In our ongoing series of terms used in Hollywood, television and independent production, we’d like to present another entry. This time, we’re looking at that confusing wooden thing that is associated with the camera department. The Slate. The slate is a small board that houses important information about the project being filmed - such as title, director, scene number, take number, film stock, lens information, and if the scene has audio, or not. Fancy modern ones are usually called ‘Smart Slates,’ and can display LED SMPTE time code or the time of day. The number freezes in place for the camera when the arm hits the bottom of the slate. However, in a pinch, or a lower budget production, you might just use an actual hand clap in frame, and within earshot of the microphone.

Not using a slate can be disastrous when the camera isn’t equipped with audio capture, and audio is required for the scene. For instance, if a camera is mounted on a jib – or the camera isn’t known for capturing quality sound, like a DSLR or a GoPro – synching the audio that was captured with a different device by the audio team is much quicker and more accurate with a slate in the front of the take before the action is called. If it’s not practical to slate a scene at the beginning of the action, or a sensitive scene - a “tail slate” or end slate will be performed, but this one will be done upside-down.

How does it work? The top of the board has an arm that is lifted and ‘clapped’ at the top of a take. The slate was first used in the silent era to identify shots after the film was developed. Later it was used so that editors have all of the take information and are able to sync the sound of the clap with the picture of the arm hitting the bottom of the slate while in post-production.

Slates might also be referred to as clapboards, clapperboards, clacker, slapperboard, sticks, time slate, or soundmarker.

The clapper loader is typically, the crew person responsible for the operation on set, and works with the script supervisor for the information displayed.