News

One of the leaders of a militaristic Christian group is facing dozens of child sexual abuse charges in New Mexico, where authorities have alleged he raped a 7-year-old girl he was caring for at least four times a week for two years, People confirms.

Peter Green, who helps oversee the Aggressive Christianity Missions Training Corps in Fence Lake, New Mexico, has been charged with 100 counts of criminal sexual penetration of a child, according to criminal complaints obtained by People.

He is being held on $5 million bond and has yet to enter pleas to the charges against him.

Green’s mother-in-law is Deborah Green,...

I Am Michael

Written by Justin Kelly & Stacey Miller

Directed by Justin Kelly

USA, 2015

It’s painful to criticize a well-intentioned, socially relevant movie like I Am Michael. Director Justin Kelly’s passion for the project is evident in every frame. Still, there’s no denying this is a deeply flawed and surprisingly sparse film that fails to illuminate its frustrating protagonist. Despite a few moments of emotional clarity and a solid performance from James Franco, I Am Michael leaves you feeling ambivalent and, quite frankly, bored. This is a fascinating story that got lost in translation.

In 1998, Michael Glatze (Franco) was the editor of the influential San Francisco-based Xy Magazine, a leading voice in the gay community. Ten years later, Michael had renounced his homosexuality as a sin and was on the path to becoming an ordained minister. What caused this dramatic shift? How could Michael, once so outspoken...

Following a first look at James Franco's forthcoming film The Sound and the Fury, a period drama that also stars Seth Rogen and Danny McBride and is premiering at the Venice Film Festival, we have a look at one of the actor's forthcoming starring roles currently in production. After going gay with a pivotal role in Milk previously, this time director Gus Van Sant is producing Michael, a drama which will see Franco playing Michael Glatze, a San Francisco gay activist who somehow evolved himself into an ex-gay Christian fundamentalist, as chronicled in the New York Times article "My Ex-Gay Friend" by Benoit Denizet-Lewis back in 2011. Now we have a first look photo from the set showing Franco at work, filming a scene. Look! Here's James Franco in Justin Kelly's Michael from the actor's Instagram page: Michael is directed by freshman filmmaker Justin Kelly who co-wrote the script...

No Salutation: Franco Resurrects Tragic Mineo to Aimless Effect

Like The Broken Tower, which documents the tragic end of poet Hart Crane, James Franco’s second directorial effort from 2011, Sal, also happens to resurrect an artistic queer figure from the past, this time Oscar-nominated actor Sal Mineo, murdered outside his West Hollywood apartment back in 1976. While the film is finally being granted a theatrical release, Franco has gone on to debut a slew of other directorial efforts, expanding his desire to provoke, titillate and subvert notions of queerness in a broader cultural discourse with items like his co-directed Interior. Leather Bar, and even adapting notable literary works, like Faulkner’s As I Lay Dying and Cormac McCarthy’s Child of God. Considering an equally heavy acting schedule, Franco’s output is quantitatively impressive, but quality thus becomes the lack in his exploration of the last hours of the life of Sal Mineo.

Behind the scenes on the Sal set with James Franco and Val Lauren

No one has a career quite like James Franco. There are his big screen star turns in films like Milk, Howl or 127 Hours, but he’s just as likely to pop up on television in everything from The Mindy Project to General Hospital. Then there’s his own writing and directing projects such as Interior. Leather Bar. Franco always manages to compel us and keep us interested in what he’s up to, including his latest project.

He may have directed the film Sal a few years ago but it’s only been his busy schedule that has kept it from reaching theaters (and VOD) until now. The film, written by Stacey Miller, chronicles the final day in the life of Sal Mineo, the twice-Academy Award-nominated actor (for Rebel Without A Cause and Exodus) who came out in the 1960s and,...

Sneak Peek footage from director James Franco's "Sal", a biopic of murdered actor Sal Mineo, starring Val Lauren, Franco, Vince Jolivette, Jim Patrick, Trevor Neuhoff, Stacey Miller and Raymond T. Williams:

"...'Sal' chronicles the final day in the life of actor 'Sal Mineo' (Val Lauren), 1950's teen idol and an Academy Award nominee for his roles in 'Rebel Without a Cause' and 'Exodus'. Almost two decades later, Mineo is no longer the marquee sensation he had once been..."

Click the images to enlarge and Sneak Peek "Sal"...

James Franco has turned into a prolific director, with 14 credits since 2010. However, he saves his mainstream efforts for Actor James. Director James is more interested in the arthouse, and none of his works so far have seen a wide release. Sal should have some broad appeal as a biopic of notable star Sal Mineo, yet two years have passed since Sal premiered at the 2011 Venice Film Festival. Tribeca Films is nearly ready to release it to the world on VOD October 22, followed by a limited theatrical release November 1. Val Lauren stars in the title role. Franco, James Franco, Vince Jolivette, Jim Patrick, Trevor Neuhoff, Stacey Miller, Raymond T. Williams co-star. Watch the trailer after the break. Official synopsis: James Franco's Sal chronicles the final day in the life of actor Sal Mineo (Val Lauren), 1950s teen idol and an Academy Award® nominee for his roles in Rebel Without a Cause and Exodus.

After taking a film to Sundance, and more recently premiering Palo Alto at Telluride and Child of God at Venice, the ever-busy James Franco shows no signs of slowing down. Later this year, he'll be seen facing off against Jason Statham in the thriller Homefront, and now audiences will see another dramatic turn by the actor this fall. However, in this case, the film Sal was completed and premiered at the Venice Film Festival back in 2011, and Tribeca Film is bringing it to VOD and limited theaters. Franco directs the film following Sal Mineo, supporting star of Rebel Without a Cause, on the last day of his life, 20 years after his stardom. It's fitting that Franco made this film after playing James Dean in a TV movie years ago. Watch! Here's the first trailer for James Franco's Sal from Tribeca Film, via Vulture: James Franco directs Sal, written by...

Leave it to James Franco! The prolific actor/director has created a new feature film about the last day in the life of "Rebel Without A Cause" star Sal Mineo from a script by Stacey Miller.

The film is called "Sal" and is set to premiere on-demand on Oct. 22nd with a debut at the Sundance Sunset Cinema in Los Angeles on Nov. 1st. Val Lauren (who also appeared in Franco's "Interior. Leather Bar.") stars in the title role.

Franco stars as Milton Katselas in the movie. Katselas was an American director and producer, as well as a Hollywood acting instructor and coach.

Just in 2013 alone, Franco has made "As I Lay Dying," "Interior. Leather Bar," "Child of God," and "Venice 70: Future Reloaded." On top of that, the actor has also appeared in "Spring Breakers" (fantastic performance, I might add), "Oz The Great and Powerful," "This is the End,...

The first trailer for James Franco's directorial effort The Broken Tower has come online, courtesy of Focus Features. Check out the trailer below!

Shot in black-and-white, the film is about the poet Hart Crane, one of the more tragic figures of the 20th century. In addition to being a heavy alcoholic, his most ambitious work was critically panned and he wound up committing suicide at the age of 32 by jumping off of a boat in the Gulf of Mexico. The movie co-stars Michael Shannon, Stacey Miller, and Dave Franco and is currently available On Demand.

The Broken Tower comes to theaters in 2012 and stars James Franco, Michael Shannon, Stacey Miller, Vince Jolivette. The film is directed by James Franco.

Director: James Franco Writers: James Franco, Vince Jolivette, Stacey Miller, Michael Gregg Michaud (book) Starring: Val Lauren, Jim Parrack, James Franco, Vince Jolivette, Stacey Miller I have not read it yet, but I bet Dave Wilson's review of Sal is much more informative than mine. I plan on more of a drunkenly loose diatribe of why James Franco's bio-pic of Sal Mineo (Val Lauren) -- the teen idol and star of Rebel Without a Cause and Exodus -- is so damn important. Sure, Sal is destined to suffer the same cultish fate of most films about gay protagonists (Howl being an all too perfect example), but I think it deserves much, much more than that because Sal is a beautiful, sexually ambiguous portrait of a gay film star's final day of existence. Making a film that takes place within the rigid confines of the final day of its...

By Sean O’Connell

Hollywoodnews.com: A handful of stellar titles with Oscar aspirations have been programmed into this year’s Austin Film Festival schedule, which begins on Oct. 20 with an as-yet-unnamed Opening Night selection.

In between, Aff audiences will get their first looks at Alexander Payne’s “The Descendants,” Steve McQueen’s “Shame,” Lynne Ramsay’s “We Need to Talk About Kevin,” Rodrigo Garcia’s “Albert Nobbs” and Sean Durkin’s “Martha Marcy May Marlene” – all films with awards hopes that will screen as part of the festival’s Marquee category.

“We’re proud to be taking our program in some exciting new directions while maintaining our focus on strong writing and engaging stories,” said new Film Programmers Stephen Jannise and Stephen Belyeu.

In addition, the fest has set up special screenings of “Toy Story” (presented by John Lasseter), an “Edward Scissorhands” screening, and a tribute to Polly Platt...

The Los Angeles Film Festival has announced the world premiere of Richard Linklater's Bernie as the opening night film for the 2011 festival.

The film will kick off the festival on June 16 at Regal Cinemas Stadium 14 at L.A. Live. It is written by Skip Hollandsworth and director Linklater and stars Jack Black, Shirley MacLaine, and Matthew McConaughey.

The film follows a beloved mortician (Black) from a small Texas town, even winning over the town's richest, meanest widow (MacLaine). Even after Bernie commits a horrible crime, people still will not utter a bad word against him.

"We're thrilled to be opening the Festival with the world premiere of this delicious black comedy - a treat from one of the most original and exciting voices in independent film, Richard Linklater," said Festival director Rebecca Yeldham. "With its fabulous all-star cast, Bernie is a perfect stage setter for the incredible line-up of...