History Main / ScullyBox

* Elliot Morgan and, during the early days, Philip DeFranco, are both significantly taller than the other members of WebVideo/{{SourceFed}}, so everyone else has to stand on an apple box in order to look similar heights.

* Elliot Morgan and, during the early days, [[WebVideo/ThePhilipDefrancoShow Philip DeFranco]], are both significantly taller than the other members of WebVideo/{{SourceFed}}, so everyone else has to stand on an apple box in order to look similar heights.

** In his debate with (6'4") [[Series/TheOReillyFactor Bill O'Reilly]] in 2012, Stewart went [[UpToEleven a step further]], using a motorized lifting platform that would allow him to ''tower'' over O'Reilly (and every inch in between) -- used primarily to defuse tension and get some laughs.

* Website/ThatGuyWithTheGlasses:
** WebVideo/TheCinemaSnob and WebVideo/DiamandaHagan's crossover review of ''Film/MyraBreckinridge'' starts by showing [[TinyGuyHugeGirl their height difference]] as they are standing in a corridor. But later as they're sitting in bed they are leveled, with Brad even bigger... due to him sitting on a pile of pillows (easier to see in [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HVgnQYTpxGA the blooper reel]]), which Hagan laughs about and Brad says "If it's good enough for Humphrey Bogart, it's good enough for me!"

** ''Film/TheGreenMile'' made his character look much taller, which especially came in handy next to the similarly tall David Morse.
** ''Film/{{Daredevil}}'' used this in conjunction with HitlerCam.

* ''Film/TerminatorGenisys'' frequently disguises how Creator/EmiliaClarke is so much shorter than Jai Courtney and Arnold Schwarzenegger. Then averts it in a comedic way when all three take mugshots, and it's clear the men are OneHeadTaller.

Named for a special box from the production of ''Series/TheXFiles''. Standing at 5'2" (1.57 m), Creator/GillianAnderson was [[OneHeadTaller much shorter]] than Creator/DavidDuchovny, who was 6'0" (1.83 m). Consequently, to keep Scully and Mulder on roughly the same plane while shooting them together, they developed a special box for her to stand on (also referred on set as [[http://www.reddit.com/r/IAmA/comments/1egkr9/i_am_gillian_anderson_ama/ca01vck?context=3 "Gilly-Board"]] after the actress). Unlike the traditional movie apple box or trench, a Scully Box can be stacked up, or laid out in a runway. It's very versatile and used to accommodate large height differences between cast members.

If the camera is lowered and angled upward to create the illusion of height, it's a HitlerCam shot. Compare CheatedAngle.

[[folder:Advertisements]]

[[folder:Film — Animation]]

[[folder:Film — Live-Action]]

** Bernadette is played by the under 5' Creator/MelissaRauch, but Howard, her boyfriend (later husband), isn't that much taller and thus it isn't that big of an issue. In one episode at her apartment, she got a ring at the doorbell and in order to look through the peephole she had to use a step stool. Rauch mentioned that most of her family is pretty short and her husband is around 6', so whenever they get together it feels like he is visiting [[Literature/TheLordOfTheRings the Shire]].

[[folder:Webcomics]]
* When ''Webcomic/{{Drowtales}}'' released its 14th chapter [[http://www.drowtales.com/mainarchive.php?sid=5323 the cover]] showed Ariel and Chirinide standing back to back and at even heights, even though other [[http://www.drowtales.com/mainarchive.php?sid=5252 pages]] show that Ariel is about a head shorter. The joke naturally became that she's standing on a stump, or in one piece of fanart, [[{{Jerkass}} Rikshakar]]. Ironically after a 15 year {{timeskip}} Ariel is now so tall that [[http://www.drowtales.com/mainarchive.php?sid=8341 she has a full head of height on everyone in her squad]].
* ''Webcomic/GirlGenius'': One of the extra bits of art depicts Dr. Beetle, who Gil notes in the comic proper is self-conscious about his height, [[https://www.girlgeniusonline.com/sketches.php?date=20070108 standing on a box while ordering a clank about in his lab.]]

[[folder:Web Original]]

* The "Artists vs TMNT" ''WebVideo/EpicRapBattlesOfHistory'' behind the scenes shows that 3 sets of boxes were required for [[WebVideo/RhettAndLink Link]], [[WebVideo/{{Smosh}} Ian and Anthony]] so that their heights could align with the exceedingly tall Rhett.
* This [[https://twitter.com/TwitterVideo/status/844209380912386048 twitter video]], featuring the stars of ''WebAnimation/TheMostPopularGirlsInSchool'' and ''WebAnimation/DrHavocsDiary'', has Lee Newton standing on one of these.
* The short film ''[[https://vimeo.com/30282156 Applebox]]'' parodies this - revolving around a big movie star who's actually TheNapoleon and someone steals his apple box to BreakTheHaughty. The actor is played by Creator/JamesMadio, who is 5'3" and has said he's made use of this a lot.

* ''Website/CollegeHumor'': For the "[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OXi_rvD6r10 Wait, How Tall is Grant?]]" video, [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-z9AZaE0AqM numerous camera tricks are used]] to make Katie Marovitch and Zach Oyama look taller or shorter than the 6 foot tall Grant O'Brien.

* It’s mentioned several times on the commentaries that filming ''Series/GameOfThrones'' could be a logistical nightmare when Creator/PeterDinklage's Tyrion shared a scene with another actor, especially Creator/CharlesDance who plays his father Tywin and is a full two feet taller. They often resorted to these sorts of tricks or have Tywin be sitting down to make framing easier.

** In the episode "Fade In to Murder", TV actor Ward Fowler (William Shatner) is revealed to be wearing elevator shoes to increase his height (a technique Shatner himself has used before), which serves as an important clue. It's PlayedForLaughs when Columbo tries on Fowler's special shoes while lurking around in his trailer.

** Parodied in one scene in which Creator/EricaDurance kicks a stack of paper next to Creator/TomWelling's feet (on screen) before running to him. One of the more visible examples, as the moment in question eventually made it into the opening credits.

* In most of Music/{{Nirvana}}'s music videos, TV appearances and band photos, 6'7" bassist Krist Novoselic was either crouching, slouching, positioned far away from/behind his bandmates, or shot from specific camera angles, so he would not tower over 5'9" Kurt Cobain and 6'0" Dave Grohl.

* Music/{{Tool}}'s Maynard James Keenan is 5'7", putting him the same slightly below average range as Tom Cruise, yet is matched with taller than normal band members Danny Carey (6'5"), Adam Jones and Justin Chancellor (both 6'). Coincidentally, he's often on a stage platform and/or hunched over to make it difficult to determine his height.

* During a debate when Robert Reich was running for governor of Massachusetts in 2002 (against the 6'2" Mitt Romney), a camera pan showed he was standing on one of these behind the podium. Understandable, since Reich is 4'10" due to a bone condition. [[SelfDeprecation He's made fun of this]] in interviews, notably during one with the famously tall Conan O'Brien.

* At Barack Obama's 2009 inauguration, Sasha, his 8 year-old younger daughter, was provided with a Scully Box that matched the color of the podium. [[https://c2.staticflickr.com/4/3258/3212437799_815c5cb37e_z.jpg pic.]]

* In ''VideoGame/DarkSoulsI'', Solaire of Astora's model is blatantly floating in the air to give the impression he's about half a head taller than the player character. Also true of the Crestfallen Merchant in Sen's Fortress, but the layout of the room he's in (including a floor texture that plays with visual perception) make it harder to notice except when close up. By the time of the [[VideoGame/DarkSoulsII sequel]] the developers overcame the issue, as demonstrated with Vengarl, who's really that tall.

* ''Webcomic/GirlGenius'': One of the extra bits of art depicts Dr. Beetle, who Gil notes in the comic proper is self conscious about his height, [[https://www.girlgeniusonline.com/sketches.php?date=20070108 standing on a box while ordering a clank about in his lab.]]

* Creator/TomCruise is well known for manipulating his appearance to appear taller. Scully Boxes, and in just about every photo where you can see his feet, Cruise wears shoes with lifts to give him those much needed extra inches. Interestingly, Cruise is 5'7", only slightly below average, but he's so well known for this (and so frequently around other actors, who tend to be tall) that many people assume he's even shorter.

* This became a source of controversy when 5'11" baseball player Enrique Hernandez stood on a bucket when being interviewed by 6'1" Kelli Tennant, with many claiming it as an example of toxic masculinity in sports. In reality, the posted was a ''joke'' that Hernandez himself had posted to his Instagram. But like many things on social media, the context was quickly lost.

Named for a special box from the production of ''Series/TheXFiles''. Standing at 5'2" (1.57 m), Creator/GillianAnderson was [[OneHeadTaller much shorter]] than David Duchovny, who was 6'0" (1.83 m). Consequently, to keep Scully and Mulder on roughly the same plane while shooting them together, they developed a special box for her to stand on (also referred on set as [[http://www.reddit.com/r/IAmA/comments/1egkr9/i_am_gillian_anderson_ama/ca01vck?context=3 "Gilly-Board"]] after the actress). Unlike the traditional movie apple box or trench, a Scully Box can be stacked up, or laid out in a runway. It's very versatile and used to accommodate large height differences between cast members.

* ''Franchise/Degrassi'':

* Since the way all characters despite their size take cinematic attacks the same in ''Franchise/StreetFighter'', in order to fit the frame some of the smaller characters such as Ibuki often are made to float from the ground in ways that can't be seen in camera, conversely some of the bigger characters actually go under the ground a bit to fit the same scenes.

** 5'6" Louise Jameson wore knee-high moccasins with a wedge heel as Leela because she was co-starring with 6'3" Tom Baker.

* After ending her relationship with rory McIllroy, Caroline Wozniacki made some "high heel" statements [[https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/tennis/article-2697112/Caroline-Wozniacki-takes-dig-Rory-McIlroy-wearing-high-heels-Istanbul-shopping-trip.html very similar]] to Kidman's, above.

** Bernadette is played by the under 5' Melissa Rauch, but Howard, her boyfriend (later husband), isn't that much taller and thus it isn't that big of an issue. In one episode at her apartment, she got a ring at the doorbell and in order to look through the peephole she had to use a step stool. Rauch mentioned that most of her family is pretty short and her husband is around 6', so whenever they get together it feels like he is visiting [[Literature/TheLordOfTheRings the Shire]].

* For the band photo featured on the back cover of Music/{{Black Sabbath}}'s 1980 album "Heaven and Hell", 5'3" singer Ronnie James Dio stood on a ledge to appear the same height as his bandmates.
* In most of Music/{{Nirvana}}'s music videos, TV appearances and band photos, 6'7" bassist Crist Novoselic was either crouching, slouching, positioned far away from/behind his bandmates, or shot from specific camera angles, so he would not tower over 5'9" Kurt Cobain and 6'0" Dave Grohl.
* A similar technique can be seen in many Music/{{Red Hot Chili Peppers}} band photos, where 6'3" drummer Chad Smith is positioned in a way so he would not tower over his bandmates, 5'6" Flea, 5'7" John Frusciante, and 5'8" Anthony Kiedis.
* Stevie Nicks (5'1") adopted the habit of wearing 6" platform heels to avoid looking really short next to her Fleetwood Mac bandmates, especially 6'6" Mick Fleetwood.
* Tool's Maynard James Keenan is 5'7", putting him the same slightly below average range as Tom Cruise, yet is matched with taller than normal band members Danny Carey (6'5"), Adam Jones and Justin Chancellor (both 6'). Coincidentally, he's often on a stage platform and/or hunched over to make it difficult to determine his height.

* Melissa Rauch also had this taken to new levels when she was on ''Series/TrueBlood'' as she spends most of her screentime with 6'4" Jim Parrack.

* This became a source of controversy when 5'11" baseball player Enrique Hernandez stood on a bucket when being interviewed by 6'1" Kelli Tennant, with many claiming it as an example of toxic masculinity in sports.

* ''Series/{{Jeopardy}}'' originally used boxes, but has since switched to risers, so that shorter contestants may see over the podiums.

** According to Richard Speight Jr. (Gabriel), he (5'8") had to use ''four'' of these while sharing a scene with Padalecki and Ackles. Without them, he wasn't even in the frame.
** One scene had Rowena (played by the 5'2" Ruth Connell) both wearing heels and standing on a curb while she talked to Sam, who was standing in the road gutter. She still just barely reaches Padalecki's shoulder.

* On ''Series/AllInTheFamily'', Sally Struthers regularly wore platform shoes, as she was 5'1" while her TV husband, Rob Reiner, was 6'2". The height difference is played for laughs in a flashback to when their characters, Gloria and Mike, first met.

* ''Series/BabyDaddy'' actually came up with a clever piece of set design for this, no doubt since their cast already existed in the extremes, with the 5'4" Tahj Mowry sharing scenes with the 5'10"-and-heeled Melissa Peterman and the 6'6" Derek Theler. Realizing they had large height differences to deal with, they seemed to design the sets with this in mind, such as the [[http://img1.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20140612213059/babydaddy/images/1/1c/10259256_654741817906378_2039755034018526124_o.jpg bar set]] being designed with a staircase in the background for the actors to line up their heights on (this came in '''really''' handy when the aforementioned Theler got a love interest played by the 5'2" Lacey Chabert, a full sixteen inches shorter than him.) This only seems to be used for blocking, however, as the show will often use the height differences of their actors as a [[http://img2.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20140612214805/babydaddy/images/1/1f/10358936_660808070633086_4784475361706970306_o.jpg source of humor.]]