James Franco launches nonprofit film studio

Actor James Franco has launched a nonprofit film studio in support of the Art of Elysium charity.
The 127 Hours star’s Elysium Bandini Studios will help to develop students and professional filmmakers’ projects with all proceeds benefiting the charity organisation, which connects actors and artists with people in need, according to Variety.com.
Franco began working with the charity in 2005 and put plans together for the production company in 2012. Students from various colleges across the U.S. have already been involved in 14 projects, featuring actors including Natalie Portman, Kristen Wiig, Jimmy Kimmel, Jessica Chastain, Whoopi Goldberg and Franco himself.
“When these actors come back and work with the young people, it’s a great reminder of the joy of what we do, and why we got into it in the first place,” Franco says.
The 37-year-old currently runs the company alongside producing partner Vince Jolivette and Art of Elysium founder and CEO Jennifer Howell, but they are hoping to find an executive to take over the initiative and expand it.
“This is students and charity coming together to make their own thing, a new thing,” Franco adds. “Hopefully, it’s a model that can expand, and there can be others besides me who can take on these projects.”