Here are just some of the many industry terms with definitions used by talent agencies, model management companies, casting directors, actors, models and many others in the acting and modeling industry.

AEA
Actor's Equity, union for stage and legit

ADVERTISING AGENCY
Creates advertising campaigns for clients, selects models

AFTRA
American Federation of Television and Radio Artists, union for all TV performers

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

BACKDROP
Background used in a photographer's studio

BLOCKING
The actual physical movements by actors in any scene

BLOW UP
Enlargement photo from a negative or slide

BOOK
To secure

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

CALL
Appointment

CALL BACK
Second interview after go∫see/audition which means they are narrowing down the selection and they are considering you

CALL TIME
Actual time you are due on set

CASTING
Choosing models/actors for a specific job

CASTING DIRECTOR
Selects suitable models to represent the comp or story board

CANCELLATION
24 hour notice before booking is to begin or money is due agency and talent

CATALOG MODELING
Posing for mail order items for major retailers

CATTLE CALL
Several agencies send many models of the same general type to a casting session

CLIENT
Company who hires the ad agency, pays the model's fee

COLD READING
A script that you are reading for the first time in front of the client, without time to memorize the lines

COLLECTION
Group of coordinated clothes being shown by a designer

COMMENTARY
Script used to describe clothes for a fashion show

COMMERCIAL
Promotional advertisement on TV, radio or other media

COMMISSION
A percentage of model's fee required as payment to agency

COMPOSITE CARD, COMP CARD, CARD
Card with 3∫5 photos of model and their height, eye and hair color and size information to promote and distribute to prospective clients See what it looks like

CONTACT SHEET
Proofs of black and white film used to determine best shots

COPY
Written words to be spoken on a commercial

CREATIVE DIRECTOR
Ad agency employee who determines the model type

DEMONSTRATOR
Model who shows use of product at a trade show or store

DESIGNER
Person who creates the idea for a garment

DRESSER
Helps models dress backstage for fashion shows

EXTRA
Acting job where the actor has no speaking lines, but stands in the background and adds to the atmosphere of a scene

FADS
An overdone fashion; passing craze

FASHION COORDINATOR
Puts fashion show outfits together in retail stores

FASHION TRENDS
Gradual changes in fashion styles

FEES
Amount of money per hour

FIT MODELING
Modeling the original sample garment to test for sizing ∫ clients chose a model whose measurements match the sample size exactly

FITTING
Trying on clothes to determine fit and style ∫ usually before a fashion show

FLIPPER
False teeth used for young children to temporarily fill in for lost teeth

FORMAL FASHION SHOW, RUNWAY SHOW
Invited audience, stage, music; models walk down runway to show designer clothing

FREELANCE
Modeling for many clients without agency representation

FULL LENGTH SHOT
Head to toe photograph

GO-SEE
job interview, model meets a client and shows portfolio

HAIR STYLIST
works on hair changes

HEADSHOT
8 x 10 size photo of head and shoulders See a Talent Headshot

HEADSHEET
agency sheet, poster, or book of models they represent that goes to prospective clients

HIGH FASHION
extreme, chic, sophisticated model type

HOLD
when the agency puts you "on hold" for a job, it means the client is seriously considering you and wants you to keep the time available for them first (if anything else comes up for that time, you must notify the agency before accepting another job)

ILLUSTRATION MODEL
poses for artists

INDUSTRIAL
non broadcast production, often educational or sales films tapes

INFORMAL FASHION SHOW
in stores or restaurants, walk around, no runway

JUNIOR MODEL
youthful type, animated

LINES
script, words

LINE UP
position of model and garment in a fashion show

LOCATION
assignment site outside the studio

LOUPE
small magnifying glass to see slides and contact sheet images eight times larger

MAKEUP ARTIST
applies and changes makeup for photo sessions

MARKET, JOB MARKET
any location where there is a lot of work

MARKET WEEK
4 - 6 times per year when seasonal clothing lines are shown to buyers

MODEL BAG
a large tote in which you carry all your makeup and working essentials

MODEL RELEASE
contract in which the model gives permission to use the photo as the client specifies

MODEL AGENCY
represents model for employment and receives a percentage of the bookings

MONOLOGUE
a scene performed by one person for a client, that reflects a particular mood and demonstrates your acting talent

MOOD
the feeling a model projects to suit the specific assignment

OPEN CALL
casting when the client sees all models suitable for the type requested

PORTFOLIO
select photos in a vinyl or leather casebook which show the model at his/her photogenic best and samples of their work (tear sheets)

PRINCIPAL
main performer in the foreground

PRINT
a photograph printed in newspaper or magazine form

PRINTWORK
photography taken for catalog and mail order, books, brochures, ads for magazines or newspapers, magazine covers, commercial photography for household products, business products and services, glamour products

PRODUCER
person responsible for the day∫to∫day decision∫making on a production

PRODUCT CONFLICT
representing competitive products ∫ to be avoided

PRODUCTION COMPANY
produces video for viewing

PROMOTION
publicity to advance a product, service or person

PROOF
intermediate stage of photo development from which you can chose best poses

PUBLIC RELATIONS
creating an image of a product or service in the eyes of the public, mainly through newspaper articles

RATES
fees charged by the model

RELEASE
same as a MODEL RELEASE

RESIDUALS
additional money paid when a piece runs in repeat, rates dictated by the unions

ROUNDS
calling on prospective clients for photography and television

RUNWAY
a narrow raised platform on which the model shows the clothing

SAG
Screen Actors Guild, union for TV and film performers

SAMPLE
piece of clothing from a line, one of a kind

SCALE WAGE
minimum wage set by the unions

SCOUT
to look for prospective models from other, smaller agencies, other locations, or even in the mall or while on the beaches; finding model potential in a crowd

SET
arrangement of props and furniture in a TV or photo studio

SHOOT
photo session

SHOWROOM WORK
manufacturer's showcase of a clothing line to buyers using live models ∫ when the seasonal clothing designs are being shown

SIGN-IN SHEET
on cattle calls, lists the order in which each model arrived to audition

SLATE
to state your name on camera before your commercial audition

SPEC SHOT
photographer's idea of a comp which he/she hopes to sell to the client

SPOKESPERSON
model chosen to explain the features of a product/service

STAGE PARENT
an adult who pushes and watches too closely over a child performer, gets in the way of the shoot

STATS
statistical information of a model, including measurements, size, height, etc.

STOCK PHOTOGRAPHER
one whose work is not for a specific client or job, but hose photos get listed in a general catalog by number for any client to select (for example, a photo of a barn house, of a cowgirl, of a male model with a horse)

STORYBOARD
artwork that shows each scene of a commercial

STROBE
light unit used by a photographer

STYLIST
coordinates the fashions and accessories, checks fit of clothing, visual scene

TEARSHEET
copy of a print ad that the model keeps in the portfolio as proof of work

TELEPROMPTER
TV-like screen that displays the cue card words

TESTIMONIAL
celebrity declaration to the value of a product/service; improvisational endorsement of a product or service that the actor has officially tested, used and approved

TEST SHOTS, TEST PHOTOGRAPHY
free or low cost photos used to build a beginning portfolio 3/4 SHOTS photo from head to mid thigh

TRADES, TRADE PAPERS
trade publications such as Variety, Backstage, NY Casting, Actor's Resource Network, Ross Reports, Drama-Logue, Billboard, Hollywood Reporter

TRADE SHOWS
industry promotional display of products/services usually in a hotel or convention center

TRANSPARENCIES
the slide forms of a photograph

TRUNK SHOW
informal modeling of one specific designer line, usually in a store or small boutique

USAGE
additional fees for higher exposure, like a billboard or national use

U-5, UNDER-5
in AFTRA contracts, a speaking role having 5 lines or less

VOICEOVER
background voices for radio or video recorded separately in a recording studio and dubbed onto visual

VOUCHER
three piece form with a model release on which client acknowledges hours worked by the model, agency copy used to bill and get paid

WEATHER PERMIT
a location job that is dependent on fair weather, may be canceled the day before or that morning