What does Trades mean?
Trades refers to the trade publications and industry news outlets that cover the business of film, television, and entertainment. The major trades include Variety, The Hollywood Reporter, and Deadline Hollywood. These publications report on casting news, production deals, box office results, ratings, industry trends, and business transactions. For actors and their families, the trades are a source of information about upcoming productions, casting opportunities, and industry news that affects the professional landscape.
Example:The child actor’s first major booking was announced in the trades — a brief item in Variety noting her casting in the upcoming streaming series, which her agent said was a meaningful visibility milestone for a performer at her career stage.
Example: The parent followed the trades closely during pilot season to monitor which productions were moving forward, which were being passed on, and which casting directors were working on projects that might be right for her child.
Did you know?
Variety, founded in 1905, is the oldest of the major entertainment trades and is famous for its colorful invented slang — headlines like ‘Sticks Nix Hick Pix’ (rural audiences don’t like rural films) became legendary for their wit and economy. The trades’ influence has shifted significantly in the streaming era, as the traditional box office and ratings metrics they tracked have been partially replaced by streaming data that platforms often decline to release publicly.
You can also find “Trades” and related terms in this category: Marketing and Promotion.
