The upcoming Barbie film has sparked a worldwide shortage of pink paint, leaving decorators in a state of panic.
The production’s insatiable appetite for the colour left paint companies scrambling to keep up with the demand, resulting in depleted stocks and baffled customers.
Sarah Greenwood, the film’s production designer, confessed in an interview with Architectural Digest that the world simply ran out of pink.
And pink paint was vanquished by the power of Barbie.
However, not all is as it seems. Lauren Proud, vice president of global marketing of Rosco paint company, shed light on the situation.
While conceding that the film did “clean them out of paint”, Proud attributed the shortage to a perfect storm of events: global supply chain issues, extreme weather wreaking havoc on essential materials, and the film’s overwhelming demand for the precious pigment.
But let’s not forget the director’s vision. Greta Gerwig, the mastermind behind the pink frenzy, explained that she aimed to capture the essence of Barbie’s childhood allure.
She sought inspiration from sources as diverse as the Kaufmann House in Palm Springs, Wayne Thiebaud’s delectable paintings, Pee-wee’s Big Adventure’s whimsy, and the romance of the 1951 film An American in Paris.
The result? A world drowned in vibrant pinks that are “almost too much” — a perfect homage to Barbie’s iconic presence.
The resourceful set designers managed to secure just enough pink paint to complete the film’s production, which took place primarily at Warner Bros Studios at Leavesden in the UK.
Margot Robbie steps into the iconic role of Barbie, with Ryan Gosling as her dashing companion Ken. The star-studded cast includes Will Ferrell, Simu Liu, Dua Lipa, Helen Mirren, Issa Rae, America Ferrera, Kate McKinnon, Michael Cera, and Ncuti Gatwa.
The Barbie film is due for release on 21 July.
Compiled by staff writer
Pictured above: Barbie
