# The clapper board, as used in movie making.
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-clapper-board-as-used-in-movie-making/383522
**Category:** Cafe Society
**Created:** [December 10, 2006, 1:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-clapper-board-as-used-in-movie-making/383522 "2006-12-10T01:31:34Z")
**Posts on this page:** 9
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@mangeorge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mangeorge)
#### Post date: [December 10, 2006, 1:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-clapper-board-as-used-in-movie-making/383522/1 "2006-12-10T01:31:34Z")
I have a pretty good idea what it is and what it’s purpose is. But.
Every once in a while I notice the word “clapper” in movie credits followed by someone’s name. Surely that can’t be the whole job. The person who operates it must have other duties, right?
Peace,
mangeorge
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### Author:  [@friedo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/friedo)
#### Post date: [December 10, 2006, 2:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-clapper-board-as-used-in-movie-making/383522/2 "2006-12-10T02:08:30Z")
Today’s ultra-modern digital 24th-of-a-second-counting computerized clapper boards require the skilled hand of a qualified clapper board technician.
Nah, I’m kidding. 90% of people on a movie set are just sitting around most of the time. Plus it’s probably a union thing.
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### Author:  [@aktep](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aktep)
#### Post date: [December 10, 2006, 2:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-clapper-board-as-used-in-movie-making/383522/3 "2006-12-10T02:28:50Z")
what else could he do?
although the process of marking and clapping the clapper is not intensive, it does put you out of position to do much else.
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### Author:  [@DesertDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DesertDog)
#### Post date: [December 10, 2006, 2:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-clapper-board-as-used-in-movie-making/383522/4 "2006-12-10T02:59:20Z")
You often see the credit as clapper/loader so I always assumed they load the magazines as well. **Catrooniverse** should know for sure. Hopefully he’ll be along any time now.
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### Author:  [@GuanoLad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GuanoLad)
#### Post date: [December 10, 2006, 3:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-clapper-board-as-used-in-movie-making/383522/5 "2006-12-10T03:07:41Z")
[Wikipedia](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clapper_loader) reveals all that is required of them - a whole bunch!
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### Author:  [@mangeorge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mangeorge)
#### Post date: [December 10, 2006, 3:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-clapper-board-as-used-in-movie-making/383522/6 "2006-12-10T15:27:44Z")
[QUOTE=GuanoLad]
[Wikipedia](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clapper_loader) reveals all that is required of them - a whole bunch!
[/QUOTE]
Thanks, **GuanoLad** ]. Things are rarely as they appear, aren’t they.
mangeorge
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### Author:  [@Cardinal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cardinal)
#### Post date: [December 10, 2006, 5:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-clapper-board-as-used-in-movie-making/383522/7 "2006-12-10T17:27:13Z")
And you have to load the magazines blind so as to not expose the negative. If the bathroom is truly dark, you can lock yourself in, or there are bags with arm holes. Here’s one company’s sales page: [http://www.smsprod.com/expendables/harrison.html](http://www.smsprod.com/expendables/harrison.html)
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### Author:  [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)
#### Post date: [December 10, 2006, 6:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-clapper-board-as-used-in-movie-making/383522/8 "2006-12-10T18:52:54Z")
I have a Harrison tent. Much better than a regular bag.
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### Author:  [@mangeorge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mangeorge)
#### Post date: [December 10, 2006, 10:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-clapper-board-as-used-in-movie-making/383522/9 "2006-12-10T22:15:32Z")
(Baby hijack)
“Things are rarely as they appear, aren’t they.” “Are they?” I’m having a senior day.
😕