Author Archives: Angela Shawn-Chi Lu

“War on Their Minds: Voices of American Kids” Directed by Jennifer Glos About 150 children ages 4 to 18 from all parts of Southern California were questioned on the subject of war for this film. Kids from anti-war families as well as kids who attend military school or have parents fighting in Iraq were interviewed […]

A little less than a year ago, seven UCLA graduate film students were given the opportunity of a lifetime. Showtime Network, which has 35.9 million subscribers, offered to air and partially fund a film from each student in a joint project with UCLA titled “Images of War in the 21st Century,” which will air in […]

Walking through Shanghai, actor Nonso Anozie couldn’t help but stick out in the crowd. The 6-foot-6 London native of Nigerian parentage attracted a massive group of Chinese spectators wherever he went on a recent trip to China for British theater group Cheek By Jowl’s production of “Othello,” in which he plays the leading role. “I […]

Actor Terrell Tilford is completely irritated with the fact that he keeps getting questioned about performing nude on stage. “I don’t really understand why,” he said. “Can you explain that to me? It’s not really a big deal.” The 35-year-old actor, who played Malik Todd on Showtime’s “Soul Food,” is now performing the lead role […]

Two weeks ago, at a recent breakfast for several hundred Geffen Playhouse subscribers and donors, Geffen Playhouse Producing Director Gil Cates conducted a poll right there in front of attendees while they had their coffee. “How many of you hated a play here last year?” Cates asked. And to Cates’ relief, several hundred hands went […]

It’s strange and unexpected. But a quarter of the Laker Girls have a UCLA bachelor’s degree in world arts and cultures. On one hand, with their gold and purple short shorts and tight midriffs, Laker Girls don’t exactly embody the archetypical image of academics, even though most (80 percent) of them are full-time college students […]

Dressed conservatively in a navy polo shirt, light-blue slacks and brown leather loafers, 81-year-old veteran comedic writer Ben Starr is seated comfortably cross-legged in his warm-hued modest condo in West Los Angeles when he says the last thing I would have expected him to say during our interview: “I happen to be a freak.” But […]