Industry Dictionary

What casting calls actually mean, defined by actors who've been there.

A
14

Abby Singer

The second-to-last shot of the day.

B
31

Buy-Out

A one-time payment that covers all usage of your performance. No residuals.

C
89

Competitive Rate

Casting call code for 'we're not going to tell you how much until you're hooked.'

65

Content Buyout

The platform owns your likeness and performance in perpetuity. No residuals, no reuse rights. Read the fine print.

D
22

Day Player

An actor hired for one or a few days on a production, not the full shoot.

104

Deferred Pay

Compensation promised after the project sells or profits. Rarely pays out on indie films.

E
217

Exposure

Working for free in exchange for 'visibility.' Almost never worth it.

F
47

Forced Call

Being called back to set with less than the minimum rest period (usually 12 hours).

G
38

Golden Time

Overtime pay (usually double time) that kicks in after a certain number of hours.

H
19

Holding

The area where actors wait between scenes. Quality varies from green rooms to parking lots.

M
26

Martini Shot

The last shot of the day. Named because the next shot is in a glass.

55

Meal Penalty

Extra pay owed to actors when the production doesn't break for meals on time. Union-enforced.

P
78

Platform Exclusivity

A contract clause locking your performance to one platform (e.g., ReelShort only) for a set period. Common in micro drama — always negotiate the duration.

91

Payment Window

The time between wrap and when you actually get paid. Micro drama platforms often take 60-90 days. Get it in writing.

R
33

Right of First Refusal

You're on hold for a job — can't accept other work for those dates without checking first.

53

Rapid Fire Schedule

Shooting 15-25 pages per day with minimal turnaround. Standard in micro drama, brutal in practice.

S
41

Self-Tape

An audition recorded by the actor at home and submitted digitally.

18

Sides

Selected pages from a script given to actors for auditions or scene preparation.

36

Series Regular

A multi-episode commitment as a recurring character. In micro drama, this can mean 3-10 episodes with an unpredictable schedule.

T
62

Turnaround

The minimum hours of rest required between wrap and the next call time.

V
44

Vertical Video

Short-form content shot in 9:16 for mobile platforms (ReelShort, DramaBox, TikTok). Footage usually can't be used in a traditional acting reel.

Industry Dictionary — Acting Terms Defined by Actors | StageBlind