Nanjing Apple Box Rental | Hire Full Half Quarter

An apple box is the humble hero of the Nanjing set – a stacked wooden box that levels talent and product, steadies a tripod and fills the gap no one planned for. We rent the Full, Half and Quarter boxes plus pancakes and wedges, and we can add a grip who places the stack.

What You Get in an Nanjing Apple Box Rental

An apple box rental in Nanjing is the humble hero of the set – a stacked wooden box that levels a product, lifts a talent, stabilises a tripod or fills a gap no one planned for. We supply the full set: the Full apple box (20″ x 12″ x 8″), the Half (20″ x 12″ x 4″), the Quarter (20″ x 12″ x 2″), plus pancakes and end wedges when the shot needs a shim. Matthews and Filmtools boxes are the standard; we kit them by the stack so a Nanjing set always has the right height.

For most Nanjing shoots the apple box is the thing everyone reaches for between marks – cheap, bomb-proof and endlessly useful.

The Sizes Clients Ask For

The Full, Half and Quarter boxes nest so a stack covers any height from 2 to 14 inches in clean steps. Pancakes (thin shims) and end wedges handle the last fraction of an inch. We match the count to the call sheet – a dialogue scene wants a few, a product table wants a stack. When the brief names a brand we bring Matthews or Filmtools; when it says “apple box” we bring the standard wooden set the Nanjing market already runs.

A clean stack also protects a tripod on uneven floors, which is why grip departments keep a few under the legs by default.

If the brief widens, Combo Stand Rental is the usual add-on in Nanjing.

How Apple Boxes Are Used on Nanjing Sets

Recurring Nanjing requests are the Ming city wall and gates, the Confucius Temple (Fuzimiao) district, the Sun Yat-sen Mausoleum, the Yangtze and the tree-lined avenues of the old capital, plus a modern CBD along the river. An apple box is the quiet tool behind them – a talent on a box hits mark at the right eye-line, a product on a stack sits in the light. Mainland filming is coordinated through a locally registered production company; public spaces, transit hubs and landmarks need local management permission, and drone flights need CAAC approval with a designated pilot. A fixer handles the paperwork, and any box on a pavement or plaza in Nanjing escalates the permit conversation – worth raising before the truck is booked.

Because they are wood and weight, they also double as stabilisers and step-ups, which is why a Nanjing location kit always carries more than the shot list suggests.

For a fuller kit in Nanjing, C-Stand Rental is the natural next step.

Surfaces and Safety on Nanjing Locations

Mains in Nanjing run at 220V / 50Hz, Type A, I and G sockets (bring adaptors); apple boxes need no power, but they sit under expensive gear, so we check the stack is square and the floor is firm. 50Hz mains means 25p or 50p is the safe default; at 24p keep the shutter at 1/50 or a 172.8-degree angle to avoid flicker from fluorescent and LED lighting. A leaning stack is the classic trip hazard, so we keep boxes flat and stacked, never as improvised stairs on a busy Nanjing location.

On stages we confirm the floor grade before delivery so the boxes sit true under camera and product.

Pairing Apple Boxes With a Crew in Nanjing

Nanjing offers a large and experienced crew and rental market; the major cities hold camera, lighting and grip houses, so most productions can be sourced locally without flying kit in, so a grip or a camera assistant to place and re-stack the boxes is easy to arrange given reasonable notice. A good grip owns the stack height, which keeps talent and product at the right line through the day.

For a larger build, add a key grip; the boxes multiply fast once you start levelling a room.

You will often pair this with Flag Rental on the same Nanjing schedule.

Delivery and Support in Nanjing

Lukou International (NKG) is south of the centre; the metro is good and the city is compact, with Shanghai and Suzhou within easy high-speed rail reach. Boxes are delivered to set, hotel or studio in Nanjing, and a grip or camera assistant can be added for prep, the shoot day or both.

humid subtropical; spring and autumn are best; summer is hot, winter is cold, which affects exterior scheduling and how many boxes need a weather plan – plan get-in times around it.

Care and Counting in Nanjing

As with any grip rental, a production insurance certificate and a deposit are standard for an apple box rental in Nanjing; most visiting productions arrange the paperwork through a local partner. The wood is robust but the corners chip, so counts are checked on return.

Build a two-minute count into wrap – a missing box is the easiest kit to lose on a busy Nanjing day.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is included in an apple box rental in Nanjing?

Full, Half and Quarter boxes (20″ x 12″ at 8 / 4 / 2 inches) plus pancakes and wedges as the brief dictates. Tell us the count and we kit the stack.

Can you hire apple boxes with a grip in Nanjing?

Yes – a grip or camera assistant pairs well with an apple-box kit for levelling and re-stacking through the day, and we recommend it for fast schedules.

What power should I plan for in Nanjing?

Mains here are 220V / 50Hz, Type A, I and G sockets (bring adaptors); apple boxes need no power. 50Hz mains means 25p or 50p is the safe default; at 24p keep the shutter at 1/50 or a 172.8-degree angle to avoid flicker from fluorescent and LED lighting – we just keep the stack square under your gear.

Do Nanjing rental houses work in English?

Yes – Nanjing crews and rental houses work in English as well as the local language.

Tell us the dates, the locations and what the finished film needs to do, and we will come back with names and a clear quote. Contact the production office at [email protected].