James Franco Talks Getting Into Character for 'I Am Michael,' '90s Fashion and Best Picture Oscar Winner (Video)

James Franco plays Michael Glatze, a gay activist who turns toward God and wages war against his own homosexuality in “I Am Michael,” a new film from director Justin Kelly. When the actor spoke to TheWrap over the weekend at the Berlin Film Festival, he revealed how his director was integral to helping him get into character.

“I’ve become an actor who likes to work very, very closely with my directors,” he told TheWrap during an interview alongside Kelly. “I really view my characters as our characters. I want every character I do to be a collaboration with my director, and on this film it certainly was.”

Also Read: Sundance 2015’s Scene and Heard: James Franco, Ethan Hawke, Hailee Steinfeld and Nicole Kidman (Photos)

“I Am Michael” is adapted from a New York Times Magazine article called “Gay No More: The Story of Michael Glatze.” Zachary Quinto, Emma Roberts and Charlie Carver co-star in the 1990s-set film, as Franco’s past and current lovers.

When asked to pick his favorite 90s-era wardrobe, Franco admitted that some of the clothes he wore onscreen for “I Am Michael” didn’t necessarily align with his personal tastes.

“Sometimes I’ll take clothes from movies I work on, if there’s a piece of the wardrobe I really like I’ll ask for it. But on this movie I don’t think I took anything,” he laughed.

“He was like, ‘Am I really going to wear this?'” Kelly said.

Also Read: James Franco to Star in Hulu’s JFK Series ’11/22/63′

After chatting about “I Am Michael,” the actor and director were asked to turn their sights toward this year’s Best Picture Oscar race. The two were asked to predict who they thought would win.

“Either ‘Boyhood’ or ‘Birdman,'” Franco said.

The filmmakers also played coyed when teasing their next top secret collaboration: “[The project is] very controversial, very exciting, very commercial,” Franco revealed.

Also Read: James Franco Talks Frustrations With Traditional Filmmaking, Benefits of Going Independent

Watch the interview.

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

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