tMF | The Movie-Fanatic

Is James Franco trying to re-invent himself? Is there really such a need for that? I mean, the guy is popular and well-respected for his talent - he's good at comedy, drama, action-thriller. Now he's doing soap opera! Is there something going on? Apparently there is. Movieline did an interview with 'Carter', considered Franco's frequent artistic collaborator, to find out what the actor is up to.  I'm not too sure what 'artistic collaborator' means really, but I had a bad feeling... Anyway, let's take a closer look...

- - - Erased James Franco by Carter [ see note below ] - - -

Some of you may already know, Franco is doing a soap opera - General Hospital, aside from six major movies in various production stages. The popular soap is more than 40 years on television and still retains loyal viewers, but why would meone like James Franco be interested in joining the cast? Why not concentrate on movies? Is this a strategy of sorts - a career move perhaps?
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Carter, Franco's friend and collaborator responded:

People are very critical. Obviously, someone like James Franco - someone who's not starting out - does not necessarily have to be on a soap opera. I think this notion of "Why would he dare do something like that? It's a career killer!" is silly. Liz Taylor was on General Hospital, for crying out loud! For James, it's much more of a challenge, and that's to his credit. It's a challenging thing to be on a soap opera - it's a lot of work, it's a lot of memorization. In the context of him, again, this is not something he would have to do, but it's something interesting to him. I take the credit...but that's why I work with him, too. He's open to doing other things. [ source: Movieline interview ]

I can definitely get the logic behind the career move. I just felt it's odd. Anyway, here's more of Carter's 'rationale':

I think actors in particular use their bodies and their image and their physicality for their career, and they can be pigeonholed very quickly. Someone like James has a little more that he wants to do with his life, and that's what you're seeing with him poking fun at himself and doing things that a great actor and a Golden Globe winner like he is doesn't necessarily have to do.

Ah, that's fine with me too! But I don't want to rely too much on Carter, even if he officially represents Franco and has already consulted the actor before doing this interview. So, what are they saying? I mean, those outside the 'collaboration'?

Says NYMag:

Franco essentially is doing something no one has done before: voluntarily, and apparently by his own design, embracing daytime drama. Soaps tend to be treated (unfairly) like a training ground for actors who want to achieve "real" stardom elsewhere, so an artist of James's talent, youth, and fame level choosing to act there, even for two weeks, is like eating lunch alone in the cafeteria for two years only to have the hottest dude in school ask if he can sit with you and share a plate of fries: Nobody wants to look the gift horse in the mouth, but it's awfully hard not to keep one eye on its ass just to make sure it's not secretly peeing on your leg. It feels natural to search for an ulterior motive to this career move: Is it research for a movie role? Did he lose - or win - a bet? Maybe he's making a play for Total Entertainment Domination, and will by 2010 have also hosted a game show, run a news hour on CNN, and released a hit rap album. Or perhaps Franco is just a cool dude making what's perceived to be an uncool choice simply because - gasp - he thought it sounded like fun. [ Source: NYMag.com ]

Here's a clip, which is way way better than me writing more...

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Black Book mentioned six reasons why he's doing the soap, and here's one of the reasons:

Soap operas are hurting in these economic times. Franco's giving back, knowing well that the promise of himself should at least help spike the viewership of one of the industry's standbys. [ read more ]

I suggest, you simply watch the clip above and then react as you wish.

[ Note: Carter directs the American actor, James Franco in a film that has him 're-enact' every television and film performance from his entire career, creating a new narrative from these re-visited performances. As the film unfolds, Franco also plays the part of Julianne Moore in the Todd Haynes film, 'Safe' (1995) as well as Rock Hudson in the John Frankenheimer film, 'Seconds' (1966). The result is a schizophrenic, daunting and poetic performance that has Franco not only playing 'himself as himself' but also the roll of a celebrated, 'leading lady' (Moore) and one of Hollywood's charismatic 'sex symbols' (Hudson).]

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What's on your mind? Is doing General Hospital a wise career move for James Franco? What's your definition of an 'artistic collaboration'? Are you a fan of James Franco? Let us know what you think!
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