Jargon buster
A straightforward guide to the words and phrases you'll hear in the industry, from auditions to opening night.
ADR (Additional Dialogue Recording)
Re-recording lines in a studio after filming, often for clarity or rewrites.
Avail / Availability Check
A request to confirm whether an actor is free on specific dates, often sent before an official offer is made.
Breakdown
The casting brief: character details, requirements, and what the production is looking for, sent out to agents.
Buyout
A one-off payment that covers all use of a performance, rather than ongoing repeat fees.
Call sheet
The daily schedule for a shoot, listing times, locations, and who’s needed when.
Cattle call
An open audition with a large number of actors seen in quick succession, sometimes called an “open casting”.
CD (Casting Director)
The person, or company, hired by a production to find and put forward actors for roles.
Confirmed / Booked
The job is locked in; contracts are being issued or have already been signed.
Dance / Fight / Movement Captain
A cast member responsible for maintaining the standard of choreography, fight sequences, or movement throughout a run.
EPK (Electronic Press Kit)
A polished collection of an actor’s photos, reel, and biography for press or industry use.
Equity
The UK trade union for performers and creatives, which sets minimum rates and conditions for live performance.
Exclusivity
A clause restricting an actor from taking other work (often a competing brand or role) for a set period.
Get-in
The period when a production moves into a venue to build sets, rig lighting, and so on, before tech and previews.
Headshot
A professional photo used for casting submissions.
Pencil
An informal hold on an actor’s availability for a job, before it’s confirmed. It’s not a guarantee of work, but it’s a good sign you’re seriously in the running.
Previews
Performances before official press night, often at a reduced ticket price, used to refine the show.
Recall
A second (or third) audition - usually a sign the CD or director wants another look before deciding.
Residuals / Repeat fees
Additional payments due when a performance is repeated, re-broadcast, or used beyond its original agreement.
Self-tape
An audition recorded by the actor themselves, often at home, and submitted digitally instead of auditioning in person.
Showreel
A short, edited video showcasing an actor’s previous on-screen work.
Sides
The script pages or scene extracts given to an actor to prepare for an audition.
Spotlight
The UK’s main actor casting database, used by CDs to find talent.
Swing
A performer who covers multiple ensemble roles and can step into several different track positions.
Tech week
Rehearsals focused on integrating lighting, sound, and set cues with the performance.
Understudy / Cover
A performer prepared to step into a specific role if the usual actor is unavailable.
Usage
The specific way and platforms a recorded performance can be used — for example broadcast, online, or in perpetuity.
Wrap
The end of filming for the day, or for the whole production.
