James Franco to Teach a College Course on Himself

If there's one indisputable truism of the 21st century, it's that
James Franco can do pretty much whatever he wants. He's one of Hollywood's most sought-after actors -- every bit as comfortable in dramas like 'Milk' as he is smoking a cross joint and mumbling in lighter fare like 'Pineapple Express.' And he's not just nominated for an Oscar this year, he's also
co-hosting the ceremony. Moreover, the dude is gearing up to direct an episode of soap opera mainstay 'General Hospital,' and it would seem as if he's simultaneously attending approximately 93 percent of the country's finest graduate schools.
But apparently that's just not enough, as
Movieline is reporting that Franco has tired of spending all his time in academia as a student, so he'll soon begin teaching a course of his own at Columbia College Hollywood (not affiliated with Columbia University, from which Franco received his M.F.A. in 2010). Professor James Franco might seem like a bit of a stretch, but surely none of Columbia College Hollywood's tenured faculty knows quite as much about the subject of the course: James Franco.
'Master Class: Editing James Franco... with James Franco' is what the class is called, and according to Columbia College Hollywood's press release, its curriculum will allow "12 of the private film school's best editing students [to] create a 30 minute documentary film from videographic footage from Mr. Franco's own unorthodox career." Yup, students enrolled in the course will dedicate their time to making a short film about James Franco, under the occasional tutelage and guidance of James Franco.
The press release explains: "Mr. Franco's frequent collaborator and editor Tyler Danna is teaching the course. ... Mr. Franco is providing the footage -- much of it from behind the scenes on short films he has directed -- and the conception for the course and will speak to the students weekly via live feed (Skype) and attend the weekly class sessions when his schedule allows. The student editors will seek to create a cinematic image of James Franco through the footage."
So... the course is using Franco as a conduit to explore the parallel notions of public persona and the death of privacy in the 21st century? Or perhaps it's about a celebrity's capacity to reclaim his own image? Or maybe it's just about James Franco doing pretty much whatever he wants. That being said, the press release ominously concludes, "The class sessions themselves will be taped and be part of the final film created by the class or another project. ... There is the potential to carry the class forward with 12 different editors in the spring quarter and beyond as the film project continues."
So what they're saying is that the course could ultimately serve as the foundation of something much larger. Has James Franco stumbled upon an unprecedentedly brilliant and cost-effective means of getting people to make a biopic about himself?
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see...like i said yesterday.....this guy is full of himself.
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Oh Dear. What a great self-important douche bag he is. Yes, I know it's one word...
And here he is, sharing a page with Holly Madison, Lindsay Lohan, Real Housewives and Kim Kardashian. Right where he belongs - among the greatest stars of our time! Hahahahaha.
What a loser, the only thing I want to know is where he buys his pot because this guy always looks stoned off his a**.
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The course is titled: "How To Be An Overrated Actor Who Gets By On His Good Looks".
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I love James Franco...he's so damn funny, fun and wild. one can't take him too seriously. I think he's having fun and doing what he loves. Some people are so corny they just don't get him. the most talented young actor we have today!!! Bravo Franco. You're so much more than just a pretty face.
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What an ego this guy must have.
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Absurd, even more ridiculous than the college "course" on the Beatles that you reported last week. BTW-who is James Franco?
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Only in California would this be believable..the land of fruits and nuts>
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James Franco is not only a talented actor, and underated, he is extreamly smart and very well educated. He may be full of himself as some say, but he can back himself up all the way.
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Never heard of him. Sounds like another greasy douche bag. Duh!
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