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"

Actress and "Daily Show" veteran Jessica Williams is now starring in "The Incredible Jessica James," her first feature film; the California Film Commission announced tax incentives for eight movies, including titles with budgets over $75 million; and Hollywood Reporter film writer Borys Kit talks about the winners and losers at Comic-Con.

Thomas Wilkins wears many musical hats, including being the principal conductor for the Hollywood Bowl Orchestra; Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross have collaborated on film scores and Nine Inch Nails albums, and now they're bandmates; Jeffrey Katzenberg is seeking backers for his idea to create high-quality content for mobile devices.

Edie Falco has gone from “The Sopranos” to “Nurse Jackie,” and now her latest is the indie film, “Landline”; “Hansel & Gretel” at New York's Park Avenue Armory is an installation by the Chinese artist Ai Weiwei and architects Jacques Herzog and Pierre de Meuron that explores the meaning of public space in our surveillance-laden world.

The filmmakers behind "Chasing Coral" hope to show the world how dire things are under the sea; the annual pop culture nerd-fest known as Comic-Con prepares to welcome huge crowds to the San Diego Convention Center.

The virtuoso bass player Stephen Bruner, aka Thundercat, is a key part of a jazz and R&B renaissance in L.A.; there's more to "Baby Driver" than the hip soundtrack; Netflix is growing fast, but can it make the economics work in the long run?

We look at the legacy of horror movie director George Romero and the work he left behind; veteran stunt coordinator Conrad Palmisano talks about how safety has improved on TV and film sets; real-life married couple Francesa Delbanco and Nick Stoller collaborated on the new Netflix series, "Friends from College.”

Filmmaker Marti Noxon drew on her own experience with eating disorders for her movie, “To the Bone”; Universal Music has exited its $31 million deal to acquire the distribution rights to much of Prince’s music; With “Game of Thrones” returning, one of the show’s sound designers talks about how she creates those dragon sounds. (Hint: think giant tortoises having sex. Really.)

What do the nominations tell us about today's television landscape? And how does our social-political climate affect what's been nominated?; "The Cake" is a new play about a conservative Christian baker who's deeply conflicted when she gets asked to make a cake for a lesbian wedding.

The Broadway production of “1984" is a chilling adaptation of George Orwell’s dystopian novel whose graphic torture scenes are eliciting intense reactions from audience members; After “Lady Macbeth” opens this weekend, young actress Florence Pugh will likely surface on Hollywood's radar.

Filmmaker Matthew Heineman's timely new documentary, “City of Ghosts,” follows a group of Syrian citizen journalists who have been reporting on the battle for the city of Raqqa; The New York Musical Festival is underway is an annual showcase of works-in-progress whose creators have Broadway dreams.

“GLOW” (Gorgeous Ladies of Wrestling) is a new Netflix series loosely based on women’s wrestling from the 1980s. Creators Liz Flahive and Carly Mensch reveal some behind-the-scenes stories from the set; Kirsten Tan's debut film, "Pop-Aye," is a road movie where the buddies on the surreal journey are an aging architect and his long lost elephant.

Filmmaker Edgar Wright has made an action movie that revolves around an extensive playlist of pop, rock and R&B songs; the National Geographic channel presents "Earth Live," a real-time special broadcast from six continents.