The Frame

Neil Patrick Harris has become the go-to host for award shows, and now NBC will build a variety show around him; after a five-year closure for renovations, the Picasso Museum once again opens its doors.

"Ouija" won the weekend box office, but are game-based films guaranteed to be hits?; a film archivist unearths early works by some horror masters; and who are Hollywood’s MVS — Most Valuable Stars?

The chief make-up artist of 'The Walking Dead' on how to get zombie-fied for Halloween; Yarn-bombing is the new public art; Geeking out on this week in pop culture.

Benjamin Millepied's dance troupe hits the stage this weekend; soul singer Alice Russell on touring as a new mom; and ‘Freestyle Love Supreme’ mixes hip hop and improv in a new TV show.

Effie Brown talks about being a black producer in Hollywood; lovers of literature take over North Hollywood's arts district; “Laggies" director Lynn Shelton on unconventional movie relationships.

The Met debuts the controversial opera "The Death of Klinghoffer"; Del Casher's lasting mark on the sound of rock 'n' roll; and a photographer turns a van into a rolling camera.

A new study concludes that the people who rate films for the MPAA are becoming desensitized to violence; "Fury" rolls over the weekend box office; and a "Mad Men" actor goes back in time again.

How filmmaker Jorge Gutierrez (far right) got Guillermo del Toro to produce his feature debut, "The Book of Life"; a look at Brad Pitt's WWII drama, "Fury," and other new films out today; and musician Marissa Lauren talks about opening for Lena Dunham.

Director Alejandro Gonzalez Iñárritu flies high with “Birdman"; undocumented students tell their own stories on stage in “Dreaming Sin Fronteras"; and playwright Dael Orlandersmith confronts family matters in “Forever.”

HBO will launch a streaming service, but Warner Bros. studios must cut $200 million in overhead; What makes a hit song? Ask the "Song Exploder"; and California tries cultural diplomacy in China.

Apple is expected to introduce its music streaming service next week, but can the company make gains against Spotify?; L.A. Philharmonic music director Gustavo Dudamel (pictured) reflects on his six seasons on the podium and his long-term future here; Pete Townsend has recorded a new version of his rock opera, "Quadrophenia," with actual opera singers.

Writer-director Paul Feig gets to fulfill his Bond movie fantasy with "Spy"; the bistro at Whole Foods in Pasadena hosts a monthly comedy night (pictured); "San Andreas" director Brad Peyton takes us into his edit suite to show how he assembled one key sequence for the disaster film.

Cameron Crowe's new movie, "Aloha," is being savaged by critics; a visit with legendary L.A. artist Ed Moses (pictured) at his Venice compound; the arts organization Clockshop is making good use of a parcel of land on the banks of the Los Angeles River.

Terry Teachout turned his biography of Louis Armstrong into a play, "Satchmo at the Waldorf" (pictured); a tour of the inventory for special effects and makeup master Rick Baker's auction of his monstrous creations; Film LA reports an increase in movie production in California in 2013 — even before the new tax incentives kicked in.

U2 begins a string of five shows at The Forum on its Innocence + Experience Tour; a new work by Philip Glass is being premiered by the L.A. Philharmonic; Special effects and makeup master Rick Baker (far right) is auctioning a career's worth of monstrous creations.

The Cannes Film Festival wrapped up in typical fashion with an unexpected grand prize winner alongside the requisite victim of critics' ire; in our "Song Exploder" segment, a breakdown of the "Downton Abbey" theme music; playwright Paul Oakley Stovall tackles racism and homophobia among African-Americans in "Immediate Family" (pictured).

Four filmmakers talk about possible solutions for an industry that's been criticized for "widespread exclusion" of women directors; the movie "Tomorrowland" continues the futuristic vision promoted by Walt Disney (pictured at left); Memorial Day is no longer the beginning of summer for the movie business.

Four successful women filmmakers share their stories about an industry that's been criticized for "widespread exclusion" of women directors (pictured: Catherine Hardwicke); classical guitarist Angel Romero performs "Concierto de Aranjuez" with the L.A. Philharmonic; the Rolling Stones rolled into L.A. for a semi-secret show. Were you there?

Memorable moments with David Letterman from comedian Paul Morrissey, Louie Pérez of Los Lobos, and former assistant Cassie St. Onge; comc book writer G. Willow Wilson famously created Ms. Marvel — a female superhero who, like Wilson, is an American Muslim.

"Mad Max: Fury Road" production designer Colin Gibson (pictured) was responsible for the film's insanely tricked-out cars, trucks and motorcycles; Hot Chip's new album goes in a different direction for the indie-electro band; Deaf West Theatre moves its hit production of the musical "Spring Awakening" to a larger space.

A vocal group from "Pitch Perfect 2" (pictured) takes us inside the world of competitive singing; a week after Chris Burden died, his final work launches at the L.A. County Museum of Art; the Minnesota Orchestra plays a role in normalizing relations between the U.S. and Cuba; critics are effusive about the debut album by Shamir.

You know who’s really sad to see “Mad Men” end? The local businesses that supplied all that vintage clothing and furniture; musician Robert Cray and filmmaker Antoine Fuqua pay tribute to blues legend B.B. King (pictured); director Andrew Niccol’s new film, “Good Kill,” examines the difficult life of an Air Force drone pilot.