March 31st, 2011
09:31 AM ET
James Franco to teach directing at NYUHe's already teaching a class about himself at Columbia College Hollywood, and now James Franco is taking his knowledge to NYU. The everywhere actor will serve as the instructor for a third-year course on directing at the Tisch School of the Arts, reports the New York Post. The course will be limited to 12 students and will focus on adapting poetry into short films. Oscar nominee Franco has previously directed several short films, is planning to direct three screenplays, and recently teamed up with rockers R.E.M. to direct two mini movies for the group's Collapse Into Now Film Project. "He's here to teach because he really knows something about directing that he can share with our students," John Tintori, chair of the graduate film program, tells the New York Post. "He's incredibly prolific, and that comes from a real work ethic — and that's another thing to impart to our students." Student reaction to Franco's new gig, however, has been mixed. "I think using celebrities is great," Heather Fink told the paper. "We want successful people who know about the business." Meanwhile, Ashley Lawwill is holding off on taking the course. "I find it absolutely ridiculous and silly to sign up just because he's James Franco," she said. "I imagine in the first year, it'll be a lot of people just there for the name." |
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James Franco half-assed a MFA at Columbia, half the time NOT showing up to class and sending his assistant, then graduated a year early, meaning he didn't do his thesis. But that's cool because he's James Franco. Then he got to go to Yale, where he might have received his doctorate, but mocked everyone who actually puts in the full amount of work to get a doctorate. Same at Columbia. The guy isn't a real scholar. He's a hot famous idiot with a lot of money, collecting degrees, not actually doing the full work, or getting the full experience. NYU hiring him is no better than Rutgers using $32,000 in student fees to pay for Snooki to come speak at the school.
"i buy vi/ag/ra...and le/vi/tra...and ci/al/is...hit the bath tub...pop a bo/ner, pop a bo/ner, pop a bo/ner, pop a bo/ner, pop a booooo/nerrrrrrrrrrrr!"
I heard he's working on The Banana Express.
maybe he can direct this poem: thouest tubesteak,you must thrust thyself deeply into tight piehole,thrusting,thrusting toest thou climatic finish.
James did direct a movie called "good time max." it was very experimental.
Who. Really. Cares? Why is this news?
Oh, I read that wrong. I thought it said Franco Harris. Darn, he would have been horrible at this job.
Why all the James Franco bashing? He is a good actor, earned a doctorate and he's adorable. So what if he sucked at the oscars? He never claimed to be a comedian, the acadamy got what they paid for.
Can someone please point me to the movie where he plays a talented actor.
Like, OMG, if ashley lawwill is holding off then it can't be good!
Everyone, send Ashley a facebook friend request.
Franco, did you kill jake?
I cannot stand all the childish negativity of you idiots! It's because of you that this country and world has so many problems. Just go kill yourselves already so that the rest of us can live in happiness and progress towards a better world. I'm serious about that. Go buy yourself some satellite tv, get a free gun and blast your ignorant hollow brains out of your ugly face and souls. Thank you 🙂
Btw, this is not about hiring a celebrity to come teach a class because there are plenty of well-known actors/actresses that exist today. It's about hiring someone highly educated with first-hand, extensive experience in the subject. Anyone wanting to learn about directing should be so lucky to have this opportunity to learn from someone with such an extensive background.
Hey, Turd Ball, lighten the f up and go refill you lithium prescription.
Lmfao! Jiggered sounds like she has sand in her va/gi/na!
I have direct knowledge that James Franco's meteoric rise is due to the fact that he once shoved Richard Gere up a gerbil's a$$.
he needs to quit the drugs and alcohol. ...just look at him and you can tell he's hooked already.
oooh judge nancy has arrived! fyi nancy-pants, Va*gi*sil is a drug too so before you go accusing people of being hooked on drugs you might want to stop being such a hypocrite.
must be a slow news day. he told this on the daily show 2 or 3 months ago.
I can't help but love James Franco, regardless of his Oscar-hosting performance. He's always pushing his abilities and talents in new directions and challenging himself. We should all be so driven.
Oprah taught a class at Kellogg while I was an undergrad at Northwestern and it was a similar debacle. To those who oppose his teaching at NYU, just don't take the class. His celebrity will bring money into the university and draw applicants, all of which will bolster NYU's reputation and funding. I am willing to bet that James Franco will be a much more hands-on teacher than Oprah was; the MBA students complained about how inaccessible she was in answering questions.
This man is working. He is appropriately ambitious and not afraid to step out of traditional comfort zones in his use of actors' mediums for expressions and instruction of his art. He is unusual as far as this is concerned. The positive results of his ongoing professional formation are far reaching!. An individual in any profession may accept varied opportunities to complete particular tasks with or without GREAT success. The point is: one has tried, and simply from that effort of expanding one's repertoire and experience, of increasing one's personal knowledge one begins to share that event/knowledge/experience with the public as James has and is doing in various ways. His attempts are not the result of an inflated ego and self-serving perspective. This alone is a rare occurrence in his field. I see only growth for him as the years continue to prosper him.
I heard the class he is teaching is called:
"How to be gay in hollywood 101"
Is he going to teach students how to suck at directing like Flyboys? Like him somewhat as an actor but does he know much about directing?
There is no better way to learn a subject than to teach it.
james franco is the man, constantly in school, stoner, actor, teacher
he does everything
It doesn't mean he does it well.
@ulysses, i think what you're saying is that you fail at everything, even at getting stoned. in a stoner-esque tone, "sucks to be you, man!"
oooo burn... :-/
sounds like ashley lawwill is a nerd
I thought he got a new job as a suppository quality control inspector.
Best. Comment. Ever!
All praise the mighty Jinda! After all, it is her volunteer participation in a Mitchum focus group that has led to advancements in body odor protection.
I wonder what the lottery is like to get into that class?
99.9% men
scottie, right, it'll be faaaabulous!!!!!
seriously, this is great that he'll be teaching because he directed such great films as... uh... omg he's so cute!
I hope he doesnt direct anyone to behave and act in the way he did not the Oscars.. He sucked!
blah blah, you just thought he was bad because you heard the bickering in the news. if you didn't know any better, doubt you would even care
I sincerely hope this man begins to read up on REAL poetry like Rainer Maria Rilke etc....before he begins teaching this class. So far all he's been able to spew out with his pseudo intellectual mind has been the innate ramblings of the annoying "Beat" poets. Quite honestly I think he needs to stick to acting and leave the poetry to the people who are well read and know what it means to really write.
Alex, no, he's saying it because he sucked.
I'm a fan of James Franco and I will gladly admit that he was probably one of the worst hosts of ANY of the award shows. He didn't care that night and it showed. However, I think he's a great actor, seems like a nice guy, and I'm happy for him that he's chosen to teach others. Kudos to him and good luck.
He was just baked. I would have been too if I had to sit with all those judgemental, insecure coke-heads....
No, he really did do a terrible job at the Oscars, both of them.
Those who can,Do.Those who can't,Teach
Zach, innate ramblings? Did you just copy/paste that from somewhere? Why do you assume he is teaching Modern Poetry? He's teaching a class on directing. Also the Beats were a major influence on today's poetry, literature and art, and most people don't find them boring. Sorry about your crush on Rilke, but it never would have worked out for you.