
The upcoming live-action Barbie movie, starring Margot Robbie as Barbie and Ryan Gosling as Ken, has sparked conversations about its use of pink paint. Sources say that the production's extensive use of a particular shade of fluorescent pink paint contributed to a global shortage. The film's designer, Sarah Greenwood, confirmed that the world ran out of pink, while the vice president of global marketing at paint company Rosco, Lauren Proud, acknowledged that the movie used as much paint as we had and that they did clean us out on paint. However, Proud also attributed the shortage to other factors such as global supply chain issues and the Texas freeze in 2021, which impacted the materials used to create the paint.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Reason for shortage | Jaw-dropping amounts of pink paint used for the set |
| Shade | Fluorescent pink |
| Supplier | Rosco |
| Director | Greta Gerwig |
| Production designer | Sarah Greenwood |
| Star cast | Margot Robbie, Ryan Gosling, Will Ferrell, Issa Rae, America Ferrera, Simu Liu, Michael Cera, Kate McKinnon, Dua Lipa, and others |
| Release date | July 21, 2023 |
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What You'll Learn
- The film's director, Greta Gerwig, wanted an alternate universe of Barbie Land
- The set required huge amounts of fluorescent pink paint
- The world ran out of pink, according to production designer Sarah Greenwood
- Rosco, the paint manufacturer, confirmed the production used a lot of paint
- Other factors contributed to the shortage, including the COVID-19 pandemic

The film's director, Greta Gerwig, wanted an alternate universe of Barbie Land
The upcoming live-action Barbie movie, directed by Greta Gerwig, has sparked conversations about its use of pink paint, with some reports claiming that the film caused a global shortage of the colour. Gerwig, who directed and co-wrote the script, envisioned an "alternate universe of Barbie Land", characterised by bright and vibrant colours, specifically shades of pink.
In an interview with Architectural Digest, Gerwig explained that maintaining the "kid-ness" of the film's aesthetic was crucial. She wanted the set to capture the playful and imaginative aspects of Barbie, which are often associated with bright and fantastical colours. The director aimed for "authentic artificiality", a larger-than-life representation of Barbie's world, which included a life-size version of the iconic three-story Dreamhouse, a pink convertible, and a utopian beach town, all in varying shades of pink.
To achieve Gerwig's vision, the production team, led by production designer Sarah Greenwood, sourced paint from Rosco, a company specialising in film and theatre production supplies. The specific shade used was Fluorescent Pink, and the quantity required for the film's set was so significant that it contributed to a global shortage of that particular colour.
However, Lauren Proud, the vice president of global marketing at Rosco, noted that other factors also played a role in the shortage. The COVID-19 pandemic and the 2021 Texas ice storm disrupted the supply chain and impacted the availability of raw materials used to create the paint. Despite these challenges, Proud acknowledged that the film's production "cleaned them out" of that specific shade of pink paint.
The Barbie movie, starring Margot Robbie as Barbie and Ryan Gosling as Ken, is set to premiere on July 21, 2023. The film promises to deliver a visually stunning and playful interpretation of the iconic doll's world, bringing to life Gerwig's vision of a bright and fantastical "Barbie Land".
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The set required huge amounts of fluorescent pink paint
The set of the "Barbie" movie required huge amounts of fluorescent pink paint to achieve the perfect backdrop. The film's production designer, Sarah Greenwood, revealed in an interview with Architectural Digest that the film had caused an international shortage of the paint. "The world ran out of pink," she claimed.
The paint used was Rosco's fluorescent pink shade, which is specifically manufactured for film and theatre productions. The company's vice president of global marketing, Lauren Proud, confirmed that the production used a significant amount of their paint supply. She stated, "They did clean us out on paint."
The extensive use of pink paint was intentional and served a specific purpose in the film's aesthetic. Director Greta Gerwig explained that she wanted the pinks to be "very bright" and "almost too much" to capture the "kid-ness" of the Barbie world. The bright pink hue was used throughout the set, including on the larger-than-life version of Barbie's iconic three-story Dreamhouse, her convertible car, and a utopian beach town filled with cul-de-sacs and storefronts.
The film's production also faced challenges due to global supply chain issues caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and the 2021 Texas ice storm, which impacted the availability of materials used to make the paint. Despite these challenges, the creative team behind the "Barbie" movie was committed to bringing the vibrant world of Barbie to life on screen, resulting in the use of vast quantities of fluorescent pink paint.
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The world ran out of pink, according to production designer Sarah Greenwood
The upcoming live-action Barbie movie, starring Margot Robbie as Barbie and Ryan Gosling as Ken, has reportedly used so much pink paint that it led to a global shortage. According to the film's production designer, Sarah Greenwood, "The world ran out of pink".
In an interview with Architectural Digest, Greenwood, who has been nominated for six Academy Awards, revealed that constructing the set involved using huge amounts of Rosco's fluorescent pink paint. The film, directed by Greta Gerwig, features a life-size version of Barbie's iconic three-story Dreamhouse, her Corvette convertible, and a utopian beach town—all in bright shades of pink.
Gerwig, who directed and co-wrote the script, explained that the colour pink was all-important to the movie. She wanted the set to be reminiscent of the childlike aspect of playing with Barbie, saying, "I wanted the pinks to be very bright, and everything to be almost too much." The London-based team even ordered a Barbie Dreamhouse online to spark their imaginations.
Lauren Proud, vice president of global marketing at Rosco, confirmed that the production used a large amount of paint but noted that other factors contributed to the shortage. These included global supply chain issues resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic and the 2021 Texas ice storm, which damaged some of the materials used to make their paints. Despite these challenges, Proud acknowledged that the film's production "did clean us out on paint".
While the Barbie movie may not be solely responsible for the pink paint shortage, it certainly contributed to it, and the world may not have literally run out of pink, but the film's vibrant and playful aesthetic has undoubtedly left a lasting impression.
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Rosco, the paint manufacturer, confirmed the production used a lot of paint
The upcoming live-action Barbie movie, starring Margot Robbie as Barbie and Ryan Gosling as Ken, has left the world in a state of shock—not just because of its star-studded cast, but also because of its extensive use of pink paint. The film's production designer, Sarah Greenwood, revealed in an interview with Architectural Digest that the film set required jaw-dropping amounts of pink paint, leading to a global shortage. "The world ran out of pink," she claimed.
The paint used for the film was supplied by Rosco, a company that manufactures entertainment-friendly products, including paint, projection equipment, and flooring. Rosco's fluorescent pink paint was essential in creating the perfect backdrop for the Barbie movie, bringing to life the vibrant, colourful world of Barbie and Ken. While Rosco typically specialises in products for the entertainment industry, the demand for pink paint from the Barbie movie set was unprecedented.
Lauren Proud, the vice president of global marketing at Rosco, confirmed that the production used a significant amount of paint. In an interview, she acknowledged that the film "used as much paint as we had" and that the Barbie production team "did clean us out on paint". However, Proud also noted that other factors contributed to the pink paint shortage, including global supply chain issues resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic and the 2021 Texas ice storm, which damaged some of the materials used to create the paint.
The extensive use of pink paint in the Barbie movie was intentional and served a specific purpose. Director Greta Gerwig explained that she wanted the pinks used on set to be ""very bright" and "almost too much" to capture the kid-like aspect of playing with Barbie and create an "alternate universe of Barbie Land". The film's trailer showcases this larger-than-life world, featuring a bright pink three-story Dreamhouse, a pink Corvette convertible, and a utopian beach town—all contributing to the impressive use of pink paint.
While the Barbie movie's impact on the global pink paint supply is notable, it's important to consider the context of supply chain issues and the unique circumstances that contributed to the shortage. Nonetheless, the film's demand for paint was undoubtedly significant, and Rosco's confirmation highlights the challenges of creating such a visually striking world.
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Other factors contributed to the shortage, including the COVID-19 pandemic
The upcoming live-action Barbie movie, starring Margot Robbie as Barbie and Ryan Gosling as Ken, has been reported to have caused a global shortage of pink paint. The film's production designer, Sarah Greenwood, revealed that the film set required immense amounts of pink paint to create the perfect Barbie world. However, it is important to note that other factors also contributed to the shortage.
Lauren Proud, the vice president of global marketing at Rosco, the paint company that supplied the paint for the film, acknowledged that the movie used as much paint as we had. However, she also pointed out that there were other factors at play, and the shortage was not solely due to the Barbie movie.
One significant factor was the COVID-19 pandemic, which disrupted global supply chains and affected the production and supply of various products, including paint. The pandemic caused delays and shortages in the supply of raw materials and components necessary for paint manufacturing. This disruption, combined with the high demand for paint from the Barbie movie, likely contributed to the overall shortage of pink paint.
Additionally, the paint company Rosco was also recovering from the impact of the 2021 deep freeze in Texas, which damaged some of the materials they use to make their paints. This event further strained their ability to keep up with the demand for pink paint, as they were still working to restore their full production capabilities.
While the Barbie movie's extensive use of pink paint undoubtedly contributed to the shortage, it is important to consider these other factors as well. The combination of high demand, supply chain issues, and manufacturing disruptions likely all played a role in the global shortage of pink paint.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, the production designer of the film, Sarah Greenwood, confirmed that the movie used so much pink paint that it led to a global shortage.
A jaw-dropping amount of paint was used to create the Barbie universe. The production team completely depleted the global stock of Rosco's fluorescent pink shade.
Aside from the large volume of paint used for the film, other factors such as global supply chain issues due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the 2021 Texas ice storm also contributed to the shortage.











































