Acting Studio Chicago - Class Schedule - Teen Schedule 312.527.4566
About Us - Getting started in the Business - Nail the Audition - Teacher Bios
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SAG- Screen Actor's Guild. Covers all movies and animation regardless of medium used.
AFTRA- American Federation of TV and Radio Artists. Covers radio, vocal recording and soap operas.
Actors Equity Association- Live theatre actor's union
On-Camera- Refers to anything on camera - tv/film/commercials/industrial film
Industrials- Industrial Film. refers to films made for corporations. Training films, product education, Human resource training, etc...Work on industrals often involves memorizing a lot of technical writing.
Ear Prompter- Device used by industrial film actors. Earpiece connected to a small tape recorder. Worn during taping to help actors with often dense, technical scripts that are difficult to memorize.
Live Industrial- Live performances for corporations, usually about products or services.
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.
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.
Sides- The portion of the script (for on-camera or theater) that will be used for an audition. Usually one or two short scenes.
Copy- Usually refers to the script for commercial auditions. Sometimes only one or two lines.
Cold Reading- For on-camera and theatre. Acting done with the script in your hand, unmemorized or partially memorized. Usually you will have less than one day to prepare.
Slate/Slating- For on-camera auditions only. You will be asked to slate your name and sometimes the agent that sent you to the audition before you begin the scene. This goes on the tape for the casting director's reference. This is called 'slating'.
MOS- 'Mit Out Sound'- without sound. For on-camera only. Moments on screen with no dialogue. Reaction shots, visuals etc.
Bite and Smile- Certain kinds of commercial, Usually MOS with food product.
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.
Booking- The job. You will be 'booked' for a job, this means you are hired. Usually refers to on-camera work.
Pilot- A sample of a television show that the producers then try to sell to the networks. If the pilot is picked up by the network, it will be put on the schedule and will air for a trial period of usually 13 episodes.
Call Time- For on-camera and theater. This is the time that you are called to be either at the theatre or on the set.
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.
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. ALWAYS BE NICE TO THE MONITOR!
On Book- With the script in your hand. Usually refers to the time you are working with the script but not yet memorized.
Off Book- Without the cript in your hand. Usually you will have a deadline by which you need to be memorized or 'off book'.
Speed Through- A rehearsal exclusively for lines. Actors recite their lines quickly without blocking. This is often to help the actors with memorization.
House- the area of the theatre where the audience sits.
Stage Right- The side of the stage that is on your right if you are on the stage facing the audience.
House Right- The side of the stage that is on your right if you are in the audience facing the stage.
Stage Left- The side of the stage that is on your left if you are on the stage facing the audience.
House Left- The side of the stage that is on your left if you are in the audience facing the stage.
Downstage- The front of the stage, towards the audience. (Theatre stages used to be raked on an angle tilting towards the audience. That is where the term originates.)
Upstage- The rear of the stage, away from the audience.
VOM- Abbreviation for "vomitorium" (from Greek theater). An exit/entrance are to/from the stage through the house.
Greenroom- The actors' lounge. Either in a theatre or production studio.
Cheat/Cheat in/Cheat out- To 'cheat' is to turn your face or entire body either out to the audience (or camera) to be seen better without completely turning (so it still looks natural, but you are not completely in profile) or to face in to conceal something.
Aside- A part of dialogue that is directed directly to the audience or away from your scene partner as an internal thought. Very common in Restoration Comedies and Shakespeare.
Stage Whisper- Sounds like a whisper but is loud enough for the audience to hear.
Blocking- The movement of the performance. Where you walk, sit, cross the stage, enter, exit, etc.. A director will usually 'block' a scene early in the rehersal process. Blocking can range from being very general (enter here, exit there) or very specific (pick the pen up on this line, sit on the sofa at this line, etc...)
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.
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.
Light Board- Either manual or computer operated. Operates the stage lights.
Sound Board- either manual or computer operated. Operates the sound.
Light Cues- A change in the stage lighting.
Sound Cues- Sound effects (music, doorbell, a car door, dog barking, etc...)
Booth- The area in the theatre with the light and sound boards. Usually in the back of the theatre facing the stage.
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 perforances) and is in charge of the production after opening night.
Costume Fitting- Just like it sounds. You will be fitted for your costume by the costume designer or assistant. Usually you will be measured early in the rehearsal process and fitted with your costume latter. This can be an especially long process for period costumes.
Costume Parade- At some point in the rehearsal process the actors will all 'model' their costumes or costume for the director. He/She will then either approve or discuss changes with the costume designer.
Tech Rehearsal- Technical Rehearsal. This is when the director will work in the set, lights and sound cues to 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 on the technical aspects of the show. It is for the technitians and the designers, and the 'acting' must take a back seat.
Dry Tech- A rehearsal, usually without actors, when the director, stage manager and designers work out all the light and sound cues.
Cue to Cue- A rehearsal that only works transitions or light and sound cues. The internal portions of scenes are skipped over.
Props- Any non-costume, non-set items used in a production. a gun, a glass, deck of cards, etc..
Load-in- The process of bringing the set into the theatre, or building set pieces.
Dress Rehearsal- Rehearsal with all technical aspects and costumes and makeup.
Preview- Performance with an audience. Before official opening night. Usually invited friends. No press.
Final Preview- Final performance before opening night.
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.
Comps- Complimentary tickets. Actors are usually given a number of comps to offer to their friends and family for the performances. Every theatre has its own policies regarding comps.
Professional Comps- Most theatres will allow actors an unlimited number of comps for agents, directors or casting directors.
House Manager- The person who controls the house during the run of the show. Decides when to let the audience in, is in charge of the ushers and tells the stage manager when they can begin the show.
House Open- Actors will be told when the 'house is open' meaning the audience is being let into the theatre. Usually this is the actor's cue to get backstage.
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.
Papering the House- sometimes the theatre will want to get the seats filled for a particular performance (usually if there is going to be a theatre critic in attendance that night) and will give away free tickets to anyone to fill the seats. Actors are often asked to spread the word to get people in the seats. this is called papering the house.
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.
Strike- After the final performance, the set is taken apart, lighting instruments taken down and props and costumes 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 comaraderie, pizza and beer! This is not the case in larger, union theatres where there are paid technical crews to take care of strike.
The Scottish Play- This refers to Macbeth. There is an old superstition that if you utter the name of that play in a theatre, bad things will happen. If you do say it, you may be asked to go outside, turn around three times and spit and then knock to be let back into the theatre. Some actors are very superstitious about this and will really make you do it! Be safe. If you must talk about that play, just say 'the Scottish play'. Weird, but true.
