Performer categories & doubles · Working
Body double
ELI5
A performer filmed in place of another person for body shots, action or practical reasons.
Used in conversation
“The body double should come through in behaviour, not only in treatment language.”
Pitch context
A director may use this term to turn a broad intention into a specific performance or casting choice.
Why it matters: Translates creative intention into casting, rehearsal, performance and on-set direction.
Caution
Meaning and consequences may change by contract, collective agreement, territory or law. This entry is orientation, not legal advice.
Connected terms
- Photo doubleA body double substitutes for a performer’s body in specified material; a photo double is selected primarily to match the performer visually on camera.
- Digital doubleA body double is a photographed performer substitute; a digital double is a computer-generated replica.
- Hand doubleComputed from definition language and shared taxonomy. This indicates proximity, not synonymy.
Sources & evidence · 8
Direct term-level sources and supporting source families.
- AICP — Suggested Best Practices for Bidding and Bidding Reference GuideDirect source · primary · checked 2026-08-14
- Directors Guild of America — DGA Creative Rights HandbookDirect source · primary · checked 2026-08-14
- pitch.dog — Pitch Dictionary Deep Research SynthesisDirect source · practitioner · checked 2026-08-14
- SAG-AFTRA — 2025 Interactive Media Agreement AI ProvisionsDirect source · primary · checked 2026-08-14
- ScreenSkills — Film and TV Job ProfilesDirect source · institutional · checked 2026-08-14
- ScreenSkills — Online Learning Glossary and Job ProfilesSupporting source family · institutional · checked 2026-08-14
- Directors Guild of America — Assistant Director and Unit Production Manager ResourcesSupporting source family · primary · checked 2026-08-14
- SAG-AFTRA — Artificial Intelligence ResourcesSupporting source family · primary · checked 2026-08-14