Second Take: Black lead in ‘Little Mermaid’ remake brings welcome tide of representation

Looks like dreads are the new red. “Grown-ish” actress Halle Bailey and her signature locks have been cast as Ariel in Disney’s live-action remake of the 1989 classic, “The Little Mermaid.” The news of Bailey’s casting ran like wildfire across the internet after director Rob Marshall announced that Bailey, one half of the R&B sister […]

From panels to cosplay to art, thousands of fans find community at Anime Expo

Winged sorcerers and kunai-wielding shinobis flew down Figueroa Street on Bird scooters to mark the return of America’s largest anime convention. The Los Angeles Convention Center hosted Anime Expo from Thursday to Sunday, featuring a plethora of exhibition booths, panels and premieres. From a Shonen Jump panel discussing upcoming titles that will appear in the […]

‘The Big Bang Theory’ sets take the stage on Warner Bros. tour after show’s end

This post was updated July 1 at 2:00 p.m. New sets will arrive with a bang on the Warner Bros. Studio Tour Hollywood. Beginning June 28, “The Big Bang Theory” stage, “Stage 25,” joined the company’s studio tour, allowing fans to experience backdrops like Apartment 4A and the California Institute of Technology Physics Department cafeteria. […]

Movie review: Spider-Man battles monsters of expectation, grief in ‘Far From Home’

Peter Parker is far from home and in over his head. Eight months after “Avengers: Endgame,” “Spider-Man: Far From Home” follows Peter (Tom Holland) and his friends as they grapple with the aftermath of Thanos’ defeat. The ending of the last Marvel film was certainly bittersweet. Although everyone managed to return from dust, the world […]

Student attributes success in ‘So You Think You Can Dance’ to hard work, drive

The third time was the charm for Lorenzo Rangel-Santos’ “So You Think You Can Dance” audition. The fourth-year dance student is currently competing on season 16 of the TV dance competition where he has advanced to the academy round in the show’s most recent episode. After auditioning for the past two seasons, Rangel-Santos said he […]

Alumna’s documentary to shed light on survivors’ stories of sex trafficking

Melody Miller first discovered the reality of sex trafficking in the United States while volunteering in high school. The alumna’s time with an organization called MISSSEY – Motivating, Inspiring, Supporting & Serving Sexually Exploited Youth – opened her eyes to the fact that kids from her own California high school were being trafficked. This led […]

Q&A: Randall Park reflects on how his time at UCLA shaped his career in acting, writing

As a teenager, Randall Park went to record stores to buy CDs. Now, he raps about punching Keanu Reeves in “Always Be My Maybe.” Starring as Marcus Kim in Netflix’s recent romantic comedy, the alumnus paired up with fellow alumni Ali Wong and Michael Golamco to bring the film to life. The rom-com follows Wong […]