and is long and boring for the actors. Tech is very important and actors must stay focused and be patient during this process. The focus of the rehearsal is solely on the technical aspects of the show. It is for the technicians and the designers, and the 'acting' must take a back seat.
Teleplay By vs Written By	Often times, in the credits of a TV show, you wont see a "written by" credit but instead youll see a "teleplay by" credit. What' the difference?In TV, a lot of the time someone will develop the story for an episode but will not write the actual script for that particular episode. If this is the case, the writer will get a "teleplay by" credit and the person who developed the story will get a "story by" credit.
TELEPROMPTER	The brand name of a device which enables a broadcaster to read a script while looking into the camera lens.
TEMPO	The level of speed with which the scene or play is acted out. The general effect creates a specific mood or tone to the work.
Tenpercentary	A tenpercentary is a reference to a talent agency. This is in regards to the typical ten percent commission fee that talent agencies earn from the deals they make for their clients.
Testing	TESTING is one of the most over-looked, but under rated tasks that is executed by a director or producer. Testing is done in pre-production and it' exactly what it sounds like. The purpose is to gather your creative team with your talent and test how the different visual creative elements look on camera. This includes costumes, make-up, hair, production design and even rehearsal. This process is absolutely essential and beneficial for a number of reasons.1. Gives your creative team an opportunity to make sure their vision looks the way they want it to look on camera. Often times creative problems will arise and you dont want to be sorting out these sort of issues during production. This is fairly obvious.2. Allows your actor(s) to interact with the artists and build a good rapport with them before production. This is extremely important as you do not unseen personality clashes to occur during production.3. Allows your director to make sure his creative team is on the same page as him/her.3. Be sure to take pictures of hair, make-up and costumes especially after the actor and director has approved of them. As a producer, this protects you if creative disputes arise during production. For example, if youre on set ready to shoot, and the director is happy with an actor' make-up but the actor is not, you can use the previously taken photo, which was approved by the unhappy actor, to help you deal with the actor.Make sure you give yourself plenty of time at least one month before shooting starts in order to allow your creative team to test with the talent.
The Pitch	The most essential selling tool in Hollywood. A pitch is basically a verbal presentation you give to someone regarding your project. Reasons for pitching could be as simple as sparking interest, or getting someone to finance your project. It's arguably the most important skill to possess as a producer. Pitching is a huge part of how projects get bought and greenlit in this industry, and the better you are at pitching, the better chance you have of getting projects in motion. The duration of a pitch can last from 30 seconds to 20 minutes depending on what your project is, what environment you are pitching in , and who you are pitching to. Sometimes youll only have 30 seconds capture the attention of an agent on the phone. Other times, you might have 10 minutes to sell your TV idea to an executive in a board room. Read "The Do' and Donts of pitching."
The Studio System	Today, the studios stand as the mainstream of filmmaking in North America. They are the primary source for obtaining funds and distribution for films. Their sole purpose is to find commercial material for a film, attach the right talent to that material, produce the film, market the film, and distribute the film. The studios usually own the rights to the property, and their primary method of generating revenue is from box-office ticket sales. Studios are situated on a large piece of land on which sound stages are built on. These sound stages are constantly being used to house movie-sets where most of the off-location scenes are shot. Currently there are 6 major studios in North America: Universal, Warner Brothers, Columbia, Disney, Paramount, and 20th Century Fox. There are also smaller studios known as mini-majors which include MGM, Lionsgate/Summit, The Weinstein Company, Relativity. As a film producer, your goal is to have a studio fund and distribute your film. You also want the studio to hire you as the producer, however, the studio system rarely attaches inexperience producers to their projects. The mere existence of independent films is a result of the studios reluctance to work with new producers. Within the studios, like any other business or company, there is a many divisions and in each division there is a hierarchy of employees. There are four main divisions within a studio: development, physical production, business affairs, and marketing.
The Three Crazy Seasons of Broadcast Television	Since the birth of the television, broadcast networks and studios have followed a regimented yearly schedule which leads to getting scripted shows on the air. While cable networks don't have a strict schedule and basically accept pitches and staff shows year round, broadcast networks had always stuck by the same schedule for decades. Just like how we're all aware of the four seasons when it comes to climate, anyone looking to work with any of the five broadcast networks is well aware their three seasons: DEVELOPMENT SEASON / July - November, PILOT SEASON / January - May, STAFFING SEASON / May - June
TIGHT SHOT (Go in Tight)	Framing of a shot with little or no space around the central figure(s) of feature(s); usually a close-up.
Top of Show	TOP OF SHOW is a term used when determining an actor' salary for a TV series. It' the highest total rate an actor can receive for an appearance on a particular episode regardless of how many days they are required to be on set. In other words, if it takes 8 days to shoot an episode of a TV show, no matter how many days of those 8 a certain actor works, he or she will be paid as if the worked all 8 days. This 8-day rate is referred to as top of show. Normally if a guest star is only needed for one day, he or she will get paid a day rate (negotiated by their agent). But often times if the actor works for more than one day he or she will make top of show.
TOURING COMPANY	A company of performers who travel with a show that they present in essentially the same way it was originally created in a theatre center such as New York.
TRACKING SHOT	A shot taken while the camera is moving, either on a dolly or a mounted on a moving vehicle.
TRADES	Short for "trade papers" The newspapers and periodicals such as the Hollywood Reporter and Variety that specifically feature information on the entertainment industry.
Treatment	here is no precise definition of what a treatment is. Every treatment is written in a different format or a different style based on what it is used for. Generally speaking, a treatment is a document that summarizes a particular project. It could be for a narrative film, a scripted television show, a reality show, a documentary, YOU NAME IT. The content of a treatment varies along with the length. I've seen treatments ranging from 1-20 pages long. At the very least, a treatment should have an overview which describes what the project is about. If it's a scripted film, explain what the story is. If it's a reality show, explain the overall premise. If it's a scripted TV show, explain what the series will look like. You should also include descriptions of the main characters and for TV shows, always include several story ideas. If it's a reality series, be sure to include the format of the show.
TRIGGER	An emotional or physical signal that signals or sparks a bonfire of emotion to break through to the surface.
TRIPLE THREAT	Refers to an actor or actress who can sing, dance and act skillfully and equally well on a consistent basis; usually applicable to performers in the musicals genre; it also could refer to a person who can act, direct, and screenwrite!.
TURNAROUND	(a) The number of hours between dismissal one day and call time the next day. (b) To shoot a scene from another direction.
TV Affiliates	These are privately owned television stations that are partnered with a broadcast network. In most cases, the network pays their affiliates a fee (network compensation) to broadcast their shows and in return, the network is allowed to sell the ad space and keep the ad revenue for themselves. There are, however, some local ad spaces that the affiliate will sell on its own. In some cases, like with the CW, the affiliate station will pay a fee to CW (reverse comp) and generate revenue through selling ad space.
TV Format	A TV format is the concept or formula demonstrated in an already existing TV show from which another producer can use to create a similar show in a different territory. In other words, if I'm a TV producer in the USA and I take notice of a TV show that airs in Denmark that could potentially be a hit in America, I would purchase the rights to that particular format, and reproduce the show for American audiences. A great example of this is singing competition shows. POP IDOL exists in the states as AMERICAN IDOL, in Canada as CANADIAN IDOL etc. There's also THE VOICE which exists in several different countries all produced in different languages and use different judges. The most popular in the game show arena is WHO WANTS TO BE A MILLIONAIRE which has be sold to 108 territories. In the scripted world, a great example is THE OFFICE, which first started as a British series created by Ricky Gervais, and then sold as a format to NBC by executive producer Greg Daniels.
TV Network	TV networks are the companies that distribute televisions shows. This includes the four major broadcasters - ABC, CBS, NBC, FOX. This also includes cable channels such as Lifetime, Food Network, CW, MTV, and SyFy. In addition to these channels you also have premium cable channels such as HBO, Showtime, Bravo, AMC and FX.
TV Residuals	Simply put, residuals are additional payments made to a director, actor, writer or producer for reusing material that they already helped create. For example, every time you see an episode of SEINFELD on TV, no matter what channel or what time of day it is, the writer, director and all the lead cast members will receive residual payments for that episode. The dollar value of residuals can vary a great deal depending the agreement made. For examples, writers can make anywhere from $2K and upwards of $5K per episode depending on how well they negotiate their contract. Do note, however, that as the particular episode continues to re-air, residual payments decrease.
TV Spec	Much like a feature spec, this is a TV script that a writer chooses to write for free. However, in TV, a spec is an original episode of an already-existing television show. Screenwriters who are looking to get hired as a write on a TV show will often submit a TV spec to prove their writing ability. The idea is to show the studio/network/showrunner that the writer can write for a show they didn't create, and depict characters that aren't theirs.
TV Spinoff	In television, a spinoff is a series derived from an already existing series, which focuses in more detail on one aspect of that original series. This particular detail can be a character like Frasier Crane who was spun off from CHEERS, or it can be a premise like CSI: NEW YORK is the same premise as the original CSI but instead of being set in Vegas it' set in New York City.
Two-Hander	This is a term used to describe a motion picture which has two lead characters. Many successful television series are considered two handers with two characters sharing equal screen time.
TWO-SHOT	A camera framing two persons; a TREE-SHOT would be a 3 person shot.
TYPECAST	In television, film, and theatre, typecasting is the process by which a particular actor becomes strongly identified with a specific character; one or more particular roles; or, characters having the same traits or coming from the same social or ethnic groups. There have been instances in which an actor has been so strongly identified with a role as to make it difficult for him or her to find work playing other characters.
Types of Talent Agents	Within a talent agency, there different types of agents who specialize in a particular type of client" not all of them are referred to as "talent agents". Literary agents work with writers and directors. Motion picture lit agents represent writers/directors who work in feature film and TV lit agents represent writers/directors who work in" you guessed it, TV.Talent agents represent with actors
U5	An under-five, also known as an under-5 or a (U/5) is an SAG-AFTRA contract term for an American television or film actor whose character has fewer than five lines of dialogue.
Ultimates Model	An ultimates model is a financial model used to determine the value of a film. This is usually established by the distributor of the film and is based on all revenue streams generated by the film including domestic theatrical box, DVD, network TV, pay TV, cable TV, and other ancillary markets within a 10 year period. The domestic theatrical box office is the main driver behind the ultimates valuation. Ultimates serve three main purposes. One is to determine the anticipated value of a film in order to attain financing from a lender. This ultimates value will allow the lender to derive an appropriate amount to lend to the filmmaker. Another purpose is determining the price for post-release sales. This could be to foreign TV, pay TV or any other ancillary markets. When determining the price to sell a film to another distributor after the film has been released, the price will be based off the ultimates value of the film. This is usually derived from domestic theatrical box office revenue. The third purpose is collateral for lending. In other words, if you were borrowing money from a lender, the lender could lend against your library and the value of your library is based on the ultimates model which is applied to each of the films in that particular library.
Under 5	An AFTRA-only contract term for a character with between one and five lines.
UNDERSTUDY	Actor hired to perform in a show if the actor originally cast in the role is sick or unable to perform that night. Often an understudy will never actually perform, but must be ready to go on with as little as 10 minutes notice. It is very common for an understudy to cover more than one role.
Unit Production Manager	A unit production manager, better known as the UPM, is crucial to a smooth running film set. The role is very similar to that of a line producer, and a lot of times, the two terms can mean the same role, which is to manage the cost of production. A UPM will help the producer and director derive the budget, but once the budget has been created, it is the UPM's job to make sure that the production stays on budget. During pre-production, the producer will usually deal with hiring the above the line talent, the direct will look after hiring the key heads that work below the line (cinematographer, editor, production designer etc), but the UPM will usually look after hiring the other below the line crew members. The UPM will also work with the first AD in securing equipment and locations. During production, the UPM is in charge of managing below the line crew members, approving expenditures, approving call sheets, and maintaining the schedule. The UPM's are represented by the Director's Guild of America.
UP STAGE	(a) The area located at the back of the stage. Down Stage is the area in front of the performer. (b) To draw attention to oneself at the expense of a fellow performer.
Upfronts	Formally known as "upfront presentations" or "upfront announcements", this is the most important time of year for TV networks. This is an event held in New York once a year in early May where all the TV networks reveal their fall schedule (both old shows and new ones) to advertisers around the world. The networks mandate is to sell as much of their commercial ad space (inventory) as possible before the fall season starts. This is the most critical time of year as networks typically sell 80 percent of their next year' ad space during upfronts. Advertisers are incentivized by lower prices, guaranteed audience levels and exit clauses. The upfront buying season usually lasts until August, however, early May is when the networks present the advertisers with trailers, sales pitches and other forms of presentations in order to woo advertisers. Unsold ad space can still be purchased after upfront season, however, they will be sold at a premium price and audience levels arent guaranteed. It'sestimated that advertisers spend approximately $25B on broadcast television ad space and roughly $13B on cable. Because this time of year is so important, showrunners and TV producers must work extremely hard to get their pilots complete before the end of April in time for upfronts. This typically only gives them three months once the pilot is ordered; not a lot of time, especially for an hour long drama which is essentially half of a feature film!
UPGRADE	Like getting a raise or promotion, an upgrade is when an individual is moved from being an Extra to a Stand In, Photo Double, or Principal Player. Upgrades also provide higher pay rates.
UPSCALE	Term for actors and extras who appear clean and nicely dressed. Upscale often means Extras will appear wearing expensive and/or fancy looking clothing. The exact opposite of Downscale.
V.O.	Voice-Over. An off-camera voice coming either from an actor not in the frame, or from a secondary source such as a speakerphone or answering machine.
Vertical Programming	This is a TV scheduling strategy where networks will air the same show at many different times on the daily schedule with the hopes that audiences will tune in randomly, and once they do, theyll be hooked.
VFX: Supervisor vs. Coordinator vs. Producer	The visual effects supervisor makes all the creative decisions and works directly with the director off and on set to make sure he/she gets the visual image desired. The VFX supervisor in charge of all the vfx artists and directs them to create the visuals that the director asks for. With so much time and man power needed to create all the different elements to a VFX image, a smooth work flow is essential to the success of the film. This is where the visual effects coordinator comes in. He/she works directly under the visual effects supervisor in post-production and keeps the work flow of all the artists organized and running smoothly, making sure all the creative demands are met and delivered on time. The visual effects producer works like a line producer and manages the cost of the visual effects which can get outrageously high (sometimes over half of a film' budget).
Video Village	During production, this is the area where a portable grouping of TV monitors are located. These monitors are connected to the camera(s) that are being used to film on set and they allow the director, production staff and crew to see what the camera sees.
VOUCHER	Time slip with all pertinent information needed for getting paid properly.
W/N	Will Notify. A notation on a call sheet that tells the actor that he/she will probably work that day but the specific time has not yet been decided.
WALK-ON	A minor role consisting of a single, brief appearance on the screen, usually not appearing in the credits and without dialogue; contrast with extras, bit parts, and non-speaking roles.
WARDROBE	The clothing a performer wears on camera.
WARDROBE ALLOWANCE	A maintenance fee paid to on-camera talent for the use (and dry cleaning) of talent's own clothing.
WARDROBE FITTING	A session held prior to production to prepare a performer's costumes.
WEATHER PERMIT CALL	Due to weather conditions, the production company has the option to release an actor four hours after the call time (if the camera has not started to roll) with a reduced rate of pay for the day.
WGA	Stands for the Writers Guild Of America. It's the labor union that represents and protects the interest of writers in film, television, radio, and new media. There are approximately 20,000 members.
Wild Lines	A wild line is dialogue that is recorded on location, but not at the same time as it' complimentary footage. Some times when filming on location, certain dialogue or lines are not recorded properly for one reason or another (unexpected loud ambient noise). When the footage has been captured, a director might want to get wild lines so that they can be used to replace the poorly recorded sound in post-production.
WRAP	The completion of a day's filming or of the entire production.
Writer-Work-For-Hire Agreement	A work-for-hire agreement is a legal contract that is made between a producer (or studio) and screenwriter. The purpose of this document is to state that you are solely hiring the writer to write the script, and to assure that you will be the owner of the rights to that script once it's completed. Terms such as payment, length, number of revisions and deadlines can vary between agreements. Often times, an agent will negotiate these terms on behalf of the writer.