Construct your own Video Slate

J.R. Hudson said:
Robot ? You can agree to disagree but it won't change the opinions of most of us here.
Click to expand...

I agree with that (that's the operating principal of the Internet, after all :)). I'm basically defending myself here. Everyone seems to think that I am against professional equipment, use a cardboard cutout, and that I get no respect from my crew. It's an insult (surely unintended, but still).

My experience on my own sets as well as on commercial and corporate shoots is that there are many more important and substantive things that supply your "image." I'm not saying it's not important *at all,* I'm saying that people aren't quite *that* petty.

It's taking what is essentially a fair argument and extending it too far.
 
Agreed to disagree. Matt, I do agree with you, but the question was asking about DIY slates and the intended users are students. This thread should be moved to "professionalism on a film set - what's needed?" or something like that. I will have a LOT of opinions on that one.

However, it seems like no one has made any DIY clapper slates. That's inspired me to try. I will post once it's complete.*

(*time permitting...)

-J
 
I too was thinking about doing a DIY slate for my DIY projects. Because really alot of slates are essentially a whiteboard and couple pieces of wood.
 
DIY Slate

DIY Slate

I created a DIY slate several years ago that I still use today. I sandwiched a piece of paper with production information between some plexiglass and hardboard and glued into the bottom slot of the slate clapper. I edged the sides with metal angle and placed a handle on the back. Dry erase marker can be used on the plexiglass without damaging the paper underneath. Simple, cheap, long lasting and professional.

 
For kids on a school's set... who cares
Click to expand...
Stop calling me a kid or a student, it's incredibly disrespectful. I am a professional video producer and independent filmmaker. I don't play with monopoly money.

MattinSTL said:
There's no commercial or corporate shoot in the USA that anybody will do with that framed whiteboard and not get negative attention.
Click to expand...

Umm, then why do I keep getting work? It's a mystery... ;-)

Why should anybody wear a suit to court? Why should police wear uniforms?
Click to expand...
Oh man, for the last time (I hope :)), I'm not saying that image doesn't ever matter. Are you really comparing using my slate to showing up to court in a tank top and boxer shorts? That's not the argument we're having.

It's like me saying that you're arguing that you should wear a suit to a film set! Of course you're not saying that, but neither am I saying that you shouldn't wear a suit to court.

I think a lot of readers are well-served by the "side bar" of this thread... which is to say that it's hardly worth it to construct your own slate, especially with the current cost of an IKAN or comparable slate.
Click to expand...
I totally agree with both points here. A slate is cheap enough that if you want it, you can pay for it, and if you want to use an alternative, as I do, it's cheaper to go down to OfficeMax and buy one than try to build one.
 
Point taken, Teddybear. My apologies. When I said I don't care what anybody uses for a slate... really at the heart of the matter, that's an understatement.
 
Last edited:
come on guys... if you buy a slate from filmtools or somewhere else, that makes you not direct a professional... it is just a piece of plastic with a few lines on it... even a old fashion chalk board will do the job.... :beer:

or you use a slate or not... is a personal choice way of working.... some directors just note everything on a piece of paper and hand that over to the editor... other directors swear to use a slate and can't even work without one... and what kind of slate you use, is also again a personal taste...

point is that a whiteboard or a 'professional' slate will do the same job and has absolute no influence on the end product... it does not infect the sound or image quality of the movie...

it's your artistic impression, your previous work, your knowledge about film making and your working style... that's make a professional... and not that stupid little piece of white plastic... if you think so, please have fun on your pinky cloud... What is the next item? A directors chair with your name on it on the set? Just because George Lucas has also one????​

the whole point was that it's about IMAGE... which is the business we're in...
Click to expand...
THE FILM MAKING INDUSTRY goes about what you HAVE DONE, YOUR WORK AND ARTISTIC INPUT and not your image or equipment... we all do respect film directors as Steven Spielberg and George Lucas for the work what they have done and not for their image or which slate they are using…

Leave the image thing over to the actors…. That is their job!!!

​
personal I like the idea of whiteboard much better… why do we need a slate with the text as ‘’director‘’ and ‘’roll’’ for our digital productions? The slate of ‘’The Noble Robot’’ will do the job too… and you can make it even more effective with additional technical data as light settings or filter usage… add somewhere in the corner your logo and it look also ‘professional’… and to sync audio , just yell ACTION and you are synced… free and PROFESSIONAL!
​
 
I saw an old documentary about a kid that grew up in the hait (something like that) district of San Francisco... This guy did an interview when he was about 8 years old and the documentary showed how some children born in the peak of the drug culture grew up. At the time it was really effective at polarizing conservatives and hippies... and anyway... they did sync sound by having the child on camera clap his hands one time. In this case it turned into a really cool edit.

To each his own... and let no reader of this thread ever think I'm putting on-set image ABOVE content...
 
Last edited:
Let me say a little something,

First. This is a DIY thread.

Secondly, this is an INTERNATIONAL community, not just the almighty US, but the rest of the world including a tiny dot in the pacific where i live in, smack in a third world country.

That said, I've been making TV ads and corporate material that include shooting well known stars in my lil ol country since 1990.

Since we are a poor country, there are no store on the corner that sells A SLATE. SO i made one. but guess what, I have never used it.

I use a piece of paper or whatever.

Not that a slate isn't necessary, it is, it just isn't necessary in my own case because I edit the stuff I shoot myself.

My point is, I really feel the spirit of DIY shouldn't be stifled on a DIY thread whatever the reason. If this guy posted over at cinematography or hardware whatever thread then beat him up with all this image thing. But please not in a DIY thread where people from poor places look into for inspiration and help.

Respectfully

Ted
 
I have been following this for some time now. It occured to me that an Electronic Slate might be of some interest , as they are so pricey.

I made a one off for a friend some time ago. Would this be of any interest???
 
Slate

Slate

j said:
A DIY time code slate? Prove it.
Click to expand...


As far as I know there are no DIY Plans. The one I made (some time ago)
was adapted from a XR300 Timecode Reader Writer. Then it cost about £150.
Unless you can use the main board from a similar unit, it would be a long and expensive slog.

The reason I asked if there was any interest, was that prices have come down a lot since the first one, and there may be other units that could be modified.
 
Last edited:
Basically we are asking you to share. Wether it be pictures or whatever. Yes - this is an online community. And yes - you peaked our interest.
 
So to get back on topic, I was fixin my DIY slate today and thought I might share this here for those who need to make one.

Just PM if you need the vector file.

All the best to all DIYers..

1226597072.jpg
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top