Glossary of Modeling & Acting Terms

Glossary of Modeling & Acting Terms – S to Z 01Jan09

By Janet

SAG - Screen Actress Guild, union for TV and film performers.

Sample - a piece of clothing from a line that is specifically created for a shoot or a fashion show. Many samples are one of kind pieces that are produced before the line is created. Samples are sometimes marked with permanent ink or have defects so that they cannot be resold.

Scale Wage - minimum wage set by the unions.

Scout (noun) - a person who scouts.

Scout (verb) - to look for prospective models from smaller agencies, other locations, at the mall or on the beach; finding model potential in a crowd.

Sed 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. Currently, postcard-size is popular. One side contains a head shot, the other side several small photographs together with information about the model. Also called zed or compcards.

Set - arrangement of props and furniture in a TV or photo studio.

Shoot - photo session.

Showroom Work - manufacturer’s showcase of a clothing line or car line or other mechansie to buyers using live models – Clothing-wise especially when the seasonal clothing designs are being shown.

Sign-In Sheet - lists the order in which each model arrives to audition at cattle calls.

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.

Specialty Modeling - a/k/a Parts modeling. Fingers, hands, legs, ears, lips, eyes, back. Anything that is part specific.

Spokesperson - or spokes model. Model chosen to explain the features of a product/service.

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 whose 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.

Tear Sheet - a page containing the model’s image removed from a publication, usually a catalog or magazine. This sheet is usually added to the model’s portfolio.

Test Shoot - when a model and photographer work together on a new idea or on their portfolios. No fees other than sharing film-and-developing expenses are involved. Model and Photographer Releases should be signed before the session.

TFP (Time for Prints) - Similar to test shoots. Photographer provides time and prints and the model provide a subject for the photographer to shoot. Generally offered by photographers who are transitioning into a new area of photography or trying to build their portfolio of work.

Trade Shows – industry promotional display of products/services usually in a hotel or convention center.

Trades, Trade Papers – trade publications such as Variety, Backstage, NY Casting, Actress’s Resource Network, Ross Reports, Drama-Logue, Billboard, Hollywood Reporter.

Transparencies - the slide forms of a photograph.

Trunk Show – informal modeling of one specific designer line, usually in a store or small boutique.

Under-5 – in AFTRA contracts, a speaking role having five lines or less.

Usage - additional fees for higher exposure, like a billboard or national use.

Voiceover - background voices for radio or video recorded separately in a recording studio and dubbed onto visuals.

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.

Zed Card - card with 1-2 photos of model and their height, eye and hair color and size information to promote and distribute to prospective clients. Currently, business card-size is popular or a little larger. One side contains a headshot; the other side contains information about the model. Also called sed cards.

Source: http://www.squidoo.com/modeling-and-acting

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