TINSELTOWN’S STAR ATTRACTIONS
There are a few ways to guarantee you experience movie magic in glitzy Los Angeles
Many Los Angeles visitors hope for a celebrity sighting during their stay. But even if you’re not lucky enough to have a real-life star encounter, there are other ways to experience movie — and TV — magic.
Two of these are the FIDM (Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising) Museum and the Warner Bros. Studio Tour Hollywood.
COSTUME DRAMA
“Costumes are not fashion,” declares Nick Verreos as he shows our small group of Canadian journalists around the FIDM Museum’s 25th annual Art of Motion Picture Costume Design exhibition.
The show, which continues through April 22, features more than 100 costumes from 23 films, including 40 by designers nominated for Oscars this year.
“Hollywood is make-believe, and costume design is to make you believe,” he says.
Verreos should know. The designer/commentator/former FIDM alum and teacher was on the red carpet earlier this year for ABC’s Oscars pre-show. His glam red carpet gowns have been worn by the likes of Katy Perry, Beyoncé and more, and his Nikolai-label is sold internationally.
When done well, costumes help tell a character’s story, he adds, while pointing out design details on costumes from La La Land, Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, Florence Foster Jenkins and more.
This year’s Oscar for costume design went to Colleen Atwood, who was nominated for her work in four films (all on display here), including the winning Harry Potter spinoff Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them.
Located in downtown L.A., FIDM also hosts other exhibitions throughout the year, including an annual Outstanding Art of Television Costume Design exhibition around the time of the Emmy Awards (exhibit date TBA).
Admission to the FIDM Museum is free. See fidmmuseum.org.
GOING BATTY AND MORE
People who have taken a Warner Bros. studio tour more than once know there is always something new on offer. But this past year has brought some “super” treats, with a La La Land exhibit on the backlot (select dates through May 31), a reimagined Harry Potter/Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them gallery, and the relatively new DC Universe: The Exhibit.
In addition to the guided tour’s
foundation elements — exploring the 44-hectare backlot, peeking inside sound stages and seeing the vast collection of artifacts in the property department — I really enjoyed the Picture Car Vault — a.k.a. the Batcave.
Visitors to the darkened vault get a close-up look at the Caped Crusader’s favourite rides that have appeared in seven Warner Bros. films — from 1989’s Batman to 2016’s Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice.
Accompanying each car, motorcycle, Batpod or Tumbler is a description of how each incredible vehicle was made, who created it and which movie (or movies) it appeared in.
My favourites were the Tim Flattery-designed Batmobile (Batman Forever) with its retro fins and otherworldly ability to climb walls, and the Bathammer (Batman & Robin), a sort of bat-inspired snowmobile that allowed the duo to fight crime after Gotham City was frozen over by Mr. Freeze. With its ability to slide safely over ice at speeds of up to 160 km/h, the Bathammer would be particularly useful during the depths of a Canadian winter.
Multiple tours of the working Burbank studio take place daily but reservations are recommended. Children eight years or older are welcomed. Regular tickets are US$62 per person and can be purchased online at wbstudiotour.com or by calling 818-977-TOUR (8687).