NEW YORK — What do NASA satellites, prestigious sports trophies, and the iconic Oscar statue share in common? Their dazzling golden sheen is all crafted right here in New York.
Tucked away in Brooklyn, the Epner Technology workshop is where the Oscar statues receive their signature golden finish.
Since its inception in 1929, the Oscar has stood as a beacon of cinematic excellence. Remarkably, for nearly a decade now, this symbol of Hollywood’s finest has been exclusively produced in New York.
“I think we’ve been doing this for about eleven seasons,” noted Paul Brancato of Epner Technology Inc.
Much like the award-winning films they celebrate, these golden statuettes are the result of a meticulous process. This intricate journey involves two companies: UAP Productions located in New York’s Hudson Valley and Epner Technology in Williamsburg, Brooklyn.
The creation process kicks off at UAP Productions, where the journey begins with a mold, followed by a wax copy, a ceramic shell, and 12 layers of coating. The wax Oscar inside the ceramic shell is then melted away and substituted with bronze, setting the stage for the final golden transformation.
The statues then get sent to Epner Technology for the next steps of the process.
“When we get the statues, they are a dull-looking bronze. We put them into a copper bath. Copper on the part fills in anything that might be on the surface and brightens that initial dullness,” Brancato said.
The process is repeated with nickel and then finally 24-carat gold, but not just any gold.
“It is out of this world. Our gold is in the James Webb Space Telescope,” Brancato said.
“We are electroplating this gold out of a solution. You are looking at a bath that is not melted gold, but is what we would consider almost a salt bath, and a current to make the part turn gold.
On any given year, Epner Technology gives around 60 Oscar statues their legendary luster, every detail meticulously crafted with immense pride.
“It takes many people, takes a lot of time to make a part as beautiful as it is,” Brancato said.
And while the Brooklyn-based workshop is some 3,000 miles away from Hollywood, the Oscar tells two stories of excellence: One of the masters who craft it, and the other of the artists who receive it.
Don’t miss Hollywood’s biggest night: The Oscars on ABC!
Our live Oscar pre-show, “On The Red Carpet at the Oscars,” begins at 3:30 p.m. ET/12:30 p.m. PT and will feature live interviews with the nominees, red carpet fashion analysis and more!Watch the 98th Academy Awards, hosted by Conan O’Brien, on March 15 at 7 p.m. ET/4 p.m. PT on ABC and Hulu, followed by “The Bachelorette: Before the First Rose.”Check your local listings or stream on Hulu and OnTheRedCarpet.com.
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