Let me start by saying that I watched Mickey17 a total of three times while it was in theatres and would’ve gone back for fourths if it were still available in IMAX. So you can imagine how excited I was to discover that the Academy Museum was dedicating an entire exhibit—Bong Joon Ho: Director’s Inspiration—to the auteur behind Parasite, Memories of Murder, The Host, Mother, Okja and more.

And it does not disappoint! (I was a little bummed that Mickey17 wasn’t featured, but the exhibition was finalized long before its release.)

The three-room exhibit features storyboards, props, concept art, creature models and personal pieces from the Academy Award—winning director’s office and archive, including the drafting desk where he designs highly detailed storyboard scrolls for all of his films.

I’ve been a poster collector since middle school, so it’s no surprise that one of my favorite parts of the exhibit was the wall of vintage movie posters featuring Director Bong’s influences. I covet all of them, but the French Vengeance Is Mine is so sick that I went home to see if I could buy a copy of my own, and alas, I couldn’t find it for sale anywhere. Sob. I also made a Letterboxd list of the films if you’re interested in the selections.

Continuing with the inspiration theme, here’s a stack of Bong’s meticulously labeled VHS tapes of his favorite films, along with a notebook listing all of them in alphabetical order. 

This is the moment when I start thinking we could be good friends because I, a mega nerd, have similar notebooks in my stash, er, archive.

(Clapper from Parasite)

If you’re a fan of Parasite, you’ll come away with some really cool insights into how the film was made—and probably even more respect for just how detail-obsessed Bong is. Another major highlight for me was the massive wall of storyboards he drew by hand. They’re incredibly detailed and feel like a graphic novel version of the film. (Fun fact: He actually released a book of them in graphic novel form, which you can buy here.)

Right next to the storyboard wall is a full-on architectural rendering of the house, which completely blew my mind. The set was designed down to the last inch to support the way the characters move, where the camera goes and how the light hits certain walls. It’s wild to see how much thought went into building something that feels so natural on screen.

And in case you’re wondering why there are so many storyboards, it all comes down to Bong’s directorial style, which is a bit of a departure from the norm. 

He shoots to storyboards instead of using the more traditional method of filming a master shot and then getting coverage of all the actors from various angles. It’s a technique that might sound rigid or overly controlled at first, but when you compare the storyboards to the final shots, they’re not exact matches. He uses them more as a loose guide than a frame-by-frame plan. There’s still room for spontaneity and creative decisions on set. 

Pictured above is a storyboard from his directorial debut, Barking Dogs Never Bite, which is streaming for free on Tubi. It’s a quirky black comedy about an unemployed academic who’s driven nuts by a neighbor’s constantly barking dog. 

In a moment of total frustration, he tries to get rid of it, which kicks off a chain of dark and oddly funny events (Bong Joon Ho’s specialty). 

I watched it for the first time last night, and it has hints of the filmmaker he will become, like Nolan’s Following. It’s always so cool to trace that evolution.

Next to the storyboard wall is the director’s drafting desk, which also made an appearance in Snowpiercer. Above it, a video plays showing the storyboards side by side with the final scenes, so you can literally watch his vision come to life.

This is one of my favorite exhibits of all time because I’m always fascinated by the creative process of great directors. Getting a glimpse into what makes them tick only deepens my appreciation for their work.

Bong Joon Ho: Director’s Inspiration runs through January 2026, so if you’re in the LA area, you have plenty of time to check it out.