110 years ago, Thomas Lupo’s grandfather opened the American Wood Column Corporation in Brooklyn’s Williamsburg neighborhood. Specializing in architectural woodwork including decorative moulding, columns, balusters, corbels, and more, the historic family-owned company is shutting down after more than a century. A new directed and produced by filmmaker and photographer takes viewers on one final walk-through of the factory.
A vast collection of about 6,000 handmade wooden molds—many of them reverse carved molds—cover the walls and correspond to numbered samples for reference. “My grandfather bought these molds used, and they were used,” Lupo explains. “So they’ve got to be over 200 years old.”
Throughout the film, Charrow follows Lupo around the building, documenting the owner’s favorite pieces and timeless anecdotes. Among these works are six-foot pencils, ornamental department store columns, set designs from Saturday Night Live, grave details from The Godfather, The Exorcist stairway, and more.
Filled with family stories and nostalgic memories of growing up inside a woodworking studio, Lupo is cognizant of the fact that he, too, is growing older. His team, who has been with him for close to 40 years, believe it’s also time to retire gracefully. “I will be closing down the business. It’s not a question of if, it’s a question of when. That’s all.” he says. “Like anything else, everything changes. Time goes on.”
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