Equipment and materials · equipment
Apple box
Also known as apple, full apple.
A standardized wooden riser used to change an actor, camera, prop, furniture, or support height in repeatable increments. Full apples are commonly about 8 × 12 × 20 inches and can be placed in New York, Chicago, or Los Angeles orientations; they are not substitutes for rated access equipment or engineered support.
Common full-apple orientations
- New York / A
- Commonly the tall orientation of a full apple, about 20 inches high.
- Chicago / B
- Commonly the middle orientation, about 12 inches high.
- Los Angeles / C
- Commonly the flat, lowest orientation, about 8 inches high.
Apple-box family
- Full apple
- The standard 8 × 12 × 20-inch box; its orientation names refer to placement, not a different box.
- Half apple
- A 4-inch-high modular box, often used to fine-tune height.
- Quarter / pancake
- A 2-inch-high modular box; “pancake” is the common set nickname.
- Eighth
- A 1-inch-high shim-like box for small adjustments.
Name origin
The apple-crate explanation is common industry lore, but the exact origin is not documented by a primary historical record. Treat it as an unverified origin story rather than a proven etymology.
Confidence: unknown.
Explore related entries
Sources
- Film industry terminology · California Film Commission
Educational reference only. Requirements vary by jurisdiction, employer, venue, and production context.