Main Project Aesthetics: Plans and Alternatives

For my main project, I’m building a clapperboard inspired by the Classic Hollywood aesthetic, capturing the look and feel of film production tools from the early to mid-20th century. I’m focusing on the visual language of black-and-white films, vintage typography, and the worn-in, utilitarian tools used behind the scenes on classic film sets.

The clapperboard itself will be made from wood, painted with the bold black-and-white stripes that instantly signal its purpose. I want the paint to look slightly worn, not perfect, to suggest that this tool has been used across multiple productions. The lettering will be hand-painted in a simple serif font, consistent with the lettering used in early Hollywood production slates. While it’s important that the clapperboard functions, the aesthetic goal is to make it feel like an authentic artifact — something you could imagine being used on the set of Casablanca or Sunset Boulevard.

Alternative Aesthetic 1: Steampunk Clapperboard

The first alternative aesthetic I considered was steampunk. In this version, the clapperboard would combine aged wood and metal, with the hinge mechanism enhanced by exposed gears and brass rivets. Instead of painted labels for scene, take, and director, these would be engraved on metal plates, giving it the feel of an old, heavily customized machine. The black-and-white stripes on the clapper arm could be replaced with embossed copper and steel panels, adding texture and visual weight. The whole piece would have a dark, industrial feel, blending function with ornamentation — almost like it came off the set of a historical sci-fi film.

The steampunk aesthetic works if the goal is to make the clapperboard feel like a one-of-a-kind object, but it loses the direct connection to film history. It becomes more about the craftsmanship and mechanical detail than about the role the clapperboard plays in filmmaking.

Alternative Aesthetic 2: Minimalist Modern Clapperboard

The second alternative strips the design down to its absolute basics — a minimalist modern aesthetic. This version would be made from smooth matte black acrylic, with crisp white text in a simple sans-serif font. The stripes on the clapper arm would be perfectly straight and uniform, applied either with vinyl or printed directly onto the surface. There would be no distressing, no embellishments, and no sense of history — just a clean, functional tool for marking scenes.

The modern minimalist version would fit seamlessly into today’s production environments, especially on commercial shoots or digital film sets. However, it lacks personality and doesn’t reflect the specific character or time period I’m trying to capture.

Final Thoughts

After exploring these alternatives, I’m confident that Classic Hollywood is the right direction for my project. It ties directly to the era and aesthetic I want to celebrate, and it also fits with my personal interest in the history of film production tools. It’s useful to imagine these other approaches, though, as they help clarify what elements are essential to my vision and which ones I’m willing to leave behind.

Works Cited

Image 1 – https://www.bing.com/images/search?view=detailV2&ccid=qUBTpSOm&id=A6B

Image 2 – AI Generated

Image 3 – https://www.bing.com/images/search?view=detailV2&ccid=ky02QP9fdwef3423