James Franco performed Desert Films at the Teatro Menotti in Milan from 8 to 11 October 2026. This was the Milan premiere. Franco wrote the piece and co-directed with Peter Gold. He appears opposite Blaine Kern III. Pianist Konstantino Diminakis plays on stage, and singer Elli Papadiamanti performs the songs.
The show looks at the pursuit of fame in Hollywood and the price of reaching for recognition. The setup comes from Lost Highway, David Lynch’s 1997 film. In the scene the text cites, Fred Madison, played by Bill Pullman, meets the Mystery Man, played by Robert Blake. The man says he is at Fred’s house and in the room at the same time. Fred phones his home to check, and the Mystery Man answers.
Franco takes the Blake role and wears the same white face makeup. The show opens with the pianist and the singer. Kern’s character, a young actor, enters in dim light and gets tied to a chair by the arms and legs. Franco then enters with a camera and questions him. His character tells the actor his hunger for fame starves him and never feeds him.
The camera drives the staging. The feed goes to a large screen and gives the scene movement the chair-bound action lacks. Close-ups of the singer recall those of Inland Empire, Lynch’s 2006 film. At times the screen repeats the actors in a chain of reflections without end.
David Cronenberg’s 1986 film The Fly supplies a second reference. Jeff Goldblum, turned into a humanoid fly, spits digestive fluid onto food. The image stands for the relationships formed in the film industry.
Emilio Russo, artistic director of the Teatro Menotti, asked the audience how many were there for the first time. More than half of the room raised a hand. The audience came from cinema more than from theatre, to see Franco. The interrogation ends without resolution.
Image courtesy of Aurelien Caoudal: @blinkerman
Eric Grischott
Born in Groningen in 1991, Eric Grischott is a linguist with a deep-rooted passion for art, music, and fashion. His academic journey led him to graduate in languages, further enriching his linguistic prowess. His thirst for knowledge and cultural immersion took him abroad, where he gained invaluable experience and insights. Eric’s linguistic expertise is not confined to just theory. He has honed his skills in French and German through specialized DELF and DELE courses, demonstrating his commitment to mastering these languages. His passions extend beyond languages, encompassing the creative realms of art, the rhythmic world of music, and the dynamic sphere of fashion.
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