Directing Herbert White: Poems

I'm not sure what initially drew me to James Franco. The man has charisma, but I wanted to sample some of his written work. I started with this, his book of poetry. I'm glad I did. There was negativity in these reviews. Without passing judgement--- I suspect there were a few Students of Poetry out there with huge student loan debt and a lot of steaming, hissing anger to take out on a guy who already has a successful career as an 'actor'. I have read enough poetry in my lifetime to appreciate all types, and have to admit I was intrigued by Mr Franco's style. His poetry reflects on his early life, and years in Hollywood, along with the intrigue and restlessness that accompanied it. The poem 'LOS ANGELES PROVERB' says:"The movie palaces were built with the bonesof ten million actresses, And thegreat mansions of Bel Air andBeverly Hills and Brentwood and thePalisadesAre the mausoleums of naked, drugged,stupid, happy, young actors, all gone."That, in my mind, sums up the gospel truth of Hollywood.When I started to read these, I realized this man had his own voice. Many are disappointed that they don't have the style of other established poets, but to me that is what made these poems so essential. Read through these and you will see why I call his style FEARLESS! Basically unafraid to take on almost any subject. While some might complain that this work is not 'The Raven', that's not the point. This is a wonderful beginning to his body of work. I'm sure there's more on the way.Two poems that stuck with me were, 'HOW SOON IS NOW?' which stirs up a hornet's nest of memories of his father (which I was able to relate to), and the starkly revealing, 'FAKE':"But on the page, this fake meIs the me that speaks.And this fake me is louderThan the real me, and heIs the one that everyone knows.He’s become the real meBecause everyone treats meLike I’m the fake me."

I love poetry and especially all the classics. I studied it in college and have always (tried) to write it and keep up on it. I find it harder and harder to discover new voices that speak to me. I tend to find more impact in lyrics. This reminded me of song lyrics in the best of all possible ways. I love work that is inspired by the work of others. That is what jazzes me up to write, sing, play music, draw or paint -- all that. When I go to a museum, I run home to draw. I love the Jungian idea of the collective unconscious and that we are all able to access that creative Muse which connects us all. This work was inspired by the work of the poet, Herbert White. I love that Franco just puts his inspiration out there - as he does in many of his own film. How beautiful to pay tribute to things that blow you away and take them even further and inspire others. This is a worthy read and worth revisiting as brilliant poetry always is.

I read Directing Herbert White cover to cover the day it was released. I had just finished reading his previous book, Palo Alto, and really enjoyed his writing style. I love the way his writing flows and really encapsulates you. He definitely steps outside of the box and keeps his readers engaged and can evoke an emotional response. It's also interesting to see the different dimensions of his pieces - from his career perspective in the public eye to his private perspective and it was nice to see some of that vulnerability in a couple of his pieces and how down to earth he is off the screen and stage. I've always admired his film work but I'm definitely an admirer of his writing. I'm definitely looking forward to his future literary works.

It's the work of a young poet, and I've read much of it (I like to read volumes of poetry slowly, not in one big gulp). What I've read made me smile, day dream, and further enjoy the huge talent Mr. Franco is. I'm happy I grabbed it up quickly (I'm a fan of Plath, Sexton, and the classic poets from Whitman to Frost to Barrett Browning) and would highly recommend it to anyone who is intrigued by what Mr. Franco may venture into next! James Franco appears to be a Renaissance Man.

It's difficult to be a critic of such a multi-talented person when you are between the covers (of this book) listening to him speak of things he wouldn't speak seriously about in public. Poetry is intimate and unique for everyone. He's my favorite this year next to "Beneath All Heavens" by Fowler. To read their stuff, one can only imagine what part of the verse is secretly real and so important that it was penned. James Franco really puts himself out there.

he created his own language to make sense of the world around him. a feat of creativity and imagination. i was taken in and i loved it. an escape from the world for a few blissful hours. poetry is more accessible to a mainstream audience if you dont have to decode and decipher it. its masterful, the world of a director put down on paper. you enter the realm and suspend reality for someone else's take on what life is all about.

Of course I think of James Franco in Spider -Man, Oz the Great and Powerful and SNL and part of me was reluctant to give him any credit as a poet and a writer. I bought his book out of curiosity and found myself reading poem after poem until I had digested them all. I like his free form modernistic style, his honesty and blunt wording. He reveals himself without inhibition and leaves the reader with his essence. I sincerely enjoyed it.

The content here is not the problem for me, I love Franco's writing, and am an avid fan of all of his work. The reason I'm giving three stars is because I received my book bent to the point where there is a giant crease across the cover and there are wrinkled pages. Not enough to call and complain about, but enough for me to be dissatisfied. Step up your game, Amazon.

This is possibly the first book of poems by a Hollywood insider/actor. It is original and intriguing - shows Franco's gifts as a writer as well as artist, director and actor. His poem about Bidart's Herbert White and his film of it is a must for anyone interested in poetry and film - and the masterly poet, Bidart.

This flows beautifully. It's like a conversation. Franco's velvety masculine voice in my head. It's personal, emotional and all that jazz. I recommend.

James Franco is an amazing writer I love all his books.

Brilliant book filled with amazing poems, I understand some people think Franco's poems are ametuer but I love the relaxation and colloquial terms used.

Un punto di vista insolito ed inedito di un personaggio poliedrico e che ben riesce a sposare la sua interiorità con la figura pubblica. Particolari anche i temi trattati, inusuali nella poesia in genere.