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.

So many questions: why is Leonardo DiCaprio nominated for lead actor and Brad Pitt for supporting actor for “Once Upon a Time in Hollywood”?; why wasn't Robert DeNiro nominated for "The Irishman"?; why is Tom Hanks a supporting actor for “A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood”?; and how rare are Scarlett Johansson's nominations for both lead (“Marriage Story”) and supporting actress ("Jojo Rabbit")?

The actress had a breakout year, with roles in “Motherless Brooklyn,” “The Morning Show” and the well-reviewed but barely seen “Fast Color”; Clint Eastwood's "Richard Jewell" is being blasted over its depiction of a female journalist; “Joe Pera Talks With You” and we talk with him.

The museum marks its centennial with an exhibit of objects that were either acquired, published or exhibited in the year it was founded; are The Golden Globes legit or not?; “La Bohème aka The Hipsters” gets an ironic revival.

Mark Duplass on playing supporting roles in two projects tackling #metoo stories; Gugu Mbatha-Raw makes the case for seeing her buried movie "Fast Color"; the debate around black criticism of "Queen & Slim," a Netflix documentary exposes the toxic story of yoga guru Bikram Choudhury...

The 19-year-old filmmaker shot the movie while he was still in high school, and it won him awards at the Tribeca Film Festival; the U.S. Justice Dept. may allow studios to once again own movie theaters; the comedians who warm up TV studio audiences.

Bikram Choudhury made hot yoga an international phenomenon, but he allegedly assaulted a number of female students along the way, as told in a new documentary; should films by black artists be immune from criticism by black writers?; Beverly Hills High School had a pivotal role in "It's a Wonderful Life."

The influential event in Park City, Utah has built its reputation on films that advance racial diversity and gender parity; #PayUpHollywood takes the next step; the Sunset Studios in Hollywood mark their 100th anniversary.

The actor, writer, producer and director talks about his current roles for both TV and film; the Thanksgiving weekend box office kicked off the holiday season; the rapper JPEGMAFIA takes us inside his creative process.

Eddie Redmayne and Felicity Jones last acted together in “The Theory of Everything.” Now they’re back together for a film in which they play 19th Century balloonists; two companies behind the vinyl record renaissance.

The Frame is five years old! We revisit memorable interviews, strange locations, some laughs and a few good cries. Meryl Streep, Jordan Peele, Tom Hanks, Lizzo, Guillermo del Toro, Emma Thompson, Ava DuVernay, Zach Galifiankis, Karyn Kusama, Mark Bradford, Jon Robin Baitz and more...

Actor Adam Driver and writer/director Noah Baumbach reunite for the fourth time for "Marriage Story"; composer Gabriela Ortiz's latest commission for the L.A. Philharmonic.

Writer Lena Waithe and director Melina Matsoukas talk about how the traumatic deaths of unarmed black people by police officers shaped their movie's narrative; five years after the Sony hack, what's changed in Hollywood?