Arts & Entertainment | 89.3 KPCC http://www.scpr.org/arts The latest Arts & Entertainment news from KPCC's award-winning news team. Kevin Smith says 'Tusk' is the only movie he's ever made while stoned http://www.scpr.org/programs/the-frame/2014/09/19/39445/kevin-smith-says-tusk-is-the-only-movie-he-s-ever/ http://www.scpr.org/programs/the-frame/2014/09/19/39445/kevin-smith-says-tusk-is-the-only-movie-he-s-ever/ James Kim | The Frame <img src="http://a.scpr.org/i/1240a49e04536694fcf2dde9bb8b4ddc/92332-small.jpg" width="450" height="332" alt="Kevin Smith" /> <p><i>Kevin Smith with a room full of his own strain of pot, created for his new film, "Tusk." ; Credit: James Kim/KPCC</i></p> <p>When Kevin Smith records his podcast, <a href="http://smodcast.com/episodes/the-walrus-and-the-carpenter/">Smodcast</a>, he says, "I'm usually blazed." Which, if you've heard the episode where Smith comes up with the entire story for his new film, "<a href="http://tuskthemovie.com/">Tusk</a>," it should come as no surprise.</p> <p> </p> <p>The film is about a man who takes another man hostage and turns him into a walrus. While the movie itself doesn't mention or include any weed, Smith thought medical marijuana would be a nice complement to the viewing experience. </p> <p>A24, the film distribution company, came to Smith with a marketing idea: create strains of weed for the film. Smith thought it was genius. <a href="http://www.budsandrosesla.com/">Buds and Roses</a> — a cannabis dispensary in Studio City — was approached by Smith and his team to make medical marijuana specifically for the film. The dispensary came up with two strains called "Mr. Tusk" and "White Walrus." </p> <p>We met up with the director at Buds and Roses to see why the green substance was a perfect pairing for the film: </p> <h2>Interview Highlights:</h2> <p><strong>Smith knows that some people enjoy going to the movies stoned: </strong></p> <blockquote> <p>"This movie, out of all movies, seems like a real head trip of a flick. So if they have their medical marijuana card, by all means, enjoy the movie. Don't feel the need to go back if you don't remember anything. It's not a gimmick to make them go twice or anything. But in a world where people are gonna smoke medicinal marijuana, having a 'Tusk' sticker on there just makes me smile. Kind of makes sense for this movie." </p> </blockquote> <p><strong>How Fleetwood Mac and weed helped his writing:</strong></p> <blockquote> <p>"I put on <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MT7W8xJFl_g">Fleetwood Mac's 'Tusk' </a>over and over on repeat and would just sit there and blaze while I wrote. And you know, I blaze in the way that I used to smoke cigarettes. So, I'll light it and put it in an ashtray, let it burn and stuff. So it fills the room like incense if you will. But, yeah, for a movie like 'Tusk,' I guess you gotta be pretty stoned to make the guy-who-makes-a-guy-into-a-walrus movie. And I'm kinda glad I did. It's weird. People are calling it the best movie I've ever made and I was like, 'Well, this is the only one I made stoned.' So I'm like, 'Guess what I'm doing, kids!'"</p> </blockquote> <p><strong>Smith used to be against drugs: </strong></p> <blockquote> <p>"I smoked weed in my life, but I would never consider myself a stoner. In fact, I still had the '80s [attitude] lingering, 'Just say no,' and,  you know, 'Oh my lord! It's a drug!' It wasn't until I became older — age 38 — when I started smoking weed on a regular basis. I was like, 'This is not a drug. This is ridiculous! It grows in the Earth.' So once I got past the bias that was pounded into us in the '80s, suddenly I was like, 'Heavens. I like who I am here.' It doesn't make you a better person, kids. It doesn't make you more creative. What it does is it kind of knocks fear on its ass. You face your fears a little better." </p> </blockquote> <p><strong>Disclaimer: Smith wants you to know that he does not endorse marijuana for anyone under 21:</strong></p> <blockquote> <p>"Kids, teenagers... I'm talking to you. The teenage brain is stunted by marijuana smoking so you guys have to wait 'til you're older. I didn't start smoking 'til I was 38 years old. I'm not saying wait 'til then. That was a stupid mistake on my behalf. But wait until you're legit. Wait until you're 21 before you start smoking." </p> </blockquote> <p> </p> Fri, 19 Sep 2014 20:54:59 -0700 Jazz master Clark Terry gets his due from Quincy Jones in 'Keep On Keepin' On' http://www.scpr.org/programs/the-frame/2014/09/19/39447/jazz-master-clark-terry-gets-his-due-from-quincy-j/ http://www.scpr.org/programs/the-frame/2014/09/19/39447/jazz-master-clark-terry-gets-his-due-from-quincy-j/ Darby Maloney | The Frame <img src="http://a.scpr.org/i/27c9dad387b73c0e95c5bd58f636af66/92330-small.jpg" width="450" height="253" alt="1. Justin Kauflin and Clark Terry in KEEP ON KEEPIN’ ON" /> <p><i>The relationship between pianist Justin Kauflin and trumpeter Clark Terry is at the heart of the documentary, "Keep On Keepin' On."; Credit: COURTESY OF RADiUS-TWC</i></p> <p>Trumpeter <a href="http://clarkterry.com/">Clark Terry</a> played in Count Basie's and Duke Ellington's bands. He was the first African American hired for The Tonight Show band. He mentored the teenage prodigies Miles Davis and <a href="http://www.quincyjones.com/">Quincy Jones</a>. But Terry isn't as well known as you might think he'd be. </p> <p>Thanks to the new documentary, <a href="http://keeponkeepinon.com/">"Keep On Keepin' On,"</a> you can see Clark Terry — or C.T., as everyone calls him — in action. The film tells the story of Terry's early love of the trumpet, his quick rise through the jazz ranks, and how he's devoted much of his life to inspiring other musicians — all with a sparkle in his eye.</p> <p>The movie is directed by first time filmmaker <a href="http://keeponkeepinon.com/filmmakers/alan-hicks/">Alan Hicks </a>and made on a shoestring budget. Hicks is himself a drummer and had been one of Terry's students. Originally it was going to be a short film about Terry and Hicks' relationship, funded by the Australian Broadcasting Company. (Hicks is from Australia.) When that financing fell through, Hicks improvised. Determined to tell the world about Terry, he and a childhood buddy, <a href="http://keeponkeepinon.com/filmmakers/adam-hart/">Adam Hart,</a> decided to do it themselves — despite having no filmmaking experience. They bought a camera and plane tickets to the U.S. and began following Terry.</p> <p>For many years their schedule was to shoot until they ran out of funds, usually about three months, work for a few months to save more money, then go back to shooting. To demonstrate how Terry mentors his students, they followed one young man in particular. <a href="http://www.justinkauflin.com/">Justin Kauflin </a>is a blind jazz pianist with stage fright who would spend days and nights practicing at Terry's bedside. Over the course of the film, as we learn about Terry's past, we see the aging trumpeter in the present (he's now 93) — struggling with advanced diabetes, but always composing riffs from his bed late into the night.  </p> <p>In one moving scene, Kauflin is riddled with anxiety as he prepares to compete in the Thelonious Monk International Jazz competition. Terry sends him an audio letter and some lucky socks for inspiration.</p> <p>Years into the project, when Quincy Jones came to visit Terry, he met Kauflin and the filmmakers. Eventually Jones signed on as an executive producer of "Keep On Keepin' On" — as is only fitting given that, at age 13, he'd been Terry's first student.</p> <p>Jones, Hicks and Kauflin spoke with The Frame about Terry and his unparalleled talent as a musician and as a mentor.</p> <p> </p> Fri, 19 Sep 2014 20:36:19 -0700 Why Liam Neeson was 'very reluctant' to star in 'A Walk Among the Tombstones' http://www.scpr.org/programs/the-frame/2014/09/19/39435/why-liam-neeson-star-scott-frank-walk-tombstones/ http://www.scpr.org/programs/the-frame/2014/09/19/39435/why-liam-neeson-star-scott-frank-walk-tombstones/ Michelle Lanz with Cameron Kell | The Frame <img src="http://a.scpr.org/i/4c72d8eacad3a3122c48d630bf3fc3d3/92276-small.jpg" width="450" height="300" alt="A Walk Among The Tombstones" /> <p><i>Liam Neeson stars as Matthew Scudder in "A Walk Among the Tombstones." ; Credit: Universal Pictures</i></p> <p>Screenwriter and director Scott Frank has been trying to make “A Walk Among the Tombstones” for more than a decade, but it wasn't until Liam Neeson signed on that his efforts finally came into view.</p> <p>Based on the Lawrence Block novel, “Tombstones” stars Liam Neeson as Matthew Scudder, an ex-cop working as an unlicensed private investigator. He agrees to help a well-to-do drug trafficker hunt down the kidnappers who have brutally murdered his wife.</p>   <p>Frank wrote the screenplay and, after the departures of other attached directors, Frank decided to step behind the cameras himself. </p> <p>When he came by The Frame studio, Frank spoke with host John Horn about Neeson's great strengths as an action hero and how he convinced Neeson to sign on to the project.</p> <h2><strong>Interview Highlights:</strong></h2> <p> </p> <p><strong>John Horn: Liam Neeson has evolved in a fascinating way as an action hero. When did you start having conversations with him about this movie, and what was it about him as an actor that made it feel like the right fit?</strong></p> <blockquote> <p>"Well, what's interesting is that Larry Block, the novelist, had always said, going way back to 2003 or something, that the perfect actor for this, after [he saw] 'Michael Collins'...would be Liam Neeson. Chris Andrews, who is Liam's agent, always loved the script and was always trying to find a way to put it together, and he's the one who gave it to Liam back when D.J. [Caruso] was going to direct. So the first time I met Liam to talk about the movie, I was talking to him as the writer, not as the director of the movie. And then when D.J. fell out to go do a different movie at Sony...we had a conversation about directing the movie.</p> </blockquote> <p><strong>JH: Was this before or after the first "Taken"<em> </em>had come out?</strong></p> <blockquote> <p>This was well after the first 'Taken,' this was right before the second 'Taken.'</p> </blockquote> <p><strong>JH: So Liam is...succeeding as a version of that character, and I wonder if that success cuts both ways, that maybe there's a reluctance on his part to not do something that's quite as similar? Or is that part of your conversation that you have with him? </strong></p> <blockquote> <p>It absolutely cuts both ways, and that was a huge part of the conversation because there's a kidnapping in this story, and there he is on the telephone for a few minutes at the end of the movie talking to kidnappers, and there are similarities [to 'Taken']. And he knew that was the way to sell the movie, and so he was very reluctant. And I talked to him and I had him watch 'Klute<em>,' </em>and I said, "That's the movie we're gonna make. We're not going to make 'Taken,' we're going to make a movie that's like 'Klute,' or a little bit like 'Dirty Harry,' or one of those old-school '70s films. It's going to feel more like that than an action movie."</p> </blockquote>   <p> </p> <p><strong>JH: Liam Neeson's not physically imposing, but there's something about him that really kind of makes the hair on the back of your neck stand up. What is it about him as an actor in this kind of part?</strong></p> <blockquote> <p>Well, there's a couple things. One: you believe him. No matter what he's talking about, it seems authentic and true...he has this thing about him that, whatever he's doing, you believe him. Two: he's one of those actors like Gene Hackman where he can convey exposition and make it feel like character. He can talk pages of exposition and make it all feel like it's character and drama — it's a great thing. The other thing about him is that he has this real <em>gravitas</em>, and it almost borders on sadness sometimes; it's interesting when you watch him and you feel like there's all this other life going on behind him.</p> </blockquote> <p><strong>JH: That he has nothing to lose, in other words.</strong></p> <blockquote> <p>Nothing to lose, and he says that at one point in the film, but I think it's those things that are all at work at the same time.</p> </blockquote> Fri, 19 Sep 2014 18:17:46 -0700 Lois Smith has a memorable role in 'Marjorie Prime' at the Mark Taper Forum http://www.scpr.org/programs/the-frame/2014/09/19/39446/lois-smith-has-a-memorable-role-in-marjorie-prime/ http://www.scpr.org/programs/the-frame/2014/09/19/39446/lois-smith-has-a-memorable-role-in-marjorie-prime/ Oscar Garza | The Frame <img src="http://a.scpr.org/i/28bb4c86e91c80dc8b09ef5b007d4a85/92292-small.jpg" width="450" height="349" alt="" /> <p><i>Lisa Emery, left, and Lois Smith are in the world premiere of Jordan Harrison’s “Marjorie Prime” at the Center Theatre Group/Mark Taper Forum. ; Credit: Craig Schwartz</i></p> <p>Lois Smith has had a long and varied acting career. She made her Broadway debut in 1952 and three years later was cast opposite James Dean in “East of Eden.” She was in “Five Easy Pieces” with Jack Nicholson and — more recently — she had a role on HBO’s “True Blood.”</p> <p>Now, the 83-year-old Smith is starring at the Mark Taper Forum in the world premiere of “Marjorie Prime” — a play by Jordan Harrison about aging, memory and artificial intelligence.</p> <p>Smith spoke with The Frame's John Horn about the play and her role.</p> <h2>Interview Highlights</h2> <p><strong>Smith on how "Marjorie Prime" addresses the notion of memory</strong></p> <p>"One character at some point says, 'I don't know what memory's made of. Is it sedimentary layers?' The play [is] not a meditation, but a riff, perhaps, on that subject. Jordan [Harrison, the playwright] said at some point, 'This play is the intersection of perhaps humanity and technology.' The play takes place a bit in the future. Not a long time — we'll all recognize ourselves very well — but that's one of its surprises."</p> <p><strong>Smith on the evolution of becoming a character</strong></p> <p>"It's been extremely interesting. I suppose in every play [the process] deepens and stretches out. This one, no doubt about it...it's elusive in a lot of ways and I think, 'Oh good, I'm getting there, I'm finding out.' And then I think, 'Oh, farther to go.'" </p> <p><strong>Smith on how audience members of different ages react to the play's take on aging</strong></p> <p>"One friend saw it in regards to [her] mother, who's becoming forgetful. [That] mother saw her own very aged father. They laughed about what they each brought up, because they had just been sitting at the same performance of the same play."</p> <p><strong>Smith on her role, which isn't too physically taxing</strong></p> <p>"I'm not doing much walking around. I walk on, I walk off, I walk on — and that's about it. I sometimes say, 'It's almost as good as a bed part,' because I spend time in a recliner, which is pretty nice."</p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> Fri, 19 Sep 2014 17:49:41 -0700 Keyshia Cole arrested on suspicion of battery http://www.scpr.org/news/2014/09/19/46846/keyshia-cole-arrested-on-suspicion-of-battery/ http://www.scpr.org/news/2014/09/19/46846/keyshia-cole-arrested-on-suspicion-of-battery/ AP <img src="http://a.scpr.org/i/b91284bb282daa5a1c5fb7767cce2259/92309-small.jpg" width="450" height="298" alt="4th Annual BET Honors - Show" /> <p><i>Keyshia Cole performs during the 4th annual BET Honors at the Warner Theatre on Jan. 15, 2011 in Washington, DC.; Credit: Kris Connor/Getty Images</i></p> <p>Police say Grammy-nominated R&amp;B singer Keyshia Cole has been arrested on suspicion of battery after an altercation early Friday morning in Los Angeles.</p> <p>Los Angeles police officer Nuria Vanegas says Cole was arrested around 5 a.m. after someone initiated a private person's arrest. The 32-year-old was booked on suspicion of battery and released from custody Friday afternoon.</p> <p>Police did not release any further details about the incident.</p> <p>An email message sent to Cole's publicist was not immediately returned.</p> <p>Cole's second album, 2007's "Just Like You," produced the songs "Let It Go," ''I Remember" and "Heaven Sent."</p> Fri, 19 Sep 2014 17:34:44 -0700 New Michael Jackson/Queen song released: 'There Must Be More to Life Than This' http://www.scpr.org/blogs/newmedia/2014/09/19/17324/new-michael-jackson-queen-song-released-there-must/ http://www.scpr.org/blogs/newmedia/2014/09/19/17324/new-michael-jackson-queen-song-released-there-must/ Mike Roe <img src="http://a.scpr.org/i/872135f1f50dc0e7883be27660d0841f/92303-small.jpg" width="450" height="332" alt="Grooming Freddie" /> <p><i>File: Queen's Freddie Mercury has his mustache groomed. <br />; Credit: Steve Wood/Express/Getty Images</i></p> <p>The new Queen compilation "Queen Forever" includes three previously unreleased tracks, but the one that has people talking is a collaboration between two legends: Freddie Mercury and Michael Jackson.</p> <p>The new song, "There Must Be More to Life Than This," was an unfinished track recorded during studio sessions for the 1981 Queen album "Hot Space," according to a press release on the new compilation. Queen also looked at the song for 1984's "The Works," but still don't go with it — the song finally landed, sans Jackson, on 1985's Mercury solo album "Mr. Bad Guy."</p> <p>Listen to the new version of the song here:</p> <p><a href="https://soundcloud.com/ivo-dt/queen-feat-michael-jackson-there-must-be-more-to-life-than-this" title="Michael Jackson/Queen Soundcloud">Michael Jackson/Queen Soundcloud</a></p> <p>Listen to the originally recorded version of the Queen/Jackson collaboration below:</p> <p><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TsipX8P8lIk" title="Michael Jackson/Queen collabo">Michael Jackson/Queen collabo</a></p> <p>The new version was produced by William Orbit, who also did a remix of the song.</p> <p>"Hearing Michael Jackson's vocals was stirring. So vivid, so cool, and poignant, it was like he was in the studio singing live. With Freddie's vocal solo on the mixing desk, my appreciation for his gift was taken to an even higher level," Orbit said in a press release.</p> <p>The song is a call for peace, talking human rights in a general way. It almost didn't end up on the album — Queen's Brian May said that working with the Jackson family and Jackson's estate was like "wading through glue," <a href="http://www.philly.com/philly/blogs/entertainment/celebrities_gossip/20140919_WENN_Freddie_Mercury_Michael_Jackson_duet_makes_new_Queen_album.html">according to Philly.com</a>, but the track ended up making the cut.</p> <p>The album also includes unreleased song "Let Me In Your Heart Again" and a new version of a song Mercury released solo, an acoustic take on "Love Kills." "Let Me In Your Heart Again" was previously recorded and released by May's wife Anita Dobson.</p> <p>"Freddie sounds as fresh as yesterday," May said at a press conference while the new compilation was in the works.</p> <p>Listen to Mercury's solo version of "There Must Be More to Life Than This" below:</p> <p><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mgKSv0gK_NA" title="There Must Be More To Life Than This, solo">There Must Be More To Life Than This, solo</a></p> <p>Listen to Anita Dobson's version of "Let Me In (Your Heart Again)" below:</p> <p><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5nHHGY3CvZ4" title="Anita Dobson track">Anita Dobson track</a></p> Fri, 19 Sep 2014 16:37:24 -0700 The Cosby Show at 30: Changing the face of black America http://www.scpr.org/programs/take-two/2014/09/19/39428/the-cosby-show-at-30-changing-the-face-of-black-am/ http://www.scpr.org/programs/take-two/2014/09/19/39428/the-cosby-show-at-30-changing-the-face-of-black-am/ Alex Cohen and Joanne Griffith | Take Two <img src="http://a.scpr.org/i/3c7ba9440a077d45051b09e186785f40/92291-small.jpg" width="450" height="357" alt="The Cosby Show cast" /> <p><i>The original cast of The Cosby Show. ; Credit: Frank Carroll/Associated Press</i></p> <p>Thirty years ago, on September 20,"The Cosby Show" debuted on NBC and went on to dominate our screens for almost a decade.</p> <p>The award-winning sitcom introduced us to the Huxtables, an upper-middle class black family  made up of Heathcliff, Clair and their five children. Plus a cast of ugly sweaters.</p> <p>"The Cosby Show" covered familiar territory; from children getting body piercings, bad boyfriends and maintaining a long term relationship as parents with professional lives.</p> <p>Speaking to Take Two's Alex Cohen, Mark Anthony Neal, professor of African and African American Studies at Duke University said "The Cosby Show" broke down racial stereotypes.</p> <p>"It  really was the first program to present not just a middle class, or upper-middle class black family, but a professional family. Clair and Heathcliff Huxtable were educated, they had advanced degrees. It was an image we hadn't seen before."</p> <p> </p> <p>From 1985 to 1990, "The Cosby Show" held the number one spot in the TV ratings war, appealing to audiences across color lines. Black viewers in particular welcomed a broader representation of African American life on screen, building on the success of shows such as "The Jeffersons", "Sanford and Son" and "Good Times". </p> <p>"Bill Cosby was very honest about the fact that when he conceived the character of Heathcliff Huxtable, he was looking for images that countered, say, Fred Sanford who was a junk dealer, or James Evans, Jr. in 'Good Times' who was always struggling to find a job. Bill Cosby wanted to bring a different view of the black family into the mix."</p> <p>Despite its popularity, some people took issue with how "The Cosby Show" tackled race issues.</p> <p>"It's not that black Americans didn't enjoy the show, but there were criticisms because it didn't explore the broader world of African Americans." says Professor Neal. "The Huxtable family became a stand in for the successes of the civil rights movement. It became the rationale that if the Huxtables can do it, why can't other African Americans do it?"</p> <p>Today's media landscape is very different to the one "The Cosby Show" existed in. For this reason, says Professor Neal, its success has been difficult to replicate.</p> <p>"Right after it went off the air, cable TV takes hold and we get this niche programming.  Many African American programs ended up on Fox, UPN and the WB, so there was no incentive for the major networks to do any Cosby-like programming with a black family at the center."</p> <p>With the debut of ABC's "Blackish" on September 24, it's hoped this will go some way to fill the Cosby-shaped void. In the meantime there's always YouTube and re-runs. Just be thankful Heathcliff's ugly sweaters are a thing of the past.</p> Fri, 19 Sep 2014 14:39:08 -0700 Simon Pegg fights 'beige' life in 'Hector and the Search for Happiness' http://www.scpr.org/programs/take-two/2014/09/19/39438/simon-pegg-finds-in-hector-and-the-search-for-happ/ http://www.scpr.org/programs/take-two/2014/09/19/39438/simon-pegg-finds-in-hector-and-the-search-for-happ/ Take Two <img src="http://a.scpr.org/i/98111dc7d29e4a24372f4211c45a628f/92284-small.jpg" width="450" height="300" alt="&quot;Hector And The Search For Happiness&quot; Premiere - 2014 Toronto International Film Festival" /> <p><i>TORONTO, ON - SEPTEMBER 07: Actor Simon Pegg attends the "Hector and the Search for Happiness" premiere during the 2014 Toronto International Film Festival at Winter Garden Theatre on September 7, 2014 in Toronto, Canada. (Photo by Tommaso Boddi/Getty Images); Credit: Tommaso Boddi/Getty Images</i></p> <p>British actor Simon Pegg has had the chance to take on some pretty fun roles. He’s battled zombies in Shaun of the Dead. He’s taken on the role of Scotty in the J.J. Abrams reboot of "Star Trek." And he plays an Impossible Missions Force technician alongside Tom Cruise in the Mission Impossible film series.</p> <p>In his latest film release, Pegg plays Hector, a psychiatrist who decides his life is just too “beige,” so he sets out into the world to find out what makes people truly happy.</p> <p>Pegg joins Take Two to talk about what Hector’s journey brings him in “Hector and the Search for Happiness.”</p> <p>“Hector and the Search for Happiness” opens in the U.S. September 19th.</p> <p></p> <h6>Interview Highlights:</h6> <h6> </h6> <p><strong>On prepping to play the psychiatrist, Hector:</strong></p> <blockquote> <p>“Rosamund Pike and I…had dinner with a psychiatrist prior to starting shooting just to see, sort of, how he felt about dealing with people who have problems which aren’t necessarily, real problems, you know; which are what people call first world problems on Twitter.”</p> </blockquote> <p><strong>Why Hector sets out on his journey:</strong></p> <blockquote> <p>"I think Hector, at the beginning of the film, has a life that is very satisfactory; and to that degree, he’s unhappy…And, you know, what he learns is, you need more than that emotionally in your life to truly be happy. You know, if everything’s kind of just beige, you’re never going to be happy. You need to know misery, you need to know fear, and you need to know abandonment."</p> </blockquote> <p><strong>A little perspective:</strong></p> <blockquote> <p>"It was a very interesting thing to be shooting in Johannesburg, and to get out into…the townships…and see societies which contend with just abject poverty, and hardship everyday; but seeing so many smiles, and so many people genuinely joyful. And then get into the interior of Johannesburg, where there’s a lot of white people living in, sort of, gated communities, terrified...And see less smiles. It’s a very odd thing. And very, in keeping with the message of the film, which is, avoiding unhappiness is not the root to happiness.”</p> <p><strong>On his favorite emotion to convey as an actor – happiness, sadness, or anger:</strong></p> <p>“It’s a weird thing, I think, acting, sometimes. I sometimes almost resent it because you go through this sort of Pavlovian trauma sometimes because you have to recreate certain things that are sometimes a bit stressful.”</p> <p>“Happiness is always a nice one because it’s fun to laugh on screen or to recreate moments of joy or euphoria, cause you do get a buzz from it, you know, you get this…vicarious, sort of, happiness in yourself. But that works as well for having to replicate sadness, or fear, or anger, or love even. “</p> <p>“Your body thinks, ‘Oh, are we doing this now? Are we in love with someone here? Are we scared of something [laughs]?’ And you have to constantly intellectualize and remind your hormones that you’re actually – ‘No. This is fake, okay. You’re actually not about to die.’”</p> </blockquote> Fri, 19 Sep 2014 11:13:45 -0700 'Red Band Society' ads pulled from LA buses amid complaints of racism, sexism http://www.scpr.org/news/2014/09/19/46825/red-band-society-ads-pulled-from-la-buses-amid-com/ http://www.scpr.org/news/2014/09/19/46825/red-band-society-ads-pulled-from-la-buses-amid-com/ AP <img src="http://a.scpr.org/i/d806ec035c60ce09e37728945f021570/92073-small.jpg" width="450" height="316" alt="" /> <p><i>"Red Band Society," premieres on Fox September 17th, starring Octavia Spencer, Charlie Rowe and Nolan Sotillo.; Credit: Fox Television Studios</i></p> <p>The Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority is pulling ads for the Fox television show "Red Band Society" from nearly 200 buses amid complaints they are racist and offensive to women.</p> <p>The ads show the ensemble cast's members in front of a wall with graffiti describing their characters.</p> <p>A denigrating word for a woman is used to describe the show's star, Octavia Spencer's character.</p> <p>The <a href="http://lat.ms/1r4M3zi">Los Angeles Times</a> reports transit officials began pulling the ads on Wednesday. They had been up for five weeks.</p> <p>The Red Band Society also shared the ad on its Facebook page in August. </p> <p><a href="https://www.facebook.com/RedBandSociety/photos/gm.1466181270305869/1448864202041523/?type=1&amp;theater" title="Facebook: #RedBandSociety ad">Facebook: #RedBandSociety ad</a></p> <p>But it's since edited it to look like this.</p> <p><a href="https://www.facebook.com/RedBandSociety/photos/a.1422493381345272.1073741826.1402361693358441/1463015477293062/?type=1" title="Photo: New ad via Facebook">Photo: New ad via Facebook</a></p> <p>Protesters who attended Thursday's transit agency board meeting complained the depiction of Spencer's character is racist and offensive to women.</p> <p>The actress, who plays a nurse in the hospital drama, is black.</p> <p>She won a supporting actress Oscar for her role in "The Help."</p> Fri, 19 Sep 2014 08:56:27 -0700 Free weekend? Try the Feline Festival, Oktoberfest and Monterey Park Night Market http://www.scpr.org/news/2014/09/19/46738/free-weekend-feline-festival-oktoberfest-and-night/ http://www.scpr.org/news/2014/09/19/46738/free-weekend-feline-festival-oktoberfest-and-night/ Kristen Lepore and Daniella Segura <img src="http://a.scpr.org/i/3de1cbf5bf28e6e8693191002e0acfe3/92245-small.jpg" width="450" height="253" alt="MPK Night Market: Next One's on Sept 19th!" /> <p><i>MPK Night Market. ; Credit: MPK Night Market (via YouTube)</i></p> <p>Ahhhhh. Can you feel that breeze? Cool temps are here to stay through Sunday and we're going ham (in a totally respectable, public radio kind of way). Because frankly, we all deserve a break after sweating ourselves through this near-awful workweek. </p> <p>Here's everything you need to know: </p> <hr><h2><a href="http://thenvl.com/schedule/pro-tour-schedule/hermosa-2014-2/">1. Pro volleyball at Hermosa Beach</a></h2> <p><a href="http://youtu.be/TGaK2sQ4ys4" title="Video: NVL highlights">Video: NVL highlights</a></p> <p>These people are serious about volleyball — and they look damn good doing it. Take a trip to Hermosa Beach this weekend, where the National Volleyball League will be hosting its fifth tour stop of the season. The championship will feature 32 elite men’s and women’s teams, all competing for a prize of $50,000. Come by at noon Saturday for a free juniors’ clinic (all ages welcome). <a href="https://playfit.webconnex.com/nvlroxhermosaclinic">Sign up here</a>. </p> <p><strong>When</strong>: Friday through Sunday | <a href="http://thenvl.com/schedule/pro-tour-schedule/hermosa-2014-2/">Schedule here</a></p> <p><strong>Where</strong>: Hermosa Beach Pier | <a href="https://www.google.com/maps/preview?q=Pier+Ave+,+Hermosa+Beach,+CA+&amp;hl=en">MAP</a></p> <p><strong>Price</strong>: Free</p> <hr><h2><a href="http://www.musiccenter.org/events/activearts/dance-downtown/">2. #DTLA salsa dancing</a></h2> <p><a href="http://vimeo.com/68261524" title="Video: Music Center's Dance Downtown">Video: Music Center's Dance Downtown</a></p> <p>We know you're dying to show off your salsa skills. Join dancers of all levels at the Music Center's last Dance Downtown of the summer on Friday night. Temps are dropping (hallelujah!) so pack a picnic and get movin'.</p> <p><strong>When</strong>: 6:30 to 10 p.m. Friday </p> <p><strong>Where</strong>: The Music Center Plaza | <a href="https://www.google.com/maps/place/135+N+Grand+Ave,+Los+Angeles,+CA+90012/@34.0566067,-118.2489325,17z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m2!3m1!1s0x80c2c65216fe5d87:0xf841e4dd9a8937a7">MAP</a> </p> <p><strong>Price</strong>: Free</p> <hr><h2><a href="http://www.shadesandshadows.org/">3. Shades and Shadows </a></h2> <p><img alt="" src="http://a.scpr.org/i/42f2ae43e95769d9adfc23944d9d5bc9/92217-full.jpg"></p> <p>Looking for something a little different and a bit creepy? The reading series Shades and Shadows focuses solely on horror, sci-fi, fantasy and any other form of dark literature that you’re afraid to put down. To honor its one-year anniversary, the group will be haunting the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/CIAbnormalarts">California Institute of Abnormalarts</a>. (Yes, this exists. It's in North Hollywood). Stop by for an all-female lineup, including <a href="https://twitter.com/nancyholder">Nancy Holder</a> of "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" and the <a href="http://www.wired.com/2014/09/caitlin-doughty/">Internet's most famous mortician</a>, <a href="http://www.orderofthegooddeath.com/members/your-mortician">Caitlin Doughty</a>.  </p> <p><strong>When: </strong>8 p.m. Saturday</p> <p><strong>Where: </strong><a href="http://www.yelp.com/biz/cia-the-california-institute-of-abnormalarts-north-hollywood">California Institute of Abnormalarts </a>| <a href="https://www.google.com/maps/preview?ie=UTF-8&amp;fb=1&amp;gl=us&amp;cid=1290314029302071654&amp;q=California+Institute+of+Abnormal+Arts&amp;ei=xDUbVM3CK8-tyAS9goL4Bw&amp;ved=0CMABEPwSMA8">MAP</a></p> <p><strong>Price: </strong>$10</p> <hr><h2><a href="http://angelcitybrewery.com/events/oktoberfest/">4. Oktoberfest at Angel City</a></h2> <p><img alt="" src="http://a.scpr.org/i/319c3676fa1045a7d0ce5453eef99a16/83709-full.jpg"></p> <p>It doesn't feel like fall. The sun is blazing and the thought of drinking a pumpkin-spice latte is just gross. That's why we're sipping on cold beer instead. Savor seasonal craft brews with sausage, sauerkraut and soft pretzels at Angel City Brewery's Oktoberfest on Sunday. Festivities will include keg races, live polka music, ping pong and brewery tours. The best part? You're drinking for a good cause — a portion of the event’s beer and retail store sales will go to the <a href="http://www.dwcweb.org/">Downtown Women’s Center</a>.</p> <p><strong>When: </strong>Noon to 8 p.m. Sunday</p> <p><strong>Where:</strong> Angel City Brewery | <a href="https://www.google.com/maps/preview?ie=UTF-8&amp;fb=1&amp;gl=us&amp;cid=5621228159598419218&amp;q=Angel+City+Brewery&amp;ei=h-QZVKWIJMyWyASFt4KQDA&amp;sqi=2&amp;ved=0CJQBEPwSMAs">MAP</a></p> <p><strong>Price: </strong>Free admission</p> <hr><h2><a href="http://mpknightmarket.com/">5. Monterey Park Night Market </a></h2> <p><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Td2afj3SIN0#t=48" title="Video: Every food you ever wanted ">Video: Every food you ever wanted </a></p> <p>Have your pick of tacos, sliders, pressed juice or even a sushi burrito at Monterey Park's Night Market on Friday. That's not all — other highlights include food and dessert from <a href="http://www.yelp.com/biz/sticky-rice-los-angeles">Sticky Rice</a> and <a href="http://www.yelp.com/biz/ice-cream-lab-beverly-hills">Ice Cream Lab</a>. After indulging, <a href="http://mpknightmarket.com/mpk-art-walk/">walk it off</a> while viewing funky<a href="http://instagram.com/missmindful"> art prints</a>, interesting <a href="https://www.facebook.com/meshe.escobedo">hand-painted rocks</a> and L.A.-inspired <a href="http://www.seanboycestudios.com/Artist.asp?ArtistID=10465&amp;Akey=R8JLSW3J">oil pantings</a>. </p> <p><strong>When:</strong> 5:30 to 10:30 p.m. Friday</p> <p><strong>Where: </strong><a href="http://www.yelp.com/biz/barnes-park-monterey-park">Barnes Park</a> | <a href="https://www.google.com/maps/place/Barnes+Park+Pool/@34.058827,-118.127389,15z/data=!4m2!3m1!1s0x0:0x994c9cbe3e0490b9?sa=X&amp;ei=az4bVOe4Jcj_yQT444KYBQ&amp;ved=0CLABEPwSMA8">MAP</a></p> <p><strong>Price:</strong> Free admission; eat at your own will </p> <hr><h2><a href="http://www.laparks.org/pershingsquare/friday-night-flicks.html">6. Friday Night Flicks </a></h2> <p><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-ZFJ7WBP7w8" title="Watch: The best of Johnny Depp">Watch: The best of Johnny Depp</a></p> <p></p> <p>Take a break from Netflix and catch classic Johnny Depp in <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0106387/">"Benny and Joon"</a> at Pershing Square on Friday. Pack a picnic, bring a blanket or lawn chair and watch the '90s flick on a 20-foot inflatable screen. Pro tip: Dogs are welcome (if on a leash). For quick easy access to Pershing Square take the Metro (Pershing Square 5th street stop) or park in the Pershing Square Garage.</p> <p><strong>When: </strong>8 p.m. Friday</p> <p><strong>Where:</strong> Pershing Square | <a href="https://www.google.com/maps/place/pershing+square+los+angeles/@34.048329,-118.253085,15z/data=!4m2!3m1!1s0x0:0x3421d1495b128e33?sa=X&amp;ei=r14bVMbEFJa6ogSk1YGoBw&amp;ved=0CLIBEPwSMBE">MAP</a></p> <p><strong>Price: </strong>Free </p> <hr><h2><a href="http://malibusurfshack.com/">7. Kayaking in Malibu</a></h2> <p><img alt="" src="http://a.scpr.org/i/925c9a533639e56fb68d7ef35d10be39/91066-eight.jpg"></p> <p><em>(Photo: Benjamin Brayfield/KPCC)</em></p> <p>Spend a leisurely day kayaking the waves of the Pacific. Head to <a href="http://malibusurfshack.com/">Malibu Surf Shack</a> and grab a one- or two-seater before staking your spot on <a href="http://www.yelp.com/biz/malibu-lagoon-state-beach-malibu">Malibu Lagoon State Beach</a>. The state park has shallow tide pools and a lagoon with pelicans — plus, it's home to the Malibu Pier. Pro tip: Wear sunscreen and don't drop your phone in the ocean while taking selfies, people.</p> <p><strong>When: </strong>The Surf Shack is open daily 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. </p> <p><strong>Where: </strong><a href="http://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=835">Malibu Lagoon State Beach</a> | <a href="https://www.google.com/maps/place/Malibu+Lagoon+State+Beach/@34.0347577,-118.6796229,17z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m2!3m1!1s0x0:0xa5e6298217c47390">MAP</a></p> <p><strong>Price:</strong> $35 per day for single kayak; $50 per day for double kayak</p> <hr><h2><a href="http://lafelinefilmfestival.com/">8. Feline Film Festival </a></h2> <p><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ffz9a7EHfCk" title="Video: We are gonna have a cat party">Video: We are gonna have a cat party</a></p> <p>Imagine watching "America's Funniest Home Videos," but every entry includes a cat. That's what's happening Sunday at the L.A. Feline Film Festival. Sit back and enjoy over an hour of the most popular feline flicks from the Internet. Special guests include <a href="http://lilbub.com/">Lil Bub</a>, <a href="http://http://taratheherocat.com/">Tara the Hero</a> and <a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/Dusty-Klepto-Kitty-The-REAL-One/151649141562164">Dusty Klepto Kitty</a>. There will also be music, cat adoptions, a cat costume contest, food and drink. Pro tip: Cat flair is obviously encouraged.</p> <p><strong>When: </strong>1 to 10 p.m. Sunday</p> <p><strong>Where: </strong>Exposition Park | <a href="http://lafelinefilmfestival.com/map/">MAP</a></p> <p><strong>Price: </strong>$15 admission; $15 parking | <a href="http://lafelinefilmfestival.com/tickets/">Purchase tix here</a></p> <hr><p><em>What'd we miss? Let me know on Twitter <a href="https://twitter.com/KristenLepore">@KristenLepore</a>.</em></p> <hr> Fri, 19 Sep 2014 05:30:05 -0700 Tintin on acid: Charles Burns ends his dark trilogy with 'Sugar Skull' http://www.scpr.org/programs/offramp/2014/09/18/39425/tintin-on-acid-charles-burns-ends-his-dark-trilogy/ http://www.scpr.org/programs/offramp/2014/09/18/39425/tintin-on-acid-charles-burns-ends-his-dark-trilogy/ John Rabe | Off-Ramp <img src="http://a.scpr.org/i/ec243fa8575eb52b63b86057ca8dba5d/92241-small.jpg" width="450" height="302" alt="" /> <p><i>Graphic novelist and artist Charles Burns, at the Mohn Broadcast Center, 9/18/2014. He's just completed his trilogy with the new book Sugar Skull.; Credit: John Rabe</i></p> <p><em>Graphic novelist <strong>Charles Burns</strong> stopped by the Mohn Broadcast Center to talk with Off-Ramp host John Rabe about "Sugar Skull," which completes the trilogy that includes "X'ed Out" and "The Hive."  He's doing a signing tonight (Thurday, Sept. 18) at <a href="http://www.skylightbooks.com/">Skylight Books</a>, 1818 N. Vermont Avenue in Los Feliz.</em></p> <p>Why the trilogy? Burns says, "I had finished another book, "Black Hole," which was this very long graphic novel, all in black and white, and I wanted to do something in color, so I conceived a series of books, based on a series of my life, late '70s, the Punk Era. It started that way, and then it turned into something else."</p> <p><a href="http://www.scpr.org/programs/offramp/2014/09/16/39386/artist-alan-wolfson-s-exquisite-miniature-towns/" title='RELATED: Miniaturist Alan Wolfson, or "Honey! I shrunk the strip club!"'>RELATED: Miniaturist Alan Wolfson, or "Honey! I shrunk the strip club!"</a></p> <p>The look of Burns' books:</p> <p><img alt="" src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51qAo1Pcy1L._SX258_BO1,204,203,200_.jpg"></p> <p>... is drawn from one of his childhood favorites, the Belgian Tintin, who had all sorts of politically incorrect adventures:</p> <p><img alt="" src="http://www.poroutawhao.school.nz/DataStore/Pages/PAGE_192/Docs/Documents/Tintininamerica(Custom).jpg"></p> <p>"It's called the clear-line school of comics. And it's exactly what it sounds like: very clear lines, but perfectly rendered in color."</p> <p>If there's more shadow in Burns' books than in Herge's, that's because the lines between good and bad, dark and light, reality and unreality are blurrier in Burns. The trilogy moves back and forth in time and place, including between the normal world and a bizarre world in which a character named Johnny 23 struggles with many of the same issues the protagonist in the real world, Doug, faces... including a pregnant girlfriend.</p> <p><img alt="" src="http://www.newyorker.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/3-Burns3_9780307907905_xp_all_r1-34-690.jpg"></p> <p>(From <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Sugar-Skull-Charles-Burns/dp/0307907902">Sugar Skull, by Charles Burns</a>. )</p> <p>Are they two separate stories or Doug's subconscious world? Burns won't say. "That's for the reader to figure out. I don't really ever clearly explain those things at all, and I like to leave those things open. Interpretation is great, as far as I'm concerned."</p> <p>Burns turns 59 on Sept. 27. How does he like approaching 60? "As far as the day-to-day landscape, things are more settled in. But as far as my sweltering, swelling, itching brain, that hasn't changed at all unfortunately."</p> Thu, 18 Sep 2014 18:11:40 -0700 X-Men franchise's Deadpool finally gets his own movie in 2016 http://www.scpr.org/blogs/newmedia/2014/09/18/17319/x-men-character-deadpool-finally-gets-his-own-movi/ http://www.scpr.org/blogs/newmedia/2014/09/18/17319/x-men-character-deadpool-finally-gets-his-own-movi/ Mike Roe <img src="http://a.scpr.org/i/4bcb7c602ed1ed767b1693541bff74f1/92242-small.jpg" width="450" height="300" alt="Comic Con Fans Attend The Annual Convention In San Diego" /> <p><i>File: Stephen Yan dresses as Deadpool at Comic-Con on July 19, 2013 in San Diego.; Credit: Sandy Huffaker/Getty Images</i></p> <p>Hey, you! Yeah, you reading this! They're finally making a Deadpool movie!</p> <p>If you like fourth-wall breaking, second-person addresses like the above, you may be in the target audience for the long-in-development "Deadpool," which Twentieth Century Fox announced Thursday that it was finally moving ahead with, <a href="http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/x-men-spin-deadpool-gets-734172">according to the Hollywood Reporter</a>. The studio announced a Feb. 12, 2016 release date for the film with Tim Miller set to direct the character who's served as both friend and foe to the X-Men.</p> <p>The so-called "Merc with a Mouth" is a mercenary character created in the early '90s by artist Rob Liefeld, with Liefeld being an outspoken champion for the character. The character was part of the same Weapon X program that created Wolverine, with a similar healing factor power, but with a horribly scarred face he covers with a mask. He's also been played as crazy, which manifests itself as the character often knowing he's in a comic book and talking directly to the reader.</p> <p>Ryan Reynolds has long been tied to the project, including playing a version of the character in the much-hated "X-Men Origins: Wolverine," but no deal has been made yet, according to the Reporter.</p> <p>This follows footage leaking over the summer of a "Deadpool" test with Reynolds voicing the character in a CGI clip. Reynolds said <a href="http://www.niagarafallsreview.ca/2014/09/01/ryan-reynolds-says-nightmarish-role-in-the-captive-was-fun">in an interview in the Niagara Falls Review</a> earlier this month that that it's unfortunate the footage leaked, "but who cares," because the positive response to the clip had helped push the film forward after being stuck in development hell.</p> <p>"The movie has been in a state of limbo for a while. There was such an overpowering reaction to the footage, you sort of feel like, 'Oh, so we weren't crazy for our reasons for loving this character, for loving this role.' It's interesting to see the power of the Internet. It's awe-inspiring, actually," Reynolds told the Review. "And it's neat that Twitter and Facebook and Instagram can move mountains when used in the right way."</p> <p>Watch the "Deadpool" test footage below (Warning: Contains some adult language):</p> <p><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CphFZGH5030" title="Deadpool test footage">Deadpool test footage</a></p> <p>There'd also been debate about whether a movie would stay true to the character's outrageous attitude mixed with violence and go for an R rating, or whether it would go for a wider audience by staying at PG-13. Deadpool creator Liefeld has argued that the film would work just fine without restricting its audience with an R.</p> <p><a href="https://twitter.com/robertliefeld/status/494543712316190720" title="Liefeld tweet 1">Liefeld tweet 1</a></p> <p><a href="https://twitter.com/robertliefeld/status/494545250397220865" title="Liefeld tweet 2">Liefeld tweet 2</a></p> <p>Liefeld <a href="http://www.dailysuperhero.com/2014/07/exclusive-deadpool-creator-rob-liefeld.html">told the Daily Superhero</a> in a previous interview that the footage for the test was filmed three years ago, using motion capture over footage of Reynolds. He also talked up Miller as a director, noting that he directed the pre-credits scene for "Thor: The Dark World."</p> <p>"Fox had released a relatively small budget for Tim to present his vision of the script written by Rhett Reese and Paul Wernick," Liefeld said. "The digital costume over Ryan Reynold's motion capture (Mo-Cap) performance was an approach they wanted to explore and they had a relatively small window to create this short so they opted to 'test' the look of a digital Deadpool costume over Ryan. I'm quite pleased at how it turned out, especially considering Baraka-Deadpool from Wolverine Origins."</p> <p>Liefeld was referring to the transformation of Deadpool in "X-Men Origins: Wolverine" to a mouthless, pointy-limbed character in the film, which many fans argued took away what they loved most about Deadpool: His sense of humor. Liefeld also said he'd seen even more impressive sequences than the one that made its way online.</p> <p>It's unclear whether this will tie in with the other X-Men films, but with the studio's recent attempt to tie together the "First Class" franchise with the older X-Men films in "Days of Future Past" and the character's long history of involvement with the X-Men and other related teams, it seems like a likely move.</p> Thu, 18 Sep 2014 15:41:02 -0700 New 'Justice League' webseries for Machinima brings back iconic producer Bruce Timm http://www.scpr.org/blogs/newmedia/2014/09/18/17316/new-justice-league-webseries-for-machinima-brings/ http://www.scpr.org/blogs/newmedia/2014/09/18/17316/new-justice-league-webseries-for-machinima-brings/ Mike Roe <img src="http://a.scpr.org/i/4c32a40a49216895e85d94fa78e1c71f/92233-small.jpg" width="450" height="338" alt="" /> <p><i>The lineup from the "Justice League" animated series.; Credit: Warner Bros.</i></p> <p>Bruce Timm's DC Comics animated universe, beginning with "Batman: The Animated Series" and continuing with "Superman," "Batman Beyond," "Justice League," "Justice League Unlimited" and more, remains one of the most beloved and critically acclaimed animated runs in existence. The run was so idenified with the producer that it was sometimes called the Timmverse, but the last show in that continuity ended in 2006 and Timm officially stepped down from working with DC animation in 2013.</p> <p>Now Timm is back. He's providing a darker take than the optimistic world he became known for in "Justice League: Gods and Monsters," a three-part digital series launching spring 2015 that will be tied in with a full-length animated film that comes out later that year, according to a press release.</p> <p>Timm's also re-teaming with Alan Burnett, who worked with Timm on "Batman: The Animated Series." It's part of DC Comics' efforts to set up their new film "Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice," which hits in 2016, with the full Justice League film set for 2018.</p> <p>DC Comics as a whole has been moving in a darker direction with Christopher Nolan's Batman trilogy, the "Man of Steel" reboot of Superman and a more serious direction in many of its comic books. The company has followed in its tradition of epic storytelling, passing on the quips Marvel has popularized in films from "Iron Man" to "Guardians of the Galaxy."</p> <p>It's yet to be seen if Timm can recapture any of the magic from his classic cartoons, but there's reason to be optimistic for the creator of the series that introduced fan favorite Joker sidekick Harley Quinn, created a new origin for Mr. Freeze that cemented the character in the Batman mythos and led the team reimagining numerous characters in an iconic, broadly appealing way.</p> <p>If you want to catch up on Timm's legacy, his previous two Justice League series are available on Netflix and Amazon Prime, along with "Batman Beyond," while the Batman and Superman animated series are available on Amazon Prime.</p> <p>Timm also recently produced a short for the 75th anniversary of Batman called "Strange Days," setting the character in the retro world of the serialized pulp storytelling from the time Batman was originally created. You can watch that below:</p> <p><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IFwOS2R9o_8" title="Batman anniversary short">Batman anniversary short</a></p> <p>Watch the classic opening to "Batman: The Animated Series":</p> <p><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A71i0a5x-qA" title="Batman: The Animated Series opening">Batman: The Animated Series opening</a></p> <p>And, a personal favorite joke from when Lex Luthor and the Flash trade bodies on "Justice League Unlimited":</p> <p><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Qy4EIvvVj4" title="Flash/Luthor body swap">Flash/Luthor body swap</a></p> Thu, 18 Sep 2014 13:30:18 -0700 Americana Awards: Jason Isbell cleans up http://www.scpr.org/news/2014/09/18/46804/americana-awards-jason-isbell-cleans-up/ http://www.scpr.org/news/2014/09/18/46804/americana-awards-jason-isbell-cleans-up/ Chris Talbott | AP <img src="http://a.scpr.org/i/ca80a3568c049233a01af6acf545789d/92179-small.jpg" width="450" height="354" alt="Americana Music Festival & Conference Award Show - Show, Audience & Backstage" /> <p><i>Jason Isbell and Amanda Shires perform onstage at the 13th annual Americana Music Association Honors and Awards Show at the Ryman Auditorium on September 17, 2014 in Nashville, Tennessee. ; Credit: Rick Diamond/Getty Images for Americana Music</i></p> <p>Singer-songwriter Jason Isbell swept the major awards Wednesday night at the Americana Honors &amp; Awards, creating another special moment with his wife, Amanda Shires.</p> <p>Isbell won artist, album and song of the year during the 13th annual awards show Wednesday night at Ryman Auditorium in Nashville, Tennessee. Though surprisingly ignored by Grammy Awards voters, Isbell's album of the year winner "Southeastern" reverberated through the Americana community and made many of 2013's best-of lists.</p> <p>He performed song of the year "Cover Me Up" with Shires, a significant figure on the album as muse and collaborator.</p> <p>"I wrote this song for my wife," Isbell said. "I've had a lot of people ask me to dedicate it to their wives, girlfriends or cousin's wife or something strange like that. This was probably the hardest song I ever had to write because I wrote it for her and then I played it for her. It was very difficult. Do the things that scare you. That's the good stuff."</p> <p>Isbell was one of this year's top nominees along with Rosanne Cash and Robert Ellis. Each had three nominations and all were up for artist, album and song of the year.</p> <p>Many of the top nominees and honors recipients performed, including all five emerging artist nominees. Former couple Patty Griffin and Robert Plant made a surprise appearance and sang their collaboration "Ohio."</p> <p>Sturgill Simpson, something of a modern cosmic cowboy, earned emerging artist of the year and the Milk Carton Kids took group/duo of the year. And Buddy Miller, now executive music producer for the television show "Nashville" and theAmericana's winningest performer, won his fifth instrumentalist of the year award.</p> <p>The Americana Music Association also honored several pioneering musicians. Loretta Lynn received the lifetime achievement award for songwriting from Kacey Musgraves and Angaleena Presley.</p> <p>"The truth is we both might cry giving out this award," Musgraves said.</p> <p>Lynn, writer of some of country music's most important female empowerment songs, accepted the award in a sparkly lavender dress and her usual humble manner.</p> <p>"When they told me I was going to get this award," she told the crowd, "I said, 'Naw, you got the wrong one.'"</p> <p>Jackson Browne received the Spirit of Americana-Free Speech in Music award, Flaco Jimenez received the lifetime achievement award for instrumentalist and Taj Mahal earned the lifetime achievement award for performance.</p> <p>"I was affected deeply by American music, near and far — my mother's interest in Southern music and my dad's interest in jazz and bebop and classical, all that kind of stuff," Mahal said in an interview. "But this music here, if you get this music, you can go anywhere in the world with it. For me, I play for the goddess of music. People ask me what I do and I go, deep Americana."</p> Thu, 18 Sep 2014 08:22:03 -0700 2014 Americana Music Awards with Loretta Lynn, Patty Griffin and more http://www.scpr.org/blogs/newmedia/2014/09/17/17308/live-video-2014-americana-music-awards/ http://www.scpr.org/blogs/newmedia/2014/09/17/17308/live-video-2014-americana-music-awards/ KPCC staff <img src="http://a.scpr.org/i/249842800d22989eda16b048b982fc26/92154-small.jpg" width="450" height="253" alt="" /> <p><i>The finale of the 2013 Americana Music Association Honors and Awards show.; Credit: Folk Alley</i></p> <p>The 2014 Americana Music Awards are Wednesday at 5 p.m. Pacific/8 p.m. Eastern. You can watch the full show live from the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville, Tenn. below, including performances by Loretta Lynn, Jackson Browne, Emmylou Harris, Patty Griffin and more.</p> window.onload = function(){ NPR.Iframe.load("347625625",'iframeEmbed','@KPCC',{noSharingLinks: false, hideRelatedStories: true, fbShareImageUrl: 'http://a.scpr.org/i/249842800d22989eda16b048b982fc26/92154-full.jpg'}); } <p>Read a full list of the nominees below:</p> <h3>Album of the Year</h3> <p>• Build Me Up From Bones by Sarah Jarosz<br> • The Lights From The Chemical Plant by Robert Ellis<br> • The River And The Thread by Rosanne Cash<br> • Southeastern by Jason Isbell</p> <h3>Artist of the Year</h3> <p>• Rosanne Cash<br> • Rodney Crowell<br> • Robert Ellis<br> • Jason Isbell</p> <h3>Duo/Group of the Year</h3> <p>• The Avett Brothers<br> • The Devil Makes Three<br> • Hard Working Americans<br> • Lake Street Dive<br> • The Milk Carton Kids</p> <h3>Song of the Year</h3> <p>• "Cover Me Up" by Jason Isbell<br> • "A Feather's Not A Bird" by Rosanne Cash<br> • "Ohio" by Patty Griffin<br> • "Only Lies" by Robert Ellis</p> <h3>Emerging Act of the Year</h3> <p>• Hurray For The Riff Raff<br> • Parker Millsap<br> • St. Paul &amp; The Broken Bones</p> Wed, 17 Sep 2014 16:09:48 -0700 Directors Guild finds TV diversity hiring stalled http://www.scpr.org/news/2014/09/17/46785/directors-guild-finds-tv-diversity-hiring-stalled/ http://www.scpr.org/news/2014/09/17/46785/directors-guild-finds-tv-diversity-hiring-stalled/ Lynn Elber | AP <img src="http://a.scpr.org/i/d1f3277d28882449d6f2e4ed229234e2/92150-small.jpg" width="450" height="256" alt="TV--Directors-No Diversity" /> <p><i>In this Saturday, Sept. 6, 2014 file photo, Paris Barclay attends the LA Premiere Screening of "Sons Of Anarchy" at TCL Chinese Theatre, in Los Angeles. A new guild study says that women and minorities were largely shut out of the ranks of TV directors again last season. In a Wednesday, Sept. 17, 2014 statement, Directors Guild President Barclay said it can be "shockingly difficult" to persuade those who control industry hiring to make even small improvements.; Credit: Paul A. Hebert/Paul A. Hebert/Invision/AP</i></p> <p>A new guild study says women and minorities were largely shut out of the ranks of TV directors again last season.</p> <p>The Directors Guild of America report released Wednesday said employers have made no significant improvement in diversity hiring for TV series in the last four years.</p> <p>According to the study, white males directed the vast majority of the 3,500 cable, broadcast and high-budget online episodes made for the 2013-14 season.</p> <p>The same holds true for the three previous years, according to guild findings.</p> <p>In a statement, Directors Guild President Paris Barclay said it can be "shockingly difficult" to persuade those who control industry hiring to make even small improvements.</p> Wed, 17 Sep 2014 12:38:26 -0700