DAVID ANSEN, Artistic director of the LA film festival by Marla Lewin I just got off the phone with David Ansen, who I have known from the festival circuit, as well as I must admit we are neighbors.  Through the years I loved reading his Newsweek reviews, as he is so highly regarded as one of Americas top film critics.  It was an honor to speak with him today in his new position. Marla: So David, I remember last year you were on the Jury of the LA film festival, and w...

by Marla Lewin Ed Asner was born the same year as the Moss Hart and George S. Kaufman play, Once In A Lifetime, was written 1929. Ed has been a regular performer for the LA Theatre Works readings of great plays since its inception in 1985. The first live reading of this play back then had guests Steven Spielberg and Barry Diller in the audience. The producer explained that their technique and equipment for that performance had not been as good as they would have liked so they had always wanted...

As I settled into my theatre seat to watch "Rocky Balboa", the sixth and final installment in an initially cherished and later maligned franchise, my hopes were high and I was ready to cheer. Hyped by positive pre-release buzz, it seemed that Sylvester Stallone had finally recovered the magic that made him a star exactly thirty years ago. The original film, directed by John Avildsen (The Karate Kid), was sweet, tender, humble and authentic in tone – all qualities that each subsequent sequel la...