What does Shooting Dates mean?
Shooting Dates refer to the specific calendar dates on which an actor is contracted or expected to be on set and actively filming. Shooting dates are established during the booking process and confirmed in the actor’s contract. For child performers, shooting dates trigger all applicable minor labor law protections, including the requirement for a studio teacher and compliance with daily work hour limits. The distinction between shooting dates and hold dates is important — on hold dates the actor is paid but not filming, while shooting dates are the days when actual work is performed.
Example:The agent confirmed the child actor’s shooting dates — three days spread across a two-week production window — and reminded the parents that school arrangements and the work permit needed to reflect those specific calendar dates.
Example: When the production schedule shifted due to weather delays, the production coordinator contacted all actors to confirm revised shooting dates, ensuring that any conflicts with other bookings could be identified and resolved before filming began.
Did you know?
Shooting dates on a film or TV production are rarely consecutive — actors frequently work scattered days across a multi-week or multi-month production schedule as the company moves between locations and scenes. A supporting actor might have shooting dates on Day 1, Day 8, and Day 23 of a 30-day production, requiring them to stay available (and often on hold) throughout the entire production window even if they are only actively working for three days.
You can also find “Shooting Dates” and related terms in this category: Acting Jobs and Auditions.
