The Frame

"The Daily Show" host (far right) talks about his film directing debut, "Rosewater"; how is the LGBT community faring in depictions on television?; Jake Gyllenhaal tells us about the first time he realized he wanted to act; and singer Perla Batalla recalls her family-run record store that is gone, but not forgotten.

Hilary Swank talks about her unglamorous role in “The Homesman" (pictured); Mexico's most acclaimed filmmakers criticize the handling of a student massacre in their homeland; the grandson of General George S. Patton on how filmmaking can help veterans deal with PTSD; and Amazon unveils its next slate of TV shows.

The director on why "Interstellar" is his "most aggressive" attempt at a family blockbuster; how a high school teacher works the arts into the classroom; the butler from “The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air” becomes King Lear; Jon Stewart tells us about the first time he bombed as a stand-up comic.

The Los Angeles County Museum of Art gets a collection (including a Monet, pictured) valued at $500 million; Herbie Hancock talks about the Thelonious Monk Jazz Competition in L.A.; James Marsh's 'Theory' tells the Stephen Hawking story; and the AARP puts on its second film festival in L.A. (Did you know the "R" no longer stands for "retired"?)

The director of "Interstellar" (seen with Matthew McConaughey) is a rare creature in Hollywood; Pink Floyd revives songs that are 20 years old; Tyler the Creator transitions from rapper to carnival barker; and the AFI Fest opens in Los Angeles.

Why the biggest pop star broke up with the world's biggest streaming service; election day ends a great comedy campaign season; and two young L.A. musicians give opera a modern-day makeover.

The “Nightcrawler” writer-director (leaning on car door) explains how he cast L.A. as a character in his movie; a new stage production examines the legacy of the Black Panthers; and art writer Jori Finkel has the latest news about architect Frank Gehry and collector Eli Broad.

Our guide to Dia de los Muertos, the Mexican commemoration of All Souls’ Day, which is a popular tradition in Mexican-American communities; the Comikaze pop culture convention is in LA this weekend.

Choking, torture and waterboarding — are extreme haunts going too far?; a postcard from San Francisco's idyllic music festival; and why hasn’t there been a Wonder Woman movie?

Jake Gyllenhaal goes deeper, and darker, in his new movie; Song Exploder dissects Julia Holter's "Horns Surrounding Me"; and actors between gigs scare up some cash by working in haunted houses.

Director Patricia Riggen and cinematographer Checco Varese — her husband — were partners above and below ground on the mining disaster film, "The 33"; Boston Globe reporter Mike Rezendes is played by Mark Ruffalo in "Spotlight"; Song Exploder dissects a song by Dan Auerbach's side project, The Arcs.

One year out from the 2016 Presidential election, we hear from Beau Willimon, an executive producer of "House of Cards," and Jay Roach, director of an HBO film about Lyndon Johnson.

Ewan McGregor and filmmaker Rodrigo Garcia share stories of making their movie about Jesus wandering the desert; Leon Bridges' quick rise to soul stardom; Do box office results impact Oscar voting?

Michael Keaton leads the cast in "Spotlight," about the Boston archdiocese cover-up of sexual abuse cases; NBC and "Saturday Night Live" have resisted calls to remove Donald Trump as host of the show; Performance artist and composer Laurie Anderson examines love and loss in the documentary, "Heart of a Dog."

Director Catherine Hardwicke's new movie is written by and about women. As an advocate for women in Hollywood she practices what she preaches; Flailing TV shows remain on the air in this new era; Two Chicago institutions bring dance and sketch comedy together.

The actor says the experience of Dalton Trumbo and other blacklist victims still resonates today; Quentin Tarantino is facing a boycott of his films because of comments he made at a protest against police brutality; the German classic film, "M," was remade for American audiences but never released.

Disney is delaying publication of a companion book to "The Force Awakens" in hopes of keeping the story line under wraps; Jason Segel's performance as David Foster Wallace is another example of a cult figure on the big screen; Women wrote just 22 percent of the plays produced last year in the U.S.

The Irish actress plays a young immigrant in a story that mirrors what her own parents experienced; Kyle Buchanan of Vulture.com assembled a list of women directors who Hollywood studios should be hiring; "Songs from Suicide Bridge" is another excavation project from Light In the Attic records.

The Walking Dead's Greg Nicotero's zombie lesson; LACMA brings rain to a drought-riddled city with The Rain Room; 'Saw' composer and former Nine Inch Nails keyboardist Charlie Clouser on how to score a scary movie.

LA-based opera company “The Industry” has created an experimental opera that takes place in 24 cars around the city. Starz CEO Chris Albrecht wants his channel to reach a diverse audience. LA taco place partners with bands.

Ilene Chaiken runs "Empire" while co-creator Lee Daniels develops his next show for Fox, "Star"; the SxSW Interactive Conference is getting heat for canceling sessions about sexism in the gaming industry; the Hammer Museum will benefit from UCLA's purchase of the Occidental Petroleum building.

The duo's production company, Smokehouse, has examined politics in the TV series, "K Street," and the films “The Ides of March" and "Good Night and Good Luck." Their latest is "Our Brand is Crisis."