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.

Why was an ad attacking Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez allowed to air during the Democratic candidates debate?; N.Y. Times TV critic James Poniewozik on his new book, “Audience of One: Donald Trump, Television and the Fracturing of America”; "This Close" is a first: a TV show starring, created and written by deaf people.

The L.A.-based Grammy-winning quartet defies genres on its new album; a proposed state law could have major ramifications for independent musicians; in an excerpt from the podcast Song Exploder, Swedish singer and songwriter Robyn breaks down the title track from her 2018 album, "Honey."

The comedic actor talks about his live show, "All Rise," which he sees as medicine for a divided country; movie critic Beandrea July reports from the Toronto International Film Festival.

What's behind the rising price of concert tickets?; Grammy-winning classical music guitarist Sharon Isbin; photographer Robert Frank, RIP.

The singer is on top of the charts and she's in the upcoming movie, "Hustlers"; a preview of Variety's first-ever Climate Crisis issue; singer John Paul White.

Linda Ronstadt doc filmmakers reveal her range ; Eddie Redmaye and Felicity Jones show their new film in Telluride; Flor de Toloache is a modern mariachi band in more ways than one; the Oregon Shakespeare Festival gets a new Artistic Director and filmmaker Justin Chon takes us to Koreatown.

The festival is one of the leading regional theaters in the country, presenting traditional and non-traditional classics, along with cutting-edge new plays; the state of the music industry; the documentary, "Linda Ronstadt: The Sound of My Voice."

L.A.'s Koreatown is the setting for the filmmaker's new movie about a young woman who has to defer her musical dreams; what's new — and good — on TV right now; Flor de Toloache is not your traditional mariachi group.

The pioneering queer performance artist and writer talks about his evolution as an activist; highlights from the Telluride Film Festival; "Untouchable" is a new documentary about Harvey Weinstein and the multiple allegations of sexual assault and harassment that he faces.

Filmmaker Stanley Nelson talks about his new documentary on the iconic jazz trumpeter, Miles Davis; with more streaming services coming online, is binge watching the best way to enjoy TV?; producer Larry Klein takes "world music" literally on his new project.

Emmy nominees John Leguizamo ("When They See Us") and Mahershala Ali ("True Detective") talk about their acclaimed performances; Renée Zellweger chats with John Horn at the Telluride Film Festival about portraying Judy Garland.

The actress plays Judy Garland in a biopic that's premiering at the Telluride Film Festival; SAG-AFTRA keeps its president ahead of a crucial year; singer R&B singer Michael Marshall transforms a '60s hippie anthem for "The Last Black Man in San Francisco."