Trip to MoMI

The Museum of the Moving Image is a great place to learn about the early days of filmmaking. Not only does it provide a substantial amount of historical facts and data, it also provides great visual displays and interactive activities to engage one in the learning process. On display, one can find anything from the first television and film cameras to the first microphones and editing stations used for the filmmaking. 

In the camera section, they have all the old models of television and film cameras laid out. In this section they break don the process of how they capture images and, in the case of the television camera, how it transmits a live feed. It was cool to also see the old fashioned tripods. I stood in this section for a while watching "Nanook of the North" by Robert J. Flaherty, which was being screened by the cameras. 

The interactive displays make the museum a fun place to learn. The stop motion station is extremely addicting. One can make stop motion animation with little cut-out figures and backgrounds provided by the museum. They also allow you to email your final product to yourself. There are several stations where you can somewhat participate in the filmmaking process in areas such as, voice over recording, selecting and adding musical score, and selecting and adding sound effects to different choices of scenes from well-known films. There is also a section where you can spin and play with a zoetrope and other devices that were first used to create the illusion of motion. The best part about this section is the coil of sculptures animated by strobe lights. A series of sculptures, each one different than the last, are placed consecutively down a coil that runs from ceiling to floor. The strobe light animates the sculptures and creates a moving image of a drop of water that turns into a bomb which then melts through the a hand, turns into a paper airplane, and crashes into a pile of dishes. It is an amazing thing to see. It was made by a brooklyn based artist that dreamed up the image. 

On display, they also have the costumes, masks, and props that have appeared in many famous films. They have the mouth piece used Vitto Corleone in "The Godfather," the green face mold used in "The Mask," Chewbacca's head piece from "Star Wars," Bill Cosby's outfit from the Cosby Show, etc. 

It is a really amazing place to visit and learn about film. They also have screenings once in a while. It is a great place to spend the day.