Students In The News: James Franco’s D Gets Professor Fired

Dr José Angel Santana, who taught as an assistant arts professor on the actor's graduate film course, says that Franco – who supplements his acting career with stints as a novelist, installation artist, film director, soap star and part-time lecturer at NYU – attended just two of his 14 lectures on a course called Directing the Actor II. Santana alleges that the university has given the star preferential treatment because of his celebrity status. "The school has bent over backwards to create a Franco-friendly environment, that's for sure," he told the New York Post. "The university has done everything in its power to curry favour with James Franco."

Santana also claims that Franco received good grades from his former colleagues despite similar levels of absence from their lectures. He says that this was in return for the publicity the actor's enrolment has brought the school and because Franco has collaborated with faculty members on independent film projects. William Vincent, a drama starring Franco that was released in 2010, was directed by NYU professor Jay Anania. The film featured a walk-on part for John Tintori, the graduate film department chairman.

The NYU, who have yet to see the lawsuit, have called Santana's claims "ridiculous". "It is regrettable and disappointing to see a faculty member – former or otherwise – discuss any student's grade for the purpose of personal publicity," said NYU spokesman John Beckman via a statement released to the Hollywood Reporter.

Franco himself hasn't commented, but it's likely that he doesn't appreciate the extra drama thrown up by Santana's claims, nor the subsequent reports in the media. "Going to school is not a performance," he told the Guardian in February. "I'm not asking critics to comment on it. It's like they're equating it to reviewing Howl, or something … What's he trying to show us? I'm not trying to show you anything. I'm trying to go to school."

0 Comments