Perspective Magazine
Perspective Magazine
The Journal of the Art Directors Guild
February – March 2010
by Scott Pitters
Sitting at breakfast one morning, Art Director Dan Maltese looked at the egg carton in front of him and thought, “Why not?” He’d used fiberglass, resin, and vacuum-formed dimensional wall skins for over twenty-five years, so why not use egg carton material instead? The carton seemed sturdy, had great natural texture and appeared to be environmentally friendly, which would be a huge change. He asked me to join him on the journey to find out if his vision was possible. I was skeptical at first, but before long all of my doubts were laid to rest and Pulp Art Surfaces, LLC was created.
The quest began with a long list of questions: What exactly is the material used for making egg cartons? Is it durable? Is it water resistant? Can it be manufactured in large enough panels? Does it paint well? Is it easy to work with and install? Will it provide the same—or better—detail than traditional dimensional wall skins? Is it environmentally friendly? Is it affordable?
We found early on that egg cartons are made using a process called molded pulp. During two years of development, we met with many molded pulp manufacturers and found the answers to the rest of our questions were, “Yes.” Molded pulp can be manufactured up to 3/16” thick, much thicker than egg cartons. This makes it as durable as traditional wall skins. Molded pulp is also water resistant, can be made in six foot by four foot panels, is easily painted, affordable, simple to work with and install, has its own natural texture to make it look realistic, and is environmentally friendly.
Taking all this into consideration, we set out to create a product with superior functionality, that is affordable and environmentally sustainable. The appearance of Pulp Art Surfaces wall skins is realistic, with character and fine detail. Our product has pre-trimmed finger joints; it is lightweight and flexible, yet strong. The sheets can be mitered, due to their 3/16” thickness, and are sandable, non-brittle and won’t crack when stapled, making installation as simple as possible. Our wall skins don’t require primer and are easily painted with any product. They’re made in the United States from one hundred percent recycled newspaper, cardboard and wood chips so they’re recyclable, compostable, safe to work with, free of toxins, Green Dot compliant and conform to ISO 14000 standards. Because they are derived from recycled material, their cost remains stable and affordable. Additionally, Pulp Art Surfaces wall skins are great for special effects and stunts because they provide superb visibility with squibs, safe debris and cushioning.
With forty-five years of experience in the television and motion picture industry between us, Dan and I have a keen sense of the industry’s needs and desires. Each wall skin pattern is designed with the television and motion picture industry in mind, and we’ve improved on the patterns historically used by Art Directors, Production Designers, construction coordinators, etc. We launched our first design, Not So Common Brick November 2009, our second design, Exposed Alley Brick January 2010, and plan to release a new design once a month. Our complete catalog will include a wide variety of wall skins, including brick, concrete block, stone and ceiling tile.
As our idea developed, we presented it to Michael Klausman, President of CBS Studio Center, adjacent to the ADG offices in Studio City. He and his team immediately saw the potential of this product and offered the support of CBS Studio Center. Our relationship is based on a mutual desire to make every production in Hollywood a little bit greener. As a result, our office is located in Mill #M1 and our product is warehoused at the studio for same day availability.
This process started with a drive to make a difference and developed into a product with a purpose. The first design, Not So Common Brick was used on shows such as (designed by Greg Grande and Dan Maltese), We’ve received an open and positive response from everyone who’s worked with it, from carpenters and painters to Art Directors and construction coordinators. As Hollywood Scenic Artist Bob Warner says, “Pulp Art brick is easily painted with any type of paint. It has excellent adhesion. The pulp skins pointed up much more easily and better than vacuum-formed plastic—and they can be sanded!”
Further information is available online at pulpartsufaces.com or by phone at 818 655 5804. Change is here. If you are at all concerned about our industry’s environmental impact, why not try it on your set today? ADG
