Translating.

So many terms you run into in the TV business need translating.

They don’t mean what they say.

The point is to use your brain. Think things through. If a phrase has you caught off-guard give it some consideration. Rather than take it on face value and as the truth because they said it.

The power of the industry to give or not give you work can divert you from seeing what something really is.

Learn from your own experience. Observe others. Ask leading professionals.

Let’s use ‘Stand on the mark.’ as an example. The phrase that greets you when you enter an audition room. 

It literally is just ‘Hello.’ A greeting to get the audition going. One day ask casting what they mean when they say it.

‘Just throw it away.’ In a way, they’re saying, ‘Act better.’ You might be indicating. They didn’t say ‘Stop indicating.’ they said ‘Throw it away.’

You have to interpret that.

Your agent might say when discussing your fee for an upcoming film ‘The producers just don’t have the money.’ Actually, they do have the money or else they wouldn’t be making the film. That translation might read ‘The producers want to put more money in their pocket instead of yours.’

Stage directions in scripts don’t need to be fulfilled as they’re mostly the writers making it easier for the producers to read. See if a direction is useful to help you play. If not, try to ignore it. Especially in auditions.

Peer closely through the haze.