Talent Agencies Industry Terminology

We’re over budget on ATL because the lead’s quote went up.; ATL costs include the director and principal cast.; Shift some ATL to BTL to balance the budget.

Is your agency SAG-AFTRA franchised?; Per the Franchise Agreement, the commission is capped.; We can only sign with a franchised agency for union work.

The brand’s AOR is running the casting.; Loop in the AOR on usage approvals.; Our AOR relationship helps us see breakdowns early.

Let’s review your rep agreement’s term and territory.; The representation agreement includes a sunset clause.; We’ll sign the artist rep agreement after the trial period.

Congrats—you booked the pilot!; We need the booking confirmation and deal memo in writing.; She booked two national spots this quarter.

Submit him per the breakdown’s specs.; The breakdown calls for bilingual talent.; We saw the breakdown on Breakdown Services.

It’s a one-year buyout for TV and digital.; Client won’t agree to in-perpetuity buyout at this rate.; Global buyout requires a premium.

The CD requested a self-tape by Friday.; We’ll ask the CD if there’s a chemistry read.; The CD is open to nonunion submissions.

Agency commission is 10% on union theatrical.; Is the commission taken from gross or net?; Commission applies to session fee and residuals per the contract.

She has an automobile conflict until March.; Any beverage conflicts we should know about?; The contract requires category exclusivity—avoid competitive conflicts.

We need a signed deal memo before the fitting.; The memo lays out rates, term, and usage.; Long-form to follow the deal memo.

She’s a day player for episode 103.; Day-player rate is at scale plus 10%.; He worked two day-player days on the drama.

The creator’s average views justify a higher rate.; Influencer campaigns require whitelisting rights.; We’ll negotiate link-in-bio deliverables with the creator.

Production made a straight offer—no audition.; We got a direct offer contingent on network test.; It’s a straight offer at top-of-show.

The endorsement includes image and name usage.; Add a morals clause to the endorsement deal.; We’ll negotiate usage windows for the endorsement.

She’s targeting episodic guest stars.; The episodic season wraps in April.; Episodic rates differ from feature rates.

Series regular exclusivity blocks other shows.; Commercial category exclusivity covers beverages.; Add a waiver for limited film festival publicity during exclusivity.

Is this a firm offer or just an avail?; A firm offer requires an immediate hold.; The firm offer is pending background check.

Her current series is first position.; We can accept second position to the feature.; First position dictates scheduling priority.

Shooting paused under force majeure.; Add a force majeure clause addressing pandemics.; Force majeure limits the studio’s obligations.

Are fringes included or on top of the fee?; Budget for pension and health fringes.; Fringes add ~20%+ to payroll in some agreements.

Participation is based on gross receipts, not net.; Is commission taken off gross or net after agency discount?; Define net in the contract’s waterfall.

An eight-episode guarantee for season one.; Weekly guarantee applies even if you’re not used.; We want a pay-or-play guarantee at closing.

Pay at SAG-AFTRA minimum plus 10%.; The deal can’t go below guild minimum.; Fringes are calculated off minimum.

Update your headshots before pilot season.; The CD asked for a commercial headshot.; Upload new headshots to the submission portals.

We’ll hip-pocket you for 90 days.; He’s hip-pocketed at a boutique agency.; Hip-pocketing doesn’t guarantee submissions.

Placing a hold on May 10–12.; We need a first hold from production.; Release the hold if the firm offer doesn’t come through.

Series holding fee applies between cycles.; Brand will pay a monthly holding fee for exclusivity.; We need a holding fee during the option period.

The rate card ties to guaranteed impressions.; We’ll optimize for reach over frequency.; Her average reach is 500k per post.

We won’t grant in-perpetuity usage at this fee.; Change usage from in perpetuity to three years.; In-perpetuity buyouts require a premium.

The star requested an inclusion rider.; Include measurable DEI commitments in the rider.; The inclusion rider covers casting and crew.

The brief specifies two Reels and one Story.; Brand’s brief requires whitelisting access.; The brief outlines messaging do’s and don’ts.

If the campaign cancels, a 50% kill fee applies.; Add a kill fee after the fitting stage.; We’ll accept a kill fee if travel is booked.

We have an LOI from the producer.; LOI is non-binding but signals intent.; The network requires an LOI before testing.

Her lit agent is shopping the pilot script.; The literary department handles book-to-series deals.; Lit reps negotiated a step deal with the studio.

We’re waiting on the LFA after the memo.; The LFA contains the morality clause.; Don’t shoot until the long-form is executed.

Your manager can guide strategy; the agent procures work.; State law restricts managers from procuring employment.; We’ll coordinate between agent and manager on submissions.

MFN with other panelists on travel and rate.; We want MFN across all guest stars.; The MFN clause matches any better terms granted later.

Sign the NDA before receiving the script.; NDA covers the casting sides and concept art.; We can’t announce the booking due to the NDA.

The series option holds her for six years.; Option exercised at network pickup.; We need an option waiver for the feature.

The agency packaged the show with its writer and star.; Packaging fees are restricted under the WGA-ATA agreement.; Unscripted deals may still involve packaging economics.

We want pay-or-play at closing.; They won’t grant pay-or-play until financing is firm.; Pay-or-play triggers full payment if the role is cut.

She booked a network pilot.; Pilot season is compressed this year.; Pilot options roll if the series is ordered.

The team is pitching the docuseries this week.; We’ll pitch him directly to the casting director.; Prepare a pitch deck and sizzle reel.

Her quote is above top-of-show.; We won’t break quote for a guest star.; Let’s establish a new quote with this premium cable drama.

Residuals are due for the streaming reruns.; Commercial rollover triggered residuals.; Track residuals through the guild portal.

This job is covered by SAG-AFTRA.; We need a guild signatory for union talent.; Follow SAG-AFTRA rules on meal penalties.

Offer is at scale plus 10%.; We’re negotiating above scale due to her quote.; Scale differs for day players vs. series regulars.

The CD wants a self-tape by Monday.; Include a slate at the start of your self-tape.; We’ll send self-tape guidelines and sides.

Usage: 12 months, US, TV + digital.; Add paid social usage and whitelisting to the fee.; We won’t grant global usage at this rate.