Franco's Yale Prof: James Is a Model Student

He finds the 'D' grade 'shocking'
By Evann Gastaldo,  Newser Staff
Posted Dec 21, 2011 10:55 AM CST
James Franco's Yale Professor Insists Actor Is a Model Student
In this photo provided by the Austin Film Festival, James Franco talks about his new film 'Sal' following a screening at the Austin Film Festival and Conference in Austin, Texas on Oct 23, 2011.   (AP Photo/Austin Film Festival, Jack Plunkett)

Did James Franco really deserve that D he got in an NYU acting class—the one that may or may not have gotten his acting professor fired? R. John Williams doesn’t think so, and he should know: He’s Franco’s English adviser at Yale, and in a glowing Slate essay, he insists that Franco is actually a model student for whom “blowing off class” would be “highly uncharacteristic.” Franco kept all but one of his weekly “directed reading” meetings with Williams, and held them via video conference since he was filming a movie in Detroit at the same time.

Though Williams did reprimand Franco for the one meeting he missed, the professor admits that it was “interesting, even thrilling” to study film theory with an Oscar-nominated actor. For one weekly meeting, Williams flew out to Franco’s set, an experience he found “breathtaking.” And for all those who wonder how Franco manages to juggle acting and scholarly work, Williams reveals that actors actually have a lot of down time while filming movies, and says he is no longer surprised when Franco does extra work. “James Franco is becoming a scholar,” he concludes, “and I suggest we take him seriously." (More James Franco stories.)

Get the news faster.
Tap to install our app.
X
Install the Newser News app
in two easy steps:
1. Tap in your navigation bar.
2. Tap to Add to Home Screen.

X