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James Franco Has Already Produced More Than 50 Projects And Earned A Ph.D.

By Stacey Cole
Published on: 05:09 PST, Sep 11, 2016

James Franco might have had a career that has spanned just over a decade, however, the 127 Hours star is already being regarded as one of the most influential and intellectual figures in Hollywood thanks to his incredible set of skills. According to Syracuse, James Franco has been invited by the Syracuse University to be a keynote speaker at the homecoming celebrations that will be held later in September.

Perhaps best known in the Spiderman franchise for his role as Harry Osborn, James Franco is a celebrity whose work in the field of cinema is a symbol of creative and innovative potential. Apart from being an Oscar-winning actor, James Franco has earned an excellent reputation for contributing to philanthropy and for motivating students to excel in academics. More recently, the True Story star was invited by the prestigious Cornell University to address the senior class students during their convocation.

Encouraging the students to be perpetual learners, James Franco urged those present to pursue their passion and lifelong dreams to be successful. Despite dropping out of UCLA in his freshman year, James Franco has harbored a thirst for academic pursuits that has enabled him to not only successfully pursue a degree in English at UCLA, but to also earn graduate qualifications in creative writing as well as a Ph.D. in English.

James Franco is also actively involved in teaching by conducting filmmaking and production classes at some of the most highly-regarded universities in the United States. The 22.11.63 actor has been striking the right balance between his film career and academic pursuits, leading those involved in academics to perceive the talented celebrity as an excellent example to motivate budding artists.

Additionally, James Franco has demonstrated himself to be a passionate professional who, apart from acting, has also earned credits as a producer and a director. Making his debut as producer and director in 2005 when he worked on The Ape, the comedy movie, which he also wrote, the actor has produced 59 projects and directed 36 projects respectively. One of his most recent and high-profile projects is In Dubious Battle, a movie which is based on John Steinbeck’s novel and that is set against the backdrop of the 1930’s Labor Movement.

Apart from producing and directing the period drama, James Franco also portrays one of the lead characters in the movie. According to Variety, In Dubious Battle shows James Franco playing the role of an angry communist who infiltrates the itinerant fruit-workers to mobilize them against the exploitation of the ruthless orchard owner.

In Dubious Battle is set to be one of James Franco’s most prominent films as a director, as it has enabled him to direct the legendary actor Robert Duvall who plays the role of the villainous orchard-owner in the movie. And it seems that the Child of God director has turned out to be the most devout filmmakers of his generation, proving that he can get the best out of young actors as well.

If Robert Duvall is one of the most veteran Hollywood legends to feature in In Dubious Battle, then the other side of the spectrum sees Selena Gomez, the actress and singer, featuring in the movie as well. According to MTV, under James Franco’s direction, Selena Gomez plays the role of a pregnant daughter of a migrant worker who is due to go into labor amidst the ongoing strike.

The movie earlier gained extensive publicity with the news that James Franco’s character will be helping Selena Gomez’s pregnant character to deliver the baby. In Dubious Battle is one of the many film projects that James Franco has been working on recently, with several of his other projects still in the pipeline waiting to be wrapped up. Variety reports that the most recent film that James Franco has signed up for is Kin, a sci-fi movie in which James Franco portrays a vindictive criminal who is in pursuit of an ex-conman and his brother.

[Photo by Richard Shotwell/Invision/AP]

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