Screen-used props from Boyhood on display...

There's always a bit of a drought when it comes to costumes and prop exhibits over the Summer months, but on my most recent visit to ArcLight Hollywood cinema on July 12, 2014, I spotted this collection of original screen-used props from the new remarkable drama, Boyhood.

Original props featured in Boyhood

The amazing film by Richard Linklater was shot over a dozen years starting in 2002 and chronicles the life of a boy called 'Mason' (Ellar Coltrane) from age 6 to 18 years old. Every twelve months or so the director would gather the actors for a few days to film a glimpse of their characters lives in this time-lapse journey which examines the relationships around him, including his divorced parents played by Ethan Hawke and Patricia Arquette.

The exhibit included a selection of family photos, children's drawings, books and toys from Mason's life.

Boyhood movie poster

Buy the movie soundtrack: Boyhood: Music From the Motion Picture

Alex Pettyfer and Gabriella Wilde movie costumes from the Endless Love remake...

Movie studios seem to have a fascination with remaking classic movies (more than often not as well) and one of the latest from this year is the reimagined romance, Endless Love, which originally starred Brooke Shields and Martin Hewitt as the teens madly in love in 1981, but now stars the young talents of Alex Pettyfer and Gabriella Wilde, in the second big screen adaptation of Scott Spencer's novel.

Original costumes from Endless Love on display

This suit worn by Alex Pettyfer as 'David Elliot' and red dress worn by Gabriella Wilde as 'Jade Butterfield' in the 2014 movie remake, as the charismatic boy and privileged girl who fall in love against her parents wishes, were photographed on display at Universal Studios Hollywood's costume and prop archive attraction on April 15, 2014.

Stacy Battat was responsible for Costume Design on the movie, whilst the candlestick prop is significant for the fire that is started in Jade's house towards the end of the movie.

Be sure to also check out more original costumes and props on display at the NBC Universal Experience exhibit from the small and big screen on my most recent visit.

Endless Love movie remake poster

Buy the movie: Endless Love (2014)

Megan Hilty's Ivy Lynn Smash opening night dress on display...

Following on from the initial success of the musical dramedy Glee on Fox, NBC in a surprisingly risky move developed its own more grown up version called Smash, based on the infamous world of New York's stage musicals. The show about bringing an original 'Marilyn Monroe' musical called 'Bombshell' to the dazzling lights of Broadway debuted in February 2012 and ran for two seasons.

Original costume worn by Megan Hilty as Ivy Lynn in Smash

The series primarily saw experienced chorus girl 'Ivy Lynn' played by Megan Hilty vying for the starring role as Marilyn against newcomer 'Karen Cartwright' (Katherine McPhee), alongside an impressive cast which included Anjelica Huston, Debra Messing, Jack Davenport and Christian Borle.

In the second season Ivy landed her dream role as the lead in Bombshell and wore this sparkling starburst dress in the twelfth episode, 'Opening Night' at a party for the stage musical's debut.

The show enjoyed mixed reviews and lower ratings as the seasons progressed, even with a bit of a season two reboot which removed most of the annoying characters and tried to fix the problems with the musical drama, but by that stage it was too late, which is a shame as I loved the show and its journey to Broadway storyline and original songs.

I hope we'll see more costumes from Smash, like this dazzling dress on display on April 15, 2014, at Universal Studios Hollywood's costume and prop archive exhibit in the future.

Smash season one TV billboard

If you're also a fan of musical theatre and their big screen adaptations, be sure to also check out these costumes and props from Mamma Mia The Movie, original Oscar-nominated film costumes from Les Miserables and more besides.

Buy the series: Smash: Season 1 (DVD + UltraViolet) Smash: Season 2

Jared Leto and Matthew McConnaughey movie costumes from Dallas Buyers Club...

Not only was Dallas Buyers Club the critically darling of awards season, with Matthew McConnaughey taking home the Best Actor Oscar and Jared Leto winning the Best Supporting Actor Academy Award amongst other accolades, but it also reminded cinema goers that even though the 80's was a scary time for those living and dying from HIV/AIDS, that the deadly disease hasn't gone anywhere and it is still affecting millions of people in the world today.

Original film costumes from Dallas Buyers Club on display

Based on real-life events, it was actually hard to sympathize with Matthew McConnaughey's character 'Ron Woodruff' as initially he's a homophobic womanizer, who doesn't seem to care for anyone but himself. However when he discovers he has contracted HIV and is only given 30 days to live by his doctors, his struggle to find medical treatments to prolong his life and the life of others is what redeems the cowboy.

Dallas Buyers Club movie poster

Hospital gown worn by Matthew McConnaughey

as Ron Woodruff in Dallas Buyer Club

Both actors shed dramatic amounts of weight to portray their respective characters diagnosed with HIV and you could really see the physical transformation of Matthew McConnaughey, especially when he looks most vulnerable in his hospital gown.

Outfit worn by Jared Leto as Rayon in Dallas Buyers Club

Jared Leto was truly phenomenal in his role as the transgender woman 'Rayon' in backwater Texas and I thought he played it with dignity and realism. Not only did the Oscar-winning makeup help transform the male actor, but the wardrobe by Kurt and Burt also helped create the look of the sympathetic drug addict.

These costumes were photographed on display at the NBC Universal Experience exhibit at Universal Studios Hollywood on April 15, 2014.

If you're a fan of the movie, be sure to check out these other original Dallas Buyers Club movie costumes on display at ArcLight Hollywood cinema when the movie was released in theaters last year.

Dallas Buyers Club movie poster

Buy the movie: Dallas Buyers Club (Blu-ray + DVD + Digital HD with UltraViolet)

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

Buy the movie soundtrack: The Grand Budapest Hotel (Original Soundtrack)

Buy the screenplay: The Grand Budapest Hotel: The Illustrated Screenplay