“What is an Apple Box?” Video Answers. Episode 34.
In the world of video production there is a simple, but indispensable building block that levels the playing field. And, no, it’s not made in Cupertino, CA by a computer company. We’ll tell you all about it here in Episode 34 of Video Answers.
In the world of video production there is a simple, but indispensable building block that levels the playing field. It’s made out of plywood and it’s called an Apple Box.
This is an Apple Box:
It’s a wooden box that is 12x8x20 inches. Every grip truck in the world has them.
How big are Apple Boxes?
They come in 4 sizes; Full apple, a half apple, a quarter apple and a eighth apple (also known as a pancake.)
What are they used for?
Apple boxes are used for propping, raising, leveling, standing and sitting. You may see one under furniture, props, dolly track or a tired grip who just needs a little rest. But there’s another use for Apple Boxes.
Dave Knox in his book, Strike the Baby and Kill the Blonde: An Insider’s Guide to Film Slang describes this other use of an Apple Box:
“A man-maker is a pile of Apple Boxes on which a short actor stands in order to appear as tall as the co-star.” Which means, not all big stars are as tall as you may think.
Now, you know.
So the next time you’re on-set and someone asks for a 1/2 apple, you won’t go to the craft services table to get one, just look for the short star because now you know all about Apple Boxes.
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Comprehensive Media is an video communications company that brings businesses perspective through ideas, messages and stories.