The Frame

What the early Academy Award predictions are telling us about diversity — or the lack thereof — among this year’s potential nominees; the documentary "This Ain't No Mouse Music," about Bay Area recording legend Chris Strachwitz, gives new insight into what drove his musical journey.

“The Simpsons” launched its 26th season Sunday. Vulture.com editor Jesse David Fox joins us to discuss how they chose the 100 Best Simpsons episodes; “The Equalizer” won the box office this weekend, but we also take a look at how some smaller, independent films are doing.

The FAA just approved use of drones for feature films. We talk with the owner of a company that stands to benefit; an Asian-American theater company explores how cultural bias can warp a family’s ability to discuss mental illness; Antoine Fuqua first directed Denzel Washington in "Training Day." Now they're together again for "The Equalizer."

Soloway talks about how Lena Dunham and Louis CK changed the way she writes; pianist and composer Cathlene Pineda discusses her commission for the Angel City Jazz Festival; and Viola Davis on why her casting for "How To Get Away With Murder" is groundbreaking

Kenya Barris, creator of the new ABC series "black-ish," says they had written an episode about spanking before the Adrian Peterson story broke. His challenge: Getting the network to buy in to the controversial topic; Artist Ai Weiwei debuts a new installation at Alcatraz that touches on themes such as freedom and human rights.

The actress founded an institute on gender in media that reports women don't get enough speaking roles in Hollywood; art and science intersect at the AxS Festival; New York's Metropolitan Opera opens its season amid protests, and more.

Colin Farrell will star in the next season of HBO's "True Detective"; Matt Atchity of Rotten Tomatoes chats about this weekend's box office winners and losers, including "The Maze Runner" (pictured). Plus, Jon Stewart discusses his first time on a comedy stage, Fox debuts “Gotham," and more.

How Scott Frank convinced Liam Neeson to star in yet another hostage movie; “Last Days in Vietnam” portrays the U.S. exit from Saigon; and a look at the legendary jazz musician at the heart of “Keep On Keepin’ On.”

The Toronto International Film Festival has a late-night series that brings out devoted horror fans; a group of artists and activists put a spotlight on LA's waterway; the indie band Allah-Las returns to its roots at Amoeba Records; and film director Ned Benson talks about his accidental trilogy, "The Disappearance of Eleanor Rigby."

In our latest episode, we get a preview of one of the largest and most vital film festivals on the circuit; we sit under a 340-ton boulder to interview Doug Pray about the subject of his documentary, "Levitated Mass: The Story of Michael Heizer's Monolithic Sculpture"; and we chat with Teller (yes, of Penn & Teller) and Aaron Posner — co-directors of a novel staging of "The Tempest" at South Coast Repertory.

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.