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shadow
11-17-2005, 01:52 AM
This may seem like an odd question, but I've gone all over the internet to find an answer and couldn't find it. So here is goes:
What numbering system is used on general (american) slateboards.

I ask this because here we use the slatenumber method, which goes something like this
Slate 1: Scene 5, Shot 62
Slate 2: Scene 5, Shot 66
Slate 3: Scene 2, Shot 21
etc.
So, the Slatenumber is a shot but starting at 1 at the first day and continues until the end of the production.

This system is driving me nuts, because on most slateboards only the slatenumber is written. So when I (the editor) load in the footage I first have to look at the screen to see that number and then lookup in the slatereports hoping for a scene/shot number. Usually I'm not that lucky and have to go through the script to figure it out.

So looking at making of material on the internet and on DVD's, I somehow think that the general system makes more sense to me. So for small shoots where I have full control over the slating, I would like to use that. But I don't know how it works. Those slateboards only have a Scene segment, so how do I define a shot? And how to handle shots that were added in on set?

I know everything else I need to know about the boarddata, but this scene-thing isn't explained anywhere I looked, and trust me I did my (google) homework. The only thing what is said about the scene area is that that's the spot where you write the scenenumber. :S
ZaKKoS
11-17-2005, 02:47 AM
I don't know if i've got your question right.
Anyway i can tell you how we do (or at least how I do) here in italy (and I'm quite sure that we are using a "general" method).

On the slate we have, other than director-dop/camera-prod. no.-title-date-production co.-mos/sync...or whatever, normally 3 fields dedicated to:
Roll
Scene
Take
In the "Roll" field we write the number of the film spool/tape (so you know on which roll/tape the footage is).
In the "scene" field we write the scene and the "framing" (I don't know how to call this, sorry...maybe someone will help us) according to the script. Essentially we write something like 5-1 (for: scene 5 framing 1) and so on until the scene is completed. If the director wants to add some extra takes of the same scene or a variation of the same framing we add letters so: 5a-1 or 6-2c. Obviously everything is reported on the edit sheet with the timecode (where possible).
In the take field is written the number of times a scene has been recorded at the moment so if the actor re-does the scene 45 times and the director thinks that in the end the 3rd was the best one you simply go and grab the scene where the slate says "take 3". The crew grab the slate on which is written "take 45" and shove it down the throat of the director.

This is how we do it here in italy. I'm curious to hear if around the world are used different methods.:thumbsup:
shadow
11-17-2005, 01:20 PM
ZaKKos, thanks for your reply. Your answer was very clear.Seems that what we call a shot, you're calling a framing. Two names, same thing.

And now I'm curious too about possible other methods, because I thought that the difference in slating was directly related to the difference in shooting. American (mastershot first) system versus European System (no particular order). But because Italy is very much part of Europe I must rethink my theory :p.
fwtep
11-18-2005, 07:04 AM
Roll number and camera (on multi-camera shoots)

Scene (Also which setup. Example: 23B is scene 23, second setup. After all, most scenes have more than one shot in them.)

Take (Then there are things like PU for "Pick-up," when the new take is only a portion of the shot, like just the last part or just a few lines.)

Examples:

23 / 18A / 1 (Roll 23, Scene 18, first setup, take 1)

A12/ 7A-B / 3 PU (Roll 12 of A camera, Scene 7A, second setup, take 3 Pick-up not a full take)

And I'm attaching a sample from my movie.
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