Commercial Copy
Commercial Copy is the scripted dialogue or text an actor delivers in a commercial audition or shoot — requiring quick familiarization and the ability to make written lines sound genuinely spontaneous.
Equity Principal Audition (EPA)
An Equity Principal Audition (EPA) is a union-mandated open audition process giving all Actors’ Equity members direct access to audition for Equity productions regardless of agent representation.
First Hold
A First Hold is a provisional casting reservation indicating a production’s strong interest in an actor — not a firm booking, but a status requiring the actor to notify the production before accepting conflicting work.
Full Slate
A Full Slate is the most detailed audition introduction, including name, age, height, location, agency, and profile turns — providing complete identifying information to the casting team.
Guest Star
A Guest Star is a television role credit for a significant named character appearance — above a co-star and below a series regular — often central to a specific episode’s storyline.
Hands Slate
A Hands Slate is an audition request for the performer to hold their hands up to camera — most common in commercial auditions where the product involves hands or hand use.
Identification Slate
An Identification Slate is an audition introduction where the performer holds a written card with their name and role information, increasingly common in high-volume self-tape submissions.
Must Join
Must Join is the status indicating a performer has exhausted their Taft-Hartley eligibility and is required to join SAG-AFTRA before working on any further union productions.
Name Slate
A Name Slate is the simplest audition introduction — stating only the performer’s name and sometimes agency — used in theatrical auditions where the focus is entirely on the performance material.
On Hold
On Hold is a casting status where a production provisionally reserves an actor for specific dates while finalizing decisions — not a confirmed booking, but a meaningful step in the casting process.