The Frame

Alison Bechdel says she thought the idea of having her graphic novel memoir turned into a musical was "insane"; composer John Adams says his landmark opera, "Nixon in China," is as timely as ever; NBC has invested $500 million in Snapchat with big plans for using the social media platform.

Bruna Papandrea has produced hit films such as "Wild" and "Gone Girl," and now she's part of the team behind HBO's "Big Little Lies"; Netflix has a new reality competition series that's being produced for six global markets simultaneously.

C-SPAN anchor Steve Scully (aka "the most patient man on television") talks with The Frame about C-SPAN's origin story, its mission and the role it fills in today's media landscape; Then, actress Jane Kaczmarek explains why she's spending her post "Malcolm In the Middle" years doing theater like Eugene O'Neill's "Long Day's Journey Into Night."

When Asghar Farhadi won the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film, he did not pick up his statue in person. But he was in L.A. last year following our election and he spoke with us about his movie, "The Salesman," and then-President elect Trump; R&B producer and musician Raphael Saadiq has branched out to scoring movies and TV shows.

Award-winning screenwriter Dustin Lance Black created the ABC miniseries, "When We Rise," to bring the history of the gay rights movement into America's living rooms in the hopes of bridging a divided nation and inspiring activism in a new generation; The Oscars are finally over. What must Hollywood do to become more inclusive?

On this year's Frame Oscar preview, get to know some nominees ahead of the big night. Among the guests are the writer/directors of "La La Land" and "Moonlight," actors Ruth Negga, Emma Stone, Dev Patel, and Andrew Garfield; Documentary filmmakers Ava Duvernay and Ezra Edelman; the screenwriters for "Hidden Figures" and "The Lobster," and songwriter Lin-Manuel Miranda. Plus, John Horn and his co-host in The Awards Show Show podcast, Kyle Buchanan, make predictions.

Comedian and art collector Cheech Marin walks the galleries of Frank Romero's retrospective with the artist himself; "Hacksaw Ridge" sound mixer Kevin O'Connell has 21 Oscar nominations but no win ... yet; political and topical ads are likely during the Academy Awards. Who's advertising and how are they hoping to benefit?

Melanie Lynskey felt a deep connection with her character in the Sundance hit, "I Don't Feel at Home in This World Anymore"; a federal judge issues an injunction against a law that prevented websites such as IMDb from publishing the birthdate of actors.

Jordan Peele (of "Key & Peele" fame) makes his film directing debut with the horror movie, “Get Out," which takes on racism in the creepiest fashion; John Horn debates how to improve the Academy Awards broadcast with his "Awards Show Show" podcast co-host, Kyle Buchanan, and TV mavens Alex Jung and Jen Chaney.

The Oscar-nominated movie "Lion" is based on the memoir of Saroo Brierly, whose unbelievable life story was turned into a two-hour film by screenwriter Luke Davies; an annual report on diversity in Hollywood makes a strong case that on-camera diversity is directly linked to box office and ratings success; the WGA honored the screenwriters of "Moonlight" and "Arrival."

Filmmaker Andrew Jarecki made a feature and now an HBO documentary series (pictured) about Robert Durst, an heir-turned-suspected murderer; the comedy trio Culture Clash revisits "Chavez Ravine," about a key moment in L.A. history; "Jupiter Ascending" and "Seventh Son" are big budget box office flops.

Beyoncé (pictured) is up for six Grammys, including album of the year. Who will win trophies and who should?; Pitchfork has established itself as the go-to music website for millennials; The zombie guru from "Walking Dead" tells all; "Jupiter Ascending" is earthbound, according to critics.

In the wake of the studio's embarrassing computer hack, the co-chair of Sony Pictures will become a producer; Dick Cavett plays himself in a stage play (pictured) that recounts a famous literary feud; "Wild Tales" director Damián Szifrón's film is Argentina's entry in the Academy Awards foreign language film category.

Was Jay-Z wise to plunk down $56 million for the Aspiro music streaming company? The Decemberists (pictured) return with their seventh studio album; Frank Gehry's home was the inspiration for music commissioned by the L.A. Chamber Orchestra; Lynn Shelton talks about directing the pilot for "Fresh Off the Boat."

Director Pawel Pawlikowski on his foreign film nominee, "Ida" (pictured); "Cartel Land" director Matthew Heineman on facing danger in Mexico; "High Maintenance" is a web series that's like “Cheers,” but with weed instead of whiskey; what might Hollywood do with the sequel to “To Kill a Mockingbird"?

Recapping this year's Sundance Film Festival, and a chat with the co-directors of "Meru," which won the Audience Award for U.S. Documentary; actor Randall Park goes from the fire ("The Interview") to the frying pan ("Fresh Off the Boat," pictured).

Anna Bass and Monica Bill Barnes (pictured) imbue their choreography with humor; how the creator of 'Doc McStuffins' made her hit show that counts Michelle Obama among its fans; and two Sundance documentaries show the power of movies to liberate people’s minds.

Rick Famuyiwa, the writer-director of the 2015 Sundance favorite, "Dope," describes being at the center of one of the buzziest films at the fest; “Dear White People” filmmaker Justin Simien looks back at Sundance a year after his breakout; composer Bear McCreary rocks out on his hurdy-gurdy.

Venues for Bill Cosby's live shows sometimes can't cancel a show on their own; Alfonso Gómez-Rejón, director of Sundance favorite "Me & Earl ..." (pictured), on why the film is so personal to him; can Pivot TV's $40 million series, "Fortitude," be a hit for the fledgling network?; "Schoolhouse Rock" creators explain its origins.

Noted documentary director Alex Gibney debuts his HBO film, “Going Clear: Scientology and the Prison of Belief”; no sales record after all for Sundance darling “Me and Earl and the Dying Girl”; Jamie Cullum puts his stamp on jazz standards on his new album, "Interlude."

Awards from the Screen Actors and Producers guilds put "Birdman" (pictured) in the driver's seat for Oscars; watchdog group says "American Sniper" has inspired threats against Arab-Americans and Muslims; sex is a common theme at this year's Sundance festival; actor Tony Hale's children's book.

Karina Canellakis (pictured) is a conductor who does double duty as a violinist, often at the same time; The Frame host John Horn reports from the Sundance Film Festival, where filmmaker Benson Lee returns with a new movie, "Seoul Searching."