• A&R -- relating to the artists and repertoire department of a record company; "Capitol sent an A&R man to catch the new act at the Troubadour."
• a.d. -- assistant director; "Alan Smithee's career began as the a.d. on Warners' 'Gypsy.' "
• above the line -- Industry term: Industry term for movies and TV budgets. The line refers to money budgeted for creative talent, such as actors, writers, directors, and producers.
• ACE -- America Cinema Editors.
• ad-pub -- relating to the advertising and publicity department of a motion picture studio; "Alan Smithee has been elevated to ad-pub VP at Paramount."
• ADG -- Art Directors Guild.
• affil -- television network affiliated station; "Each broadcast network has an annual gathering of its affils."
• AFTRA -- American Federation of Television and Radio Artists. National labor union representing performers, journalists and other artists working in entertainment and news. "SAG's elected leadership looks to be holding out hope for a merger with AFTRA."
• AMPAS -- Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.
• ankle -- A classic (and enduring) Variety term meaning to quit or be dismissed from a job, without necessarily specifying which; instead, it suggests walking; "Alan Smithee has ankled his post as production prexy at U."
• anni -- anniversary; "American Movie Classics scheduled a night of Elvis Presley pics in observance of the 20th anni of his death."
• arthouse -- motion picture theater that shows foreign or non-mainstream independent films, often considered high-brow or "art" films; " 'La Cage Aux Folles' was one of the biggest hits ever on the arthouse circuit."
• ASC -- American Society of Cinematographers.
• aud -- audience; "Liza Minnelli has always had a special rapport with her aud."
• Aussie -- Australian; "The Aussie government will vote next week on budget allocations for indigenous film production." (See also: Oz)
• ayem -- A Variety coinage meaning morning (a.m.); "Barbara Walters is producing a new ayem skein for ABC."

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