Maryland-Based Set Decorator Discusses “House of Cards” Impact

Tiffany Zappulla, set decorator for “House of Cards,” has been nominated for two Emmy Awards and won a pair of Art Director’s Guild awards, and she credits Maryland’s competitive film industry for contributing to her success. “I was very fortunate, because there was so much great film work coming though Maryland,” says Zappulla, whose television and film credits include work on “VEEP,” “Syriana,” “Ladder 49,” and “Tuck Everlasting.” And Zappulla is not alone. Through its first four seasons, “House of Cards” is projected to have hired more than 9,000 Marylanders, including nearly 1,500 crew professionals such as Zappulla. “We have a great local crew. Carpenters, set painters, props, everyone in the art department; the crew is integral in making the film a success,” continues Zappulla. While television and film have been important drivers for Maryland’s economy, with “House of Cards” and “Veep” generating a projected economic impact of $600,867,932 from FY 2012-FY 2016, Zappulla sees that impact on a personal level.

“I personally have more than 200 vendors from corner to corner covering 14 counties plus Baltimore City,” says Zappulla. “These are people who, when we’re not filming, I get calls from, asking, ‘when are you starting back up?’.” Zappulla and thousands of other Marylanders will soon begin work on “House of Cards” season five.

Pictured: Tiffany Zappulla receives Art Director’s Guild Award for best production designer