The world of cinema was introduced to us in the late 1800’s with the creation of motion toys designed to trick the eye into seeing an illusion of motion. The first actual motion picture was created by Edward Muybridge, he made this possible by placing twelve cameras on a racetrack and rigging the cameras to capture shots in quick sequences. Around 1885 two brothers Auguste and Louis Lumiere created a hand-cranked machine called the cinematographe. This machine was able to capture pictures and project still frames in quick succession. By the 1900’s film began advancing into backdrops, editing, and visual flow encouraging filmmakers to be more creative, using their creativity to make more realistic and relatable story lines. In the film industry, today creativity is what carries films to the next level and what makes the film feel realistic. The film industry has evolved over the years as well as the story lines. Although story lines have modernized I still feel that past story lines still relate to society today. The film I decided to write about was West Side Story. I chose West Side Story because of the effect the movie had on my mother. I never knew how much the film impacted her and how she was able to relate to it. I recall her telling me that the film was very true to the reality of how things were in the 1960's. The 1960s was the beginning of integration and the ending of segregation. It was the start of the integrating of races yet it was rare to see interracial couples. West Side Story was launched during a time were society was still in the process of adjusting to racial equality. It was a movie on interracial love and how society was not giving their approval. The film was a spin on at that time a modern day Romeo and Juliet. A forbidden love story between two different races. The love story in this movie was captured by a Latin gang called the Sharks and an Italian gang called the Jets. Italians and Puerto Ricans weren't allowed to associate nevertheless fall in love. My mother commented to me “ Don’t think because it was a movie it wasn’t really like that! It was just like that, Italians despised Puerto Ricans. I grew up in the Lower East Side and we always saw Puerto Rican gangs and Italian gangs rumbling in the park, or on Avenue D over territory, girlfriends or just because you were a Rican.” It surprised me to know how true this film was to her experiences while growing up. “ Rita Moreno became the voice for Puertorriquenos when this film was released in theaters”, she said. In class we watch a documentary on The Great James Baldwin, James Baldwin was a revolutionary, author and critic. In his film “Not your Negro” Baldwin, states “I’m terrified at the moral apathy -the death of the heart- which is happening in my country.” In my opinion, this quote resonates to the film. Where was the morality to the people who felt they had the entitlement to get in between two people in love? Was the difference in race such a defining factor? It’s unfortunate to say that in the film yes it was, the same way it was in the 1960’s and believe or not it still exists in some cultures in today's society. Rita Moreno was one of the first Latinas to be cast for a film during the 1960's alongside the beautiful Natalie Wood. The film was given a production budget of six-million dollars which was a huge amount at the time. The filmed released in the theaters under United Artist in October of 1961 grossing close to twenty-million dollars making it the second highest grossing film of the year. It was nominated for eleven academy awards winning ten including best picture. West Side Story has been a staple to reflect back to in the film industry. The impact Rita Moreno made with the release of this movie resulted in the success of her career. It did not only open doors for her but every other aspiring Latina who wanted to be part of the film industry. She suffered getting roles outside from the typical Latina roles because that is all directors and producers saw in her. She has had a huge following over the last four decades from baby boomers to millennials. Moreno's fandoms have stayed loyal to her over the years. She has continued to be an inspiration to actors and actresses. During the release of the film in the 1960's fans dressed like The Jets and The Sharks to go watch the movie. Fans dressing as the Jets and Sharks are what we know today as Fandoms. Fandoms are people who create fan clubs in honor of their favorite films, actors, and performers. Fandoms today follow this trend with movies like Sex and The City where women dressed up like Carrie to go watch the film. The new release of the movie Black Panther were fans dressed as the superhero, carried drums and cooked food to relate and feel as part of the impact and history the film is about to make. Close to forty years later you can catch West Side Story playing on Broadway and in cities across the country. As far as Ms. Rita Moreno she is still making waves and leaving her mark within the entertainment industry. She recently wore the same dress to the 2018 Oscars she wore to the Oscars in 1961 where she won the best actress award for her role in West Side Story. If that isn't a generational impact then we will never know what one really is.