You nailed it In Depth Cine. This is probably the best slate video on TH-cam that pretty much covers everything in a methodical and calm manner. I'm a professional 2nd AC myself in Australia. Some extra trivia for those interested. The reason we have the endboard/tailboard upside down hails back to the days of film. When an editor would receive the film, they would only need to observe the beginning or end of the film reel. If it was a tailboard for the reel, the editor would view the film upside down, to see the endboard/tailboard the right way up. It's a tradition that is still held today. For the aspiring 2nds out there. Some 1st ACs and Script supervisors have their own method of doing things as well, so it's important that you understand how they like to do slates, so you're all on the same page. Lastly, a method to remembering what take you are on after a clapperboard is marked is to either erase the take you are on halfway or place a dot next to the new take. That way, when you are recording your camera reports, you don't forget how many takes you did for a scene.
It's actually useful to editors in NLE's too, as I often set the preview thumbnail to show the slate frame and if it's upside down, I immediately know slate is on the end and not the front.
In Belgium we usually announce the board right after the 'Sound speed' and then slate after the 1AC says speed. Someone told me it's because audio recording was cheaper during the time we shot on film so they tried to minimize the time the camera was rolling!
I'm 42 and have been a passionate movie lover and film buff since I was 13 in 1994 even a bit before, I didn't know that there was so much to making movies which has it's own language and that if you speak film language it makes each scene clearer as everyone that understands it can be on the same level in terms of understanding each scene through the markers of a clapperboard which then goes to the editor who also understands that language. I watch a lot of behind the scenes footage of special features of movies and get confused with all the technical lingo of film and this video helped me understand it just a bit better, even if I don't fully understand it and even if I don't get into the film industry I just love to know film lingo even at a basic level which this video did and for someone like myself who has a low I.Q. and learning disabilities, OCD, Slight Asperger's, I really applaud In Depth Cine, I would love to get into cinematography so a basic video topic on that would be wonderful even if I don't become a cinematographer it's just a subject which I'm really interested in.
Great video! Trivia: MOS stands for "mit out sound," a holdover from Hollywood's early days. Directors from Germany often added sound in post production.
I worked with a German 2nd last year who went mad when this was brought up, apparently it actually means "Minus Optical Stripe" which refers to the audio optical strip being blank on the film reel ... They refused to acknowledge 'Mit Out Sound'!
I just started my 2nd AC journey and i must say of all the videos have watched on youtube, this is the most calmly done and well comprehensively explanatory. Thanks. Ive I've subscribed
As a script supervisor myself, I always wondered why in the USA you name shots with letters. In Montreal we use the UK system and we don’t call it slate but simply shot. It would read « scene 26, shot 1, take 1 » and so on. Thanks for explaining it to me, it will be useful the day I start working on American productions :)
You dont really learn to be an AC in film school(least not mine) you have to go learn that through working and so this is valuable stuff you share from your AC experince thank you
This is sooo invaluable!.. it's crazy how much is available on this platform for free thanks to creators like yourself... always a treat watching your work❤
I know all the info but I'm sharing this video with my students right away as it saves me a lot of time in class. It is an excellent video explaining all the many different situations of the use of slate. Thank you!
In Estonia the slate is read before the camera starts to roll, then camera starts to roll and the slate is clapped right after. It wastes less film stock.
This is common most places. Also to clap the sticks before you read the slate when doing tail slates for the same reason; the camera can cut as soon as the sticks close.
Hey, man. Great video as always. I have a idea for your series with budget. Gareth Edwards. First - Monsters. Second - The Creator. Three - Rogue One. Have a nice day
Also if did in the same shot upside down endslate makes no sense with digital. Because it was ment for an editor to know if you need to cut film before or after the slate.
the way the "slate" works, at least as explained, seems to be weird. In Argentina, the slate is a number, but it's not numbered in sequence of shooting, rather in sequence of how it's planned that it's going to be shown in the final cut.
I'm confused about the UK system with the slate number going up continuously until the production ends. I thought it would make sense that when a new scene begins you reset the slate number? Would really appreciate if someone could clarify this for me?
My assumption's been it makes it easier to navigate through reports when you need info from them. Since scenes aren't shot in order, a report won't list their numbers linearly and you'll stuggle to find a specific take. But if you don't reset the slates, they'll be linear, and you can easily find exactly what you're looking for.
Question, so after making sure the scene is in focus and bringing the slate in, getting the slate in focus and recorded means the focus has to be pulled to it and then pulled to the scene again? Or is the slate recorded in a spot where it is in focus along with the scene?
We almost always have marks set for focus. So after the slate is cleared focus is restored. If it's not, then operators or 1st AC's might announce they need to "check sharps" to make sure they have time to readjust.
@ 14:36 Voiceover: …if no slate was done on a take, then the board can be placed in frame upside down with the sticks closed, a new clip can be rolled, then the board is spun to the correct orientation. This signifies that this board is the label for the previous take. But in the video an upside-down open clapperboard is held, then closed after being spun around. I’m guessing the video maker was just making use of the animation sequence from earlier. (And there is no “clap” sound, like the earlier instance.) I don’t see why it would be any help to clap the board in this instance anyway… So I’m counting this as a slight hiccup on the part of the video maker- in an otherwise excellent, informative, and easy-to-watch video. Can someone please confirm that the Voiceover is correct?
The only name I use is "Slate." "Sticks" or "clapper board" sound like the person using those terms is inexperienced. I have never heard anything other than "Slate it!" used on sets, never "Clapper Board It!" nor "Sticks it!" 1:15 also the slate here should always be lit!
In the UK system, does the slate number reset every new scene (Scene 1, 1, 2, 3, Scene 2, 1, 2, 3) like the US system does (Scene 1A, 1B, 1C, Scene 2A, 2B, 2C) or does it just keep counting up (scene 1, 1, 2, 3, scene 2, 4, 5, 6. etc)?
It kind of does. Making it easier on their end would make it more difficult for the editor. Editing is already a time consuming process. It's better to make it easier by giving them these markers to sort the footage. For the filming crew this stuff becomes near second nature anyways
The 1st AC typically says "mark", or "mark it." They're controlling focus and usually the recording function as well. So they are the best to refer to.
However, when you are doing multicam it goes in this order. 2nd AC: "22 Alpha Take 2. A Mark." A-Cam 1st AC: "Mark it!" *2nd AC claps the sticks. *2nd AC Walks to B-Cam. 2nd AC: "B Mark" B-Cam 1st AC: "Mark"
@@gareththefilmmaker In a low-budget multicam scene, where I'm the only 2nd AC and only have one slate, what would you recommend I do about the roll (card) number? B-Cam's is different but presumably I don't have time to write a different one between marks?
If you’re going to title your video “how to use a clapperboard the right way” don’t have the first shot be of someone slamming the slate close to an actors face. THAT IS HIGHLY UNPROFESSIONAL! When you are that close to actors, there is an established etiquette and protocol on film sets where the 2nd AC will first say “soft sticks” then proceeds to GENTLY slate the scene. NEVER EVER slam slates that hard so close to an actors face. Doing so does two things, 1. It Irritates the actor 2. Announce to everyone on set that you are a noob. 👍🏻
Unbelievable how complicated such a seemingly simple task can be. Nice to have this video to go back to!
You nailed it In Depth Cine. This is probably the best slate video on TH-cam that pretty much covers everything in a methodical and calm manner. I'm a professional 2nd AC myself in Australia. Some extra trivia for those interested. The reason we have the endboard/tailboard upside down hails back to the days of film. When an editor would receive the film, they would only need to observe the beginning or end of the film reel. If it was a tailboard for the reel, the editor would view the film upside down, to see the endboard/tailboard the right way up. It's a tradition that is still held today.
For the aspiring 2nds out there. Some 1st ACs and Script supervisors have their own method of doing things as well, so it's important that you understand how they like to do slates, so you're all on the same page. Lastly, a method to remembering what take you are on after a clapperboard is marked is to either erase the take you are on halfway or place a dot next to the new take. That way, when you are recording your camera reports, you don't forget how many takes you did for a scene.
It's actually useful to editors in NLE's too, as I often set the preview thumbnail to show the slate frame and if it's upside down, I immediately know slate is on the end and not the front.
Thanks.
In Belgium we usually announce the board right after the 'Sound speed' and then slate after the 1AC says speed. Someone told me it's because audio recording was cheaper during the time we shot on film so they tried to minimize the time the camera was rolling!
I'm 42 and have been a passionate movie lover and film buff since I was 13 in 1994 even a bit before, I didn't know that there was so much to making movies which has it's own language and that if you speak film language it makes each scene clearer as everyone that understands it can be on the same level in terms of understanding each scene through the markers of a clapperboard which then goes to the editor who also understands that language. I watch a lot of behind the scenes footage of special features of movies and get confused with all the technical lingo of film and this video helped me understand it just a bit better, even if I don't fully understand it and even if I don't get into the film industry I just love to know film lingo even at a basic level which this video did and for someone like myself who has a low I.Q. and learning disabilities, OCD, Slight Asperger's, I really applaud In Depth Cine, I would love to get into cinematography so a basic video topic on that would be wonderful even if I don't become a cinematographer it's just a subject which I'm really interested in.
started my journey as a camera trainee this year, soon to be 2nd AC and i must say, videos like yours are heaven sent!!!🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽
Great video! Trivia: MOS stands for "mit out sound," a holdover from Hollywood's early days. Directors from Germany often added sound in post production.
Yeah thats the real orgin... motor only sound my ass
I worked with a German 2nd last year who went mad when this was brought up, apparently it actually means "Minus Optical Stripe" which refers to the audio optical strip being blank on the film reel ... They refused to acknowledge 'Mit Out Sound'!
@@AlexanderHenderson-jt1bhInteresting!
I just started my 2nd AC journey and i must say of all the videos have watched on youtube, this is the most calmly done and well comprehensively explanatory. Thanks. Ive I've subscribed
As a script supervisor myself, I always wondered why in the USA you name shots with letters. In Montreal we use the UK system and we don’t call it slate but simply shot. It would read « scene 26, shot 1, take 1 » and so on. Thanks for explaining it to me, it will be useful the day I start working on American productions :)
thank you for breaking responsibilities and expectations for this position! It helps affirm the flow that we learn on set
I never knew how complex this seemingly simple job can be. It’s incredible! 🎬
Thanks from all of us that make films but didn’t and probably won’t go to film school. Your videos are very informative and again, thanks.
You dont really learn to be an AC in film school(least not mine) you have to go learn that through working and so this is valuable stuff you share from your AC experince thank you
omg! This video is really helpful❤thank you very much! This is the best explaning video in the whole youtube! Amazing job! Thank you!
This is sooo invaluable!.. it's crazy how much is available on this platform for free thanks to creators like yourself... always a treat watching your work❤
I know all the info but I'm sharing this video with my students right away as it saves me a lot of time in class. It is an excellent video explaining all the many different situations of the use of slate. Thank you!
as small production house, your video really help my tofu crew to understand just by watching what their job is.
5:33 the confused look of Christoph Waltz xD
Bang-on! Great video dude, thanks. Have passed it on too
The best slate video I have ever watched. And I have watched some good ones. Also I think I really need to watch Living in Oblivion 😅
I wish this was out before my first Cam PA gig 😭 I am secondhand cringing hard because I did not slate properly smh
In Estonia the slate is read before the camera starts to roll, then camera starts to roll and the slate is clapped right after. It wastes less film stock.
This is common most places. Also to clap the sticks before you read the slate when doing tail slates for the same reason; the camera can cut as soon as the sticks close.
same way i learned it in germany from a 1st ac. roll sound, sound speed, clap readings, roll camera, camera speed, clap!
makes more sense. there's no reason for it to be read while film is rolling since you can already see it
Comprehensive and appreciated ❤
I knew maybe half of this. Mind blowing! Thank you!
Hey, man. Great video as always. I have a idea for your series with budget. Gareth Edwards. First - Monsters. Second - The Creator. Three - Rogue One. Have a nice day
😊I been wanting to know this for year's
great vid thanks!
Merci beaucoup pour toutes ces connaissances !
Great video thanks
Also if did in the same shot upside down endslate makes no sense with digital. Because it was ment for an editor to know if you need to cut film before or after the slate.
Great vídeo! Thanks for all the information!
What a great and informative video.
Thank you
Banger vid like always
Idea for video: How to make a camera test in pre production and all that involves 😁
Great👏
you can do it
Any more videos about terms and physical symbols of the director of photography on set?
Fabulous
the way the "slate" works, at least as explained, seems to be weird. In Argentina, the slate is a number, but it's not numbered in sequence of shooting, rather in sequence of how it's planned that it's going to be shown in the final cut.
Great video.
I went to work on a British set for a day and learned that "tail slate"(US) = "end board" (UK)
Love this!
I'm confused about the UK system with the slate number going up continuously until the production ends. I thought it would make sense that when a new scene begins you reset the slate number? Would really appreciate if someone could clarify this for me?
My assumption's been it makes it easier to navigate through reports when you need info from them. Since scenes aren't shot in order, a report won't list their numbers linearly and you'll stuggle to find a specific take. But if you don't reset the slates, they'll be linear, and you can easily find exactly what you're looking for.
Question, so after making sure the scene is in focus and bringing the slate in, getting the slate in focus and recorded means the focus has to be pulled to it and then pulled to the scene again? Or is the slate recorded in a spot where it is in focus along with the scene?
We almost always have marks set for focus. So after the slate is cleared focus is restored. If it's not, then operators or 1st AC's might announce they need to "check sharps" to make sure they have time to readjust.
Cheers@@TWFarr
I've always wondered why use a clap when you have a timecode but it makes sense to just be a back up.
I am an aspiring director, and despite my education, I get a lot of useful information from your videos! Even in such a simple review!
@ 14:36 Voiceover: …if no slate was done on a take, then the board can be placed in frame upside down with the sticks closed, a new clip can be rolled, then the board is spun to the correct orientation. This signifies that this board is the label for the previous take.
But in the video an upside-down open clapperboard is held, then closed after being spun around. I’m guessing the video maker was just making use of the animation sequence from earlier. (And there is no “clap” sound, like the earlier instance.) I don’t see why it would be any help to clap the board in this instance anyway… So I’m counting this as a slight hiccup on the part of the video maker- in an otherwise excellent, informative, and easy-to-watch video.
Can someone please confirm that the Voiceover is correct?
The only name I use is "Slate." "Sticks" or "clapper board" sound like the person using those terms is inexperienced. I have never heard anything other than "Slate it!" used on sets, never "Clapper Board It!" nor "Sticks it!" 1:15 also the slate here should always be lit!
So if u use 2 cameras and two people did the slating for the cameras, does that mean both of em are 2nd AC ?
Best 👌 👍 😍 channel i love you sir ❤️ 🙏 Thank you 🎉🎉
👍👍from 🇳🇱NL
what's that first movie clip? looks Persian
For MOS, can you also put your hand in between the sticks and enter the frame? Or is leaving the sticks closed the proper/most common way to do it?
Either works. In my experience closed sticks is the more common way of doing it.
In my experience, I’ve just been putting my hand in between the sticks and enter the frame
I’ll go anywhere and kiss your forehead man this is so helpfull
In the UK system, does the slate number reset every new scene (Scene 1, 1, 2, 3, Scene 2, 1, 2, 3) like the US system does (Scene 1A, 1B, 1C, Scene 2A, 2B, 2C) or does it just keep counting up (scene 1, 1, 2, 3, scene 2, 4, 5, 6. etc)?
I'm pretty sure they would. Especially since they don't always shoot chronologically.
The way I've always seen it done, is the slate number goes up continuously for each shooting day and only resets on a new day.
Wondeful info! But I also have to question, does it REALLY need to be that complicated? Almost feels like learning calculus lol
After about a day of doing it becomes second nature.
Well, did u think filmmaking is simple?
It kind of does. Making it easier on their end would make it more difficult for the editor. Editing is already a time consuming process. It's better to make it easier by giving them these markers to sort the footage. For the filming crew this stuff becomes near second nature anyways
does 1st ac or the person slating say mark/marker?
The 1st AC typically says "mark", or "mark it." They're controlling focus and usually the recording function as well. So they are the best to refer to.
However, when you are doing multicam it goes in this order.
2nd AC: "22 Alpha Take 2. A Mark."
A-Cam 1st AC: "Mark it!"
*2nd AC claps the sticks.
*2nd AC Walks to B-Cam.
2nd AC: "B Mark"
B-Cam 1st AC: "Mark"
@@gareththefilmmaker Interesting, I've been told and how I've been doing it is to say "mark" right before clapping the sticks as 2nd ac. (usa based)
@@gareththefilmmaker In a low-budget multicam scene, where I'm the only 2nd AC and only have one slate, what would you recommend I do about the roll (card) number? B-Cam's is different but presumably I don't have time to write a different one between marks?
1st fr
If you’re going to title your video “how to use a clapperboard the right way” don’t have the first shot be of someone slamming the slate close to an actors face. THAT IS HIGHLY UNPROFESSIONAL! When you are that close to actors, there is an established etiquette and protocol on film sets where the 2nd AC will first say “soft sticks” then proceeds to GENTLY slate the scene. NEVER EVER slam slates that hard so close to an actors face. Doing so does two things, 1. It Irritates the actor 2. Announce to everyone on set that you are a noob. 👍🏻
They brought that up in the video. The first shot wasn't an actual behind the scenes thing. It was just a clip from some movie.
@@NoCluYT yeah, you can physically see the actress flinching/preparing herself for what's coming before the slate.
Soft sticks ALL THE TIME in front of/near the talent