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The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced today that the Los Angeles City Council, in a unanimous vote, approved plans for the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures. Construction will begin this summer, and ceremonial groundbreaking festivities will occur this fall.“I am thrilled that Los Angeles is gaining another architectural and cultural icon," said Mayor Eric Garcetti. "My office of economic development has worked directly with the museum's development team to ensure that the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures will create jobs, support tourism, and pay homage to the industry…

With summer upon us, we hark back to a time when the warmer months allowed films to be shown outdoors at airdomes, and theatergoers were familiar with the glass slides that were part of the show. In their earlier days, glass slides, also known romantically as “lantern slides,” were part of an entertainment device called the magic lantern. A precursor to motion pictures, magic lanterns were popular both in the home and in theaters in the 18th and 19th centuries. They projected the images from hand-tinted glass slides onto a screen or wall through the use of candles or lanterns, which grew in…

In this week's Academy Originals we asked several filmmakers to tell us what is inspiring them in art, music, and/or film.David O. Russell, Steve McQueen, Hans Zimmer, and Matthew McConaughey, among others, gave us answers like Kanye West, black-and-white still photography and "The Book of Mormon on Broadway".Let us know in the comments below what's inspiring you right now.If you'd like to see more of our series where we ask moviemakers Questions, be sure to check out what the responses were when we asked them  their advice to aspiring filmmakers. And don't miss the video where we…

Screenwriter Phil Robinson ("Field of Dreams", "All of Me", "Sneakers") took part in our ongoing Academy Q&A series. Here are some highlights from his hour-long interview.Q: As I writer myself I find it hard to stay committed to finishing a script. Do you have any tips for beating writer's block and maintaining a passion for the story?A: My first advice is to not call it "writer's block". Once we give a syndrome a name, it's almost an excuse not to write. What I believe happens when we think we're "blocked" is that we simply don't know what comes next. So when that happens to me…

In this week's episode of Academy Originals we ask a variety of actors, writers and directors who supported them on their path to moviemaking success. Who deserves their thanks?While many noted their family, mentors, and friends,  Jennifer Garner picked a refreshing member of her support group, her ballet teacher."She just expected a lot, so we gave a lot. And I think that's really important to do," Garner explained.Now a question for you: have you seen all of our Questions series? We've asked some of your silver screen faves for their advice to aspiring filmmakers. We have also them…

Charles Guggenheim (1924-2002) devoted his life to documentary filmmaking. An acclaimed director with a career that spanned five decades and films that garnered 12 Academy Award nominations and four wins, Guggenheim pursued his craft with an intensity and depth that few have matched.Evident in his work is a compassionate concern for the American experience, a subject Guggenheim explored time and again in films that are critical, celebratory, and oftentimes both. He is the rarest of documentarians: a man who not only captured the events of his time, but helped shape them. Seen above is a photo…