Celebrating the World of Sarah Greenwood and Katie Spencer with Barbie
Celebrating the World of Sarah Greenwood and Katie Spencer with Barbie
In person: Sarah Greenwood and Katie Spencer
In person: Sarah Greenwood and Katie Spencer
An instant box office smash upon its release in the summer of 2023, filmmaker Greta Gerwig’s Barbie proved to be an era-defining cultural phenomenon beloved by critics and audiences of all ages. Among the film’s eight nominations at the 96th Oscars was a nod to the creative team of production designer Sarah Greenwood and set decorator Katie Spencer. Barbie marked the seventh Oscar nomination for this longtime collaborative duo, following their achievements for Pride & Prejudice (2005), Atonement (2007), Sherlock Holmes (2009), Anna Karenina (2012), Beauty and the Beast (2017), and Darkest Hour (2017).
Though neither Greenwood nor Spencer had ever owned one of Mattel’s dolls, the pair set about envisioning a Barbieland at once brand-new and instantly recognizable. Drawing inspiration from seventy years of Barbie Dreamhouses, 1980s interior design, and Palm Springs aesthetics, the team dove into conversations about the essence of pink and the mechanics of breathing life into a plastic world in creative and groundbreaking ways.
On the opening day of the museum’s exhibition Barbie to Anna Karenina: The Cinematic Worlds of Sarah Greenwood and Katie Spencer, this program will explore how Greenwood and Spencer develop the overall look and visual concept of a movie and how they collaborate to create unique environments and settings that convey time, place, and character. The evening will culminate in a screening of Gerwig’s Oscar-nominated film.
Barbie to Anna Karenina: The Cinematic Worlds of Sarah Greenwood and Katie Spencer is curated by Michelle Puetz, exhibitions curator, with Alexandra James Salichs and Simran Bhalla, curatorial assistants, Academy Museum of Motion Pictures. The exhibition runs from May 23, 2025 to October 25, 2026.
Programmed and note by K.J. Relth-Miller.
Back to Main Series
Film Program
Thursday, March 6, 2025
A Woman Is a Woman (Une femme est une femme) in 4K
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Film Program
Wednesday, March 19, 2025
Gas Food Lodging in 35mm and Conversation
From her first feature, Border Radio (1987), filmmaker Allison Anders has always been interested in interrogating the “mainstream” by exploring and ultimately exploding genre.
Film Program
Saturday, March 22, 2025
Mary Poppins
In person: Visual Effects Branch Governor Paul Debevec
Film Program
Friday, May 2, 2025
20th Anniversary of The 40 Year-Old Virgin
In person: Judd Apatow and Steve Carell
Film Program
Thu, Jun 23, 2022
Making Love
40th Anniversary Screening. Q&A with A. Scott Berg, Barry Sandler, and Harry Hamlin.
Film Program
Thursday, June 1, 2023
Desk Set
Post-screening Q&A with author Claire L. Evans, Electronic Resources Librarian at the Los Angeles Public Library Eileen Ybarra, and Associate Director of Reference and Public Services at the Margaret Herrick Library Elizabeth Youle.
Public Program
Wednesday, June 28, 2023
An Evening with Arnold Schwarzenegger
Marking the release of Arnold Schwarzenegger’s limited edition two-volume book published by TASCHEN, join us for an evening celebrating Schwarzenegger’s life, accomplishments, and history of unforgettable performances.
Film Program
Wednesday, August 2, 2023
The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King —20th Anniversary Screening
Museum Members-Only Screening. Free for Museum Members.
Film Program
Sunday, November 12, 2023
Young Soul Rebels
Los Angeles Restoration Premiere. In person: Isaac Julien.
Film Program
Thurs, Nov 30, 2023
Smoke Signals 25th Anniversary
In person: Chris Eyre, Ray Halbritter.
Film Program
Monday, November 27, 2023
The Book of Rhyme & Reason Book Signing + Screening
On the heels of the book release, we will be hosting director, Peter Spirer, for a meet and greet signing, followed by a discussion with the director and infamous Los Angeles radio personality Big Boy, and a screening of Rhyme and Reason.
Film Program
Friday, December 10, 2023
The George Stevens Lecture on Directing presents the 70th Anniversary of Shane
Special guest: George Stevens Jr. and Christopher Nolan
Film Program
Saturday, February 24, 2024
Remembering Harry Belafonte: Buck and the Preacher
Special guests: Pre-screening conversation with actor Shari Belafonte and stuntman, actor Henry Kingi.
Film Program
Saturday, March 23, 2024
Spellbound in 35mm
West Coast Restoration Premiere. Special guest: Introduction by director, producer, and actress Cecilia Peck, daughter of Gregory Peck. MUSEUM MEMBERS-ONLY SCREENING.
Film Program
Thursday, March 28, 2024
La Paloma in 4K
North American Restoration Premiere. Special guest: Introduction by Giona A. Nazzaro, Artistic Director, Locarno Film Festival.
Film Program
Friday, April 19, 2024
Parajanov: The Last Spring with The Color of Pomegranates
Introduction from Jillian Borders, Head of Preservation, UCLA Film & Television Archive. Q&A between the films with Martiros M. Vartanov of the Parajanov-Vartanov Institute, moderated by Adam Piron.
Film Program
Thursday, June 13, 2024
Gilda in 4K
Special guest: Introduction by Grover Crisp, Executive Vice President, Asset Restoration and Preservation, Sony Pictures Entertainment.
Film Program
July 12, 2024
Jawbreaker in 35mm
25th Anniversary cast and filmmaker reunion! Pre-screening conversation with writer-director Darren Stein and actors Rebecca Gayheart, Julie Benz and Judy Greer, moderated by Trixie Mattel.
Film Program
Sat, Jul 20
Hackers in 35mm
Pre-screening conversation with author Claire L. Evans, Hackers producer Jeff Kleeman, and architect and filmmaker Liam Young, moderated by Academy Museum Vice President of Curatorial Affairs Doris Berger.
Film Program
Sat, Sep 7, 2024
Burden of Dreams in 4K, presented by Werner Herzog
In person: Werner Herzog, filmmaker, and Harrod Blank, director Les Blank’s son
Film Program
Sat, Oct 26, 2024
70th Anniversary of Creature from the Black Lagoon in 3D
Pre-screening conversation with Mallory O'Meara, author of The Lady from the Black Lagoon, and Susan Arnold, Film Producer and Chair, Film and Television Production Division, Professor of Practice Cinematic Arts USC School of Cinematic Arts.
Film Program
Friday, November 22, 2024
The George Stevens Lecture on Directing presents The More the Merrier in 4K
Special guest: Annette Bening
Public Program
Fri, Dec 6, 2024
An Evening with Diane Warren featuring Armageddon
Join us for a conversation with one of the most prolific artists of all time, 15-time Oscar nominated songwriter Diane Warren followed by a screening of Armageddon (1998).
Film Program
Sat, Jan 18, 2025
10th Anniversary of the film Selma
In person: actor Omar Dorsey, filmmaker and Academy Directors Branch Governor Ava DuVernay, actor Andre Holland, actor Stephan James, actor Niecy Nash Betts, actor David Oyelowo, actor Wendell Pierce, and actor Henry G. Sanders. Moderated by Elvis Mitchell.