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.

Writer Lena Waithe and director Melina Matsoukas talk about their provocative film about a tragic incident involving a black couple and a white policeman; five years later, what has Hollywood learned from the Sony hack?

L.A.'s Marachi Arcoiris bills itself as the first LGBTQ group that plays traditional Mexican music; what should we make of the Golden Globes?; the Huntington Museum turns 100 with a centennial exhibition.

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," is on the shortlist for best international feature film at the Academy Awards.

Greta Gerwig shares her passion for "Little Women"; one TV journalist surveys how Jewish women are portrayed on TV; Jonathan Pryce dons the robes of Pope Francis for "The Two Popes"; a photographer turns objects confiscated from detainees at the border into art; The Black List turns 15; the ambitious filming of "1917".

The actress not only stars in the movie about the downfall of Roger Ailes at Fox News, she is also credited as a producer; assistants in Hollywood want better pay and treatment; "Not at the Dinner Table" is a release valve for uncomfortable holiday gatherings.

Director Sam Mendes and cinematographer Roger Deakins collaborated to film the movie in a single, continuous shot; will "Cats" snuggle up to moviegoers?; songwriter Kathryn Bostic is on the shortlist of nominees for the Academy Awards best original song.

Jonathan Pryce talks about playing the reluctant Pope Francis and screenwriter Anthony McCarten talks about mixing fact and fiction; top screenplays in The Black List.

The director willed her way onto the project to tell the 1868 Louisa May Alcott story in a new way; a photographer turns items confiscated at the U.S.-Mexico border into subjects for an exhibition.

Abby McEnany stars in and co-created the series, which tells the tragi-comic story of a gender non-conforming woman struggling with her lot in life. She and executive producer Lilly Wachowski talk about the series; Kyle Buchanan, who writes The Carpetbagger blog for The New York Times, on awards season in Hollywood.

Charlize Theron produces and stars in "Bombshell"; Lilly Wachowski and Abby McEnany find comedy and connection on their series "Work In Progress"; Matthew Bourne brings "Swan Lake" back to LA; Jad Abumrad argues that Dolly Parton is the great unifier in our fractured country with his new podcast.

The podcast from Radiolab host Jad Abumrad explores the amazing career of "The Backwoods Barbie"; Netflix is accused of breaching awards etiquette and journalism ethics in its courting of Critics Choice Association members; the Australian band Good Morning has a surprising following in the U.S.

Choreographer Matthew Bourne, who shocked the dance world with his staging of the classic ballet, brings the production back to L.A.; why are insurance companies willing to offer policies that protect behavior of figures like Harvey Weinstein?; the podcast, “Prince the Story of 1999,” takes us inside the making of the landmark album.