James Franco Enrolls at Columbia, Vainly Attempts to Ignore Stalkers
James Franco, of Spider-Man and Pineapple Express fame, is now a student at Columbia's School of Arts, where he is pursuing a pricey MFA in writing. News of this has traveled fast, especially around Morningside Heights. It seems like many Columbians have been desperate to catch the star's attention whenever he makes a public appearance. Gawker, via the Commentariat, reports that recently, while studying in a campus coffee shop, a crowd had formed around him like "cats in heat":
About 20 minutes later, people start hoarding around the entrance of the cafe, and by 11:50PM, most Columbians, particularly the type of ridiculous, squealing, freshman girl are all harassing the poor guy. At first, he would try not to respond. This made things quite awkward since the gawkers were shameless enough to literally go right up to him in desperate attempts to get his attention. Ha! He thought his headphones had the power to transport him into another world where he could be a student in peace."
Granted, on the one hand these stalkers should give the poor man some space, but on the other hand Franco should have given more thought to studying in a place as noisy and public as a coffee shop! Someone direct him to one of the quiet wings of Butler ASAP. There will still be students staring at him from across the room but at least in theory they'll be quiet. If they aren't he can at least sic the librarians on the worst offenders. On another note, one must wonder what Franco is trying to get out of Columbia to begin with. The Ivy League cachet? Starving artist cred? A sweet book deal with an advance that pays .000001% of the money he makes off a typical blockbuster? Who knows, but good luck!
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September 10th, 2008 at 2:18 pm
that wasn’t a quote from gawker. that was from the spec blog:
http://commentariat.specblogs.com/index.php/2008/09/09/leave-james-franco-pricks/
i figure they need the publicity more than gawker.
September 10th, 2008 at 2:29 pm
Duly noted and updated.
September 10th, 2008 at 5:44 pm
Well….On the one hand anyone who studies (or write their eternal screenplay)in coffee shop is a douche, regardless of status. What do you think, people have to see you write for it to count?
But the Franco mania has really gone insane around here. It’s getting about the same attention as McCain-Obama in terms of hallway conversations from what I can get. Jesus Christ, just let the guy study fuck.
What do you expect to gain from going up to a stranger, who seems to have no interest in socializing (headphones= piss off in case people were still wondering) and introducing yourself because he’s famous? A ticket to the next Teen Choice Award? Him adding you on facebook?
September 10th, 2008 at 10:48 pm
“while studying in a campus coffee shop, a crowd had formed”
An Ivy League education and you can’t spot a dangling modifier?
September 11th, 2008 at 12:40 am
Hey, up at the med center it’s all about Chelsea…
September 11th, 2008 at 1:03 am
It actually seems fairly legitimate. There is an article in the September GQ about him. You can check it out here and see for yourself:
http://men.style.com/gq/features/full?id=content_7397.
September 12th, 2008 at 9:03 am
Hmm.. don’t those Columbia students feel embarrassed for harassing a celebrity like that? You’re in the Ivy League – don’t act like you’ve never seen a celebrity before.
September 15th, 2008 at 8:23 pm
He just wants what every other Columbian & NY’er loves – anonymity in public. He’ll figure it out.
Hell, I accidentally pissed off Elijah Wood the other night in the East Village. I felt like an ass, even from a completely honest & shocked reaction.
September 17th, 2008 at 1:56 pm
He was also in a campus coffee shop at 11:50pm.
At that hour, most of them are just quiet and empty public spaces with tables.
October 13th, 2008 at 1:29 pm
Columbia’s a good school. Some even say it fucks like franco, but I dunno, I haven’t been there.