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It’s A Question Of Balance ® radio show balances the intellectual with the creative, exploring whether we have more in common than divides us through thought-provoking conversations – out and about with people on the street on different topics, and in the studio with inspiring guests from the arts. Balance is not a compromise. Balance is truth distilled from many places creating cohesive understanding.
Ruth Copland interviews Betsy Franco and student film-makers involved with Metamorphosis Junior Year, a film about Ovid, an angsty teenage boy trying to make sense of life, love, sexuality, and friends, as he analyzes the world around him.
We talk about how James Franco conceived the project; Betsy’s novel and why she loves working with high school students; what it was like for the students working with Hollywood mentors; how teen issues can be universal; the power of art to convey meaning and even heal; and the remarkable achievement of high schoolers making a full-length feature film in their spare time.
The film was produced entirely by high school students with mentors from the film industry including main mentor and creator of the project James Franco, and supporting mentors/creators Iris Torres, Tom Franco, Jennifer Howell, Vince Jolivette, and Betsy Franco. The film is part of Elysium Bandini Studios and is the first philanthropic studio event created. The film has its world premiere at the Cinequest Film Festival, March 4.
Full Interview
Part 1 – Betsy Franco
Part 2 – Alec Cohen, Sam Cook, Peter Gold, Dajiana Huang, and Zac Sanders
Metamorphosis Junior Year is part of Elysium Bandini Studios and is the first philanthropic studio event created. Elysium Bandini brings together the Art Of Elysium charity with James Franco’s Rabbit Bandini production company. For more info visit Elysium Bandini
Metamorphosis Junior Year is based on the young adult novel by Betsy Franco. Betsy Franco, who majored in Studio Art at Stanford, is an award-winning author with over eighty books, including picture books, and poetry collections, some beautifully illustrated by previous guest of this show Michael Wertz. Betsy Franco also writes screenplays, plays, and sketch comedies, and compiles anthologies of teen writing. Metamorphosis Junior Year the novel is illustrated by Betsy’s son Tom Franco and read on audio book by her actor sons James Franco and Dave Franco. It is also the basis for a successful play. Betsy is an actor on TV and in film, and is a member of a sketch-comedy troupe called Suburban Squirrel. She is currently polishing the sequel to Metamorphosis—The Art of Love. For more info visit www.betsyfranco.com
“It’s A Question of Balance ® so rare among radio talk shows, lets its subjects breathe. With her discursive style and pleasingly eccentric range of curiosity, host Ruth Copland each week treats her listeners to two hours of Whole Brain Radio.”
Hampton Sides – Internationally bestselling author, award-winning journalist, and historian
