Last Friday James Franco and poet Frank Bidart discussed Franco’s A California Childhood, his latest book in which he plays with the concept of “memoir through personal snapshots, sketches, paintings, poems, and stories.”
This is not the first time the two have teamed up, Franco used one Frank’s poems for his short film Herbert White, starring Michael Shannon, a few years ago.
Frank read some passages from the book and James discussed childhood, saying it doesn’t feel free.
“It’s bound by sources of depression, self-hatred and a dark vision of life,” he explained. James said focusing on childhood lets you “look at the world with a limited perspective” and “influences a path out of a time of confusion.” The struggle of dealing with people is much clearer in youth and you’re better able to express confusion. This is why he uses youth to talk about other things.
Frank mentioned the candor James has and said this was the last thing you’d expect from a movie star. “It’s rare that someone in James’ position is always trying to tell the truth,” Bidart said.
James said when he was younger he was trying to shape his persona into a “cool guy” and he was very aware of it. He realized he couldn’t be satisfied with just acting because he had other voices that needed an outlet. He went back to school seeking these outlets in order to say what he couldn’t through acting. He loved writing as a form of expression.
He went on to talk about starting college after being an established actor and how it was scary to go into another area and start at the bottom. He said it’s the price you pay to engage in other things. You have to accept that you’re not going to be great and the satisfaction that comes from engaging in something is enough for him.
James also mentioned that improvising on Spring Breakers was similar to writing for him and that’s why he loved that role so much.
After the discussion James managed to personalize each book for everyone in the incredibly long line.
Check out photos from the book signing below:
Photo Credit: Denise Korey
