Lights, Camera…Polyurea?
When we think about the silver screen, the last thing we’re likely to have in the front of our minds is a protective coating like polyurea. But maybe we should? That’s because some of the incredible visual elements present in many of our favorite movies are actually made of or with this very coating! Well, it’s less of a coating in this context, and more of an industrial paintbrush. Whether applied atop existing or incomplete props to add a functional decorative finish, or used as the main material to build a new prop from the ground up, polyurea’s versatility hits the big screen to help create powerful stories while making the lives of the production team easier and more efficient.
Decoration Meets Protection
The most common application of polyurea for film props is as a decorative layer. This is to say, polyurea is not what’s used to construct the prop in the first place, but instead a design tool to bring colors, textures, or other visual features to life. Polyurea can be formulated in many different colors and finishes, which combined with an artistic approach to using traditionally technical instruments like high-pressure spray equipment, make it a powerful tool to create buildings, rocks, animals, and countless other types of film props. What’s more, the protective properties of polyurea that are responsible for the majority of its most common applications also serve as key advantages for prop design and construction. Props are often used extensively, and can be moved around endlessly to see them suffer from significant wear and tear that risks damaging their visual fidelity. By using polyurea for the decorative elements of a prop, you’re also ensuring it’s ready for anything, and can be used far longer and harder without even seeing a scratch.
Theme Parks: Beyond the Limelight
If we asked you what the closest thing to the movies is that exists in real life, what would you say? We’d wager, like many others, that theme parks come to mind. Whether directly based on some of our favorite films or relying on their own characters and thematic universe, theme parks make use of props across their facilities, which contribute to the fun, immersive atmosphere that we’ve all come to know and love. In this environment, polyurea prop coatings are even more advantageous, as unlike film props, theme props are often fixed in place and exposed to a lot more wear and tear. This includes weather, constant human contact, animal contamination, chemical exposures, UV radiation, and much more. Polyurea’s combined aesthetic and functional capabilities make it just as well suited for these magical places as they are for creating those magical stories.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
What are the negatives of polyurea for film props?
Unlike many other types of paints and coatings, polyurea has an incredibly short workability window, which is commonly known as the pot life. While very convenient for projects prioritizing fast project completion, it has the effect of reducing the time available to catch and correct for mistakes. Moreover, a shorter curing time can mean lower quality adhesion, making it a little less well bonded compared to other polyurea-based technologies like polyaspartic.
Can polyurea be used for animatronics?
Polyurea film props really is an all-encompassing term, applied to just about any type of prop, animatronics included. It’s compatible with many common substrate materials, and is light and durable enough to not interfere with animatronics’ operation nor degrade as a consequence of it. So whether for films or theme parks, polyurea prop coatings are suitable for use with animatronics.
Are polyurea film props expensive?
Being that there are so many different ways to use polyurea for film props, and there are so many unique film props, it’s difficult to generalize whether or not polyurea is expensive. For most prop applications, polyurea is used just as a decorative finish, meaning little material is expended and time spent per application is small. Moreover, polyurea is long-lasting, avoiding the need for future costly repairs and replacements, further adding to its cost-efficacy.
In Summary
Polyurea film props are a surprising application of this protective coating to many people, but they’re indeed a powerful and widely used technology. Combining visual control with functional strength, they’re a two-in-one solution for bringing a design to life while working to ensure it stays intact for up to years of regular display. For movies, theatrical performances, roadshows, theme parks, and anywhere else a prop might find itself, polyurea film props are coming to a theater near you!
