Although Katz ’ s team is literally working on its 12,839th project , there are sets that stand out as particularly prestigious and inventive . “ Ever hear of American Idol ?” asks Katz . Cinnabar fabricated and supervised the installation of the stage for the final rounds of competition . Included in the design are automated sliding LED doors , rotating neon towers , custom vacuum-formed light boxes , lots of chrome , and over 176 separate neon and lighting circuits . And the foundation of the whole project is lauan , which was used as “ skin ” on both the flat vertical surfaces and the bigger curved pieces framed out of steel and wood . The final effect was worthy of America ’ s most popular television show . Not even Simon could complain .
Lauan ’ s same characteristic lightweight versatility and durability that made it a household name ( among television set builders ) has earned it a reputation as an irreplaceable facet of the silver screen . “ Over the past 30 years , we have tried to use a lot of alternatives to lauan ,” says Mike Biersing , a freelance construction coordinator . “ We tried a cardboard product that Disney was trying to get everybody to use . It didn ’ t work . There was an OSB board that everybody tried to use . It was a problem , too . Basically lauan is the only thing that studios have ever come up with that actually did work .”
Biersing is currently putting his experience to work for Universal Studios building sets for Public Enemies , a historical gangster epic directed by Michael Mann and starring Johnny Depp as the infamous bank robber , John Dillinger . For this project Biesing and his crew have the task of turning locations all across Wisconsin into 1930s era sets that follow the path of the Dillinger narrative , including fabricating Sioux Falls , South Dakota and Green Point , Indiana as they were seventy years ago .
Lauan is easy to bend and machine , making it the ideal “ skin ” for Hollywood flats as well as curved pieces framed out of wood or steel . Its limitless finishing possibilities mean that lauan offers a huge performance repertoire .
Argo Fine Imports
H a r d w o o d P l y w o o d m a d e e a s y !
Don MacMaster , founder of AFI and past president of IWPA , has been supplying fine imported plywood to distributors and laminators since 1979 . Our selection of plywood products comes from the finest mills around the world , many of which have had a 20-year working relationship with us . We specialize in importing lauan / meranti , hardboard , virola , sande , Teco certified elliottis pine and also offer American red oak and birch . We handle thicknesses from 2.7mm up to 28mm . Argo ’ s product line offers specialty length of 70 ", 80 ", 81 ", 90 ", 99 ", 100 ", 102 "; as well as the standard lengths of 7 ', 8 ', 9 ', and 10 '.
With our meranti plywood truckload orders we are able to mix different sizes and lengths . New products include : Phenolic Film Fence , Baltic Birch , and Container Flooring . Argo ’ s mission is to provide the finest plywood from around the world at a competitive price , to offer personalized customer-oriented value-added services from sale to delivery , and to make the process of plywood acquisition a turnkey operation . We will provide easy access to information on orders from placement to delivery . We will maintain the highest integrity standards in the industry .
Metairie , Louisiana Phone : 504-828-0943 Fax : 504-828-0946
E-mail : argo @ argofineimports . com robert @ argofineimports . com
World Imports Northwest : Jim & Dave Hildahl Phone : 503-968-1878 Fax : 503-598-3454 Email : jimh-win @ verizon . net
Seaside World Trading : Tom Lucas Phone : 772-219-3911 Fax : 772-219-3915 E-mail : plyguyy @ aol . com sales contacts : Don MacMaster • Dick Olano • Buz Clanton • Kenny MacMaster • Robert MacMaster • Todd Wager • Joe Manguno
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