The Frame

A new report by the Ralph J. Bunche Center for African American Studies at UCLA says movies and TV shows with diverse casts (such as "Empire," pictured) make good financial sense; Song Exploder breaks down the theme song for "House of Cards"; a new stage production at CalTech takes "Alice Through the Wormhole."

How did Amy Poehler's sitcom (pictured) survive seven seasons of average ratings?; Sam Beam, aka Iron & Wine, returns to his musical roots with "Archive Series Volume Number One"; Wes Anderson's Oscar-winning film is the subject of a new book; the L.A. Philharmonic stages a multimedia production of "Alice in Wonderland."

Sam Beam -- better known by his stage name Iron and Wine -- started writing stripped down folk songs more than a decade ago in his bedroom in Miami, Florida. After experimenting with Jazz, R&B and Pop, he returns to his quiet folk music roots with “Archive Series Volume No. 1.” Iron and Wine performs a live-set of songs new and old for The Frame. Set List: "Everyone’s Summer of ’95” “Two Hungry Blackbirds” “Low Light Buddy of Mine” Our interview with Beam and more here: http://www.scpr.org/programs/the-frame/2015/02/20/41644/iron-wine-performs-songs-from-archive-series-volum/ Video produced by Zach Stamey, James Kim and Maya Sugarman.

A special edition of The Frame examines Hollywood's diversity challenge with screenwriter José Rivera, producer Effie Brown and Frank Leonard, CEO of the The Black List screenplay project.

Many of the winners of the 87th Academy Awards joined us on The Frame to talk about their work. Hear from Alejandro Gonzalez Iñárritu, Best Adapted Screenplay winner Graham Moore (pictured), Best Actress Julianne Moore and ... more!

“Comedy Bang Bang” host Scott Aukerman (far right, with sidekick Reggie Watts) loves and laughs at late-night talk shows; How the "Interstellar" sound editor created the sound of gravity; The indie film crowd gets raucous at the Independent Spirit Awards; How "Hero" by Family of the Year became the unofficial theme song of “Boyhood."

Photographer Sandro Miller talks about how he recreated some of the world’s most famous portraits with actor John Malkovich (pictured) as his muse; Kate Burton and Jason Robards talk about being second-generation actors; The sound designer from "Birdman" breaks down a scene from the film.

Lin-Manuel Miranda and Thomas Kail have another stage hit with their hip-hop musical, "Hamilton" (pictured); How the sound editors for "Unbroken" created a pivotal scene for the movie; Thomas Lennon plays Felix Unger in CBS' remake of "The Odd Couple."

Jason Blum made his name producing successful, low-budget horror films, but he could get an Oscar as part of the producing team for "Boyhood" (pictured); the Sundance Institute pairs composers and filmmakers at Skywalker Ranch; Simon Rich's "Man Seeking Woman" is one of the most bizarre sitcoms on TV.

Our interviews with the best actors, best directors and more ahead of the Academy Awards. Hear from Wes Anderson, Alejandro Iñárritu (far right, with Michael Keaton), Richard Linklater, Benedict Cumberbatch, Julianne Moore, Eddie Redmayne, Reese Witherspoon and more.

The director says his biopic is a father-daughter story that reflects on screenwriter Aaron Sorkin as well as Boyle. He says it's important to tell stories about men like Jobs who now have more power than governments and who are humanized by the women in their lives.

"Spotlight" centers around the true story of how the Boston Globe uncovered the massive scandal of child molestation within that city's Catholic archdiocese. The Frame's John Horn spoke with the people behind the film about keeping true to the real story, which Keaton and McCarthy have personal connections to.

The actress talks with John Horn about the British suffragette movement as depicted in her new film, the courage of Pakistani activist Malala, and women in Hollywood.

Rooney Mara is 30 and has only been in a handful of films, but she's worked with some top directors, including Spike Jonze, Steven Soderbergh and now Todd Haynes for "Carol." Mara talks about how she never was good at anything until she found acting, how her moods affect what roles she chooses, and why getting a tribute at a young age is still a shock.

The filmmaker's film, set in the 1950s, stars Cate Blanchett and Rooney Mara and is based on the Patricia Highsmith novel. Haynes talks about why he makes movies about women, how the gay rights movements impacted his creativity, and how he left his hometown of L.A. to come into his own as a filmmaker.

The 42nd edition of the Telluride Film Festival begins today and John Horn and The Frame are there. We'll be talking with many of the filmmakers and stars and updating the feed a few times a day with our interviews with director Danny Boyle, actor Rooney Mara, screenwriter Charlie Kaufman and others.

David Newman performed on the score to "E.T." and now he's conducting the music with the L.A. Philharmonic; Telluride festival is a showcase for Oscar hopefuls; Should drug-fueled electronic dance festivals be allowed on county property?

Writer Jonathan Ames turns the erudite actor Patrick Stewart into a rambunctious TV news anchor in "Blunt Talk"; Emails from the hack of Sony Pictures reveal the studio's concern over alienating the NFL with its film, "Concussion"; Kera and the Lesbians calls its sound "bi-polar folk."

The duo Black Violin mixes strings with hip hop beats and challenges stereotypes; Could Apple get into the film and TV game?; Diane Coffee (aka Shaun Fleming) is the drummer for Foxygen, but finds his own voice on a side project.

Lake Bell talks about balancing personal and professional life in Hollywood; Emergency room physicians say electronic music festivals should not be held on county-owned property; Gigmor is a new website for musicians seeking kindred spirits.

Chiwetel Ejiofor plays a scientist in “Z for Zachariah,” an apocalypse movie unlike any you’ve seen; Jenny Yang and Keiko Agena created a comedy festival as a showcase for Asian-American performers; actors really get tipsy on "Drunk History," which is exactly what creator Derek Waters wants.

Jeffrey Tambor and the "Transparent" cast and crew are shooting the second season of the hit show, which has garnered 11 Emmy nominations; a scene in the postponed season finale of "Mr. Robot" rekindles the debate over gun violence on television.