Casting Language Made Clear!

1st AD (Assistant Director)

Easily mistaken for the director since they are normally the person doing all the shouting and giving everyone their cues.  They are the person in charge when you are on set.  Listen very carefully to what they say.

2nd AD (Assistant Director)

Normally your first point of contact, but they are not always on set as they are often at the Unit Base planning ahead.  The 2nd AD is responsible for making sure all members of the Cast and Crew are in the right place at the right time,  They liaise with the casting agent for background requirements.

3rd AD (Assistant Director / Runner)

On set, the 3rd AD and runners are the people who will be looking after you.  They liaise with the 1st AD and 2nd AD and will be giving you instructions on where you should go.

Availability Check:

Sometimes referred to as an AV, an availability check is simply when we contact you to check your availability for a role. If you are available and you meet the remaining criteria, you may be pencilled or even booked in for the role.

Booked:

Being booked for a role means that you have been confirmed by production and will be required to attend all filming and non-performance dates.

Buy Out

On certain jobs you may be offered a Buy Out of the right to use your image, this only relates to advertising jobs.

Call time

The time you must report to your given location.  You must be on time.

Call Details:

A text that is sent out to booked extras outlining the details for their filming date(s). This will include location information, parking information, and the time you will be required on set. At the very latest, this text will be sent out by 7pm the night before each day you’re out. If you’re due out the next day and haven’t received your call details by 7pm, please give us a call as soon as possible.

Chit/Voucher

The paperwork given to you when you arrive for work on a film or some TV shows.  You must get it signed before you leave to ensure you get paid.

You are often not given any paperwork on a commercial or some TV shows, in this case it is essential to keep tabs on your working hours.

Continuous working day / night

A filming day or night where you will not be given a meal break, but a running buffet is provided while filming continues.

Continuity

A sequence fiming over more than one day.  It is therefore essential that nothing changes to upset the continuity of the scene, you must be available for continuity shooting days and you must not change your appearence between one shooting day and the next.

Costume fitting

You may need to have a costume fitted before filming.  You may also be asked to go to a wig or prosthetics fitting if they are going to change your appearence.

Crowd base

On bigger calls this is where you will be asked to report.

Crowsd Assistant Director

On bigger productions there may be a separate Assistant Director to look after the supporting artists.

DBS: 

Basic Disclosure Certificates (DBS) are sometimes required when working on set alongside under 18’s. However, this information will be disclosed to you before filming.

Double Role:

When you are hired to fill in for a main actor in scenes where your face will not be shown.

Featured Role:

When you’re hired for a role that could involve dialogue, reaction to cast members or even having your own named character

Full Body Photo:

All UVE profiles, whether they’re activated or not, require a full body photo. This is a photo of yourself from head to toe in front of a plain background.

Head and Shoulders Photo:

All UVE profiles also require a head and shoulders photo. Again, this needs to be taken in front of a plain background and needs to show yourself from your shoulders up. If you need further assistance with your photos, please refer to our ultimate photo guide above.

Jobs Board:

The Jobs Board is a platform on our website that allows activated members to apply for suitable roles in their area.

Marks

These are positions in which you would start or finish during the scenes.  They may be static, but there may be a requirement to move between marks.

Night shoot

Filming through the night.  No set hours but could start as early as 2pm and finish as late as 7am.

Non-performance dates: 

These are dates required for a role that do not involve filming. Non-performance dates could involve costume fittings or Covid-19 tests.

Pay Rate:

The amount you will be paid for a filming day. Details of this will be disclosed to you beforehand. Most film and TV productions follow industry rate schemes such as FAA or PACT, however this can vary depending on the advert.

Pencilled:

You are essentially on ‘hold’ for the role meaning that you are not yet booked in, pending a final decision from production, but you are required to keep all of the filming and non-performance dates available.

Reference Word:

When we contact you regarding a role, you will be given a random reference word. This is so if you need to contact us regarding the role, you can simply use this reference and you will be put through to the correct member of the Casting Team. All reference words can be found within your text messages or it will be given to your verbally over the phone.

Rehearsal

This is when you rehearse a scene before filming.

Released:

You are no longer required for filming and are under no obligation to keep the discussed dates free. Please note that this is a decision made by production.

Repeat fee

Featured artistes sometimes receive a fee every time something is shown.

Right to Work:

In order for UVE to put you forward for work, we will require you to upload your Right to Work documents to your My Documents section on your UVE profile. For UK and Irish citizens, this can be in the form of a UK passport.

Self-tape:

For some roles, production may require you to record and send over a self-tape. This is where you will be given a brief and asked to record yourself in line with that brief. For example maybe you will be required to read a line or react to a certain action. This is usually only required for featured roles.

Set

Where filming is taking place.

Split day

A shoot that is half in daylight and half in darkness.  For example a mid morning start and a late evening finish.  Pay is usually a standard day rate, depending on finish time.

Stand by

this is a warning that filming is about to commence.  When you hear this on set, be quiet, in position and ready for shooting.

Stand In Role:

When you are hired to step in for a main actor to help set up a scene off camera.

Unit base

This is where the proiduction team will base itself on any given day when on location.

Walk on Role: 

This is the same as a featured role, however walk on roles tend to be mainly for TV productions.