Los Angeles: Academy Museum of Motion Pictures

Normally I review attractions in the order we visited them, but the Academy Museum was our first stop; I needed time to decide how to address it.

Part of that is that there is a lot to cover, with many different exhibits. We went largely drawn by reading about the Studio Ghibli exhibit.

https://www.npr.org/2021/10/02/1042155204/academy-museum-hayao-miyazaki-studio-ghibli-exhibition

This was the one exhibit where you could not take pictures inside, Initially disappointing, it made sense. Many things shifted and changed where it would be hard to capture, like forest spirits appearing and disappearing on a well. 

There is a hint outside, with a patch of green inviting for photo opportunities. Initially it looks like it is just leaves and moss, and then you realize it is full of soot sprites.

That exhibit is a chance to view things differently, including lying on your back and watching the (simulated) clouds, but also it very much shows sketches, models,and film clips, giving an idea of the execution of the creative process.

That was also very much the case in the exhibition on costumes, where you could look at sketches, costumes, and film clips showing the costume being worn.

I have not seen this movie, but it looks intense.

You could also learn more about the early technologies leading to cinema, and the art of creating backdrops.

I admit, I did not find those two as interesting, and I had no interest in the Oscars experience, where you can enact and receive a video of you receiving as Oscar. There was a long line for it though. There is enough range between the different exhibits that there should be something for everyone, including movie memorabilia.

In some cases, those are also set up with clips.

This is not a great picture of Bruce Lee's nunchaku, but to see it, and one of his outfits, while footage plays of them in use (plus a clip of Lee grabbing off a chunk of Chuck Norris' chest hair from The Way of the Dragon), well, it is something.

There were two other areas with special meaning.

I had just finished reading Entertainment Weekly's A Celebration of Black Film, so as I passed through displays and clips from the work of Oscar Micheaux and other pioneers, it was familiar.

Perhaps that is not a huge deal, but I had just read it because I had a dream where I was really determined to buy a magazine, despite obstacles, and that is why I decided to check the racks at the store and found it. Regardless, what knowledge and interests you bring with you will affect your experience.

Then there is a gallery with a few Oscar gowns and screens that alternate playing different acceptance speeches. The staff member here was very interesting and helpful, so we made a point of watching more speeches. That included Rita Moreno's acceptance in this displayed dress.

It also included Sacheen Littlefeather's speech, which I had been thinking about a lot since the fallout from the slap at the last ceremony. Those thoughts were what kept me from writing, but I think the answer now is to try and do a few posts on the long-neglected main blog, and get some things out there.

Accessibility: This was set up pretty well, at least for physical navigation. While it may be a loss to not be able to ride the escalator below Jaws, the elevator will get you up next to him for a good view. Most of the exhibits are also pretty quiet with low lights, which should work well for many sensory issues.

That seems like a reason to mention that some people found the orientation aspects of navigation difficult. I think that is more the initial entrance. Though you see the museum on multiple sides, you enter past valet parking, and past the restaurant. Then there is a first line for checking vaccines before you actually get to admission. After that, we started at the top and worked our way down, which seemed to work well. It is common that there is one entrance and one exit for exhibits, to control viewing order.

COVID: Speaking of checking vaccine cards, we appreciated that, but also stayed masked and socially distanced, but that did work out pretty well. It may have helped that we were visiting on a week day.

https://www.academymuseum.org/en/