The Frame

In the 1973 movie "Westworld," Michael Crichton created a fantasy world that now doesn't seem so far-fetched in the new HBO series; Desert Days may be jokingly called "Oldchella," but the promoters are laughing all the way to the bank; Get Lit was founded with the goal of using poetry to increase teen literacy ... and it’s working.

“Delusion: His Crimson Queen” is a haunt for people who will pay for the privilege of being scared, while "Hollywood Premiere Party: The Show" lets movie fans have the red carpet treatment; as rumors swirl about Netflix being sold, the streaming service continues to throw its weight around.

Between "Portlandia," "Documentary Now" and "Seth Meyers: Late Night," Fred Armisen may be the hardest working man in show business; since its release in May, Ezra Edelman's "O.J.: Made in America" continues to resonate as a chronicle of the relationship between African-Americans and law enforcement.

Google announced a slew of new products today, including the Pixel phone, Chromecast Ultra and the Daydream VR headset; Willie Bobo was a Latin music legend from the '60s-'80s. His son, Eric, has assembled an album of his father's previously unreleased music; for 40 years, filmmaker Terrence Malick has been working on a documentary about the origins of the universe. We talk to the producers who shepherded the project into existence.

We debate the issues surrounding the film, "The Birth of a Nation," and its writer-director-star, Nate Parker; remembering two L.A. cultural icons: Gordon Davidson of the Center Theatre Group and conductor Sir Neville Marriner, the first music director of the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra.

The creators of “For the Record” build cabaret-like stage shows around classic pop songs used by top filmmakers; "Saturday Night Live" returns in the heat of the presidential campaign; L.A. singer-songwriter Devendra Banhart uses the city as inspiration on his latest album.

Bell says the title of his new comedy album refers to his being called on as a news show commentator only after more prominent people are unavailable; Kirsten Johnson is an award-winning documentary cinematographer who has woven footage from her 25-year career into a documentary memoir called “Cameraperson."

Filmmaker Andrea Arnold cast “American Honey” with amateur actors, including Sasha Lane, who was discovered on a beach in Florida; the Wanda Group's purchase of American movie theaters and production companies has some members of Congress worried; there's an effort to make vinyl copies of a recording of life on earth that was sent into outer space.

The success of "Between Two Ferns" with Hillary Clinton explains why Funny or Die opened a bureau in the nation's capitol; a new state bill aims to prevent websites like IMDb from publishing the age of actors and actresses; Grammy nominee Austin Wintory composed the music for the new video game, "Abzu."

Director Mira Nair's new movie, "Queen of Katwe," tells an inspirational story that's set in Uganda, showing a side of Africa not often seen in big studio movies; TV producers are high on reboots and remakes, with no sign of slowing; photographer Phil Toledano's bizarre attempt to deal with his death anxiety is documented in the film, "The Many Sad Fates of Mr. Toledano"

The film festival high in the Rocky Mountains has an amazing track record of debuting movies that end up as Academy Award nominees and winners; singer Snoh Aalegra is an unlikely R&B artist, having grown up in Sweden as the daughter of Iranian immigrants; finding the spirit at Ambient Church.

The actor's Emmy-nominated role in "When They See Us" and his latest solo stage show, “Latin History for Morons,” have important messages about Latino history; even Martin Scorsese's "The Irishman" can't convince movie theater owners to soften their stance on Netflix releases.

The actor already has Academy Awards for "Moonlight" and "Green Book," and now he has an Emmy nomination for "True Detective"; China is a huge and growing market for music streaming, but its biggest platform is under scrutiny by the government there.

A new report by the USC Annenberg Inclusion Initiative shows an absence of Latino actors and directors; director Gavin Hood on his new film, "Official Secrets"; the summer box office report card for the studios.

We visit with Ava DuVernay at her company Array where she's disrupting the old Hollywood system; NYT culture critic Wesley Morris; 'Jawline' documentarian; filmmaker Issa López and more...

The former publicist is creating her own empire as a director, producer and distributor, housed in a rehabbed compound on the edge of downtown L.A.; the future of the Spider-Man film franchise.

The documentary by Liza Mandelup follows a 16-year-old on his journey to become a successful live-streamer; how TikTok became a powerful platform for music and pop culture; filmmaker Sacha Gervasi and actor Peter Dinklage on their Emmy-nominated movie, "My Dinner With Hervé."

The first release from their Higher Ground production company is a documentary by Julia Reichert and Steven Bognar about the cultural struggles that surfaced in the takeover of a gutted GM factory in Ohio; the outsized influence of Colombian artists in the Latin music scene.

The filmmaker's latest is dark fairytale about a group of orphans, living on the streets amidst drug-related violence in their Mexican town; 'Chernobyl' has some present-day resonance; The Rolling Stones 1964 U.S. debut in San Bernardino.

Sian Clifford, who plays the sister of series star and creator Phoebe Waller-Bridge, talks about their off-screen friendship; we also hear from Waller-Bridge's real-life sister, Isobel, who writes the music for the show; Variety senior film writer Matt Donnelly on the Fall movie season.

Richard Linklater on Texas pride and getting political. Taylor McFerrin sings on his new album. Bruce Springsteen love on the big screen in "Blinded By The Light." "Luce" Filmmaker confronts assumptions around race and privilege. We remember Peter Fonda.

The actor had directed several movies and TV projects, but never anything as grim as the Showtime series, and it paid off with an Emmy nomination for him; Latinos in the entertainment industry speak out on recent events.