Latest news with #TheCulverTheater
Los Angeles Times
29-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Los Angeles Times
'Government Cheese': Crafting a Fantastical Family Saga on Apple TV+
On May 15, 2025, at The Culver Theater, Maira Garcia, television editor for the Los Angeles Times, moderated an insightful Q&A session delving into the unique world of Apple TV+'s 'Government Cheese.' The discussion featured Paul Hunter, the co-creator, writer and executive producer, and the series' star and executive producer, David Oyelowo, who shared the inspirations and creative processes behind the new show. 'Government Cheese' offers a vibrant and unconventional journey, born from Paul Hunter's desire to share something personal, drawing deeply from his own family experiences and upbringing. Transitioning from a celebrated career in music videos, Hunter brings this intimate narrative to the screen. 'I wanted to create the show to express something personal and tell the story about my family and my dad,' Hunter shared. The story itself evolved significantly; what began as a feature film idea transformed into a compelling short film script. It was this short film that captured David Oyelowo's attention and convinced him to become involved in what would eventually become the series. Oyelowo, an acclaimed actor, was immediately drawn to the series' quirky, fantastical tone and the unique opportunity to center Black characters in a way that is rarely seen on screen. 'I just hadn't read anything like this before,' Oyelowo said. 'It was so quirky, so weird, so fantastical, so surreal, but so relatable, so cinematic, so ambitious, all at the same time.' He highlighted Hunter's vision to portray Black characters through an artistic lens often associated with filmmakers like Spike Jonze or Wes Anderson. 'It was Paul as well, just as a person, as a creative, his passion for the story,' Oyelowo explained. The series establishes a strong sense of place, filmed in Los Angeles' San Fernando Valley. This setting, Hunter emphasized, was crucial to ground the show's whimsical tone, describing Chatsworth as their 'Twin Peaks' and a visual anchor. The distinctive visual style supports a narrative eager to break stereotypes. The characters, particularly the father figure Hampton (played by Oyelowo and inspired by Hunter's father), are intentionally portrayed as complex and flawed human beings. Hunter compared his on-screen family to the 'Addams Family,' aiming to 'capture who we were as a family and how normal we were, at least to us.' Interwoven throughout the narrative are prominent religious and spiritual themes, notably Hampton's journey paralleling the biblical story of Jonah, alongside the symbolic use of animals, which adds another layer to the storytelling. 'I really related to this idea through Hampton of a complicated relationship with God,' Oyelowo noted. 'There is no faith without doubt.' Music also plays an undeniable role in shaping the world of 'Government Cheese.' The show features a diverse soundtrack that reflects the personal experiences of its creators, with Hunter drawing from his eclectic childhood auditory landscape, blending artists like Elton John with Earth, Wind & Fire. This, along with a theme song by Pharrell Williams, underscores the show's distinctive rhythm. Ultimately, 'Government Cheese' emerges from this discussion not just as a new series but as a vibrant testament to the power of personal storytelling and bold artistic vision in a crowded television landscape. With its heartfelt narrative and distinctive style, the show, as detailed by Hunter and Oyelowo, is poised to leave a memorable mark, inviting audiences into a world that is as wonderfully peculiar as it is profoundly human.
Los Angeles Times
14-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Los Angeles Times
Unwrapping Hulu's latest series ‘Deli Boys' with the Minds Behind the New Show
A Q&A for the new series 'Deli Boys' took place at The Culver Theater on February 28, 2025, after a screening of the first two episodes. Matt Brennan from the Los Angeles Times moderated the discussion with creator Abdullah Saeed, showrunner Michelle Nader and cast members Asif Ali, Saagar Shaikh, Poorna Jagannathan, Alfie Fuller and Brian George. They talked about the show's origins, characters, comedy and crime. Saeed said he wanted 'Deli Boys' to tell a story that would hook the audience, combining family, business and crime with influences from 'The Godfather' and 'Barry.' 'It was in 2019 that I first came up with the concept and really I was writing a sample script and I just wanted a good format for jokes. So I created two characters who were familiar, I could sort of base on real relationships in my life,' said Saeed. The panelists discussed how the show has its own voice while drawing from classics, featuring South Asian representation and breaking Hollywood stereotypes. They emphasized the depth and relatability of the characters and credited Michelle Nader with that. Her knowledge of Philadelphia and her comedy background helped with the show's authenticity, setting and humor. They also talked about defying audience expectations with diverse representation. 'When I read the script, I was like, this guy's a genius and he's writing in a novelistic way that I felt was very rare. I mean, I have worked in TV a long time and these kinds of scripts with these kinds of singular voices don't come that often,' said Michelle Nader, showrunner. The discussion ended with some lighthearted Oscar speculation and the panel's commitment to storytelling that entertains and reflects diverse experiences. The event gave fans a peek into the making of the show and the changing landscape of entertainment where stories from underrepresented communities are being valued.
Los Angeles Times
30-01-2025
- Entertainment
- Los Angeles Times
New Documentary 'Americans With No Address' Screens at Culver Theater
The Culver Theater hosted a screening of the documentary 'Americans With No Address' on December 5, 2024. Moderated by the Los Angeles Times' Robert Abele, the panel – filmmaker Julia Verdin, narrator William Baldwin, and featured actors Xander Berkeley and Keith Deidrich – discussed their thoughts and experiences during a Q&A. Julia Verdin, who produced and directed the film, explained how the project began. 'We were going to make a film with a script, but Robert Craig said we should go big and make a full documentary. It turned into a life changing experience and we got to really dig deep into the human story of homelessness.' The documentary team traveled across the country in a vintage tour bus which Verdin joked was 'not glamorous.' 'We were sleeping in bunk beds and I was afraid I was going to fall out,' she laughed. 'We could wake up in a new place every day and focus on a different community.' Xander Berkeley, one of the featured actors, talked about how the project changed his perspective. 'It's an honor to be a part of something that might ease the suffering of others,' he said. 'I found my way as an artist to touch lives on a micro level – get food, listen to stories.' Baldwin added, 'As storytellers we hope our stories touch people,' and emphasized the importance of the artists in bringing attention to homelessness. Keith Deidrich from the Gathering thanked the team for the collaboration. The film educates the audience about homelessness and inspires action through community engagement. The film and discussion showed that there is more to homelessness than meets the eye. Verdin said 'It's a gift for a filmmaker to get to explore such great stories and share them.' The screening is a step in challenging the status quo and finding solutions to a big problem.
Los Angeles Times
30-01-2025
- Entertainment
- Los Angeles Times
Ewan McGregor and Mary Elizabeth Winstead Talk 'A Gentleman in Moscow'
At a Q&A moderated by Yvonne Villarreal of the Los Angeles Times, Ewan McGregor and Mary Elizabeth Winstead chatted about adapting Amor Towles' book, 'A Gentleman in Moscow,' into a TV series. The screening was on April 28, 2024, at The Culver Theater. The story is about Count Alexander Rostov who is under house arrest in a grand Moscow hotel for the rest of his life after the Russian Revolution. 'I feel like there's a character that comes along every once in a while that you really connect with, and that was the case with me,' McGregor said. He read the pilot script and the book and knew he had to play the Count. 'I fell in love with him... I had what I needed to play him,' McGregor said, talking about the deep connection he has with the character. Winstead who plays Anna said McGregor was so excited when he read the book. 'He was my God, it's so good,' she said. He was sharing bits of the book with her. 'He was giving me little hints that there might be something in it for me as well,' Winstead noted. During the Q&A, Villarreal asked if they felt pressure from the book's fans. McGregor said he consciously decided not to. 'It's not useful to put that pressure on writing is so good that I knew who he was,' he said, talking about capturing the character as Towles saw him. Shot in Manchester, the series has an amazing set that recreates the hotel which is key to the story. McGregor and Winstead said they tried to stay true to the book while making it new for a new audience. 'A Gentleman in Moscow' delivers a rich tapestry of human connection set against a historical backdrop as McGregor's compelling portrayal of Count Rostov and Winstead's engaging performance as Anna capture the hearts of viewers.
