CLAR 9-Section Acrylic Production Slate with Color Clapper Sticks (9.25 x 11")

The CLAR ACRYLIC PRODUCTION SLATE is a professional tool designed to aid in the production of video and filmmaking when independently recording visual and audio tracks with the goal of perfect sound and picture sync. A sharp resounding 'CLAK' marks thestart of the scene, simultaneously producing an image of the closure point that generated the sound. Sound and picture are in lock step!

The smooth, 9 section, acrylic surface is prepped for use with Dry Erase style markers providing detailed visual cues to imaging devices, sequence, scenes and other pertinent talent information important for organization in the film and video production.

The production stays in firm control no matter how many takes with a Production Slate Clapboard.

A multi-color striped, magnetic arm pivots on a riveted hinged point to meet the main part of the board, providing a 'clap' sound on the broad matching surface. The magnetic closure keeps the two firmly in position when not in use. The 'clap' part of the board is the sound that the 2 parts of the hinged board makes to signal the camera and sound man that the filming should begin. The construction is tough enough to withstand professional use.

The 9.25" X 11" reusable slate contains engraved zones for information such as Production Title, Roll (Media), Scene, Take, Director, Camera, Date, Color Balance and Sync. The board is erasable with suitable dry erase or wet erase markers. The white translucent acrylic board can be backlit.

A little history.
Originally the clapboard was used in film production to mark each 'take'.
Since the recording of sound and image was on separate media, magnetic reel for sound and 16 to 35mm light sensitive motion picture film for the image, a means to match the start of the two precisely for the eventual edit and mix in the lab was necessary.

Using the production board for each take, the shooting of the sequences could be performed out of order and edited later into a flowing arrangement. The essential sync information was visible in a 'throw away' frame at the beginning of each filming (take). After a physical link was established between the sound and the picture reels on the film edit table, the invaluable frames containing the information from the clapboard were discarded. And in A/B roll optical editing, predating digital imaging, the sound/visual "clap" served as the marker for future edit versions.

Believe it or not, there was no 'Undo' in those days.