In our view, Central Florida was built on the power of film and television. Magicians came and built a “World” that would make what was on the screen come alive to the public in thrills and displays. Another came that is “Universal”ly well known and built a playground where the power of films was conjured up before our eyes.
But that Central Florida is disappearing. Too much noise has cluttered what is now known as the “attractions area”. The parks that were built to showcase the power of film once held museums dedicated to filmmaking, film history, even a backlot tour. Those are gone now. (But somewhere I have the pictures.)
I won’t deny that tourism is the backbone of our area, with Orlando being listed in 2015 as the most visited city in the United States, but the items I speak of and the stories they tell need to be brought out beyond the themed gates and made more accessible and affordable to once again wow the public with their power.
The museum will not be built on a foundation of brick and mortar, but it will be built on the love of film and television and the fans of these highly stylized genres. Fans that for brief moments in time live with the world of their fandom and use their imaginations to become part of the universes created in these genres. The fans I speak of are as diverse as the medium of film and television.
I speak of the Sci-Fi fan that looks at the screen and marvels at the story that unfolds, the artistry of technical side of the visual story, and can also tell you the pattern of the Chompers on the NSEA Protector.
I speak of the Horror fan that jumps and thrills at the unspeakable terror. They know that it is only makeup and a kickass Carpenter score, but also knows what lurks in the closet and that “you can’t kill the boogeyman”.
I speak of the Fantasy fan that marvels at the mystic revelation brought to life, but will also ask “why didn’t the eagles just take them there in the first place?”
This is why Silver Screen Paradise was born.