A film slate is a traditional tool used in filmmaking that consists of a rectangular board with information written on it, typically using chalk or dry erase markers. It is commonly seen at the beginning of a film or scene and is clapped together to mark the start of a take. The information on the film slate includes details such as the production title, scene number, take number, director, and date. It serves as a visual and audio cue for synchronizing sound and image during post-production and helps in organizing and identifying footage during editing.