Francophrenia (or: Don't Kill Me, I Know Where the Baby Is)

  • 69'
  • USA
  • 2012
When James Franco announced he was to play a role in the TV series General Hospital, it caused quite a stir. Franco is known as a serious actor, so what was he doing in a soap series? There were rumours that his performance had something to do with an art project.
Not such a crazy theory, as James Franco (who acted in Spider-Man, 127 Hours and Howl) has many talents. He directs, writes, studies and makes (performance) art. Francophrenia demonstrates that there is more to his role as artist/murderer Franco in General Hospital than meets the eye.
The film starts innocently: we follow him during a day's shooting of the soap series. But it soon becomes clear that directors Ian Olds and Franco didn't want to make an ordinary documentary. In voice-over, we hear Franco's thoughts as these become increasingly paranoid and megalomaniacal. Francophrenia is a humorous, experimental psycho-thriller that Franco grandly and stunningly trips up. 'I'm everywhere. I'm the light of this world!'

  • 69'
  • USA
  • 2012
Directors
Ian Olds, James Franco
Premiere
World premiere
Country of production
USA
Year
2012
Festival Edition
IFFR 2012
Length
69'
Medium
HDcam
Language
English
Producers
Vince Jolivette, Miles Levy
Production Company
Rabbit Bandini Productions
Sales
Rabbit Bandini Productions
Screenplay
Paul Felten, Ian Olds
Cinematography
Doug Chamberlain
Editor
Ian Olds
Music
Joe DeNardo, Kevin Doria
Cast
Vince Jolivette, James Franco
Directors
Ian Olds, James Franco
Premiere
World premiere
Country of production
USA
Year
2012
Festival Edition
IFFR 2012
Length
69'
Medium
HDcam
Language
English
Producers
Vince Jolivette, Miles Levy
Production Company
Rabbit Bandini Productions
Sales
Rabbit Bandini Productions
Screenplay
Paul Felten, Ian Olds
Cinematography
Doug Chamberlain
Editor
Ian Olds
Music
Joe DeNardo, Kevin Doria
Cast
Vince Jolivette, James Franco