The FLASHPOINT Clapboard is a professional tool designed to aid in the production of video and filmmaking, providing synchronization of picture and sound, with visual cues to sequence, scenes and other information used in the production. The production stays in great control no matter how many takes with a Clapboard.
A riveted, weighted magnetic arm pivots on a hinged point to meet the main part of the board, creating 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 arm makes to signal the sync of recording between camera and sound, when the filming begins. The construction is tough enough to withstand professional use.
Color bars provides a target for color correction with grey balance (note that this has BW on one side and Color on the other.
The 7 5/8" X 11" reusable slate contain space 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. Overall measurement is 9 ¾" X 11".
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 film for image, a means to match the start of the two precisely for the eventual edit and mix in the lab was necessary. Using the board for each take, the shooting of the sequences could be performed out of order and edited later. Specific information was visible in a 'throw away' frame at the beginning of each filming (take). On the film edit table, theinvaluable frames containing the information from the clapboard were discarded. And in A/B roll optical editing, served as the marker for future edit versions. Believe it or not, there was no 'Undo' in those days.
