Pancake Apple Box is a technique of professional lighting.
Technical Details
Standard pancakes are made of 12-15mm thick birch plywood with reinforced corners and can support up to 500 kg point load. The surface is usually coated with non-slip material or is roughened. Grip cutouts on the short sides allow for one-handed transport. Professional versions feature rounded edges and waterproof sealing. Half pancakes (10" × 12" × 1") and mini pancakes (8" × 6" × 1") complement the system for micro-adjustments under 1°.
History & Development
Apple boxes originated in the 1930s at Hollywood studios, initially made from recycled apple crates from the Californian fruit industry. Systematic standardization occurred in the late 1940s at Warner Bros., with the pancake being the last element standardized around 1952. Modern pancakes have exclusively used new plywood instead of recycled material since the 1980s and comply with OSHA safety standards.
Practical Use in Film
Pancakes correct minimal tilt angles of dolly tracks, level uneven ground under tripods, and serve as low-profile risers for ground-level lighting setups. In "Mad Max: Fury Road" (2015), cinematographer John Seale systematically used pancakes for precise alignment of crash cam rigs on vehicles. In the studio, they stabilize greenscreen panels and adjust LED wall segments with millimeter accuracy. The advantage lies in their minimal height with maximum stability; disadvantages arise with larger height differences exceeding 2-3 cm.
Comparison & Alternatives
Compared to wedges (wedge-shaped shims), pancakes offer a flat resting surface without the risk of tipping. Rubber pads offer better damping but can only support 50-100 kg. Modern alternatives like hydraulic leveling plates or adjustable feet are increasingly replacing pancakes on high-end equipment. Metal shims under 5mm thickness are used for precision adjustments, while standard apple boxes are used when a height of 2" or more is required.