The Most Important Thing on a Film Set
Ask any film grip what the single most useful piece of equipment on a set is, and they will almost certainly say the apple box. These unassuming wooden boxes are the unsung, versatile heroes of film production. While other departments have their specialized, high-tech gear, the grip department’s fundamental tool is a precisely-sized box used to solve an endless variety of on-the-fly physical problems. From raising an actor to leveling a dolly track, the apple box is the simple, elegant solution to countless challenges, making it arguably the most essential piece of gear on any shoot.
A Standardized System
The genius of the apple box lies in its standardized, interlocking sizes. This allows grips to make quick and precise adjustments to height with no guesswork. The standard family of boxes includes:
- Full Box (or Full Apple): The standard size, with dimensions of roughly 20” × 12” × 8”.
- Half Apple: Exactly half the height of a full box (4”).
- Quarter Apple: A quarter of the height of a full box (2”.
- Pancake (or Eighth Apple): The thinnest box, at only 1” high.
This system allows for any height to be achieved. If a camera needs to be raised by 7 inches, a grip can simply stack a half apple and two quarter apples.
The Infinite Uses of a Wooden Box
The list of an apple box’s uses is practically limitless, constrained only by a grip’s ingenuity. Common applications include:
- Adjusting Height: Their most frequent use is to subtly raise the height of actors to improve their eye-line in a two-shot, or to raise furniture and props to the perfect height for the camera frame.
- Leveling and Support: Creating a level surface for dolly tracks on uneven ground, or providing stable support for a light stand, a piece of scenery, or a camera on a low-angle shot.
- A Makeshift Tool: Apple boxes are frequently used as temporary seats for the crew, a small workbench for a camera assistant, or a step-stool for a director to see the monitor.
- On-Set Lingo: The box’s versatility has given rise to its own specific on-set language. Grips will refer to the orientation of the box based on how it’s laid down. ‘New York Style’ or ‘On its side’ means placing it on its longest, lowest side. ‘Chicago Style’ or ‘On its edge’ is placing it on its middle-height side. And ‘LA Style’ or ‘On end’ means standing it up on its end for maximum height. This specialized jargon demonstrates just how integral the humble apple box is to the daily culture of a film set.