James Franco Preps Feature Film Directing Debut
Book publishing isn’t always a snore. Take, for example, James Franco‘s reading last night at the Barnes & Noble on Warren Street. It was such a hit that Franco wound up reading not one but two short stories–30 pages in all. If the largely female audience had prevailed, Franco would still be there now. That’s because he signed 400 copies of his “Palo Alto” collection in one hour, and spoke to everyone who showed up.
Later, Franco’s agent, Richard Abate, co-hosted a small dinner for Franco with Showbiz411.com at the Waverly Inn with his famed editor/publisher Nan Graham of Scribner’s, and another prosperous author–Chuck Hogan, whose novel “Prince of Thieves” became Ben Affleck‘s great movie, “The Town.”
A lot of the talk at the table was about Franco’s load of school work. And his amazing work out put! Guess what? While waiting for Danny Boyle‘s “127 Hours” and going to Yale, Franco is going to start shooting his own feature film in two weeks. He’s written a script from a biography of poet Hart Crane called “The Broken Tower.” Franco will direct from his script in and around the New York area. At least one actor has been mentioned for the cast: Oscar nominee Michael Shannon, who is also going into an Off Broadway play soon.
How’s he going to do it? I don’t know. I’m exhausted thinking about it. Here’s a clue: at dinner every one had a glass of wine, and Nan Graham — a highly respected literary editor– made a beautiful toast. Franco had a Diet Coke. He was also first to leave, literally wiping sleep from his eyes while the rest of the table chatted away. So he’s human, and smart.
PS I really liked Chuck Hogan. What a nice guy, from the Boston suburbs, but completely devoid of the Boston accent that marks his characters. He was a little envious of Franco’s female following at the book store. “Most of my readers are guys,” he told me. “That’s great, but…” When he heard that “someone” popular named Blake Lively was a fan a couple of years ago, he was thrilled to find out Blake was a “She” not a “he”!
With “The Town” and “127 Hours” headed to Oscar land this winter, what a table! And in the main at the Waverly: Sarah Jessica Parker and Matthew Broderick with pal, actor John Benjamin Hickey–he’s a hit playing Laura Linney’s brother on “The Big C.”
[…] Click here to read the rest. Entry Filed In: James News | Leave a Reply […]
[…] Crane based on Paul Mariani’s book The Broken Tower. The latter appears to have come true, as Roger Friedman reports that Franco has adapted The Broken Tower, will direct it, and plans to start shooting […]
[…] James Franco is directing a film based on American poet Hart Crane entitled “The Broken Tower”. ”Franco will direct from his script in and around the New York area. At least one actor has been mentioned for the cast: Oscar nominee Michael Shannon” What we really wanna know is, where’s that “Pineapple Express” sequel, like, man!? (More…) […]
[…] Roger Friedman reports that James Franco will shoot the feature starting two weeks from now. He wrote the script based on the biography, and while talking to Showbiz411 mentioned one actor who may appear in the film: Michael Shannon. Whether he would play Hart Crane, and whether James Franco might act in the film as well, we don’t currently know. […]
[…] Click here to read the rest. […]
He’s a major talent this one…one to watch..