Hollywood

The hero of "Moffie" is a closeted gay conscript in the South Africa of 1981. In addition to the killing arts, he and his fellow draftees are trained in racism and homophobia.

from Film Reviews

In Netflix’s new children’s series “ Waffles + Mochi, ” Waffles is a Yeti with a waffle for a father, and her sidekick Mochi is filled with strawberry ice cream.

from Good Food

In the early 1970s, a then 15-year-old Jim LeBrecht spent a summer at Camp Jened in upstate New York.

Replay: ‘Crip Camp’ co-directors on how a hippie-run camp inspired disability activism

In the early 1970s, a then 15-year-old Jim LeBrecht spent a summer at Camp Jened in upstate New York.

from The Business

Viewers have been abandoning awards shows en masse this year, and the Oscars producers want to avoid the mistakes of the Golden Globes by having the event be in-person as much as…

Oscars 2021 will honor movies almost no one has seen in theaters

Viewers have been abandoning awards shows en masse this year, and the Oscars producers want to avoid the mistakes of the Golden Globes by having the event be in-person as much as…

from The Business

Writer-director Oliver Hermanus discusses his new film and the complex history of his native South Africa on this week’s “Scheer Intelligence.”

“Moffie” links white supremacy and homophobia as macho perversions

Writer-director Oliver Hermanus discusses his new film and the complex history of his native South Africa on this week’s “Scheer Intelligence.”

from Scheer Intelligence

A lot of great art came out of the last pandemic — AIDS. Much of it was political and created by people directly affected, such as Keith Haring and David Wojnarowicz.

David Wojnarowicz polarized the art world and US politics during AIDS epidemic. New film looks at his work

A lot of great art came out of the last pandemic — AIDS. Much of it was political and created by people directly affected, such as Keith Haring and David Wojnarowicz.

from Press Play with Madeleine Brand

Women pioneers in the TV industry are often overlooked. But a new book argues that four women were behind some key TV formats. Irna Phillips created the soap opera.

Before ‘I Love Lucy,’ Gertrude Berg created one of the first sitcoms. Here are other women pioneers in TV

Women pioneers in the TV industry are often overlooked. But a new book argues that four women were behind some key TV formats. Irna Phillips created the soap opera.

from Press Play with Madeleine Brand

Composer Terence Blanchard on the ‘magic and divine’ of working with Spike Lee.

Terence Blanchard: ‘Da 5 Bloods’

Composer Terence Blanchard on the ‘magic and divine’ of working with Spike Lee.

from The Treatment

Kris Bowers is the star and co-director of a short documentary called “A Concerto is a Conversation,” which is nominated for an Oscar this year.

Kris Bowers on his Oscar-nominated ‘A Concerto is a Conversation,’ and music for ‘Space Jam’ v. Disney Hall

Kris Bowers is the star and co-director of a short documentary called “A Concerto is a Conversation,” which is nominated for an Oscar this year.

from Press Play with Madeleine Brand

When insurrectionists stormed the U.S. Capitol on January 6, many wore shirts or waved flags emblazoned with a single letter: Q.

‘Q: Into the Storm’ director Cullen Hoback on his globe-trotting effort to unmask Q

When insurrectionists stormed the U.S. Capitol on January 6, many wore shirts or waved flags emblazoned with a single letter: Q.

from The Business

Endeavor, the parent company of talent agency William Morris Endeavor, filed to go public in 2019, but withdrew that IPO at the last minute after a cold reception from Wall Street.

Endeavor tries going public again, ‘Godzilla vs. Kong’ lands with a roar

Endeavor, the parent company of talent agency William Morris Endeavor, filed to go public in 2019, but withdrew that IPO at the last minute after a cold reception from Wall Street.

from The Business

Versus films are a genre unto themselves. Now we have "Godzilla vs. Kong," an addition to the genre that isn't proud so much as inevitable. Or unavoidable.

Duelling Monstrosities

Versus films are a genre unto themselves. Now we have "Godzilla vs. Kong," an addition to the genre that isn't proud so much as inevitable. Or unavoidable.

from Film Reviews

Cringe-inducing moments on reality cooking competitions have become commonplace. What is pure escapist television for many can have an undercurrent of racism and stupidity for others.

When comfort television gets uncomfortable

Cringe-inducing moments on reality cooking competitions have become commonplace. What is pure escapist television for many can have an undercurrent of racism and stupidity for others.

from Good Food

Critics review “Kong v.

'Concrete Cowboy’: Real horseback riders interact with actors seamlessly, says critic

Critics review “Kong v.

from Press Play with Madeleine Brand

“Godzilla vs. Kong” made $9.6 million at the box office on opening day — a record for the pandemic.

With ‘Godzilla vs. Kong,’ box office shows signs of life

“Godzilla vs. Kong” made $9.6 million at the box office on opening day — a record for the pandemic.

from Hollywood Breakdown

After closing in 2017, Vidiots , the much-loved nonprofit video store formerly based in Santa Monica, will relaunch in Northeast LA early next year.

Beloved LA video rental store ‘Vidiots’ is reopening. How will it adapt to the era of streaming and COVID?

After closing in 2017, Vidiots , the much-loved nonprofit video store formerly based in Santa Monica, will relaunch in Northeast LA early next year.

from Greater LA

A new eight-episode biopic on National Geographic delves into the life of Aretha Franklin, who’s known for hits like “Respect,” “You Make Me Feel Like a Natural Woman,” and “Think.”

‘Genius: Aretha’: How a little girl became the queen of soul, as told in new National Geographic series

A new eight-episode biopic on National Geographic delves into the life of Aretha Franklin, who’s known for hits like “Respect,” “You Make Me Feel Like a Natural Woman,” and “Think.”

from Press Play with Madeleine Brand

The college admissions scandal a couple years ago had all the elements of a perfect made-for-TV drama.

Netflix’s ‘Operation Varsity Blues’ looks at college admissions scandal that landed Lori Loughlin in prison

The college admissions scandal a couple years ago had all the elements of a perfect made-for-TV drama.

from Press Play with Madeleine Brand

A new Netflix show tells stories about LA — past and present — from the perspective of curious kid detectives.

‘City of Ghosts’: New Netflix kids’ series takes on Angeleno history

A new Netflix show tells stories about LA — past and present — from the perspective of curious kid detectives.

from Greater LA

Musician Josh Ostrander, a.k.a Mondo Cozmo, told Press Play last year that the pandemic gave him time to work on his songwriting: “A lot of the lyrics are aimed at that right now, but…

Musician Mondo Cozmo on writing ‘New Medicine’ during pandemic and looking ahead to live shows

Musician Josh Ostrander, a.k.a Mondo Cozmo, told Press Play last year that the pandemic gave him time to work on his songwriting: “A lot of the lyrics are aimed at that right now, but…

from Press Play with Madeleine Brand