The Business

The new Netflix documentary “Disclosure” examines Hollywood’s portrayal of trans people over the years. Director Sam Feder uses decades of archival footage and personal anecdotes from trans people who were deeply affected by these depictions to tell the story of the industry’s evolving relationship with trans representation. Feder and executive producer Laverne Cox, who is also featured in the film, share why these on-screen portrayals are so powerful, especially for trans people coming of age. 

Judd Apatow's latest film “The King of Staten Island,” stars comedian Pete Davidson in a story inspired by Davidson's real life. Apatow is a comedy icon but he’s admittedly not funny on Twitter. As his more than 2 million followers know, he rains scorn not only on Trump, but on Fox CEO Lachlan Murdoch, whose news network relentlessly bolsters the administration. Apatow wonders why others in the entertainment industry don’t do the same. 

As protests continue across the country, we look at the way policing is depicted on television. It's a topic dream hampton has spent years thinking about and worked on a recent report on the issue. It found that often, even good cops are shown trampling the rules, and that’s presented as heroism. And Dan Taberski made a podcast devoted to the reality show "Cops." What he found was disturbing. Now, "Cops" and its spiritual successor "Live PD" have been canceled. 

James Graham wrote the play “Quiz” — about an alleged cheating scandal on the British version of “Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?” — before he adapted it for TV.  Graham talks about starting to doubt the conventional wisdom about Charles and Diana Ingram, a couple accused of cheating on the popular game show in 2001 and in effect stealing 1 million pounds in front of a studio audience. Plus, how is Hollywood responding to a week of protests and police brutality?

Veteran documentary filmmakers Kirby Dick and Amy Ziering lived the dream of having Oprah Winfrey sign on as executive producer of their film “On the Record,” which focuses on several women who say they were raped by music mogul Russell Simmons. But the dream turned dark just days before “On the Record” was set to premiere at Sundance. Oprah withdrew her support and Apple dropped its deal to release the movie.

ESPN’s Michael Jordan docuseries "The Last Dance" has wrapped. The series has drawn record-breaking ratings and given ESPN something to celebrate in a world without live sports. Radio host and sports fanatic Hayes Permar speaks with director Jason Hehir. 

The new Netflix film “The Half of It” is writer-director Alice Wu’s second movie. She wrote a $1000 check to the National Rifle Association, an organization she does not support, and told her friends if the script wasn’t done in five weeks, that check was going in the mail. Wu talks about her extreme method for overcoming writer’s block and picking Netflix as the home for her new movie. 

Rob West usually spends his days building sets and making props. But once the pandemic hit, he started using his skills to devise and manufacture reusable face shields for medical personnel. West, the founder of LA Face Shields, shares his thoughts on the future of Hollywood production, and talks about running his face shield operation out of a well-stocked American Legion bar. 

The new series “Mrs. America” is about the 1970s battle over the Equal Rights Amendment. It’s available via FX on Hulu. Dahvi Waller created this series after she wrote for “Mad Men” and “Halt and Catch Fire.” She talks about tackling the complicated character of Phyllis Schlafly, the woman who led the movement that ultimately blocked ratification of the ERA. She also shares the complications of finishing post-production while under stay-at-home orders.

“Parasite” made history as the first foreign language movie to win Best Picture at the Oscars. The movie is now streaming on Hulu, so we’re revisiting our conversation with Director Bong Joon Ho, who also won Oscars for Best Director, Best Original Screenplay and Best Foreign Language Film. Plus, an all new banter: Some Southern states want to reopen businesses, but movie theater owners say not so fast.