First Look at James Franco's UCLA Film Project 'Heyday of the Insensitive Bastards' (Exclusive Video)

Creative multitasker James Franco always has a toe in academics, and Wednesday evening will see the premiere screening of a feature film he led UCLA graduate students in producing.

“The Heyday of the Insensitive Bastards” plays Atlanta’s Rialto Center for The Arts, part of the Atlanta Film Festival, and TheWrap has an exclusive first look. The film is based on Robert Boswell’s short story collection and was executed by eight teams of MFA students in a UCLA master class taught by Franco in 2012.

A star-studded cast populates seven vignettes, with actors including Franco, Natalie Portman, Kristen Wiig, Matthew Modine, Kate Mara and Jimmy Kimmel.

Also Read: James Franco Documentary in the Works From First-Time Director (Exclusive)

Franco stars in the exclusive clip from the feature’s first short, “A Walk in Winter,” opposite Jack Kehler. Abigail Spencer co-stars in the vignette about a man returning to his hometown to identify the remains of his long-missing mother. The character has to grapple with the memory of the day his father took him for a walk and planned to put a bullet in the back of his head.

The project at large contains stories from a variety of perspectives — women, men, old, young — and features both dramas and comedies.

Also Read: Idris Elba, Robert Pattinson, James Franco, Al Pacino to Star in Harmony Korine’s ‘The Trap’

The grad students who completed this project were part of Franco’s first “Adaptation and Collaboration” class at UCLA, where Franco also received a degree.

Next up for Franco, who has been shooting the John Steinbeck adaptation “In Dubious Battle,” is “The Trap”– alongside Idris Elba and Robert Pattinson and “Spring Breakers” director Harmony Korine.

Watch an exclusive clip from “The Heyday of the Insensitive Bastards.”

Editor’s Note: TheWrap’s L.A. Ross is a producer on this project.

25 Shades of James Franco - His Most Bizarre, Funniest and Sexiest Instagrams (Photos)

Bed selfie. (Is the internet sick of them yet? Judging by the "likes", Apparently not.)
Instagram
Franco posts then quickly deletes this nearly-naked photo to Instagram sparking a social media frenzy
Instagram
No doubt -- even in character as "Spring Breakers" Riff Raff, James Franco could still get a lot of posse.
Instagram
Good morning world.
Instagram
Flashback of a young Franco and Jason Segel.
Instagram
Bed Selfie!
Instagram
Charming and cheeky - Franco defaces the "Bates Motel" sign.
Instagram
Even men need beauty rest and James Franco isn't afraid to admit it.
Instagram
James Franco steps up his bed-selfie game with help from "Pretty Little Liars" bud Keegan Allen.
Instagram
When Franco posted this pic, we weren't exactly sure what was going on here either.
Instagram
Bromance Alert: Seth Rogen and James Franco's outdo their Kimye music video parody with a Vogue Magazine spoof.
Instagram
Blurred Lines? Franco turns the tables on female objectification. Honorable yet odd.
Instagram
James Franco shows off his pineapple express in tights, white tights. 'Nuff said.
Instagram
James Dean Franco
Instagram
James Franco actor, writer, director and zoo keeper?
Instagram
James Franco dresses in drag for Candy's ad.
Instagram
Barbie doll selfie! Franco with his character from "Oz: The Great and Powerful." Inanimate photography is officially cool.
Instagram
James Franco channels inner dork Napoleon Dynamite.
Instagram
James Franco shows us his serious side with a dead-panned camera glare.
Instagram
Franco selfies himself in front of a light blub calling it "James Franco has an idea."
Instagram
"But first let me take a selfie"
Instagram
Franco photographs young girls on a shoot he calls "Romeo and Juilet."
Instagram
Franco reveals grand-master painting
Instagram
What would James Franco be without the occasional Instagram foodie post? Pre-Oscar Hamburger, anyone?
Instagram
Actor, painter, musician and show-off, Franco is the King of the World! - er - Instagram!
Instagram

1 of 25

The multi-hypenate sparked a social media frenzy when he posted — then deleted — a racy shot to Instagram, TheWrap picks some of his most provocative shots yet

Bed selfie. (Is the internet sick of them yet? Judging by the "likes", Apparently not.)

View In Gallery

25 Shades of James Franco - His Most Bizarre, Funniest and Sexiest Instagrams (Photos)

7DAYFREETRIAL

7
DAY
FREE
TRIAL