Events happening Monday

BOOKS

Alice Hoffman The novelist visits the Writers Bloc series to discuss her new book, “The Red Garden,� which follows linked stories over 300 years in a mysterious New England town. Gail Eichenthal of KUSC will moderate. Writers Guild Theater, 135 S. Doheny Drive, Beverly Hills. 7:30 p.m. $20. https://www.writersblocpresents.com

MOVIES

Machine Project’s First Film The nonprofit Echo Park collective presents the premiere of its first feature film, shot over one 12-hour session and featuring a dozen performances, lectures, workshops and activities including an experimental women’s choir, a drum solo and Paleolithic fire technology. MOCA, 250 S. Grand Ave., L.A. 8 p.m. Free. https://www.moca.org.

“And the Award Goes to … Documentaries Race for the Gold� The International Documentary Assn. hosts a panel on the nonfiction filmmaking craft with guests including Lynne Littman, David Magdael, Steve Pond, Kay Schaber Wolf and AJ Schnack. Questions asked include: Is it worth it? Who is watching? How do I win in this awards climate? Cinefamily, 611 N. Fairfax Ave., L.A. 7:30 p.m. $20. cinefamily.org.

COMEDY

The Black Version An all-black cast of improv comics reimagines cinema staples at this uproarious, boundary-breaking night of comedy. It’s both a droll comment on the difficulty of being an African American actor and a devious alternate history of cinema. The Groundlings, 7307 Melrose Ave., L.A. 8 p.m. $15. groundlings.com.