Terminology Tuesday: Day Player

What is the difference between a day player and a co-star role?⁠
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Well, nothing really. ⁠
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A co-star refers to the π—¦π—œπ—­π—˜ of the role. A day player refers to the type of 𝗖𝗒𝗑𝗧π—₯𝗔𝗖𝗧. ⁠
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𝔸𝕝𝕝 𝕕𝕒π•ͺ 𝕑𝕝𝕒π•ͺ𝕖𝕣𝕀 (π•šπ•Ÿ π•‘π•£π•šπ•žπ•–π•₯π•šπ•žπ•–) 𝕒𝕣𝕖 𝕔𝕠-𝕀π•₯𝕒𝕣𝕀 𝕓𝕦π•₯ π•Ÿπ• π•₯ 𝕒𝕝𝕝 𝕔𝕠-𝕀π•₯𝕒𝕣𝕀 𝕒𝕣𝕖 𝕕𝕒π•ͺ 𝕑𝕝𝕒π•ͺ𝕖𝕣𝕀.⁠
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Deciding which co-star roles are β€œday player” roles comes down to an assessment of the script and ultimately, a locked DOOD. ⁠
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This is why, for a co-star role, you might be pinned longer than you would be for a guest star role. ⁠
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We are (usually) unable to send out an offer without a locked board. ⁠
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This is to ensure we don’t underpay or overpay anyone before knowing the shooting schedule. ⁠
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It’s easy to assume that a co-star role that only appears in 1 scene might be just a 1-day role. ⁠
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However, there are countless instances when that particular scene was a more complicated setup and required multiple shooting days. ⁠
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If a co-star role works 2 days, you might even be offered a 3-day co-star role as the monetary difference between 2 consecutive workdays are comparable to that of a 3-day co-star role. ⁠
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If the board suggests you will be working for more than 3 days, you’ll be placed on a weekly contract. And any days worked beyond a daily, 3-day or weekly contract will result in additional pro-rated days (more $$!)⁠
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In short, we typically don’t call roles β€œday player” roles as we won’t exactly know whether that role works one day until we see (at least) a prelim schedule. ⁠
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This is why it’s so important to tell your reps if you are not available for even ONE of the days in the span of dates that surround an episode. ⁠
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You could very easily be scheduled on that ONE day. And if you’re not available for it? Well… yikes. That’s a whole post for another day. ⁠
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#themoreyouknow #thecastingdirectorscut #terminologytuesday #actorlife

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