clapboard (clapper)

A clapboard is a small black or white slate with a hinged stick (called a clapstick or clapper) on top displaying identifying information for each shot in a movie and filmed at the beginning of a take. The capboardboard typically contains the working title of the movie, the names of the director, the editor, and the director of photography, the scene and take numbers, the date, and the time. On the top of the clapboard is a hinged wooden stick (called a clapstick or clapper) which is clapped to provide audio/visual synchronization of the sound with the picture during editing. Electronic clappers and synchronization are currently in use instead of the old-fashioned clapboard.