Star interview with James Franco
This man does not fit in any drawer! James Franco gives courses at the university and plays in parallel a brutal drug dealer with ratchet and gold teeth.
Photo: Getty Images
JOY: You're in the fantasy movie "The Fantastic World of Oz" as a dubious magician. Mila Kunis, Michelle Williams and Rachel Weisz play three witches to ensnare you. How did you feel as a cock in the basket?
James Franco: Grandios (laughs). Especially exciting was that each of the three sorceresses tickled out another facet of me. On the side of Mila's mysterious Theodora character, I play the charming seducer, with Michelle's sweet Glinda me a real romance and Rachel leads me as deceitful Evanora properly by the nose and makes me look like a stupid clown.
In the gallery we tell you five reasons why you just have to love James Franco (5 pictures):
What was it like to shoot in an absolutely fictitious fantasy world?
This challenge really fascinated me! It's the first time I've been in a movie that's about 95 percent visual. The Oz fantasy landscape was re-alised with particular attention to detail, because the production design was done by Robert Stromberg, who also designed the scenes of "Avatar" and "Alice in Wonderland".
Acting alone does not seem to fill you in. She also writes screenplays, paints, recently founded a band called Daddy, works on her Ph.D. and currently teaches film courses at four universities. Why are you dancing at so many weddings?
In the film business, many actors are too tough for me. Everyone is desperately looking for a next project: which film do I shoot now? What will be my next big thing? This results from a very narrow-minded, ego-related attitude. I'm a completely different type, I need a colorful life and want to let off steam on very different levels!
What made you decide to give film lessons?
During my studies, I produced a lot of lavish short films that nobody else could see outside of the classroom. That was pretty frustrating and I would like to change that condition. I can now provide my students with a good springboard through my relationships in Hollywood.
Thanks to your contacts, the episode film "Tar", which was shot by ten of your New York University students, was shown at the Rome Film Festival in November. Were you proud of your junior directors?
And how! I find annoying premieres, red carpets and the feeling of being blinded by flashing flashes, but my students were blown away. They were able to present their work to an audience that pays admission, which never happens at a film school - and got qualified criticism, bad and good! After the performance, I was so moved that I had to cry uncontrollably. That only happens when I'm extremely touched. It was terrific to show people a world I've known for 15 years.
How do you reconcile all your activities? Do you still find time for sports, dates and sleep?
Yes, that works! Workout: I do pushups every morning. Dates: I work on many projects with good friends, of course women - with whom I go out then. Sleep: I only need six hours.
In the summer of 2011, you separated from your friend Ahna O'Reilly after five years. What qualities are important to you in a woman?
She should be intelligent and creative, understand and support my lifestyle. And have a certain serenity. I also had girlfriends who have turned into a bitchy two-year-old at the slightest dispute - that's really too stressful for me!
Next up is the provocative party movie Spring Breakers (theatrical release: March 21, 2013). Is it true that you are co-star Ashley Benson?
I seem to be happy. Supposedly, in the last few months, I even had an affair with two of my colleagues - Ashley and Selena Gomez. I should also have flirted with Kristen Stewart. We were at the same time at the Toronto Film Festival. I sat in the thirteenth row when she was interviewed on stage for The Road. So intimate was our contact, I wish so, too, I would have been a bit closer (laughs)!
In "Spring Breakers", you are hardly recognizable as a trigger-happy drug dealer alien. How did your daily metamorphosis in the mask go? On the first day I got the Rasta pots woven in, which took five hours. I wore this hairstyle throughout the three weeks that we shot. In addition, gold teeth and 15 tattoos were glued to me every day.
Did you also celebrate Spring Break during your semester break?
No, because I only studied for a year at the university in L. A. and then went to drama school. When I started my studies at 27, I felt too old for this kind of party. It's crazy that I did not experience certain things in real life, but only in the movie: I've just "Sienna Miller" in "Camille" (laughs) for a prom in "Unkisses" with Drew Barrymore and married so far.
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