Acting Terms Glossary: Complete Guide for Beginners
- Neil Mulac
- 2 days ago
- 4 min read
The language of acting is both practical and poetic.
Understanding the language of acting provides you with the confidence to read scripts, follow directions, and communicate effectively with directors, casting teams, and fellow performers. Below is a comprehensive and practical glossary of essential terms used in theatre and film, complete with definitions, examples, and insights into when each term is particularly important.
Check out our post [Actor Jargon Decoded: 50+ Must-Know Terms] for more.
Core Performance Terms
Objective — What your character wants in a scene. Clear objectives drive your choices and give a scene purpose. Example: “Convince my boss not to fire me” is an objective that informs tone, pacing, and body language.
Obstacle — Anything that stands between your character and their objective — another person, circumstance, or internal conflict. Obstacles are the engine of drama. Example: The boss refuses to listen, creating tension and conflict.*
Tactic / Action — The specific ways a character pursues their objective, such as persuading, teasing, or pleading. Shifting tactics keeps performances dynamic and alive.
Beat — A unit of action or emotional change within a scene. Actors often mark beats in scripts to clarify shifts in motivation or tone.
Moment Before — What happens to your character right before the scene begins. Imagining the “moment before” helps create believable emotional momentum.
Given Circumstances — The facts the playwright or script provides about who you are, where you are, and what’s happening. Knowing them prevents vague choices.
Subtext — The unspoken meaning behind the lines. Great actors play what’s underneath the words, not just the words themselves.
Inner Monologue — The character’s private thoughts during a scene. Maintaining an inner monologue keeps performances truthful even when silent.
Super-Objective — The overarching goal that drives a character through the entire story, rather than a single scene. It connects individual moments into a cohesive journey.
Motivation — The emotional or psychological reason behind your character’s actions. Asking “why am I doing this?” helps ground performance in reality.
Stage & Technical Vocabulary
Blocking — The planned movement and positioning onstage. Good blocking clarifies relationships and ensures visibility for the audience.
Stage Left / Stage Right / Upstage / Downstage — Stage directions given from the actor’s point of view facing the audience. Downstage is closest to the audience; upstage is farthest away.
Cheat Out — Turning slightly toward the audience while still appearing to face another actor. This keeps expressions visible during dialogue.
Cross — To move from one area of the stage to another. Often noted in a director’s blocking (“Cross downstage right on this line”).
Stage Business — Small, purposeful actions performed onstage, like sipping coffee or adjusting a prop. These enrich realism and fill moments naturally.
Props (Properties) — Objects actors use onstage or on camera. Always know your prop cues — picking up or placing something at the wrong time can disrupt rhythm.
Cue — A signal for action — a line, movement, or technical change (like a lighting shift) that tells you when to respond.
Call Time — The specific time you must arrive for rehearsal, performance, or filming. Being punctual demonstrates professionalism and reliability.
Dress Rehearsal — The final run of a show in full costume, makeup, lighting, and sound before opening night.
Fourth Wall — The imaginary “wall” separating performers from the audience. In theatre, breaking the fourth wall means directly addressing viewers.
Spike Mark — A piece of colored tape on the stage or floor indicating where set pieces or actors should stand.
Blackout — The sudden turning off of stage lights to end a scene or show.
On-Camera Specifics
Cold Read — Performing a script you’ve just been given, often in an audition. It tests instincts, flexibility, and the ability to make strong choices quickly.
Hit Your Mark — Standing exactly where the camera and lighting team have set your focus point. Hitting your mark ensures you stay in frame and properly lit.
Framing — The composition of the camera shot. Knowing whether it’s a wide, medium, or close-up helps you adjust movement and expression.
Slate — A brief on-camera introduction used in auditions. Usually includes your name, agency (if any), and sometimes your height or location.
Pickup — A short re-shoot of a specific section of a scene, usually to fix continuity or technical issues.
Coverage — The process of filming multiple angles and shot sizes for one scene. Knowing coverage helps you match your performance for continuity.
Continuity — The consistency of physical actions, wardrobe, and props across takes. Small details like which hand you used to pick up a glass can make or break an edit.
Call Sheet — A daily production schedule detailing scene numbers, locations, and actor call times. Always read the call sheet carefully before each day of shooting.
Day Player — An actor hired for one or a few days on a film or TV production, usually with speaking lines.
Background (Extra) — Performers who create the realistic environment behind the main action — like pedestrians, restaurant patrons, or commuters.
ADR (Automated Dialogue Replacement) — The process of re-recording dialogue in a studio to fix or enhance audio captured on set.
Green Screen / Blue Screen — Colored backgrounds used in film production to digitally add environments during post-production.
Eyeline — Where you direct your gaze relative to the camera. Matching eyelines between shots maintains spatial logic for the viewer.
How to Use This Glossary
Keep it handy during rehearsals and shoots. Understanding these terms helps you follow direction quickly and communicate with crew efficiently.
Add new vocabulary as you gain experience. Every production has its own unique slang — be curious and ask questions.
Apply, don’t memorize. Knowing the words is useful; living them in practice is what builds skill and presence.
Final Thoughts
The language of acting is both practical and poetic — it connects creativity with craft. The more fluently you speak it, the more confident and expressive you become, whether onstage or in front of a camera. Use this glossary as a reference, but remember that great acting begins where the definitions end: in truthful, human connection.
Which of these terms was new to you? How do you see it changing the way you approach your next role? Share in the comments section below!
