18
Importance of Slating
After the lighting, blocking, rehearsals, etc., you are finally ready to “Take One”.
The point of slating is to give a visual and aural starting mark to the camera and sound recorder. To
make sure everyone is on the same page, a simple set of call-outs lets everyone know you’re ready.
The sequence is roughly:
1
st
AD
“Quiet on Set”
“Roll Sound”
Sound Mixer
“Sound Speeding”
(if your record button is not solidly lit, you are not speeding!)
1
st
AD
“Roll Camera”
1
st
AC
“Camera Rolling”
2
nd
AC
“Scene 3A, Take 5” “Marker”
[clapping the slate in front of the camera while the boom-op picks
up the sound]
Camera Operator
“Set”
Director
“Action”
Without a slate, syncing sound to picture becomes a nightmare instead of a piece of cake.
