In central Los Angeles, surrounded by the Petersen Automotive Museum and the La Brea Tar Pits, lies the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures, the largest museum in the US dedicated to filmmaking. This October, seniors got an opportunity to tour the museum, exploring the history of Hollywood’s box office hits.
After splitting into eight tour groups, students were free to view the museum exhibits, which, for me, started with the final surviving robotic shark from the movie Jaws. Though a little smaller than the movie led me to believe, it was still shockingly realistic and an incredible entrance to the Jaws exhibit. There, students got to see props from the film, play the theme song on a piano, practice the dolly zoom, and even control a miniaturized version of the shark.
Exiting the exhibit, we noticed an open door at the end of the corridor. Walking in, we were greeted by the Pixar Toy Story 3D Zoetrope, a machine that uses flashing lights to make static objects look like they’re moving. It’s an incredible sight, though the flashing lights can be startling at first. For any sightseers, there’s also the Dolby Family Terrace, looking over LA and the Hollywood sign. The view from the terrace is designed to be like looking through a camera lens, an experience I definitely recommend.
Moving down the museum, we saw backdrops and sets from Barbie, leaning into a contrast between symmetrical and asymmetrical building styles. Props from the live-action movie adaptation of The Beauty and the Beast were scattered throughout the floor, with Cogsworth and Lumiere serving as key pieces. For those with a liking for sci-fi/superhero movies, there’s also an entire room dedicated to the theme. From the shaving cream can in Jurassic Park to C-3PO to the Infinity Gauntlet, there are dozens of props to see.
As we neared the end of our visit, we found a room screening movie clips. Though there was a conspicuous lack of audio, it was still a good way to unwind. Overall, the seniors enjoyed the trip, appreciating the variety of exhibits and gaining valuable insights into famous movies. If you have the chance, I’d strongly recommend a visit to the Academy Museum. Whether you’ve been a lifelong movie fan or are just curious about some famous movies, the Academy Museum does a great job of capturing the life behind every movie.
