“Stevie” Directed by Steve James Lions Gate Films Watching someone you care about self-destruct can be a painful, saddening experience. In Steve James’ (who brought us 1994’s brilliant “Hoop Dreams”) new documentary “Stevie,” we get to observe as the filmmaker becomes immersed in a life spinning wildly out of control. Read more...

Kurt Voss may be down, but he’s not out. After two years of cinema limbo, Voss’ latest feature, “Down and Out With the Dolls,” has found its way into American theaters. Read more...

Conductor Masaaki Suzuki lives in a J.S. Bach world. He founded a Bach performance group in 1990 called the Bach Collegium Japan, which is currently recording all of Bach’s 200-plus cantatas at the rate of about three a year. Read more...

After performing across the world since the release of Ry Cooder’s “Buena Vista Social Club” album in 1996, Ibrahim Ferrer is finally starting to look old. Read more...

As a film student, Wayne Byrd wanted to educate others through his films. Now as a teacher, he’s still trying to do the same thing. Stressing an importance of life education through film, Byrd, a 2002 masters of fine arts graduate from the directing program of UCLA’s School of Theater, Film and Television, will present two of his short films at the James Bridges Theater this Saturday at 2 p.m. Read more...

“The Orchid Thief” By Susan Orlean Ballantine Books Those expecting to read an extended version of “Adaptation” when picking up “The Orchid Thief” will be in for quite a surprise. Read more...

With a reputation as the Godfather of screenwriting, Professor Richard Walter has molded many of Hollywood’s most prolific screenwriters. “Fight Club,” “Spiderman” and “Men in Black” were all written or co-written by his former students. Read more...