Shanley Caswell, is following a different script than the average college student. Since she was 16, Caswell has been acting in Hollywood, scoring minor roles on popular TV shows such as "The Mentalist," "I-Carly," "CSI: NY" and "Bones." Her new movie, "Detention," which opened on April 13, was the first film in which she was cast in a leading role. Read more...

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Third-year anthropology student Shanley Caswell is co-starring in the film “Detention,” alongside comedian Dane Cook and “The Hunger Games” actor Josh Hutcherson. Caswell has also played minor roles in several television shows, including “The Mentalist,” “I-Carly,” “CSI: NY” and “Bones.” She just finished filming a horror film titled “The Warren Files.”

The average person is exposed to images of violence on a daily basis from news telecasts to video games. For an artist, crafting a creative message from these themes can be a challenge. Read more...

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Courtesy of HAMMER MUSEUM/SOPHIE GIRAUD/ADORATION PRODUCTIONS

“Ararat,” directed by Atom Egoyan (above), will be screened at the Hammer Museum.

While filmmaking in Hollywood frequently pushes the boundaries and is celebrated for its provocation, the same cannot be said for filmmakers in Iran, where the writing, acting and craftsmanship "“ rather than a high budget or celebrity "“ are crucial to the film industry. Read more...

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UCLA FILM & TELEVISION ARCHIVE

MOURNING (2011), directed by Morteza Farshbaf.

Suicide is a jarring, tragic event that often cannot be explained. A teacher's suicide, especially one committed in an elementary school classroom, is even more unthinkable. Read more...

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MUSIC BOX FILMS