8,760 hours with James Franco | Charlotte Observer

James Franco is a true Renaissance man.

The man who is said to have a perfectly symmetrical face could get by on those looks alone. Instead, he acts - in everything from soaps to blockbusters - writes, directs, models and goes to college. Here's a completely incomplete look at his wide-ranging activities over the past 12 months - including making his new film, "127 Hours," which opened recently.

And don't forget, he was pursuing four graduate degrees at NYU, Columbia, Brooklyn College and N.C.'s Warren Wilson College. And now he's working in Yale's Ph.D. program.

December 2009

Hosts final "Saturday Night Live" of the decade, his second time hosting.

January 2010

Guest-stars on "30 Rock" as a slightly deranged version of himself who has a forbidden love for a Japanese body pillow named Komiko.

February

Models in ad campaign for Gucci by Gucci SPORT pour Homme fragrance.

Is published in McSweeney's, Dave Eggers' literary journal.

March

Sees his short story (a homework assignment) "Just Before the Black" published in April's Esquire. (Appears on the cover of September's issue.)

April

Stars in "Williams Vincent," an indie film created by one of his professors, that screens at Tribeca Film Festival.

Appears in the comedy "Date Night" with Tina Fey and Steve Carell.

May

Conducts a Q&A at the Tribeca Film Festival after a screening of his documentary about a 2008, John Malkovich-hosted episode of "Saturday Night Live," called "Saturday Night."

June

Returns for another stint as a deranged performance artist called "Franco" on ABC soap opera "General Hospital."

July

Stages a piece of performance art at L.A.'s Pacific Design Center called "Soap at MOCA" - basically a live taping of "General Hospital" in which "Franco" arranges a show called "Francophrenia" at the Museum of Contemporary Art. August

Stars as Julia Roberts's boyfriend in "Eat Pray Love," which opens nationwide.

September

Gets a critical drubbing for his book of short stories, called "Palo Alto," after it is published by Scribners.

Tells "The Advocate": "I don't smoke pot. I'm not gay."

October

Receives good reviews for playing poet Allen Ginsberg in "Howl," which opens nationwide.

Opens his solo art show, called "The Dangerous Book Four Boys," at the Clocktower Gallery in downtown New York.

November

Receives Oscar buzz as "127 Hours" opens nationwide.

Screens his student films, "The Feast of Stephen" and "The Clerk," at Reeling 2010: Chicago's International Gay and Lesbian Film Festival, after playing the film festival circuit all year.

Upcoming movies

"Your Highness," a medieval comedy; "Maladies," from his own production company, and "Rise of the Apes," a prequel to "Planet of the Apes."