Terms for the Professional Model and/or Actor

ADVERTISING AGENCY - creates advertising campaigns for clients, selects models.

AFTRA - American Federation of Television and Radio Artists, union for all TV performers.
This is the union that represents most actors in TV shows, videos and commercials. There is
an overlap with SAG, (Screen Actors Guild) which represents talent in movies, etc.
Generally speaking AFTRA deals with video and SAG deals with film, but each may be involved
with either. A project is either AFTRA or SAG, but not both.

AGENT, AGENCY - third party negotiator, receives percentage fee of bookings; could be an
individual person or a company.

ART DIRECTOR - artist who creates layout for ads, illustrates model's poses.

AUDITION- Interview with a photographer, art director, casting director or client where they evaluate you for a
particular opportunity. Where specific talents are required, it is not unusual for you to
be asked to perform. As an example, for acting, one might be asked to read lines from a
script.
BACKDROP - background used in a photographer's studio

BEAUTY- A type of shoot that usually involves just the face. This will show many different hair and make-up looks.
Models doing beauty shots need to have good skin and nude nails.

BIT- The term applies to a role as an extra where the actor is asked to do something
specific on camera for which there are no lines. As an example, if one were an extra acting
as a doorman at a hotel, went up to a car, opened the door so an actor might exit, thatwould be doing a �bit.�

BLOCKING - the actual physical movements by actors in any scene.

BLOW-UP - enlargement photo from a negative or slide.

BODY DOUBLE- Normally in feature films, when a featured actor/actress is either unwilling or unable to show their
body, an alternate person is used without showing their face, and filmed in such a way as to suggest it is the featured character. NOTE: While body doubling often involves nudity, many times it does not. As an example, an actress may need to appear pregnant when she is not. An actress might need to appear in a swimsuit, but for a particular reason, she may not so a body double might be used.

BOOK - see PORTFOLIO; BOOK (verb) - to secure a job.

BOOKER - person at agency who sets appointments for models.

BOOKING - specific job assignment.

BOOK OUT - when you tell your agency that you are unavailable to work for certain day(s),
for example, a vacation or another job.

BREAKDOWN SERVICE - a professional listing available only to agencies that lists movies,
film, TV, and stage projects with what types of actors are being cast.

BUYER - retail store employee who purchases clothing from the manufacturer; models show the
line of clothing to store buyers.

BUYOUT - advance payment for future use of a print ad or a commercial for a specific period
of time