Have you ever heard of apple boxes—no, I am not talking about slick modern packaging for your iPhone. Apple boxes are a standard piece of film and photography equipment. They are used as seats, props, and tables; they make actors taller, cameras steadier, and offer a place to rest weary bones during a long shoot.
Apple boxes come in 4 standard sizes—
- Full Full Apple (8″ x 20″ x 12″)
- Half Apple (4″ x 20″ x 12″)
- Quarter Apple (2″ x 20″ x 12″)
- Pancake (or Eighth Apple) (1″ x 20″ x 12″)
And can be assembled in a variety of configurations depending on their need. Colloquially these are referred to as 1,2 3…New York, Chicago, LA… or Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens…
So how did these simple wooden boxes get their name? It is hard to find anything definitive regarding the history of the term, but we can likely guess its iteration… they have some striking similarities to what you might find at your local farmers market.
Apple boxes stacked on a farm (by Peter Boden) http://www.flickr.com/photos/peterboden/2146815993/lightbox/
We just finished up a set of these bad boys for Fatking productions in New York. Our apple boxes are so much more than pale blonde crates that have littered shoots for years. We live by the belief that life is beautiful and there is no need to sacrifice beauty for function. Customizable with logos and a range of woods our boxes add a bit of panache to any set.