Cinematographer
End Board ist praktisch bei kontinuierlicher Action oder emotionalen Szenen. Ich weiß, dass die Klappe am Ende kommt, halte also länger drauf als sonst.
Slate displayed at the end of a take rather than the beginning – held upside down to signal post-production that sync information appears at the end, used when starting with a slate would disrupt the action or actor's performance.
What is an End Board?
An End Board is a clapperboard that is clapped at the end of a take instead of the beginning. It is held upside down to signal to post-production that the sync information appears at the end of the take.
When to Use an End Board?
| Situation | Reason |
|---|---|
| Emotional Scenes | Actor Concentration |
| Action Sequences | Continuity |
| Improvisation | Spontaneous Start |
| Animal Scenes | Unpredictable |
| Documentary | Uninterrupted Flow |
Visual Signal
| Element | Description |
|---|---|
| Upside Down | Slate inverted |
| Verbal Cue | "End Board" or "Tail Slate" |
| Clap | Clapped normally |
| Position | Clearly visible |
Workflow
| Phase | Action |
|---|---|
| Start | Camera rolls without slate |
| Action | Scene is performed |
| Cut | Director calls cut |
| End Board | Slate inverted, clapped |
| Camera Off | After the slate |
On-Set Announcement
| English | German |
|---|---|
| "Tail slate" | "Nachklappe" |
| "End board" | "Endklappe" |
| "Sticks at the end" | "Klappe hinten" |
| "MOS start" | (if started silent) |
Communication
| With Whom | What |
|---|---|
| Sound | Is aware |
| Camera | Holds longer |
| Post | Recognizes from image |
| Script | Documents |
Post-Production Recognition
| Characteristic | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Upside Down Slate | End Board Signal |
| Written "EB" | Additional Note |
| At Take End | Sync Position |
| Search Backwards | Workflow |
Camera Report
| Field | Entry |
|---|---|
| Take | Normal numbering |
| Note | "End Board" |
| Sync | Note "Tail" |
| Timecode | As usual |
Advantages
| Advantage | Description |
|---|---|
| Performance | Uninterrupted Start |
| Spontaneity | Capture Reactions |
| Practicality | For Difficult Setups |
| Flexibility | Decision in the Moment |
Disadvantages
| Disadvantage | Solution |
|---|---|
| Post Effort | Clear Documentation |
| Forgetting | Communication |
| Sync Search | Backwards from the End |
| Inconsistency | Systematic Approach |
Digital Workflow
| Aspect | Today |
|---|---|
| Timecode | Auto-Sync Possible |
| Metadata | Take Info Digital |
| End Board | Still Useful |
| Backup | Visual Sync |
Combination with Other Techniques
| Technique | End Board Role |
|---|---|
| Soft Sticks | For Quiet Scenes |
| MOS | For Picture Sync |
| Multi-Camera | Per Camera or Jointly |
| Timecode | As Backup |
Common Mistakes
| Mistake | Avoidance |
|---|---|
| Forgetting | Establish Routine |
| Not Inverted | Visual Signal is Important |
| Too Quiet | Clap Clearly |
| Not Documented | Enter in Report |
MOS with End Board
| Situation | Practice |
|---|---|
| Silent Recording | End Board for Picture |
| Marking | "MOS - End Board" |
| Sync | Visually Only |
Best Practices
| Practice | Reason |
|---|---|
| Announce | Crew Informed |
| Invert Clearly | Recognizable |
| Wait After Cut | Don't Rush |
| Document | For Post |
Today
End boards remain indispensable despite modern sync technology. In emotional moments, unpredictable situations, or improvised scenes, the tail slate is the professional solution – a visual signal at the end is always better than a disrupted performance at the beginning.
From the crafts
Perspectives
Director
Manchmal kann ich nicht mit einer Klappe vor dem Gesicht meines Schauspielers starten. End Board erhält den emotionalen Moment und liefert trotzdem Sync-Info.
Producer
End Boards erfordern Disziplin in der Post – anders strukturiertes Material. Aber manchmal sind sie die einzige Option für bestimmte Shots ohne die Aufnahme zu ruinieren.
More in the lexikon
Related terms
Test your knowledge
Quiz
1. Zu welchem Department gehört „Nachklappe / Endklappe / Tail Slate"?
2. Wie viele verschiedene Fachperspektiven bietet dieser Eintrag?