AMPAS launches Production Art Database

July 2, 2011 7:56 PM

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences’ Margaret Herrick Library today launched its latest online research tool, the Production Art Database. The database contains records for more than 5,300 items from the library’s collection, including motion picture costume and production design drawings, animation art, storyboards and paintings. Nearly half of the records include images, making this an invaluable online resource for researchers interested in motion picture design.
posted by Trurl (7 comments total)

...oh. My.

It looks as if I am going to have to marry this database.
posted by theatro at 8:13 PM on July 2, 2011

pretty great!

downside: the watermarks are overly intrusive, and the images are rather small.
posted by artlung at 11:55 PM on July 2, 2011

I'm glad they are keeping this kind of database, but at the moment the small images and the watermarks are making it feel like a tease. But, still, good on them for opening up their archives, even just a crack.
posted by crossoverman at 4:04 AM on July 3, 2011

First rule of showbiz: Always leave them wanting more.
posted by Trurl at 5:44 AM on July 3, 2011

This is awesome, even if the watermarks are intrusive.
posted by immlass at 6:21 AM on July 3, 2011

Thanks for the "costume" link that leads to drawings from "One From the Heart". That movie's one of my favorite bits of eye-candy.
posted by Thorzdad at 7:42 AM on July 3, 2011

The watermarks are big because the Academy doesn't own the rights to most of these works, and wants to forestall studio lawyers coming after them after bloggers decide to "borrow" the images. It took a long time for them to put this stuff online, due to these concerns.
Their archives are open to the public, just not online. It's easy to go in and look at their holdings--you don't need to pass any expert test.
I especially like that the cost of the costume construction is including in some of the data.
posted by Ideefixe at 10:33 AM on July 3, 2011 [1 favorite]