By Bill Vaughan
Entertainment Writer
Acclaimed filmmaker, writer and producer Ava DuVernay (“Selma,” “When They See Us,” “Origin,” “Queen Sugar”) is coming to the Ford for a free special presentation of her new documentary “14th,” an examination of the ongoing struggle to define American democracy on Oct. 29 in advance of the film’s worldwide Netflix debut on Dec. 4.
Look closely at the constitutional crises dominating headlines today and a pattern emerges, hardwired into 160 years of history. Ten years after her Academy Award-nominated documentary “13th” examined the prison industrial complex and mass incarceration in the United States, “14th” exposes an unfinished battle to define America, now taking on drastic new dimensions.
Following the screening, DuVernay will be joined by participants featured in the documentary and a moderator for a live conversation exploring the film’s themes and contemporary relevance.
“As a daughter of Los Angeles, I dreamed of bringing “14th” to the city in a big way,” DuVernay said. “I’m thrilled that our nonprofit ARRAY Alliance can offer hundreds of free tickets to fellow Angelenos in the gorgeous Ford Theater. This marks the film’s first public screening in the country beyond the festival circuit.
“There’s a difference between something being over and something being resolved,” she added. “A great deal of American history is over. Far less of it has been resolved. Our film tries to show you the hidden operating system underneath the country we’re living in now.”
Tickets can be reserved at theford.com.
CINE-FILED: Once upon a time in New York City, I missed the last train to New Jersey by mingling after a high-end fundraiser. Desperate for a way home, I approached Newark’s legendary wordsmith and activist Amiri Baraka and his wife Amina, who consented to driving me after first dropping off famed pioneering filmmaker William Greaves to his uptown abode.
At the time, I was editor-in-chief of Entertainment News Magazine and got grilled in the car about whether the publication was Black since it wasn’t in the title. I told them it was Black owned but that wasn’t enough. I was asked again and told them we covered Black entertainment. I’ll never forget Greaves’ sly grin as he knew they weren’t going to stop until the admission came out of my mouth.
This weekend the critically acclaimed “Once Upon a Time in Harlem,” a jewel of a film conceived and filmed by Greaves in 1972 opens Oct. 23 at AMC Century City. This documented time capsule of a gathering of “Harlem Renaissance” luminaries including Regina Andrews, Eubie Blake, Romare Bearden, Arna Bontemps, Ernest Chrichlow, John Henrik Clarke, Ida Mae Cullen, Theodore ‘Ted’ Poston, George Schuyler, Noble Sissle, James Van Der Zee and Leigh Whipper, to name a few, is mandatory viewing.
It will be ushered in this weekend with a Q&A session with the movie’s closers: director and son David Greaves and co-producer Anne De Mare in conversation Oct. 23 with director Barry Jenkins (“Moonlight“) and on Oct. 24 with actress Dawn-Lyen Gardner (“Queen Sugar”).
Also in theaters nationwide is international box office sensation “Once Upon a Time in the Middle East,” China’s official entry for the 99th Academy Awards. Starring Shen Teng as a chef in a foreign land, it has top tier acting, direction by Wen Muye, writing and cinematography. This epic is one of the best movies of the year. If not nearby, seek this one out on demand.
TASTY QUIP: “For the past year I’ve been watching so much happen in the culture while working on music. I think about how it started, I think about the Mississippi Delta to New Orleans to New York. I think about Robert Johnson at the crossroads, how he changed music, and how we can’t even find his grave. Sometimes I look at all artists, creators and executives the same way. The music game forgets or doesn’t compensate the foundation. Our greats have been stolen from and ripped off of.” – NAS on IG
CLIPPETTES: Jay-Z celebrates the 30th anniversary of his debut album “Reasonable Doubt” and the 25th anniversary of “The Blueprint” for two nights Oct. 23 and 24 at SoFI Stadium in what insiders are calling a rehearsal for his return to the venue for the 2027 Super Bowl halftime show …
Also on Oct. 23rd, Joy Oladokun brings her hits and songs from her new album “Hope Is A Heavy Thing” to The Bellwether; Rapsody plays Blue Note LA; Flying Lotus is at the Fonda Theatre; and Wesley Joseph is at the Echo …
Kool & The Gang, Zapp, The Sugarhill Gang, Evelyn “Champagne” King, Rose Royce, One Way and Dazz Band are set for I Love Funk Fest on Oct 24 at Pershing Square while Gorillaz comes to the Forum; Vic Mensa to Blue Note LA; George Lopez to the Orpheum Theatre; and YG to Toyota Arena (before his Oct. 28 date at Crypto.com Arena …
Kobe Bryant’s eldest daughter Natalia Bryant made her runway debut with Dennis Rodman’s daughter Trinity Rodman for the PINK segment of Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show in LA …
Jodeci’s 35th anniversary “Forever My Lady” Tour hits YouTube Theater on Oct 25 (also Oct. 27 at Toyota Arena) as Tamar Braxton is at Blue Note LA; Bryson Tiller (with Majid Jordan & Ty Dolla $ign) at Intuit Dome; the Michael Franti Trio at House of Blues Anaheim; Devin Daniels at the World Stage; and the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Theme Show Fundraiser with former Supremes Scherrie Payne & Lynda Laurence and Joyce Vincent is being held at Catalina Bar and Grill …
The Grammy Museum hosts a conversation with singer, songwriter, and producer The-Dream on Oct 26 while Gary Clark Jr. is at the Orpheum; and Tom Jones is at the Greek …
Shaboozey comes to the Greek on Oct 27 as British soul crooner Daley is at Blue Note LA; Chief Keef at the Wiltern; The War & Treaty at El Rey; Keb’ Mo’ at the Grammy Museum; and Bill Bellamy is honored by the Witherspoon Family Foundation at Catalina Jazz Club …
CAAM hosts an exclusive screening of “A Huey P. Newton Story on Oct. 28 at 7 p.m. followed by a conversation with Roger Guenveur Smith and producer Steven Adams, who will discuss this landmark project while commemorating the 25th anniversary of the film alongside the 60th anniversary of the Black Panther Party’s founding …
![](https://wavepublication.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/Yes-on-Prop-3-728x90-1.jpg")
In addition that evening, Dilated Peoples is at the Belasco Theater; UB40 is at House of Blues; and Goapele kicks off a two-night stand at Blue Note LA …
Oct. 29’s offerings include Don Omar’s “The Last King World Tour” at Toyota Arena; Shyne, Barrington Levy & Lil’ Cease at the Novo; and John Scofield‘s “Electrospective” featuring Oteil Burbridge, Larry Goldings & Adam Deitch at the Regent.
TASTY QUIP: “I’m not a Spike Lee fan. He actually irks the f— out of me, but they stole this man’s movie [“Highest 2 Lowest”] verbatim. [“Animals” with] Ben Affleck and the home chick [Kerry Washington] is the same movie but just with white folks in it and one Black chick. I’m lost. AI is one thing, but this ain’t even sampling. They’re just stealing” — FAIZON LOVE
TC ON TV: Oct. 23 – “Lupin” (Netflix): Omar Sy returns as the charming gentleman thief for a fourth season. “Battle of the Streaming Stars” (Roku): Terry Crews produces and hosts along with Yvette Nicole Brown this competition that pits comedians, actors, reality stars, and creators in larger-than-life challenges.
Oct. 24 – “Secrets of Mercy Hospital” (Lifetime) Judy Reyes (“Scrubs,” “Claws”) portrays a woman who returns to the working-class town she fled as a teenager where she is forced to confront the long-buried secret of the daughter she gave birth to and left behind at 18.
Oct. 25 – “Saturday Night Live UK” (Peacock): Cynthia Erivo hosts with musical guests Blossoms. “The Simpsons” (Fox): Tiffany Haddish and Jeff Probst of “Survivor” lend their voices in this all-new “Treehouse of Horror XXXVII” episode.
Oct. 26 – “Independent Lens” (PBS): Brittany Shyne’s “Seeds” looks into the lives of Black generational farmers, unveiling the challenges of maintaining legacy and the value of land ownership.
Oct. 27 – “Zainab Johnson: Toxically Optimistic” (Netflix): In her second stand-up special, produced by Barack and Michelle Obama’s Higher Ground, the comic has a gun revelation, a Tesla crisis and an unshakable belief that she can find the upside in everything. “The Drop: A Snowfall Saga” (FX): As this superb season comes to an end, songs performed by Buddy who plays aspiring rapper Artillery have become quite popular. “Kordell Stewart: Slash & Burn” (HBO): Follows the former Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback from being one of the most electrifying players of the 1990s to his life being upended by a malicious rumor. “Nick Cannon @ Night” (BET): Natalie Nunn & Dr. Boyce Watkins debate “Are You Too Broke To Date?”
Oct. 29 – “Cupertino” (CBS): Guest star Amanda Warren (“East New York,” “The Night Agent”) returns to television as a district attorney.
END QUOTE: “I never assumed that I was going to make it further than Tupac and Kurt Cobain. I had been led to believe that the good die young, and I had seen enough examples. I just assumed that was going to be my lot in life, which meant I needed to be more.” – KATT WILLIAMS to the Hollywood Reporter
For more than 12 years, Bill Vaughan has kept Wave readers up to date with the latest news in entertainment. To contact Vaughan, visit his social media pages on Facebook and Instagram or @tasty_clips, on X @tastyclips, and on LinkedIn to William Vaughan.
