“Water for Elephants” features custom tent
Specialty Fabrics Review | April 2011
Author Sara Gruen’s depression-era novel about a veteran who runs away to the circus, “Water for Elephants,” will debut on the big screen in April 2011. Actors Reese Witherspoon and Robert Pattinson star in the movie adaptation, and an old-fashioned bail ring tent created by Aztec Tents, Torrance, Calif., plays a strong supporting role. Within a tight six-week window, Aztec Tents created a custom, authentic-looking 100-percent cotton tent for 20th Century Fox’s movie about a travelling circus with a special star.
Aztec staff researched the original production methods, materials and reinforcements for circus tents before developing designs and samples. The raw cotton had to be sewn rather than welded, one of the most time-consuming tasks. For authenticity, tent reinforcements were created of leather, but Aztec integrated unseen reinforcements of sturdy webbing to ensure safety. The center pole, made of a single piece of wood 48 feet tall, weighed 2,200 pounds, and Aztec used a valance from a 1930s circus tent to create the right look. After initial set-up, the tent could be taken down and set up again in half a day.
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An authentic, down-at-the-heels circus tent was a labor of love for Aztec Tents, who produced a custom bail ring tent for the movie “Water for Elephants.” Photo: Aztec Tents. -
An authentic, down-at-the-heels circus tent was a labor of love for Aztec Tents, who produced a custom bail ring tent for the movie “Water for Elephants.” Photo: Aztec Tents.
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Comments are the opinion of individual posters and do not reflect the views of Specialty Fabrics Review or Industrial Fabrics Association International.
12:13 pm CST
Need your help. I am on the board of Circus World Museum, Baraboo, WI. Fifteen of our antique circus wagons were used in the movie Water for Elephants. You had an excellent article April, 2011 m"Water for Elephants features custom tents. I tried to print the two phots for a paper I am preparing for our board and would like to be able tom include the two photos. Could someone email them to me. Many thanks. John Goodall
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