ARTIST RELEASE FORM:
a contract in releasing your claim of any rights to images taken for a specific client for an agreed fee.

BEAUTY SHOOT:
refers to full facial photo that could be used for cover shot or cosmetic advert.

BOOK/PORTFOLIO:
a book-compilation of one or two of the best photos of every shoot and tear sheets of published work that a model shows to clients/casting directors.

BOOKER:
liaises between casting director and model. the person in charge of handling client requests.

BRIEF:
a brief is information a client/casting director gives to the agency regarding a casting. the brief is then conveyed by the agency to a model. the brief contains information on the casting or job and other details such as location, date, shooting times, wardrobe call hours, dress code and a certain look required.

CALL BACK:
after initial casting the casting director/client may need to see a model again to double check before they make a final selection and book the model.

CASTING:
when the clients want to see models that fit a specific brief for a specific role or job, a casting will be held at a casting studio like Kayos. when attending a casting, dress accordingly.

CASTING DIRECTOR:
the client appoints a casting director to hold the castings enabling the client to find the most appropriate look/talent for a particular role, whether it be for a tv or cinema commercial, a film or a printed advert.

CASTING FEES:
there is no such thing. if a casting director charges you a fee, turn the other way and run. don’t confuse casting director and casting agency. a casting agency might bill you for the photographs taken. that amount depends on whether there’s a hair stylist and make-up artist involved and the amount of photos taken.

COPY BOOK:
a copy of the model portfolio photographs in a separate portfolio book.

CREW:
those who assist in the productions, whether it’s stills photographs, Television commercials, including camera operators, make-up artists and hair stylists.

COMMISSION:
the percentage that gets deducted by the agency on all jobs. you will be quoted a ‘model fee’ which includes the agency commission and tax. not to confuse the models, some agencies quote the models the amount after all deductions are made. make sure you understand the payment structure when joining an agency.

EDITORIAL:
an “editorial booking” is a shoot for the fashion pages in a magazine and is only used once.

GO-SEE:
when the model agency makes an appointment for the model to see a client or a photographer. a go-see is different to a casting where there are lots of models. like castings you won’t get paid for going on go-sees.

LOCATION:
when the shoot is not done in a studio, the model gets booked to shoot on location. normally location shoots take place outdoors.

MODEL ROMCARD:
with latest technology a model can get photos on a cd, containing still, video images or audio clips.

N.A.M.A.:
national association of model agencies, the governing body of the fashion industry.

ON CAMERA PERFORMERS AGREEMENT: contract for performance in front of camera for a particular job.

ON SET:
where the action is happening, the location where the filming of the model’s performance will occur.

OPTIONS:
client or casting director makes an option on a model as a tentative booking, to ensure the model’s availability for a shoot. the options are either: released, if client doesn’t want to shoot him/her, or confirmed, by booking if the model gets the role. PM: abbreviation for product manager.

PAYE TAX:
every model, irrespective of age, pays “pay as you earn” tax. this is deducted from your fee by your agency and paid to the receiver of revenue. some agencies brief models on the fee they would be receiving and that is after the tax and agency commission is deducted. IRP5

CERTIFICATE:
an irp5 certificate for the tax amounts that a model’s agency deducted from his/her earnings and paid over to the receiver of revenue.

STOCK IMAGES/PHOTO LIBRARY/PICTURE LIBRARY:
a selection of pictures from which clients can buy or rent. the model is compensated for the workday in front of camera and does not receive usage fees for the images when used. the usage fees are normally split up between the photographer and client, except if otherwise negotiated.

TAKE:
when the director says “this is going to be a take” it means rehearsals are over and the model’s next moves will be recorded.

TEAR SHEET:
the pages from a magazine in which the model is featured are examples of tear sheets to be placed in the model’s portfolio. buy a few copies, since once magazines are off the shelf it’ll be very difficult to get hold of those editions.

TEST:
this is a shoot purely for the model’s portfolio. a variety of outfits, moods, and stances are vital and will enable the clients to see the model’s versatility. models don’t get paid to test. they are the ones who do the paying. a fee is negotiated beforehand and it depends on the amount of films, outfits, location and other people involved, i.e. hair stylist, make-up artist.

WEATHER DAY:
when clients are unable to film on account of bad weather.

Z-CARD/COMPOSITE CARD/COMP CARD:
an A5 card with measurements & different photographs of a model.

GAFFER:
the head lighting man or woman.

BEST BOY:
the Gaffer’s number two - a lighting technician.

SPARK:
an elex (lighting) technician.

BLONDE:
light not a girl.

REDHEAD:
another light.

CHARLIE BAR:
small rectangular board, which is used to block lighting from hitting the actor/actress. Principally a Charlie Bar was used (in the old days) to concentrate light on the breasts of the leading lady.

SCRIM:
thin gauze covering a light to cut down the glare.

GEL:
coloured film that covers a light, creating colour in the background.

D.O.P:
direct of photography or lighting cameraman. The man/woman who creates the shot and the lighting.

OPERATOR:
the man/woman who watches through the eye piece.

FOCUS PULLER:
the man/woman who checks the focus on every shot.

CLAPPER LOADER:
the man/woman who loads the film and claps the board.

CLAPPERBOARD:
the slate that marks each ‘take’ by number and synchronizes sound & vision.

CHECKING THE GATE:
happens after every take to check the film c/o the Focus Puller.

HAIR IN THE GATE:
a sliver of celluloid has lodged in the aperture of the camera. GRIP: The man who pushes the dolly and lays the track.

DOLLY:
the trolley carrying the camera that the grip pushes.

JIB:
a small arm that attaches to the dolly, allowing the camera to move sideways. TRACK: The tracks that the dolly rolls along.

ROLLING, TURNING OR SPEED: Film is running in the camera.

A TAKE:
recording a scene or part of a scene for posterity.

CHECKS:
make-up and hair checks before each ‘take’.

TURNING:
film is running in the camera.

1ST POSITIONS:
where the action will start from.

ACTION:
start to immortalize your work.

BANANA:
move in a curve to allow the camera to see behind you (in the shape of a banana).

RED LIGHT AND BELL:
studio term meaning prepare to shoot. One bell means ‘shooting’ - two bells means we’ve ‘cut’. The red light means don’t enter the sound stage.

SAVE THE RED:
two bells, means that they have stopped filming. Relax and talk.

HOLD THE RED:
means going for another ‘take’.

FROM THE TOP:
start again from the top of the scene.

CUT:
stop filming and ‘check the gate’ - the gate is only checked after filming the ‘take’ the director wants to print.

HITTING YOUR MARK:
the focus of the camera is very important, the mark is a focus point. Hitting your mark means that you will be in focus.

CROSSING THE LINE:
a bad thing. Characters talking to each other need to be looking at each other. There is a pretend line across which the camera cannot cross. If the line is crossed characters will look like they are talking to themselves i.e. looking the same way - right to right or left to left.

EYE LINE:
when two or more people speak to each other, their eye line (to each other) governs the line that the camera is going to have to take. “Get out of my eye line” which means don’t watch me doing this. Note - never watch actors act unless it is a requirement of the scene. Avert your eyes or go away.

DFI:
old BBC term meaning ‘different f***ing instruction’ i.e. take it away or change of plan.

WIPE:
cross close to the camera left to right or right to left.

CROSS:
like wipe but further away from the camera.

CONTINUITY:
repeating the action exactly the same for the camera and the editor (later).

LEADING EYE:
the eye that is closest to the camera. Very important for focus in a close-up.

PROP:
the things that actors and background carry on a set. Please return to the prop man.

PICK UP:
cutting into a scene to pick up only a small part of it. Continuity becomes very important.

MOVING AROUND:
means the camera is going to be facing in the other direction, revealing all that has so far not been seen.

TURNING AROUND:
means the camera is going to be facing in the other direction, revealing all that has so far not been seen.

SOUND. WILD TRACK:
the sound engineer is recording either lines for the dub or atmosphere.

ATMOSPHERE:
sound are recording the sound of silence for the dub. DUB: What happens during the sound editing of the film.

SOUND SPEED:
the sound recordist is running up ready to record the sound. Links back to the old days of tape recording rather than present digital recording.

CLICK TRACK:
a sound term used when counting dubbed music onto a scene. A click track can be used on set or during the sound dub.

CALL TIME:
the time you are expected at the unit base. Don’t’ ever be late.

CHECKING-IN:
once at the unit base, check-in with the 2nd AD or 3rd AD to let them know you have arrived.

HONEY WAGON:
the name given to the portable loos on location.

SIGNING OFF:
a background term for checking that your chit is correctly filled in. Do not sign off before checking the details.

WRAP:
wind, reel & print (camera term) and go home - your day’s work is finished.