5 miniature models from the movies on display...

Today we continue to explore the magic of movie making with these five miniature production models used to bring the worlds of comedy, fantasy, action and horror to life on the big screen.

The Grand Budapest Hotel miniature production model

First up is this spectacular production model of The Grand Budapest Hotel used in Wes Anderson's 2014 comedy about an aging high-class hotel and the working relationship between the concierge and the lobby boy.

The movie was nominated for nine Oscars and took home four, including for Production Design for Adam Stockhausen (with Anna Pinnock for Set Decoration) and Best Costume Design for Milena Canonero.

This screen-used model was photographed on display at the sadly now defunct ArcLight Hollywood cinema in March 2014, so make sure you take a closer look at this miniature model and costumes from The Grand Budapest Hotel on display.

S.S. Venture tramp steamer and Skull Island miniature

from King Kong

Next up is miniature S.S. Venture boat model from 2005's King Kong movie remake directed by Peter Jackson. This tramp steamer sailed to Skull Island, the home of the legendary giant ape.

This model was photographed on display at Universal Studios Hollywood on the theme park tour in April 2009.

Mansion miniature model from Downsizing

This next mansion miniature model is from Alexander Payne's 2017 comedy Downsizing. To deal with overpopulation, scientist have started to shrink people down to four inches tall and Matt Damon finds himself starting his life anew in a downsized community.

Be sure to take a closer look at this miniature model from Downsizing that was on display in ArcLight Hollywood's foyer in December 2017.

Miniature WW11 Belgian village

from Welcome to Marwen

The next miniatures are of a slightly different kind. In 2018's Welcome to Marwen based a true story, Steve Carell plays the victim of a vicious hate crime who builds a miniature Belgian World War II town to aid his recovery and help him remember, filling it with G.I. Joes and Barbie dolls which he photographs for therapy.

Be sure to take a closer look at these miniature Marwen buildings that were on display at ArcLight Hollywood in December 2018.

Castle miniature from Bram Stoker's Dracula

And the final dramatic example is from Francis Ford Coppola's 1992 gothic horror movie, Bram Stoker's Dracula.

This miniature castle and home of the vampire lord was created for the film by Matte World.

Take a closer look at this production model and Gary Oldman's bat-form prosthetic makeup from Bram Stoker's Dracula that were photographed on display at the Planet Hollywood Cafe in Las Vegas in April 2011.

With people getting vaccinated and things slowly starting to get back to normal, I can't wait to see what screen-used costumes and props I can discover in the future on display at movie theatres, theme parks and museums.

Oscar-winning film costumes from The Grand Budapest Hotel on display...

In addition to this year's Oscar-winning Mad Max: Fury Road costume designs, the Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising (FIDM) in Downtown L.A. also played host to some of last year's winning designs from The Grand Budapest Hotel at the 24th Art of Motion Picture Costume Design Exhibition on February 12, 2016.

Original costumes worn by Tony Revolori as Zero Moustafa
and Saoirse Ronan as Agatha in The Grand Budapest Hotel

Milena Canonero took home the Academy Award for her winning designs, and you can also see her movie costumes in The Shining and her Oscar-winning period costume designs in Barry Lyndon.

The Grand Budapest Hotel movie poster

2014's The Grand Budapest Hotel tells the tale of the legendary concierge 'Gustav H' (Ralph Fiennes) at the famous hotel in the fictional Republic of Zubrowa between the first and second World Wars.

Tony Revolori plays 'Zero Moustafa' the Junior Lobby Boy (in-training) who becomes his most trusted friend, whilst Saoirse Ronan plays 'Agatha', the girl Zero falls in love with, who is an Apprentice Pastry Girl from Mendl's Patisserie.

24th Art of Motion Picture Costume Design Exhibition

at FIDM Museum

If you're an admirer of the actress, be sure to check out Saoirse Ronan's film costumes from Brooklyn and these costumes and props from Hanna too.

If you're a fan of this movie, you can also take a closer look at this scale production model for The Grand Budapest Hotel on display.

Plus stay tuned in the days to come for even more amazing costumes from the exhibition on display, which is free to the public and open until April 30, 2016.

The Grand Budapest Hotel film poster

The Grand Budapest Hotel original model on display...

Most people would agree that not everyone likes, or gets, Wes Anderson's quirky and eccentric movies like Moonrise Kingdom, The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou or The Royal Tenenbaums, but one thing we can all agree on, is that this original scale model of The Grand Budapest Hotel actually used in the movie is quite impressive and it's pretty awesome to see the detail up close in person.

Original model used in The Grand Budapest Hotel

To help publicize the movie and give cinema goers a glimpse behind-the-scenes, this fantastic pink model used in the director and writer's latest comedy drama was photographed on display within ArcLight Hollywood cinema's foyer on March 11, 2014.

The Grand Budapest Hotel movie poster

Adam Stockhausen was Production Designer, Carl Sprague was Concept Illustrator and Simon Weisse was Supervising Modelmaker on this phenomenal endeavour (as well as a whole team of people no doubt).

The Grand Budapest Hotel model detail

The Grand Budapest Hotel is the famous European hotel setting for the adventures of legendary concierge, 'Gustave H' (Ralph Fiennes), and his friendship with lobby boy, 'Zero Moustafa' (Tony Revolori), as they try and prove his innocence when he's framed for murder.

The movie is set in the fictional European country of Zubrowka in the 1930's amidst a nation ravaged by war and poverty, during the final glory days of this remote, mountainside hotel.

I always enjoy seeing costumes and props from movies in person, but once in a while it really is nice to shine the spotlight on the artistry of model makers and this is a great example don't you think.

If you're a fan of the filmmaker Wes Anderson, be sure to also check out these original costumes and props from Moonrise Kingdom, plus these stop-motion animation puppets and sets from the Oscar-nominated Fantastic Mr. Fox.

Let's hope 2014 continues to be filled with more behind-the-scenes cinematic delights like this one.

The Grand Budapest Hotel movie poster