Lots to think about; the how-to of indie films

Charlie Kaufman fans can at last talk about: “Synecdoche, New York.” The screenwriter’s directorial debut, about a playwright (Philip Seymour Hoffman) whose personal life bleeds into his work and vice versa, premiered earlier this year at the Cannes Film Festival to positive if cautioning reviews. You either enjoy awesome mind puzzles or you don’t. (Friday)

You could also talk about -- or to: Kaufman’s collaborator, director Michel Gondry. Gondry, behind the whimsical images of Kaufman’s bittersweet romance “Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind,” will be at the Hammer Museum to discuss his creative process as laid out in his fanciful indie filmmaking how-to guide “You’ll Like This Film Because You’re in It: The Be Kind Rewind Protocol.” (Monday)

A note to those already talking about: “High School Musical 3: Senior Year.” Kids, it’s finally here! Parents, they’ve promised that this is the last one. The end is in sight! (Friday)

... and now the kids can graduate to talking about: “South of Nowhere.” The well-reviewed teen drama, which aired on the N cable network and has its first season out on DVD, follows the life of Spencer, a high school student who begins to question and explore her sexuality after she falls for her friend Ashley. No musical numbers here, but, in exchange, real characters. (Tuesday)

Don’t like jamming to another artist’s music? You can talk about: Wii Music. It’s kind of like a cross between Rock Band and Katamari Damacy: You can pretend to play more than 60 instruments to tunes (and with characters) as fanciful as the kind you’d find in the trippy Japanese video game. (Monday)

-- Denise Martin