Hope this is helping. Though I know for my non-actor readers that in the midst of a blog banquet, this vocab lesson must seem like a sorbet of mouse scat.Let’s finish this:
Read. A more commonly-used term for auditioning. Yes, it would be simpler to just say “audition,” but every business has its odd terminology, and acting’s is more unsorted than my sock drawer.
Used in a sentence: “I was called in to read for the role of a cop.”
Slate. Right before you audition, the casting person will ask you to say your name into the camera. The nice thing about a slate is that even if you botch your audition, you’ll still get the showbiz equivalent of 200 SAT points for simply getting your name right.
Used in a sentence: “Please slate your name and the role you’re reading for.”
Pre-read. Often, for simple one or two-line TV auditions, casting directors will have you quickly audition for them before they bring you back for a show’s producers. It’s an odd name for what is essentially an informal audition, and reminiscent of a George Carlin bit: “Airlines ask you to ‘pre-board.’ Well, what exactly is that, anyway? What does it mean to ‘pre-board?’ You get on before you get on? It’s all over the language now – ‘pre-’ this, ‘pre-’ that. ‘Place the turkey in a pre-heated oven.’ ‘Pre-existing,’ ‘pre-planning,’ ‘pre-screening.’ You know what I say? “Pre-suck my dick!”
Used in a sentence: “This casting office likes to pre-read its actors.”
Frame. This is the space in which you’ll appear on screen. Auditions are often recorded on video, and knowing your frame will keep you from too much or too little movement. Two anecdotes about this: 1) I was an acting classmate of David Moscow, who played the young version of Tom Hanks in Big. David is an excellent, technically-savvy actor who used the frame really well, like in a tight shot needing hand gestures, he kept hands up near his face, in frame. By the way, I always assumed that David grown up would look like Tom Hanks. He doesn’t. 2) The original “Melrose Place” had a casting rule which prohibited men above six feet tall, because the females in the cast were so teeny that tall guys would have their heads above frame. In general, you don’t see too many successful tall actors besides Clint Eastwood, Tim Robbins, Vince Vaughn and Brad Garrett.
Used in a sentence: “Your frame in this shot is from the top of your head to your shoulders.”
One last thing, before I send you off to drink and handle explosives for the next three days: the term is “casting director,” not “casting agent.” Use it three times and it’s yours. Now go enjoy your MGDs and M80s.
