Web Series Imitates Art Imitates Life of James Franco

The go-to online outpost for Hollywood celebrities looking to create atypical content outside the confines of a bureaucratic studio system has long been Funny or Die. Will Ferrell and Adam McKay’s comedy video website functions like a playground for entertainment industry elite. James Franco was one of the first to get in the sandbox.

James Franco Teaches Acting debuted in early 2008. The three episode web series features Franco, dripping with self-deprecating cool, dropping some Lee Strasberg knowledge on the audience and his little brother, Davey. It’s entertaining, and apparently some institutions of higher learning also find it educational.

The powers that be at Columbia University have tapped the movie star, conceptual artist, fiction writer, grad student, and cipher and his collaborator/editor Tyler Danna to teach a Master Class. It’s called ‘Editing James Franco…with James Franco.” From CNN from MovieLine:

Rumor has it Harvard’s School of Executive Education is also trying to add Will Ferrell to its teaching roster. The Ivy League institution wants him to lead a course regarding tenants’ rights aimed at students enrolled in the Real Estate Program