Production Glossary
Clapper Board
A clapper board is a tool employed in film, advertising, and TV production that supports the synchronization of the sound and picture that is recorded. Film and sound are recorded separately and need to be synced to provide a well-rounded product to the audience.The clapper board is made up of two units: the clapper and the slate. The clapper is two segments of plastic or wood that crack together to create a “clacking” sound. This allows the editor to easily locate a desired portion of audio on the sound recording. The slate portion of the clapper board is where any information about the scene being shot is written. This info includes the production title, scene number, director, take, camera angle, and director of photography.
The clapper board is placed in front of the camera prior to shooting a scene. After the scene is staged and the actors are ready, the clapper board is snapped together, effectively marking the start of the scene for the editor to find in post-production. Digital slates, which use a timer synced with a camera, only require that the clapper board be held up to indicate scene details. The editor then uses the recorded time (from the camera) to match the sound from the location provided by the digital slate.
