CLAPSTICK

a hinged pair of sticks closed with a sharp clap at the start of a motionpicture take (scene or sequence photographed at one time) to synchronize the picture with the sound track (the area along one side of a motion-picture film, carrying the recording of the sound for the film). —Class VIII №9, Approved November 1990

a hinged pair of sticks closed with a sharp clap at the start of a motion-picture take (scene or sequence photographed at one time) to synchronize the picture with the sound track (the area along one side of a motion-picture film, carrying the recording of the sound for the film).(motion pictures) a small board with a hinged stick attached that is clapped down at the beginning of the filming of a shot for use later in synchronizing sound and image in the editing of the film. Also called a clapboard.n. a device used at the beginning of each shot of a motion-picture film to give information about the shot and to provide an orientation point for sound and visual action. It consists of two hinged boards attached to a slate which is opened and then shut with a loud clap. The camera films the clapper coming together, while the sound recorder records the sound. Later, in editing the film, the sound track and picture are synchronized to this point so that the dialogue matches the movement of the actors' mouths, etc.