ACADEMY MUSEUM OF MOTION PICTURES PRESENTS COLOR IN MOTION: CHROMATIC EXPLORATIONS OF CINEMA AND CYBERPUNK: ENVISIONING POSSIBLE FUTURES THROUGH CINEMA

EXHIBITIONS OPEN OCTOBER 6, 2024

On October 1, 2024, the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures unveiled its latest exhibition, “Color in Motion: Chromatic Explorations of Cinema,” a breathtaking journey through the world of color in film. This dynamic exhibit celebrates the profound impact of color in storytelling, from the early days of Technicolor to the sophisticated digital palettes of today’s cinematic masterpieces.

ACADEMY MUSEUM OF MOTION PICTURES PRESENTS Cyberpunk — Color in Motion: Chromatic Explorations of Cinema on Display October 6, 2024 at the The Academy Museum of Motion Pictures in Los Angeles.

The exhibition is an immersive experience, blending stunning visuals with insightful historical context. Walking through the gallery, visitors are surrounded by iconic film moments where color played a pivotal role—from the deep, saturated reds of Gone with the Wind to the moody neons of Blade Runner 2049. The thoughtfully curated collection highlights how filmmakers have used color to evoke emotion, symbolize themes, and create memorable visual aesthetics.

One of the exhibit’s most captivating aspects is its interactive elements. Visitors can experiment with color grading on famous film scenes and witness firsthand how small changes can alter the entire mood and meaning of a shot. Additionally, in-depth commentary from legendary directors and cinematographers adds layers of understanding, offering rare insights into the artistic choices behind some of cinema’s most iconic scenes.

The opening day buzz was palpable as a diverse audience, including film buffs, industry professionals, and art lovers, flocked to the museum to experience this tribute to color. In addition to the exhibit itself, there were live demonstrations by colorists and special Q&A sessions with filmmakers who have pushed the boundaries of color in film. The event also featured screenings of movies that have been praised for their chromatic innovations, allowing audiences to view them with fresh eyes.

Overall, the Academy Museum’s “Color in Motion” exhibition is not just a must-see for anyone who loves film and visual art but a transformative experience. It offers a vibrant, multi-sensory exploration of cinema’s use of color, celebrating its endless capacity to move, inspire, and captivate. The exhibition promises to leave visitors with a new appreciation for the art of filmmaking and a fresh perspective on the power of color in storytelling.

Color in Motion: Chromatic Explorations of Cinema delves into the essential role of color in cinema, featuring film clips, technological equipment, and objects, including the legendary ruby slippers designed by Gilbert Adrian from The Wizard of Oz (1939), the green dress designed by Edith Head and worn by Kim Novak in Vertigo (1958), a blue ensemble worn by Jamie Foxx as Django in Django Unchained(2012), and a Wonka chocolate bar from Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory(1971). Interactive installations invite visitors to engage with color in innovative ways. A comprehensive catalogue will accompany the exhibition, offering deeper insights into the legacy of color in film.

Color in Motion: Chromatic Explorations of Cinema is curated by Senior Exhibitions Curator Jessica Niebel with Assistant Curator Sophia Serrano, Research Assistant Alexandra James Salichs, and former Curatorial Assistant Manouchka Kelly Labouba.

Cyberpunk: Envisioning Possible Futures Through Cinema explores the global impact of the cyberpunk subgenre on film culture, showcasing iconic films like Blade Runner (1982), The Matrix (1999), and international titles such as Sleep Dealer (2008) and Akira (1988). At its core, an immersive installation will trace the genre’s origins and its evolution into 21st-century themes like Afrofuturism and Indigenous futurism. Visitors can also experience a mixed-reality (MR) installation, and the exhibition includes a catalogue with rare behind-the-scenes images and exclusive merchandise.

Cyberpunk: Envisioning Possible Futures Through Cinema is curated by Vice President of Curatorial Affairs Doris Berger, with Assistant Curators Nicholas Barlow and Emily Rauber Rodriguez.

PUBLIC PROGRAMS	Drop-in Tactile Filmmaking Workshop October 6 \| 10:30am \| Tea Room To celebrate the opening of our new exhibition Color in Motion: Chromatic Explorations of Cinema, join the Academy Museum for an exciting Tactile Filmmaking Workshop in the Academy Museum’s Tea Room. Drawing inspiration from early cinema techniques like hand painting frames and experimenting with animating directly on celluloid film (as seen in the Inventing Worlds and Characters: Animation gallery in our Stories of Cinema exhibition and the new Color in Motion exhibition), participants will create their own vibrant moving-image collages using simple materials like markers, tape, pushpins, paint, and ink. At the end of the workshop, the individual strips of film will be spliced together and screened through a 16mm film projector, bringing together a community-created and truly collaborative film. Cyberpunk: Exploring Futurisms in Three Shorts October 6 \| 2pm \| Ted Mann Theater From a lone Cree wanderer in a devastated Canadian landscape to a virtual natural history museum in a post-World War III Africa to a remote migrant labor program at a closed US-Mexico border, these three short films in this program explore the vast possibilities of futurism in cinema. The featured short films by filmmakers Wanuri Kahiu, Danis Goulet, and Alex Rivera use cyberpunk themes to center the perspectives of marginalized peoples and imagine more liberated futures. In doing so, they criticize existing inequalities and power structures, subverting legacies of oppression, colonization, and displacement. The screenings will be followed by a conversation with the directors, moderated by Academy Museum Vice President of Curatorial Affairs Doris Berger.
STORE	The Academy Museum Store carries a wide selection of merchandise in conjunction with these exhibitions, including exhibition catalogues and other items exclusive to the Academy Museum.
ADMISSION/ TICKETS	Tickets to the Academy Museum are available only through advance online reservations via the Academy Museum’s website and mobile app. General admission tickets for the museum’s exhibitions are $25 for adults, $19 for seniors (age 62+), and $15 for students. Admission for visitors ages 17 and younger, and for California residents with an EBT card is free. Gallery tours are included in general admission.