This past weekend I went to the Museum of the Moving Image. I have lived three blocks away from it for the past five years and this is the first time I've ever stepped foot inside. I could say that I have been missing out but in my commitment to a 'no regrets' outlook and an 'everything happens when it should' lifestyle I will just say that it was well worth the wait.
-By Leah Bonnema (Stand Up Comic)
I am not an outing type of person. I don't brunch. I rarely go to exhibits. I don't watch summer movies or listen to music in the park. I'm sure they're wonderful but thinking about it gives me anxiety. I like my free time to mean no planning whatsoever; down time equals anti-social time. It seems that the more I get on-stage the more I don't want to be in public whenever I'm not working.
Sunday afternoon I was out with my balls&chain for a walk (Happy 6 Year Anniversary to us) and as we passed by the The Museum of the Moving Image we decided to go in.
Upon reading through the literature on the museum I learned that they screen about 200 hundred movies in their theater a year (next week Taxi Driver is playing) and the membership is only $75 annually. Count me in!
I actually didn't have enough time to look at all the amazing exhibits. I majored in Cultural Studies (focus on film) in college and wrote my thesis on Women in Film. I interned with a production company and then worked at Telefilm Canada after graduating. The Museum of the Moving image stirred in me all the passion I felt then, fresh faced and full of film love. By the time we had to leave I had a lady boner.
A few highlights: a great moments in movies montage called Precious Images which maybe made my eyes rain BUT ONLY A LITTLE, an excerpt from the journal of Ed Harris while he was making Pollock in the Magnificent Obsessions exhibit and of course Aliens, Gadgets and Guns: Designing the World of MIB 3. I also very much enjoyed an installation that juxtaposed industrial films from specific eras with movies from the same time period. Reminded me of a thesis I wrote once when I had a lot of follow through and even more passion for ideas. Perhaps this trip to the museum has inspired just that.
Leah Bonnema is a Stand Up Comic. www.LeahBonnema.com
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I'll have to give this a try, I'm embarrassed to say I never went in after all my years living in NYC. I had a similar experience when I finally went into the Museum of Television and Radio. I was dragged in (I share your issues/ feelings on downtime, people who want to 'make plans' don't realize the terrible pressure it causes for our kind. Downtime should be spent fondling a pet or thinking about worrying about what you have to do when downtime ends) and was absolutely fascinated.
Thanks again Bonnema!
Posted by: Bernadette Pauley | Thursday, August 16, 2012 at 02:54 PM
Ahahaha! Yes! Downtime is for fondling pets and worrying!! Ahaha! We are cut from the same New England clothe lady! I should prob check out the Museum of Television and Radio then! Thanks! (I think I use too many exclamation points but I just get so excited...!)
Posted by: Leah B | Thursday, August 16, 2012 at 02:57 PM
That MIB "Alien vagina" almost had me choking on my water this morning.
Posted by: Kimberly Lew (Playwright/Blogger) | Thursday, August 16, 2012 at 06:13 PM
I see Vagina everywhere. :)
Posted by: Leah B | Thursday, August 16, 2012 at 08:34 PM
I too live just blocks from the musuem in Astoria..... on 37th st.... jeez I need to get around to going to that...
Posted by: David Davila | Friday, August 17, 2012 at 02:45 AM
Yes Davila!!! It's totally worth it!
Posted by: Leah B | Thursday, August 23, 2012 at 11:37 AM