James Franco - James Franco Addresses Public Persona In Francophrenia

James Franco Addresses Public Persona In Francophrenia

James Franco is using 'Francophrenia' as a way to comment on his public persona.

The 'Planet Of The Apes' actor co-directs and stars in the film - full title 'Francophrenia (or, Don't Kill Me, I Know Where the Baby Is)' - about a TV soap actor who gets his identity confused with his character, and is using it to address the audience about The Who he has become in the media's eye.

He told The Hollywood Reporter: ''Doing something like this is saying, look, I know what all of you guys are doing, and also this public thing that's been created is not all my doing, but here's a way for me to comment on that, too.

''But it's not me trying to get my story across in a clear way or even look good - I f***ing hate that hair I have in it, I cringe every time I see it - but it's a way for me to kind of, I think, call some people out, but also just make my own comments on it.''

The film is a mini-thriller which incorporates footage of James' guest appearances on daytime Drama series 'General Hospital', and he likes the idea of remoulding footage shot for one project into an entirely different one.

He added: ''I went to acting school for like eight years, I got sick of the idea of just honing and honing my craft.

''So honing craft, yes is important, but also kind of less interesting to me than it is to step aside and look at that material and re-examine it and turn it into something else.

''Afterward, I can step back and look at that like a sculptor looks at clay and say, that's raw material that can be turned into something else. And I think it's very potent material.''

'Francophrenia (or, Don't Kill Me, I Know Where the Baby Is)' will premiere at the Tribeca Film Festival in New York on Friday (20.04.12).