James Franco's father passes away

Actor James Franco is in mourning following the death of his father.

Franco's mother Betsy confirmed the news of passing of Douglas Eugene Franco on Twitter, reports express.co.uk.

"It is true that my sweet, generous husband passed away. He gave so much to his three sons and me, and to many other people too," she posted.

Indo Asian News Service

I'd love to do a Bollywood film: James Franco

James Franco on his latest release, Danny Boyle and more

While films like 127 Hours, all Spider-Man, Milk, Eat Pray Love and others catapulted James Franco to being one of the most bankable stars in Hollywood, he also happens to be one of those rare actors in Hollywood who actually went back to university in order to complete his education.

His latest blockbuster, Fox Star Studios' latest reboot in the Apes saga: Rise of the Planet of the Apes starring Freida Pinto is running to packed houses across India. Starting this week the film will be running in select multiplexes in India. In a quick tete-a-tete, Franco talks about his latest role...

You play a scientist in the film. What made you choose the role?
I was intrigued by the film. Not necessarily because I'd play the role of a scientist. But I was very interested in the technology that would be used to create this film.

Both you and Freida have a successful history with Danny Boyle. Was that the ice-breaker for you?
Yes, it was. The first thing that Freida and I spoke about was Danny Boyle. We both agreed that Danny is the best guy around!

How significant are reviews for your performance?
Some critics might judge my performance not based on my work but on the fact that (they think) I'm doing too many things at one time - that I'm going to school as well as acting and I shouldn't be doing that. However, the response to the movie has been great. So maybe I was wrong when it came to believing that is how critics work.

Have Danny Boyle, A R Rahman or Freida influenced you to do a Bollywood film?
I'd love to do a Bollywood film. It looks like a lot of fun. I've watched one (although I don't remember the name) and it was whacky and seemed great! I'd love to do the whole song-and-dance routine.

Franco, Taylor-Wood to create short films

Lead vocalist for R.E.M. Michael Stipe has signed on actor James Franco and director Sam Taylor-Wood to create short films to accompany the highly anticipated new album, 'Collapse Into Now'. 

Franco, 32, and Taylor-Wood, 44, have signed up to direct clips inspired by different songs on the record for Stipe's Collapse Into Now Film Project.
 
Stipe, 51, handpicked both the actor and the 'Nowhere Man' director for his latest effort, and admits, to NME.com, he gave them "free rein" to do whatever they liked with his tracks.
 
"I went to people I really wanted to work with and I could trust them to do whatever they wanted. They had absolute free rein," the Daily Express quoted Stipe as saying.
 
"In many instances I was surprised, in many instances I got what I wanted. What I wanted wasn't primarily important though, what was important was to trust the directors with something as precious as a brand new song.
 
"It was really fun for me to curate, working with all these different artists, and seeing how they interpreted the songs. The thing that was surprising is how much they interlockingly work, like an album.
 
"It was a way of presenting the idea of an album in 2011, beyond a music fan's idea of an album 20 years ago. The way technology is right now, it's possible to present something in any way you want to.

Lindsay Lohan, James Franco to pose naked for sexually explicit book?

Washington, March 01 – If reports are to be believed, then Lindsay Lohan has inked a deal worth almost 3,400,000 dollars to produce a sexually explicit book with controversial photographer Terry Richardson.

According to a report in the UK’s Herald Sun newspaper, much like Madonna’s 1992 book ‘Sex,’ the ‘Mean Girls’ star is planning to strip down to the altogether in a series of explicit nude photos. 

Instead of using Vanilla Ice as her sexual muse, Lohan has reportedly enlisted former fling James Franco to get naked with her.

While in this case, Lohan seems to have marginally better taste in men than Madonna, the book will hardly cover new ground. 

“There will be a lot of nakedness–some of it graphic and suggestive–but it will be a real statement book. Obviously, there will be comparisons to Madonna’s book. But James and Lindsay believe theirs will be classier,” Fox News quoted a source as saying. (ANI)

May’be I’m just gay: James Franco

Los Angeles – ‘Spider-Man’ star James Franco is done to death reacting to constant rumours about his sexuality and has finally gave in and joked that he just might not be straight.

Franco, despite dating actress Ahna O’Reilly, faces a lot of speculation about his sexuality as he has played several gay characters in the past. However, he protests that just because he is fascinated by homosexual characters from different eras, doesn’t mean he is only interested in men.

‘Part of what I’m interested in is how these people who were living anti-normative lifestyles contended with opposition. Or, you know what, maybe I’m just gay,’ he said in a statement from his recent outing ‘127 Hours’.

Franco finds it amusing that society is obsessed with people’s sexuality. However, he is troubled by the ‘black-and-white’ way the subject is viewed, as he considers it to be a more complex matter.

‘It’s funny because the way that kind of stuff is talked about on blogs is so black-and-white. It’s all cut-and-dry identity politics. ‘Is he straight or is he gay?’ Or, ‘This is your third gay movie – come out already!’ And all based on, gay or straight, based on the idea that your object of affection decides your sexuality,’ he said. 

IANS