An Academy Museum of Motion Pictures exhibition on the founders of Hollywood’s studio system will become a permanent one after criticism over a perceived lack of Jewish representation in a museum representing an industry largely built by Jewish immigrants.
President and Museum director Bill Kramer confirmed that there would be a new exhibit of what he called “the origin story”The only permanent fixture of the museum galleries will be the studio system. It was originally intended to be a rotating exhibition that would run until 2023. He said that details will be revealed in 2022.
“Some of the notes we’ve received have encouraged us to do this as a permanent exhibition, because this is a permanent foundational component of our history,”Kramer spoke. “After consideration, it makes great sense to us. And we think it’s a fantastic idea.”
The first time the issue was raised was in Oct. 14 article from Forward Jewish magazine. Rolling Stone reported earlier on the permanent exhibition In a story published last WednesdayMore about the controversy
Six-week film series in the museum titled “Vienna in Hollywood: The Influence and Impact of Austrians on the Hollywood Film Industry, 1902-2020”Dec. It had been in the making for months but was only revealed after early criticism.
The film series, which explores the large community of predominately Jewish, Austrian-born film artists and movie industry professionals who helped establish Hollywood’s classical era, has a much more niche focus than the planned permanent gallery, which will present an expanded history and become a permanent installation in the museum.
Kramer said the exhibition exploring the origins of Hollywood’s studio system will be the only permanent exhibition in the $482 milion museum, which opened its doors to the public Sept. 30.
“All of our exhibitions are designed to rotate constantly to tell new, diverse, dynamic stories about different craft areas, artists, film professional genres,”He told the. “We are always looking ahead to new iterations in our exhibitions.
“One exhibition that we have long been discussing and developing is around the founding of the studio system, and why the film industry in the United States became headquartered in Los Angeles,” Kramer continued. “As a museum in Los Angeles, located in the heart of Los Angeles, we think that that will be fascinating story for all of our (visitors): Why are we here?
“And as part of that, we will be embedding and discussing the founders of the studios, of whom many are Jewish…This was always planned to be a rotating exhibition,”He said. “But we decided to make this a permanent exhibition in early 2023 Because we feel like this is the sort of grounding foundational story that our visitors will deeply appreciate.”
Kramer stated that other gallery exhibitions will continue with rotating content in different components of filmmaking such as sound, animation, and art direction. However, he reiterated that the studio system exhibition will not rotate content because” we see this as the core foundational component of our museum.”
According to the museum, it has sold more than 300,000. It also reported that its sales have exceeded $3 million.
Editor’s Note: An earlier version of this story erred with Academy President Bill Kramer’s name in the sub headline. The error is regretted.