I was too busy laughing to make a longer film. (Though the soundtrack I later added makes it better.) Were it not for my friend egging me on, I wouldn't have finished any of my attempts.
The Museum of the Moving Image has always been one of my favorite places in the world. (Except for an annual summer sojourn upstate, the city is my entire world.) Although I'm a little overwhelmed by the new modern/futuristic look, the museum is still as exciting as ever.
One of the most fun interactive demonstrations involved adding music to scenes from different movies. Naturally I had to try Independence Day, which is one those so-terrible-it's-awesome 90s movies that I can't help but love. Using classical music heightened the tension; using German heavy metal made it hilarious. The same thing happened with the scene from Twister, which could seem either suspenseful or silly (in a lighthearted way). The exercise proves just how crucial the right music can be; you really need to be able to set the right tone.
I enjoyed the new 3D experience involving walking in front of a screen and watching your own movements. It reminded me of those moments in The Dark Knight when Morgan Freeman is explaining what that spy tracking thing does and all that blue mapping stuff flashes across the screen. Excellent.
The collection of masks, makeup and costumes fascinates me. (Oh, how I love The Mask! And Mork's suit! To use a worn-out expression, I was like a kid in a candy store.) There was one miniature model of a house that was especially impressive. It got me wondering - will I ever make a movie with a big budget? It's hard enough making short films without a budget; what will I do when I have to hire people and actually pay them?
Finally, I must mention Tut's Fever Movie Palace. I have loved it for as long as I can remember. Even though I can't recall ever watching a film there, its artwork and design has always captivated me. I'll never tire of the illustrations of the Marx Brothers covering the walls... walking up the ramp into that narrow, dimly lit passageway...
This is what I saw when I got off the train and was making my way home. It was the most perfect kind of powder blue I have ever seen. No clouds. Just a quiet, not particularly hip part of Brooklyn.
