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.
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