Portrait by Ron Cobert
Throwback to my shoot with James Franco for a Japanese publication.
We had almost no time — so I arrived at the client’s hotel in Santa Monica, asked to have the bed removed, and turned the room into a temporary studio. One light, one backdrop, one chance.
The shot was worth it. Thanks James and team.
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During his teens, James Franco left home and aimed for the stage. After enrolling in UCLA’s English department, he devoted himself to performing arts while working part-time. His breakout came with the TV drama Freaks and Geeks. After that, he took on roles in films of various genres, continuously expanding his range as an actor.
In Spider-Man, his subtle performance as a young man conflicted between friendship and revenge drew wide attention. Since then, offers from major productions have poured in, and in the upcoming film City by the Sea, he delivers an intense portrayal of a youth trapped by destiny.
Still only in his early twenties, he speaks with surprising calmness and maturity. With a solid awareness of both his weaknesses and strengths, he steadily piles up experience as an actor. His attitude — tackling each role with sincerity rather than chasing fame — has earned him the admiration of many directors.
He says that his goal is to “keep improving, little by little, without losing joy in the work.” For this new era, he’s a symbolic figure of young talent who refuses to be discouraged by failure.
James Franco by Ron Cobert
Portrait by Ron Cobert Throwback to my shoot with James Franco for a Japanese publication. We had almost no time — so I arrived at…