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"

Director Josie Rourke talks about her mission to reconsider history through a modern perspective on gender, power and sexuality; former L.A. Philharmonic music director Esa-Pekka Salonen will succeed Michael Tilson Thomas at the San Francisco Symphony; two generations of African-American harpists talk about their musical tradition.

The pianist and composer talks about and performs music from the movie about Don Shirley; what were the most streamed songs and albums of 2018?

Gabriel Cordell's attempt to roll across the country in a manual wheelchair is the subject of Lisa France's documentary; the endless options for TV cord-cutters

Executive producer Eric Newman talks about pivoting the focus of the Netflix series from Colombia to Mexico; YouTube is scaling back the scripted output for its streaming service; music veterans Dave Alvin and Jimmie Dale Gilmore collaborate on an album, "Downey to Lubbock."

Yalitza Aparicio went from being a fledgling school teacher to playing a pivotal role in Alfonso Cuarón's "Roma"; the New York Times reports that a faded talent agent and an actress client of his could ruin Les Moonves' chance of receiving any severance from CBS; this season's crop of new Christmas music has a little bit of everything.

The filmmaker has made some downright odd movies (e.g., "The Lobster"), but he takes a more accessible route with his new period drama; Emma Stone talks about her role in "The Favourite"; who's getting into the 2019 Sundance Film Festival?

The playwright and director talks about the real-life events in California's Central Valley that inspired the WWII-era drama, "Valley of the Heart"; Fox Nation launches as a streaming service; the pioneering post-punk band, The Raincoats.

The former Monty Python member revisits his life and career in the memoir, "Always Look on the Bright Side of Life: A Sortabiography"; Luciana Souza puts Leonard Cohen poems to music.

To make "Of Fathers and Sons", documentary filmmaker Talal Derki put his life on the line when he embedded with a Syrian terrorist grooming his sons for Jihad; an art installation at The Broad museum in downtown LA is a tribute to American liberalism; and what to watch on TV over Thanksgiving weekend.

The actor plays a nightclub bouncer who is hired to drive a black pianist (Mahershala Ali) through the segregated South; director Steve McQueen directs "Widows," a heist film with a twist.

The director had the unenviable task of making sure Melissa McCarthy was an unsympathetic character in the new movie; Disney's challenge to promote princesses in a changing culture.

For "Roma," filmmaker Alfonso Cuarón meticulously recreated his childhood home and cast lookalikes to play his family, his nanny and his neighbors. He tells John Horn about mining his and others' memories to tell the collective story of his family and his nanny from one tumultuous year in the early 1970's.