The Frame

Young Jean Lee's play, "Straight White Men," is an examination of privilege that provokes and challenges audiences; movie theater owners are getting creative about selling "Star Wars" merchandise and concessions; Lorely Rodriguez, aka Empress Of, is getting raves for her debut album.

Spike Lee's latest provocation likens the level of gun violence in Chicago to a war zone; Rooney Mara's performance in "Carol" adds to her already impressive list of credits; the beloved "Charlie Brown" holiday special, now in its 50th year, wasn't originally embraced by network executives.

Eddie Redmayne, last year’s best actor Oscar winner for “The Theory of Everything,” talks about portraying a trans-woman in “The Danish Girl”; Latin Grammy-winner Natalia Lafourcade deconstructs her song, “Hasta La Raíz”; This year's Independent Spirit Award winners will likely differ a lot from the Oscars.

As producer of the "Hunger Games" movies and a former studio executive, Nina Jacobson has a platform to demand gender equality in Hollywood; Pixar president Ed Catmull has helped build the studio into the empire it is today.

Ryan Coogler grew up watching the "Rocky" movies, and now he's director and co-writer of the spin-off, "Creed"; How "Toy Story" saved a struggling special effects firm called Pixar; "The Hunting Ground" inspires the question: can journalism and advocacy co-exist in documentaries?

Todd Haynes has directed several films with women as protagonists and his latest is “Carol,” which stars Cate Blanchett and Rooney Mara; MADtv debuted 20 years ago and managed to stay on the air for 14 seasons; a club owner considers L.A. nightlife after the Paris attacks.

Series creator Kurt Sutter is disappointed but not bitter about the cancellation of "The Bastard Executioner"; it's been 20 years since MADtv set out to be the west coast version of "Saturday Night Live"; "The Hunting Ground" examines sexual assaults on college campuses.

Writer-producer John McNamara and director Jay Roach talk about the struggle to make "Trumbo," about the 1940s Hollywood blacklist victim; Nancy Tartaglione, international editor for Deadline.com, on the importance of cinema in France; Rashard Bradshaw, aka Cakes da Killa, is a loud and proud gay rapper.

The Marvel comics character Jessica Jones has a dark backstory, which is what inspired producer Melissa Rosenberg to create a TV series about her; in the documentary "Song of Lahore," a group of Pakistani musicians use a jazz standard and You Tube to find a global audience; Pandora will enter the on-demand music streaming business.

After taping an episode in Cuba earlier this year, Conan O'Brien travels to Armenia with his assistant, who gets to visit her family's homeland; the terrorist attacks in Paris have caused two networks to postpone sensitive episodes, and several bands have canceled European dates.

The director and co-writer talks about making a movie that's more than just racing scenes; the Congressional Hispanic Caucus meets with Hollywood execs about representation; veterans turn to ancient Greek dramas to tell their own stories.

Mark Ruffalo wants to make movies that make a difference and make Marvel films too; "Honey Boy" director Alma Har'el on how she and Shia LaBeouf bonded; Nell Scovell confronts David Letterman; How "Moonface" was made; Writer Nell Scovell confronts her old boss, David Letterman.

After her longtime stint in Sonic Youth, followed by a two-person band called Body/Head, the singer and bassist has her first solo album, "No Home Record"; writer Nell Scovell mends fences (sort of) with David Letterman; Mati Diop's Senegalese film, "Atlantics."

The author's latest deep dive into pop culture is about his love for cinema; why did the Marciano Art Foundation suddenly shut its doors?; "The Red Thread" magic show.

The director wrote the script based on conversations with friends about marriage and divorce; Adam Driver talks about "Marriage Story," his fourth collaboration with Baumbach; Mexican composer Gabriela Ortiz on her ongoing relationship with the L.A. Philharmonic.

Alma Har'el talks about making her narrative feature directing debut in the film that stars Shia LaBeouf in his first feature-length screenplay; an oral history of "Blade Runner."

The former first lady of the Philippines gave access to filmmaker Lauren Greenfield for a new documentary; why are same-sex love scenes being edited out of films on Delta Airlines?; the new podcast "Moonface" examines homosexuality and cultural barriers.

Ed Norton brings "Motherless Brooklyn" to theaters 20 years after he first had the idea; star Cynthia Erivo and director Kasi Lemons tell the story of telling the story of Harriet Tubman on screen; Should arts orgs partner with Saudi Arabia?; Josh Homme of Queens of the Ston

On his new double album, the mixmaster works with other prominent hip hop artists, but he also composed instrumentals for an orchestra; why isn't Martin Scorsese's "The Irishman" in more theaters?

Over more than a half-century, George Rodriguez has taken countless photos of celebrities, but also of social movements such as farmworker strikes and student protests; after a high-profile departure, what's next for the "Star Wars" franchise?; singer San Cha

Director Kasi Lemmons and actress Cynthia Erivo talk about bringing Harriet Tubman's story to the big screen; HBO's new streaming service will launch with a vast library; singer, songwriter and producer Ayoni.

Series producer Caroline Dries talks about the responsibility of telling an LGBTQ+ story through the show's heroine; what's at stake for the first batch of shows from Apple Plus?; Josh Homme returns to the desert.