CHAPTER 12

Slates and Slating

Why Slate?

Why do we slate?

The “slate” itself is simply a rectangular board of plastic, masonite, plywood, or aluminum, on which various information is written. The slate is photographed, usually at the very beginning of the scene, so the information it contains becomes a part of the scene being photographed. The top part of the slate is the section known as the “clapsticks,” or just “sticks.” These “sticks” are just two pieces of wood (or plastic or aluminum, or some other material) hinged together at one end and usually painted in black and white diagonal stripes. The contrasting stripes aid in their being seen against any type of background, in nearly any lighting conditions.

The words and numbers written on ...

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