Please ensure Javascript is enabled for purposes of website accessibility
'Monster' Fresno Fabricator of Theme Park Attractions Adapts to COVID Times
TLBBHMAP3-U010ALB5ANM-348f959abae2-512-300x300-1
By Jim Jakobs, Digital Producer
Published 5 years ago on
April 21, 2020

Share

Adversity breeds creation. Or, in this case, the creators turn to creating something new.
Monster City Studios in Fresno usually takes orders from Disney Parks, zoos, and museums.
But, after having to idle half of his staff, James Powell wasn’t going to sit idly by as a victim of the coronavirus lockdown any longer.
“We pivoted and set up a production line to make vacu-formed face shields using our specialized equipment,” Powell told GV Wire.

Photo of an Indiana Jones "man cave" built by Fresno's Monster City Studios::man
Monster City Studios built this Indiana Jones “man cave” for a Fresno homeowner. (thefresnan.com)

Creativity Beats Adversity

“We’re not manufacturers. We don’t stand in an assembly line,” Powell says jokingly.
Powell wanted to do something to keep his employees working: “So we kind of rag-tag (and) hog-cobbled together a production line and got some equipment.”
His team started making “thermoformed” face and forehead protective shields for sale to the public. The material is much thicker than the popular “maker” style sheet face shields.
Powell launched www.maskandshield.com and the orders started rolling in. They aren’t going to places you’d suspect like hospitals or doctor’s offices. Cemetery workers from across the country have been ordering them. Dentists are using them to protect themselves when they work on patients’ teeth. And NYU is testing out the face shields.
Powell said that 50% to 60% of his sales are to people in the Fresno area. Most of those people are individuals just wanting to protect themselves, he said.
https://www.facebook.com/MonsterCityStudios/posts/3098248196892549?__xts__%5B0%5D=68.ARDM7u7DzNGQzpDrbizpXK_fhWGWNiuNuJsYE4kh3jWNqEzCWIHitES8x9AS5BnzKLV4UN5Wc7uqH6awyMGtmWIkqXEJ0jxrR1ouFTEfcOV3dbznSqUM9wbTmQBpUeJy5j1IvPo9T7_5sJCZPJTeqZiUqQcjbhJKXw8T1VnyH4xiVDFfFuwcWdH6Cphk_B-xV5BTnf51SaHo85WWrJPwFJeEaUZhbeqi5QqoOrcZDIeFKapSyH2tN929SZZyM7ekJrXMH4CuT0AVRxXo7lVcFlx_qw7_lFI6u-3E1tgvNh5xI1YUT-dbEkOav0GSqvlaYVZDTkk1_fi68mju_RkvClrxqA&__tn__=-R

Build a Better Mask

“We also will be starting production silicone, reusable masks in the next week or so,” Powell said.
He says these masks have been tested and approved for use at UCLA Medical Centers and at UCI Health in Orange County.
Monster City Studios says these masks can even be put in the dishwasher. Powell doesn’t envision them going to frontline healthcare workers helping COVID-19 patients, but to support staff in other departments of a hospital or anyone wanting added protection.
https://www.facebook.com/MonsterCityStudios/videos/2570651949706542/?__xts__%5B0%5D=68.ARAkRR3L4Tlc61nxijHeYTA-F-D1S8RLq_Ox9f5XLpl1DerDQhIBXAISW1tTKTAHmzZJR6WVDEa6J5dVCJfrExUEh7s5FCtCWn0nw5Vgx0jMJX2m3cPtKO7Wq9npvNl7VJykzZSP2GX0MRYlFp822Lx1j307MqsYrda-t_-g0gie5HCTMrqc6crkbt5e_qLtHcBmaj5qFa0LwLqMqs3O76GgOEPAnj2hhqdsG-PQsWRGHcv5dhuV2oRDm4wQLiIvVtIXD4HDInzWkBSWP2RUlF7CHdfxQG0EQocZZGmXmyu67vv_l1qMMtqK9_qkWoJG3EwOnorf2VobI2cINgbZoYChbEWdauvPVvq8ov25zHptz4NAk5nrDDUHb2s&__tn__=-R

 

DON'T MISS

Community Hospital CEO Craig Castro Will Retire in Early 2025

DON'T MISS

Conor McGregor Must Pay Woman $250K in Sexual Assault Case, Civil Jury Rules

DON'T MISS

Judge Delays Trump Hush Money Sentencing in Order to Decide Where Case Should Go Now

DON'T MISS

Trump Gave Interior Nominee One Directive for a Half-Billion Acres of US Land: ‘Drill’

DON'T MISS

Fresno State Gets $500K Grant for Students Facing Homelessness

DON'T MISS

NATO and Ukraine to Hold Emergency Talks After Russia’s Attack With New Hypersonic Missile

DON'T MISS

Many in Gaza Are Eating Just Once a Day, as Hunger Spreads Amid Aid Issues

DON'T MISS

Norwegian Student Arrested on Charges of Spying on US for Russia

DON'T MISS

Eagles Seek to Extend Win Streak in Prime-Time Clash With Resurgent Rams

DON'T MISS

Nick Chubb Plows Through Heavy Snow as Browns Beat Steelers

UP NEXT

Newsom Gaslights on Potential Gas Price Hikes in Fresno Visit

UP NEXT

What Will Happen to CNBC and MSNBC When They No Longer Have a Corporate Connection to NBC News?

UP NEXT

Major Storm Drops Record Rain, Downs Trees in Northern California After Devastation Further North

UP NEXT

Newsom Heads to Fresno, a County That Voted for Trump

UP NEXT

Conservative Professors and Students Are Beating CA Community Colleges in Court

UP NEXT

Shoppers Flock to Clovis for Vallarta’s Grand Opening

UP NEXT

Thousands of University of California Workers Go on 2-Day Strike Over Wages, Staff Shortages

UP NEXT

Wired Wednesday: How Fresno is Preparing For Trump’s Mass Deportation Plan

UP NEXT

Gavin Newsom Pledged to Release His Tax Returns Every Year. The Last One Was for 2020.

UP NEXT

California Governor Will Not Make Clemency Decision for Menendez Brothers Until New DA Reviews Case

Trump Gave Interior Nominee One Directive for a Half-Billion Acres of US Land: ‘Drill’

56 minutes ago

Fresno State Gets $500K Grant for Students Facing Homelessness

59 minutes ago

NATO and Ukraine to Hold Emergency Talks After Russia’s Attack With New Hypersonic Missile

1 hour ago

Many in Gaza Are Eating Just Once a Day, as Hunger Spreads Amid Aid Issues

1 hour ago

Norwegian Student Arrested on Charges of Spying on US for Russia

1 hour ago

Eagles Seek to Extend Win Streak in Prime-Time Clash With Resurgent Rams

1 hour ago

Nick Chubb Plows Through Heavy Snow as Browns Beat Steelers

1 hour ago

German Auto Supplier Bosch to Cut 5,500 Jobs in Further Sign of Carmakers’ Woes

1 hour ago

Woman Found Dead in Fresno. Homicide Investigation Underway.

1 hour ago

Supreme Court Allows Multibillion-Dollar Class Action to Proceed Against Meta

1 hour ago

Community Hospital CEO Craig Castro Will Retire in Early 2025

After five years as president and CEO and more than 20 with Community Health Systems, Craig Castro announced he would retire in early 2025. ...

37 minutes ago

37 minutes ago

Community Hospital CEO Craig Castro Will Retire in Early 2025

38 minutes ago

Conor McGregor Must Pay Woman $250K in Sexual Assault Case, Civil Jury Rules

45 minutes ago

Judge Delays Trump Hush Money Sentencing in Order to Decide Where Case Should Go Now

56 minutes ago

Trump Gave Interior Nominee One Directive for a Half-Billion Acres of US Land: ‘Drill’

59 minutes ago

Fresno State Gets $500K Grant for Students Facing Homelessness

1 hour ago

NATO and Ukraine to Hold Emergency Talks After Russia’s Attack With New Hypersonic Missile

1 hour ago

Many in Gaza Are Eating Just Once a Day, as Hunger Spreads Amid Aid Issues

1 hour ago

Norwegian Student Arrested on Charges of Spying on US for Russia

Help continue the work that gets you the news that matters most.

Search

Send this to a friend