You can say a lot of things about James Franco, but you can't say he likes to play it safe. Franco is once again pushing buttons with his latest project, Interior. Leather Bar, a fictional story of the lost footage from real-life gay sex film Cruising that was allegedly cut from the film to avoid an X rating.
Fresh off of the box-office success of Oz the Great and Powerful, you'd think Franco might want to sit back and hit a doob, but this former 420-er is always on the grind. Throughout his film career, he's managed to attend some of the country's most prestigious universities, including Columbia and New York, and he's currently enrolled in a Ph.D. program at Yale. He also teaches, writes, and directs, and still managed to star on the daytime soap General Hospital, as "Franco", the mysterious artist-slash-serial killer.
In town for the Miami Gay and Lesbian Film Festival (MGLFF), Franco took some time to chat with us about receiving MGLFF's Ally Award, his role in Spring Breakers, partying in Miami, and the possibility of a Freaks & Geeks reunion.
See also:
- James Franco Coming to Miami for Gay and Lesbian Film Festival
- Miami Gay and Lesbian Film Fest: Movies That Go Beyond Coming Out
Cultist: How do you feel about the way people responded to your role in Spring Breakers?
James Franco: Really well. I'm very happy with the movie. It might be my favorite movie of all the ones I've done. It was so innovative, and structured so well, and it works on so many levels. I'd say, humbly, that it's the most original character I've been able to play.
Do you enjoy filming in Florida?
I love filming in Florida. We filmed Spring Breakers in St. Petersburg and I've been to Miami several times.
What attracted you to the project, Interior. Leather Bar?
I've always been interested in the movie Cruising, such a controversial movie, but still, 30 years old now. I felt it was ripe for reexamination. What had changed? I decided to explore the changes. In some ways, gay lifestyles are portrayed more frequently; you find a lot of gay characters in sitcoms and mainstream films, but there's still a lot of resistance to those lifestyles and relationships. In some ways it is so much more open, and in some ways it's still not so open.
With the resurgence of cult television shows like Veronica Mars and Arrested Development making comebacks, would you be interested in a Freaks & Geeks reunion?
Sure, I'd love to.
[At this point, Franco's assistant asked that we wrap up the interview. Sorry, fans -- but hey, it's a start.]
We know you're very into art, have studied it even. Any favorite Miami artists?
Woah... yeah. Damn. Well, I like Al Moran who worked out of Miami for a while.
How do you feel about being presented with the Ally Award by MGLFF?
It's a big honor and I'm happy that this movie has this kind of life, being shown all around the world even though this project is not mainstream entertainment. The fact that it has this kind of life is amazing.
What are your plans while you're in town?
Oh, I'm sure there'll be plenty of film festival parties to go to.
Interior. Leather Bar screens at MGLFF Sunday, April 28, at 8:30 p.m. at the Colony Theater (1040 Lincoln Road, Miami Beach). Tickets cost $11. Visit mglff.com.
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