Acting Terminology N - R

Acting Terminology

This website is the place where you can look for anything you need to start an acting career. As part of that, we have put together a list of the acting terms and vocabulary you will need to know in order to at least know what you are talking about when you meet up with industry professionals, in an audition or maybe even on the set of a film, television show or at the theatre. The list here below is part 3 of our acting glossary.

Part 1 of Acting Terminology A - C

Part 2 of our acting dictionary D - M

Part 4 of Acting Vocabulary S - Z

N-R

NIGHT PREMIUM
An extra charge incurred for certain types of work that is carried out after 8pm.

OFF-CAMERA (OC or OS)
Any dialogue that is performed by an actor without that actor appearing on screen.

OUT OF FRAME
A performer being outside the field of vision of the camera

 “OUT” TIME
The time the actor leaves the set after changing out of their costume and removing all make-up etc.

OVER THE SHOULDER
A camera shot that is over the shoulder of one actor so that the audience can see the face of the second actor in the scene.

OVERDUBBING
The technique of putting one audio track over another whether it be the recording of a voice, or a song.

More Acting Terminology

P.A
Production Assistant.

PAN
A sweeping camera shot that goes from one side of the action to another in one unedited movement.

PER DIEM
A fee that gets paid to the actor to cover any costs meals that are not covered by the producer.

PICK UP
Starting a scene from a designated place that is not the beginning.

PICKING UP CUES
An actor may be asked to pick up their cues if the director thinks they are taking too long to come in with their line. This would be in an effort to minimize the time between lines.

PICTURE’S UP!
Implies that the cue to shoot a scene is coming up.

More Acting Terminology

PILOT
An idea for a new TV show in the form of the first episode of that series. It is produced in order to try and sell the show.

PLACES
In theatre, a call from the Stage Manager that means all the actors should go to the position that they need to be in before they go onstage.

POV SHOT (Point-of-View shot)
Camera shot taken from the perspective of the actor.

POST-PRODUCTION
The film goes into this stage after all the shooting has been completed. This is where all the editing is done as well as where all the extras are added- scoring, sound effects etc.

PRE-PRODUCTION
The film is in this stage before the shooting begins. This is where all the writing, hiring of talent and crew takes place as well as decided where it will be shot, how much money will be spent etc.

PRINCIPAL
Any actor with lines.

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“PRINT!”
A command from the director after a scene has ended- this indicates that the particular take should be printed.

PRODUCER
Someone who finds financing for and supervises the making and presentation of the project.

PRODUCTION COMPANY
The company making the film, TV show or theatrical production.

PROFILE
The view of the actors face from side on.

PROPS
 Physical objects used by actors, different to set and costume.

OFF BOOK
Actors rehearsing without scripts in their hands, with all their lines memorized.

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ON BOOK
Actors still using their scripts in rehearsal.

OPENING UP
An actor turning out towards the audience.

OPEN CALL
A call that is open to everyone- usually for extras, small roles and bit parts.

READING
A showing of a new play to an audience done with very little or no physical movement, with actors acting full-out but still reading their assigned parts i.e. their lines have not been memorized.

READ-THROUGH
A read-though of a play by the cast that has been hired to perform in the production, usually takes place at the first rehearsal.

RESIDUAL
A fee paid to performers when a TV commercial, TV show or film they were in gets rebroadcast.

More Acting Terminology

RESUME
A document that lists all of an actor’s information, training background and relevant experience in acting. It should only be one page long and is usually attached to the back of the actor’s headshot.

REWRITE
Edits made to the script.

ROLLING!
The command called by a crewmember for the camera film and audiotape to start rolling.

ROLL OVER
The command given by the director for the camera operator and audiotape to start rolling.

ROOM TONE (sometimes ‘Wild Track’)
A sound recording of existing noise at a location.

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What you’re doing is great Anthony. Whenever I read the things on your site, the interviews and even your book, I feel like if only everybody got to read this before they got started, they would be so much better off and everybody else (casting directors, agents, directors, etc.) would be so much better off too.
Personal Manager, Ingrid French

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Tony,
I want to say you changed my life. I want to be an actress so bad, but i began losing motivation when I couldn't figure out what to do. And then I found you! Thanks to you, I'm taking my first acting classes next month! Yippee!
Sara, Pasadena, CA

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Hi Tony
I would like to thank you for helping me with the monologue question I asked you. I went to the auditions for a Drama course and I am happy to say that I have been accepted as a first-year student at the Tshwane University of Technology. Please keep on sending me those newsletters and let me know where I can find books that will help me in my acting career. Thank you once more. Have a blessed day.
Sincerely
Edward Thaba -South Africa

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Dear Anthony,
Just wanted to thank you for bringing me in to [audition for the video], meet you and chat this Saturday. I was really excited to hear about your working on actingcareerstartup.com and even took a look at it today - it's awesome! You are very well-spoken, knowledgeable and enthusiastic, and it shows through the work that you do! I hope our paths in the industry will cross again and really enjoyed meeting you. Thanks, again and best wishes with your very important work!
Warmly,
Gretchen, NY, NY

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Hey Tony, thanks for the info, yours by far is the most useful, I am 30 years old, and I myself always (secretly) wanted to be an actress, but I never knew where to begin, so thank you. You have given me hope!
Ana C., Tampa, FL