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Composer Danny Elfman may best be known for his work on cult classics like Batman, Good Will Hunting, Edward Scissorhands and The Nightmare Before Christmas. But at the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra’s annual gala and fundraiser on Saturday, the industry titan was given a special nod for his prolific body of work both on and beyond the screen as the evening’s honoree.

That Elfman’s pieces have honored both the legacy of film and classical composition was a complement to Laco itself, which was formed in 1968 to encourage classically trained studio musicians not to “drift too far away from the classical repertoire, the concert hall and recording and playing new concert music from contemporary composers,” previous gala honoree and composer James Newton Howard (The Fugitive, My Best Friend’s Wedding, Hunger Games) said in remarks ahead of presenting Elfman with the award.

“Of course, I knew and admired Danny...

If there were an award to bestow for the most accomplished living American pop songwriter who never doubled as a recording artist, the frontrunner would almost definitely be Mike Stoller, 89, half of one of the most famous writing duos of all time, Leiber & Stoller. Even if the memory of Elvis Presley were completely wiped away, like the Beatles’ in that “Yesterday” movie, this pairing would still be in the history books and collective consciousness for “Stand by Me,” “On Broadway,” “There Goes My Baby,” “Young Blood,” “Kansas City,” “Love Potion #9,” “Yakety Yak,” “Charlie Brown,” “I’m a Woman,” “Ruby Baby,” “Is That All There Is?” and other numbers deeply embedded in pop culture from the mid-‘50s forward.

But we do remember Elvis — and are remembering him more universally than we have since his 1977 death, thanks to Baz Luhrmann’s new “Elvis” biopic. So it’s a perfect chance to catch up with Stoller,...

Studio chieftains and major performers, producers, and directors, including Jeffrey Katzenberg and Steven Spielberg, are planning a Sept. 24 fundraiser for top House candidates seeking to flip districts to the Democrats.

The event, to be held at Marcy Carsey’s home, will raise money for the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee. Nancy Pelosi is scheduled to attend, along with candidates in the key races.

On the list of other entertainment supporters who have signed on to the event so far are Alan and Cindy Horn, Barbra Streisand and James Brolin, Damon and Heidi Lindelof, Billy and Stacy Ray, Amanda Peet and David Benioff, Stacey Sher and Kerry Brown, Cameron Crowe, Joe Calabrese, Rob and Shari Friedman, Jim and Ann Gianopulos, Mark Gordon and Sally Whitehill, Cliff and Leslie Gilbert-Lurie, Sam Gores, John Landgraf, David Linde and Felicia Rosenfeld, Mike Stoller and Corky Hale, Eric Roth and Debra Greenfield, Tom Rothman and Jessica Harper,...

Project directed by The Diary Of A Teenage Girl helmer Marielle Heller.

Fox Searchlight has begun principal photography in New York on Can You Ever Forgive Me? starring Melissa McCarthy, Richard E Grant (both pictured), Jane Curtin, Dolly Wells, Anna Deavere Smith and Jennifer Westfeldt.

Marielle Heller directs from a screenplay by Nicole Holofcener and Jeff Whitty based on the novel of the same name by Lee Israel.

Archer Gray president of production Anne Carey, Archer Gray founder Amy Nauiokas and David Yarnell produce and Pamela Hirsch, Jawal Nga and Bob Balaban serve as executive producers.

The film recounts the life of celebrity biographer Israel who turns to deception when she is no longer in style.

The Latin America Training Center will host a three-day entertainment, business and legal affairs programme in Miami from March 29-April 1. The event will cover copyright in the age of digital music, intellectual property, virtual reality, production, distribution...

Fox Searchlight has begun principal photography in New York on Can You Ever Forgive Me? starring Melissa McCarthy (pictured in Spy), Richard E Grant, Jane Curtin, Dolly Wells, Anna Deavere Smith and Jennifer Westfeldt.

Marielle Heller directs from a screenplay by Nicole Holofcener and Jeff Whitty based on the novel of the same name by Lee Israel.

Archer Gray president of production Anne Carey, Archer Gray founder Amy Nauiokas and David Yarnell produce and Pamela Hirsch, Jawal Nga and Bob Balaban serve as executive producers.

The film recounts the life of celebrity biographer Israel who turns to deception when she is no longer in style.

The Latin America Training Center will host a three-day entertainment, business and legal affairs programme in Miami from March 29-April 1. The event will cover copyright in the age of digital music, intellectual property, virtual reality, production, distribution and licensing of new media content in Latin America, among other topics...