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Hi this is Jay P. Morgan and today on The Slanted Lens, we’re going to talk about apple boxes. There are four different sizes: full, half, quarter and pancake. I know. Not an apple. Weird. People always ask, “Well, what is there to learn about an apple box?” I’ll tell you. If someone on set says, “Bring me an apple box,” you have a few choices. Stood up straight it’s called a “New York” apple box. “Bring it in New York,” because it’s tall, just like buildings in New York. If they say, “Bring it in LA,” it’s laid back and cool, on its back. If they say, “Bring it in Chicago,” it’s on its side, a wannabe. Not really tall, not really cool. (Sorry Chicago, I love you.)
Let’s talk about why we use an apple box. Apple boxes are used for everything on set. I think Paul Newman and Robert Redford used apple boxes to stand on all the time because they weren’t very tall. So if you’re not very tall, use an apple box. If your table’s not tall enough, use an apple box. If you want to sit on something, use an apple box. If your stool’s not tall enough, or your sink is not tall enough in the shot and you want to go in for a tight shot, put it on an apple box to raise it a little higher. Apple boxes are used for everything on set. They’re a fabulous tool.
A full apple equals two half apples, and a half apple equals two quarter apples. They’re great in green screen because you can paint them green, stick them on set and people can sit on them. People can act like they’re in motion and they green screen out. So they’re great to be able to do that. Just paint them and use them on set to be able get people in different positions.
If I was buying apple boxes for the first time, I’d buy two full and two half because they equal a full, and four quarter because they equal a full. And now you have a platform you can put a table on. I love apple boxes to use as a really versatile tool.