Clapperboard is marked and struck after the take rather than before it — typically held upside-down when the camera is already rolling.
Technical Details
The tail slate uses the same technical components as a standard film slate: two wooden or acrylic boards connected by a hinge, which produce a characteristic clap sound of approximately 2-4 kHz frequency when snapped together. The display shows identical information as the head slate – scene, take, and roll number. In digital systems, the timecode sync point is marked by the clap sound at 24, 25, or 30 fps. The upside-down position clearly signals to the editor a post-synchronization.
History & Development
The tail slate developed in the 1930s in parallel with the establishment of sound film, as synchronization problems between image and sound occurred more frequently. Originally, it was mainly used for exterior shots when ambient noise drowned out the head slate or when spontaneous shots left no time for preparation. With the introduction of multi-channel sound recording in the 1970s, it gained importance for complex productions. Modern digital workflows since the 2000s have simplified its application through more precise timecode synchronization.
Practical Use in Film
Tail slates are used in spontaneous documentary recordings where a prior slate would interfere with the natural reactions of the protagonists. In action sequences such as chase scenes or fight scenes, it prevents interruptions in the actors' flow. Productions like "Mad Max: Fury Road" (2015) used tail slates in highly complex stunt sequences with multiple cameras running in parallel. In the TV series "The West Wing," it enabled the characteristic walk-and-talk sequences without disruptive interruptions at the beginning of the scene.
Comparison & Alternatives
Unlike the standard head slate, the tail slate requires higher attention from the editor, as the sync point must be identified in reverse. Modern alternatives include automatic sync systems like PluralEyes or Tentacle Sync, which use continuous timecode signals. Wireless timecode systems have partly replaced tail slates in multicam productions, but they remain indispensable for budget productions or in technically challenging environments. Professional editors, however, often still prefer the audible clap signal for manual fine-tuning of synchronization.