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 Wooster Group’s latest stage show, “The Town Hall Affair,” re-creates an infamous 1971 public debate about feminism moderated by – of all people – the chauvinistic writer Norman Mailer. Now on stage at the REDCAT in downtown Los Angeles, the show has resonance in an era when a presidential candidate can get away with ugly talk about women and millions of women took to the streets on the day after his inauguration.

Film producers Bonnie Curtis and Julie Lynn have made several small budget, character-driven movies together including “Albert Nobbs” with Glenn Close and “Last Days in the Desert” with Ewan McGregor. But "Life" is completely different. They talk with The Frame about managing a bigger budget –with special effects and zero gravity– and what makes their partnership work.

Caro's latest film is “The Zookeeper’s Wife," but her next project, the live-action version of “Mulan,” will make her only the 4th woman to have a budget over $100 million; The Writer’s Guild is negotiating its next contract, and there has been talk of a strike over wages for TV writers; children’s book author/illustrator Claire Keane worked with her Disney animator father on a story about Rapunzel that is being turned into a TV series.

"The Americans" creator Joe Weisberg and fellow showrunner Joel Fields talk about creating their 1980's Russian espionage show in the era of Russian hacking. The two are joined by director Chris Long– who shot some of the show in Moscow– to talk about creating a family drama that's also a secret agent story.

The 1991 Disney animated film "Beauty and the Beast," is considered by many to be a classic. But the man behind the lyrics of some of our favorite songs never got to see the final film. We put together this oral history/remembrance of his life and legacy; “Good Grief" is a new play by LA-based playwright Ngozi Anyanwu that can help people cope with their own losses; Drake’s new album "More Life” was the soundtrack to this past weekend. Literally.

Deborah Borda is leaving her post as CEO of the L.A. Philharmonic to run the N.Y. Philharmonic; filmmaker Taylor Hackford recalls making his 1987 documentary about Chuck Berry; Discostan is a monthly club night that features Middle Eastern music.

A new Japanese American National Museum (JANM) exhibit remembers the dark history of legalized discrimination in the US. Classical music composer Julia Adolphe is a rising star with a new work at the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra. Director Sydney Freeland discusses her coming-of-age movie "Deidra & Laney Rob a Train."

What does President Trump's budget proposal to eliminate the NEA, NEH and CPB actually mean? New York Magazine art critic Jerry Saltz finds hope in the political messages and diverse voices at the Whitney Biennal. And director Ferne Pearlstein and Holocaust survivor Renee Firestone discuss the new documentary "The Last Laugh."

LA Phil chief Deborah Borda will depart to head the NY philharmonic. She leaves behind a flourishing institution, a happy orchestra, and a charismatic artistic director. Documentarian Marina Zenovich tries to uncover who owns California's water supply in "Water & Power: A California Heist." And filmmaker Ritesh Batra goes from "The Lunchbox" to "The Sense of an Ending."

Misha Green, co-creator of the WGN series "Underground," talks about how characters like Harriet Tubman are real-life superheroes and how she's sometimes mistaken for an assistant on set; Goldenvoice—the promoters behind Coachella, Stagecoach and Desert Trip—bring their latest fest to Pasadena, called Arroyo Seco Weekend.

Filmmaker Danny Boyle has reunited with the original cast of his 1996 movie "Trainspotting" to find out where those drug-addled young adults are now that they're in full-blown adulthood; Cuban Singer Daymé Arocena releases a new album with a little help from friends in LA; The Writers Guild of America starts contract talks, could it lead to a strike?

Walt Disney’s creative genius and his personal dark side are explored in the Philip Glass opera, “The Perfect American”; religious scholar Reza Aslan talks about his new CNN series, “Believer,” in which he focuses on fringe elements of certain religions; Mohsen Namjoo revives the pre-revolution rock music of his native Iran.