| Industry | Film scenery |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1962 |
| Founder | John Gary Coakley |
| Headquarters | , U.S. |
Area served | United States |
| Website | https://www.jcbackings.com/ |
J. C. Backings Corporation is a scenic backdrop company based in California. It was established in 1962 by John Gary Coakley, who realized there was a need for custom painted backings and backdrop rentals for the American film-making community.[1][2]
In 1970, the company purchased over 2,000 backdrops from the storage facility of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer.[3]
Backings were expanded via photographic alternatives (known as translites) and digital print vinyl backings with the company's third generation, headed by Lynne and John Tod Coakley.[1] John Tod Coakley died in 2006, aged 44.[4] Pierre Steele, Lynne's husband, joined the company at that point.[1]
After 46 years at Sony Pictures Studios, in 2017 the company relocated its digital print and photograph backing facility to another section of Culver City, while custom paints and touch-ups to painted backings take place in Gardena.[5] During the move, over 250 backings were donated to the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, as well as to schools and colleges and the Art Directors Guild Backdrop Recovery Project.[6] Some of these backings were used on films such as North by Northwest and Meet Me in Las Vegas.[1]
Lynne Coakley is the president of the company.[7]
References
- ^ a b c d "J.C. Backings - Our Heritage". www.jcbackings.com. Retrieved 2024-05-17.
- ^ "The Story". Hollywood Backdrop Collection. Retrieved 2024-05-17.
- ^ "Art of the Hollywood Backdrop" – Boca Raton Museum of Art
- ^ "John Tod Coakley Obituary". www.jcbackings.com. Retrieved 2024-05-17.
- ^ "J.C. Backings - Locations". www.jcbackings.com. Retrieved 2024-05-17.
- ^ McNamara, Mary (2019-12-20). "How 200 historic Hollywood backdrops were saved from the dumpster". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2024-05-17.
- ^ JCBackings (2020-02-12). CBS Interview of the President of JC Backings. Retrieved 2024-05-17 – via YouTube.