James Franco: the actor who wrote a poem for Barack Obama

http://www.guardian.co.uk/film/shortcuts/2013/jan/23/james-franco-wrote-poem-barack-obama

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<strong>Age:</strong> 34.

<strong>Appearance:</strong> Omnipresent.

<strong>Occupation:</strong> Actor, director, poet, musician, student, teacher, performance artist.

<strong>Did you say poet?</strong> It was in there somewhere, yes. Franco has written a poem to commemorate the second inauguration of President Barack Obama.

<strong>The guy from the </strong><strong>Planet of the Apes</strong><strong> movie wrote a poem?</strong> That's correct.

<strong>Wait, I think I see what's happened here: you're confusing James Franco, actor from the Spider-Man franchise and much-criticised one-time Oscar host, with </strong><strong>Richard Blanco</strong><strong>, the award-winning poet who was chosen by Obama to compose a poem for the swearing-in ceremony.</strong> I wish it were so, but it isn't. Franco also wrote an inaugural poem (and filmed himself reciting it), titled Obama in Asheville.

<strong>Where's Asheville?</strong> In North Carolina.

<strong>And what's Obama doing there?</strong> He's not there; Franco is.

<strong>Is this poem about Franco, or Obama?</strong> Good question. Here's an extract: "I was asked to write something/ For the inauguration of his second term, but what could I write?/ I was in Asheville, studying writing, but not the political sort/ I write confessions and characters, and that sort of thing ..."

<strong>Yeesh.</strong> "... I wrote my friend Frank about what I could do, but he was unresponsive./ I went to class and then the little burrito place where they know me ..."

<strong>Enough! What made him think he could write a poem in the first place?</strong> Franco is a bit of a polymath. When he's not acting, he's educating himself. He has a masters degree from Columbia, attends film and creative writing courses, is studying for a PhD at Yale while teaching a class at UCLA. He's also published a book of short stories, made short films and held gallery exhibitions.

<strong>Where does he find the time?</strong> He likes to keep busy. He even has a recurring role in the long-running daytime soap General Hospital.

<strong>Do say: </strong>"He acts, he paints, he writes and he thinks,/ He's a man of parts, but his poem still stinks."

<strong>Don't say:</strong> "Actually, Blanco's poem wasn't much good either."