20.3 cm wooden box (19 mm plywood, 4.5 kg) used to level actor heights and as camera support on set.
Technical Details
The Full Apple Box is constructed from 19 mm thick pine or birch plywood with reinforced corner joints using wooden dowels or screws. The standard version weighs 4.5 kg and features integrated grip holes on the long sides for easy transport. Modern variants include non-slip rubber feet and a matte surface treatment to prevent light reflections. Special versions with foam padding or weather-resistant coating for exterior shoots complement the standard range.
History & Development
In 1923, the Hollywood studio system first introduced standardized apple boxes as standard equipment, after prop masters had previously used improvised boxes of various sizes. Columbia Pictures established the standard dimensions, still valid today, in 1935, based on the then-current California Apple Growers Association crates. In the 1960s, Matthews Studio Equipment developed the first professional plywood apple box series, which was expanded in 1975 to include the modular 4-piece system (Full, Half, Quarter, Pancake).
Practical Use in Film
Full Apple Boxes compensate for height differences between actors – for instance, Tom Cruise regularly stood on apple boxes in "Mission: Impossible" films to act at eye level with taller co-stars in dialogue scenes. As camera support, they enable precise height adjustments of 20.3 cm without complex tripod manipulations. Lighting technicians use them to secure sandbags or as elevated platforms for light control equipment. For exterior shoots, stacked Full Apple Boxes serve as temporary camera platforms or wind protection.
Comparison & Alternatives
The Half Apple Box (20.3 cm height) offers the same footprint with half the height, while Quarter (5.1 cm) and Pancake (2.5 cm) allow for finer gradations. Modern alternatives such as pneumatic lifts or telescopic platforms only replace apple boxes in specific applications, as their flexibility and silent operation remain unsurpassed. For heavy equipment, reinforced variants with metal brackets are used, capable of supporting up to 227 kg.