Blog #4- Trip to the Museum of the Moving Image

On my visit to the Museum of the Moving Image (MOMI) I discovered many new things about the film and media industry. One particularly interesting thing I got to experience was how the actors' appearances are decided/made and what impact that has on a movie. There were exhibits on makeup, costume, and special effects that showed how these aspects of appearance matter. 

It was fascinating to see in person actual masks and facial makeup that was used in real films, such as the bust of Jim Carrey and his green face mask from The Mask (1994) and the actual Chewbacca mask worn by the actor in Star Wars: Episode IV (1977). I learned about how these things get constructed, and that often busts are created of actors so that the special effects and makeup can be developed over time. Decisions regarding makeup and special effects (from extreme masks to basic, more natural makeup) significantly contribute to many aspects of a film and how it conveys content.

Another great part of learning about how appearance affects film was the exhibit they had on costumes, where many famous movie costumes were on display. From the dress ensemble worn by the late Robin Williams in Mrs. Doubtfire (1993) to the classic sweater and slacks worn by Bill Cosby on The Cosby Show (1984-1992), I learned how choices of what an actor wears are very important to the feel of the film and the development of the actors character. I also realized that a "costume" that holds significance and makes contributions doesn't have to be an extravagant dress or something fancy; it can often be just an average looking outfit one would wear to work or school.

Aside from gaining knowledge about what is involved in creating a character's appearance in a film, I learned much about the evolution of moving image technology itself. As technology has advanced, media makers have gained infinite amounts of options to help them in their creative endeavors. We now for example, have a myriad of choices as far as what camera we want to use depending on how we want our film to look, and what lighting we want to use to convey certain moods. Advancements in on screen aspects such as actor appearance choices and computer generated film effects make it possible to convey any characterization and action one can imagine. All of this and more contributes greatly to the ever changing aspects of the creation, viewing, and experiencing of moving images.