The Frame

Zoe Lister-Smith directed “Band Aid,” a hit at this year’s Sundance Film Festival that just got picked up for distribution; Fox's new “24” reboot is being criticized because the villains on the series are from the Middle East; Andrew Lockington talks about his untraditional score for the new movie, “The Space Between Us.”

For bands, landing a song in a Super Bowl ad (or any other televised event) is a HUGE pay day; how 'Jackie' composer Mica Levi created a mesmerizing score for Pablo Larrain's psychological drama; Academy Award-nominated filmmaker Raoul Peck could have made a conventional documentary about James Baldwin, but instead he uses only Baldwin’s words to create his powerful film, “I Am Not Your Negro."

The madcap "Billy on the Street" TV series has added a political edge; arts leaders from Western states visit D.C. to advocate for the National Endowment for the Arts; the latest Hollywood story from USC has more dire news for women in the industry.

Muslim-American writer, producer and author Reza Aslan's family fled the Iranian Revolution when he was 7-years-old — now believes that the best way to change American hearts and minds about Islam is through entertainment; Sony Pictures is reporting a $1 billion loss in its third quarter alone. The report comes as the company embarks on a new head for the studio, which executives in Japan maintain is not for sale.

How SAG Award winners used the platform to comment on Trump's executive order barring refugees from select Muslim-majority countries; one L.A.-based concert promoter had to cancel shows with Iranian musicians planning to play in the U.S.; "Cries from Syria" filmmaker wants to generate understanding and empathy for Syrian refugees with his new doc, airing on HBO in March.

"Nobody Speak" looks at free press issues through the Hulk Hogan lawsuit and the presidential election; "The Salesman" is the latest from Iranian filmmaker Asghar Farhadi; the Wallis Youth Theater Company is breaking new ground.

How Late Night host Seth Meyers is seizing the Trump era for political commentary and comedy; rapper Roxanne Shanté's life is the basis of a new Sundance biopic "Roxanne Roxanne;" Bryan Fogel is a cyclist who set out to document his experiments with performance-enhancing drugs only to find himself making a movie that uncovers a massive doping scandal inside Russia.

Director David O. Russell remembers working with Mary Tyler Moore in his 1996 dysfunctional family comedy "Flirting with Disaster," then the married couple Kumail Nanjiani and Emily V. Gordon turned their real-life love story into the new romantic comedy "The Big Sick" which just sold to Amazon at the Sundance Film Festival.

The Frame host John Horn reports from Sundance where he interviews Lakeith Stanfield (“Atlanta” and "Crown Heights"), and talks Oscars nominations with Vulture's Kyle Buchanan.

The Frame host John Horn reports from Sundance where he interviews Jessica Williams (“The Incredible Jessica James”), and documentary director Peter Bratt ("Dolores") and the subject of his film, activist Dolores Huerta.

Taking the train to Comic-Con (pictured) means avoiding traffic and mingling with fans, comic book artists and even studio execs; The Hero Initiative is a charity that helps pioneer comic book artists who didn't have salaries or benefits; “10,000 Km," a film by Carlos Marques-Marcet, is about negotiating a long-distance relationship.

Alison Faulk worked with Channing Tatum to design the sexy dance moves in “Magic Mike XXL” (pictured); Nerdstrong Gym is where pop culture geeks are changing the image of flabby, couch-bound obsessives; Paramount Pictures and Hulu make the latest moves in the streaming world.

Comic book writer Kelly Sue DeConnick previews Comic-Con; "Cartel Land" director Matthew Heineman embedded himself with vigilante groups to document their fight against drug cartels in Mexico and Arizona (pictured); composer J. Ralph on writing music for "Shark Week"

Leon Russell (pictured) was unhappy with a documentary he financed in the early '70s. The film by Les Blank is finally getting released; the Getty Conservation Institute is preserving original animation cels from classic Disney movies; the music industry has agreed to move the release day for new music from Tuesdays to Fridays.

“Orange is the New Black” actress Lea DeLaria (pictured) has a jazzy side career; The Grateful Dead play three final shows in Chicago this weekend to overwhelming demand; a classical music composer takes inspiration from California’s drought; Amy Winehouse’s record producer on the new documentary about the late singer.

Fox's big bet on the women's World Cup is paying off with record-setting ratings; when a new dinosaur was created for "Jurassic World" (pictured), the film's sound designers had to come up with new terrifying sounds; on "Song Exploder," Bono dissects U2's "Cedarwood Road"

The international terminal at the L.A. airport has debuted three permanent art installations, including one by Mark Bradford (pictured); Apple Music's streaming service debuted today without the Beatles, but with Taylor Swift.

After Donald Trump's controversial comments about Mexicans, NBC is dumping the Miss USA and Miss Universe pageants (pictured); the 30th anniversary of "Back to the Future" is being marked with a screening and live orchestral performance; comedian and actress Julie Brister says she's tired of being seen as fat first and as a performer second.

The brilliant but troubled singer and pianist Nina Simone (pictured) is the subject of a new documentary, "What Happened, Miss Simone?"; after the U.S. Supreme Court's ruling on gay marriage, we examine whether TV has swayed American attitudes on the matter.

Jazz saxophonist and composer Kamasi Washington (pictured) is adding a new chapter to L.A.'s storied jazz history with his 3-disc album, "The Epic"; veteran TV director Lesli Linka Glatter's career has ranged from "Twin Peaks" to her current show, "Homeland."

Writer and performer Tim Minchin talks about creating songs for the stage adaptation of Roald Dahl's "Matilda" (pictured); director Patricia Riggen recalls working with composer James Horner on one of his last films, "The 33"; songs by the '70s gay, glam rock act, Smokey, have been re-issued.

The stage musical "Recorded in Hollywood" (pictured) tells the story of John Dolphin and his landmark record stores in Los Angeles; a song from the solo album by Will Butler (Arcade Fire) is taken apart in a new installment of Song Exploder.