Matthews 4x4 Floppy Cutter

Light control that travels well and works hard

If you’ve worked in lighting long enough, you’ve probably had a moment on set where you’ve needed just a bit more coverage, contrast, or negative fill. Enter: the Matthews 4x4 Floppy Cutter — a staple in our lighting kit and a go-to tool across our shoots.

This isn’t just a black flag — it’s a fold-out hero that transforms from 4x4 to a full 4x8’ when you need it. It’s perfect for shaping light on location or in studio settings, and folds down neatly so it travels easily in the van alongside the rest of our grip gear.

At Full Stack Films, we use this floppy on everything from case study interviews to stylised branded content, and it’s especially handy when we’re working on location in Melbourne (where you never know what kind of daylight you’ll get). If you need to knock back ambient light, reduce spill, or create more contrast with negative fill — this is your guy.

Key Features:

• Doubles in size: Quickly folds out from 4x4’ to 4x8’ to give you extra coverage on the fly.

• Fast setup: Mounts to any standard grip head and stands up well in unpredictable Melbourne conditions.

• Compact and road-ready: Packs down small enough to ride in our production van — no grip truck required.

• Great for interviews: Often used to cut light from the back side of talent, or to block window spill when working fast.

• Strong, reliable build: Steel frame and sturdy mounting pin hold up over years of work across sets big and small.

Why we like it:

This isn’t a sexy piece of gear — but it’s one of the most used on set. The floppy is part of our lighting system that helps bring polish and intention to our video production setups. Whether we’re working with agencies or directly with brands, tools like this are what let us work lean without compromising on quality.

As a Melbourne video production company that leans into smart, nimble workflows, this piece plays a crucial role in helping us control light quickly and effectively. It’s also part of why our clients trust us to make fast-paced production days look effortless.

Looking for a crew that knows how to make small setups feel cinematic?

Let’s chat. We’ll bring the floppy.

TL;DR:

The Matthews 4x4 Floppy is our favourite lighting control tool that gives us quick and easy negative fill on set. Expands from 4x4 to 4x8 feet, folds down small, and always gets a workout on our shoots. Another reason why working with Full Stack Films means getting a seasoned crew with the right tools — and the right systems — to deliver high-quality results.