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"

Gigi Saul Guerrero, who was born in Mexico, directed the episode that's part of the Hulu horror anthology series, “Into the Dark”; Variety's Todd Spangler on Netflix losing subscribers in the U.S.; composer Bobby Krlic (aka The Haxan Cloak) on writing the score for “Midsommar.”

Writer/director Riley Stearns and stunt coordinator Mindy Kelly talk about their film that's set in a sexist karate school; is Disney having buyer’s remorse over its purchase of Fox's film studio?; behind the appeal of the band Durand Jones & The Indications.

The acclaimed visual artist and musician walks through his retrospective with his wife and frequent collaborator, Jo Harvey Allen; breaking down the Emmy nominations; in the studio with singer-songwriter J.S. Ondara.

The singer is the subject of a warts-and-all documentary, "David Crosby: Remember My Name"; The Hollywood Reporter's Scott Johnson talks about his story on the so-called "Con Queen of Hollywood"; catching up with Linda Ronstadt.

Kumail Nanjiani's "Stuber" and writer/director Lulu Wang's "The Farewell" just opened in theaters, as did the documentary "Sea of Shadows," about drug cartels invading a fishing village in Baja California. Morgan Neville's four-part documentary about music producer Rick Rubin debuts on Showtime. And we also visit with the French piano duo Katia and Marielle Lebeque.

The director and actor talk about their new film, "Sword of Trust"; The Hollywood Reporter's Eriq Gardner on so-called "deep fakes" in Hollywood — ultra-realistic manipulation of digital imagery; a profile of the singer and pianist Rhye.

Academy Award-winning documentary filmmaker Morgan Neville examines the career of the idiosyncratic record producer; the dilemma faced by cultural instititutions when they have received donations from alleged sexual predators; Black artists make a statement in "Soul of a Nation."

The comedian and actor wanted to go in a different direction after "The Big Sick," so he signed on for an atypical buddy-cop comedy; the latest battle in the video streaming wars; "Sea of Shadows" chronicles a marine life disaster in the Gulf of Mexico.

The piano-playing sisters perform everything from the classics to contemporary works by the likes of Thom Yorke and Bryce Dessner; will Jeffrey Katzenberg's big idea for short content fly?; the long-running Tuesday Night Café in Little Tokyo.

The film is based on a true story from the writer/director's own family about refusing to tell their grandmother that she is gravely ill; an appreciation of Brazilian songwriter João Gilberto, who has died at the age of 88.

"Midsommar" filmmaker says it's a horror film about co-dependency and the showrunner of the new ABC comedy "Mixed-ish" wants to inspire nuanced conversations about race. Given the massive TV audience for the World Cup why hasn't Hollywood tapped soccer fever for a great movie? All that and more on The Frame Weekend.

The play "Good Boys," written by "Riverdale" creator Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa, is updated in light of the Kavanaugh hearings; LA's Rogue Machine Theatre company tackles racism and gun violence with "Gunshot Medley: Part 1"; why are there so few movies about soccer?