Clapperboard
The clapperboard is the physical board with hinged sticks used to identify takes and mark a sync point.
What this is about
One instant where a sharp sound meets a visible frame — that is all syncing needs, and the closing sticks provide exactly that. The board itself carries the take's written identity, updated by the second AC between setups. Digital variants add a running timecode display, so even without the clap post can align by numbers. On sound-critical sets the clap is performed away from the actors' faces and softly when children or animals are close; the principle stays the same.
A term only helps when everyone on set means the same thing by it — so what follows is how it is used, not a dictionary definition.
What runs differently here
In planning terms, that means:
- The clap must be sharp and visible — half-hearted closes defeat the purpose
- Timecode slates let post sync by numbers when the clap is unusable
- Update the board every setup; a wrong scene number misleads for weeks
With TillyGen
TillyGen's schedule and shot list give the second AC tomorrow's scene numbers in advance — the board starts the day already correct.
Change one constraint and the consequences travel through the whole plan: affected shots are flagged, the call sheet is regenerated, and nobody keeps working from yesterday's version.
Frequently asked
Is a clapperboard still needed with timecode sync?
Mostly yes. It remains the visible take label in the footage and a fallback sync point when boxes fail — and it costs seconds per take.
Why are the sticks striped?
The contrasting pattern makes the exact frame of contact easy to spot when scrubbing frame by frame, in any lighting.
How long does it take to get started with TillyGen?
A first project takes under an hour to set up. There is no configuration phase in which templates and fields have to be defined before the tool produces anything.
Can the results be exported?
Yes — as PDF for the crew, CSV for downstream systems and through the API for anything automated. The plan stays the source; the exports are views of it.