The Catacombs The Production Guide
Filming
by Martin Willey

Behind The Scenes

A clapperboard is a chalkboard, on which the slate number and date are written, and a hinged clapper at the stop. At the start of each shot, the clapper loader (normally Paul Turtle, or another of the camera crew) holds the board in front of the camera so it is filmed, and snaps the clapper, which the sound editor can use to synchronise the sound to the film. The slate numbers are consecutive shots, not scene numbers used in the scripts. Each scene usually has many different slates, for wide shots, close ups and specific actions during the scene. When the film is printed, the editor can see the clapperboard slate at the start of each shot, and edits it into the corresponding scripted scene.

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Clapper loader Paul Turtle holds the clapperboard for slate 2, take 2, the second shot of the first episode, Breakaway, on 3 December 1973, in the nuclear waste disposal area set. Assistant director Ken Baker is on the right behind him. See the call sheet for 3 December 1973 and the sound recordings.

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Filming Breakaway on 3 December 1973, the first day of filming.Each shot may have multiple takes- we see takes 5 and 6 for slate 15, the stunt scene as Steiner hits the ground, cracking his helmet.

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Second day of filming, on 4 December 1973. The stunt and moon walking scenes are filmed in high speed- 48 and 72 frames per second, instead of the standard 24 frames per second. Assistant director Roy Button has the clapperboard.

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On 6th December 1973, filming moved to the Main Mission set. Lighting cameraman Frank Watts holds the clapperboard.

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Filming on 11, 12, 13 and 14 December 1973, on the Main Mission and office set. Roy Button and assistant director Ken Baker hold the clapperboard. See the sound recordings

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On 28th December 1973, filming in the disposal area depot. See audio transcript

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Filming in January 1974, the corridor set on 3 January (see call sheet) and on 8 January in Helena's office.

SFX clapperboard from 23 November 1973 while the episode was still called "Turning Point". This is the opening shot of the episode, with the Moon moving across frame, and the Earth and sun beyond. See SFX footage.

Two more SFX clapperboards, the red glowing moon shot (slate 67, take 3, dated 7 December 1973), and a Moonbase double exposure (15 February 1974).

Copyright Martin Willey