“Hollywood Dream Machines: Vehicles of Science Fiction and Fantasy” - Opening Panel Discussion

The Petersen Automotive Museum has opened a new exhibit located in the Mullin Family Grand Salon on the first floor, set to run through March 15, 2020, titled “Hollywood Dream Machines: Vehicles of Science Fiction and Fantasy.” This exhibit (over 50 vehicles from 30 production and studio resources, included with The Petersen's own ample collection) is the largest museum exhibition of sci-fi vehicles in the world, and is highlighted by automobiles, costumes, props, and original blueprints from classic and modern-day film series and video games such as "Back to the Future," “Transformers,” “Iron Man,” “Mad Max,” “Halo,” "Knight Rider" - KITT, "Man From U.N.C.L.E." - AMT Piranha, and much more.

The media-only preview on May 4th, 2019 commenced with a panel discussion featuring some of the most celebrated film producers, movie car designers, and coordinators of the past 30+ decades who covered some of the backstories of some of film’s most iconic vehicles, discuss how Hollywood’s “cars of the future” are created, and what they think could be next.

The panel discussion was moderated by film critic, writer, producer Scott Mantz who introduced himself as not just a film and car geek ... but with the added level of also being a huge Si-Fi fan as well, so he was over the moon to be included with this group of folks to interview/moderate.

The panelists included:

** George Hull (Film Designer for “Blade Runner 2049,” “Star Wars: The Last Jedi,” “Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2,” etc.)

** Josh Hancock (Picture Car Coordinator, President of Joshcar Inc., etc.)

** Harald Belker (Automotive Designer for “Total Recall,” “Batman and Robin,” “Minority Report,” “Iron Man,” “Tron,” etc.)

** Dennis McCarthy (Motion Picture Car Coordinator for “Black Panther”, “Captain Marvel”, “Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice,” etc.)

** Mike Scheffe ("Knight Rider" - KITT, "Back to the Future," "Starship Troopers," "Spider-Man," instructor at At Center School of Design, etc.)

** Bob Gale (Co-creator, co-writer and co-producer of “Back to the Future” and its sequels)

If the opening and display is an indicator as to the success of this unique presentation and collection of extremely rare and artistic examples of imagination coming to life, it is possible that this exhibit may get an extension from its planned March 15, 2020 closing date.

... notes from The EDJE