12mm birch plywood platform for precise height adjustment of lights and actors; 10cm high, 150kg capacity.
Technical Details
The Half Apple Box is constructed from 12mm thick birch plywood and is rated for a maximum load of 150 kg. The construction uses screwed and glued corner joints without visible metal parts to avoid reflections in the light. Standard versions feature four non-slip rubber pads on the underside and rounded edges to prevent damage to equipment and cables. Professional variants have additional grip cutouts on the long sides and a matte surface treatment for reduced reflection.
History & Development
Apple Boxes originated in the 1920s as a cost-effective alternative to heavy metal risers at Paramount Studios. In 1947, Matthews Studio Equipment introduced the first standardized Half Apple Box with uniform dimensions after lighting technicians from various studios requested compatible sizes. In the 1960s, birch plywood became the standard material, offering the optimal balance of weight (2.8 kg), stability, and cost-effectiveness. Modern variants made of aluminum honeycomb panels reduce the weight to 1.4 kg while maintaining the same load capacity.
Practical Use in Film
Gaffers primarily use Half Apple Boxes for precise alignment of Fresnel lights and LED panels on stands when the usual height adjustment is insufficient. During the filming of "Blade Runner 2049" (2017), cinematographer Roger Deakins systematically used Half Apple Boxes for fine-tuning practical lights within interior sets. For actors, they serve as a discreet riser in dialogue scenes – especially when there are height differences between performers. The 10cm height gain precisely corresponds to a focal length change from 50mm to 35mm with constant framing in a close-up.
Comparison & Alternatives
The Half Apple Box fills the gap between the 5cm high Quarter Apple Box and the 20cm high Full Apple Box. Pancakes (2.5cm) are only suitable for minimal corrections, while Full Apple Boxes are impractical in confined spaces. Modern aluminum telescopic risers offer variable heights from 8-15cm but cost four times as much and require longer setup times. Sandbag-filled positioning bags adapt to uneven surfaces but do not achieve the precision of rigid wooden blocks for exact light positions.