Other filmmakers working well beyond the constraints of Hollywood may not have the resources to develop sprawling multi-part epics, but they’re applying the concept in more personal and innovative ways. Several highlights from this year’s Cannes Film Festival build on previous work from their directors by either continuing stories started in earlier work, or adding new dimensions to environments they’ve explored before. As a whole, they offer a refreshing contrast to traditional franchises by emphasizing creative inclinations over IP exploitation — the opportunity for stories to develop a dialogue that spills over from one movie to the next....

The two Oscars for “Ma Rainey’s” were expected for the bold and gritty verisimilitude demanded by Davis and supplied by 89-year-old costume designer Ann Roth (a two-time winner), makeup stylist Sergio Lopez Rivera, and hair stylists Mia Neal and Jamika Wilson (who made Oscar history as the first Black female winners from their category). They made her sexy and subversive with a flashy wardrobe, gold teeth, charcoal-like makeup, and a wig made of horsehair....

“SNL” airs on Saturdays at 11:30 p.m. ET/10:30 p.m. CT on NBC. The weekly episodes, as usual, are available to stream on Hulu the next day — typically by 12 p.m. eastern time — and will also be made available on NBCUniversal’s new streaming service, Peacock, on Sunday as well. If you’re on the West Coast, you can catch “Saturday Night Live” on NBC beginning at 8:30 p.m. PT. If you have access to cable but still want to watch “Saturday Night Live” online, you can use your digital login credentials to stream the episode live on NBC’s website, which also gives you entry to other live programming from the network....

Will Smith gets up close and personal with some of the planet’s most breathtaking spectacles in “Welcome to Earth,” a six-part limited series from National Geographic, which premiered on Disney+ December 8. Guided by elite explorers from all over the world, 51-year-old Smith embarks on the once-in-a-lifetime journey to discover “hidden worlds that sit beyond our senses.” In the first episode, Erik Weihenmayer, a blind mountaineer, and volcanologist Jeff Johnson lead Smith on a trek to Mount Yasur, an active volcano in the South Pacific....

Each episode takes a cue from its title, promising the viewer a better understanding of how to tackle a particular task. These range from having a bit of small talk to covering furniture to improving memory. All of these journeys are pieced together from Wilson’s home videos and excursions into various parts of New York. They begin from a humble starting point, branching out further and further as Wilson interviews experts and passersby, trying to get at some deeper understanding buried in each episode’s premise....

The Academy Award and Emmy winner co-stars opposite daughter Mia Threapleton in Channel 4 anthology series installment “I Am Ruth.” The third season debuts with Winslet’s feature-length episode, starring as a mother grappling with her social media-addicted teenage daughter (Threapleton). “I Am Ruth” was conceived and developed by Winslet and filmmaker Dominic Savage, who created the “I Am” series. Gemma Chan, Vicky McClure, and Samantha Morton led the first season, with Letitia Wright, Lesley Manville, and Suranne Jones appearing in the second....

The major sticking point in the latest round of negotiations is over rates and/or benefits for streaming projects, which are currently slated at a lower rate under the “New Media” classification. IATSE argues that after 13 years, streaming can no longer be considered “New Media,” preferring the term “Not So New Media.” (Crews working on Netflix series and movies are paid at union rates, but benefits paid via residuals are a point of contention....