Franco defends LaBeouf

Franco writes an article for the New York Times titled Why Actors Act Out, in which he takes an empathetic view on LaBeouf’s recent behavior.  In the article, Franco compares LaBeouf to other actors (including himself) who feel the need to distance themselves from the persona they have created. He goes on to say that an actor’s rebellion against this persona sets in motion a feedback loop where the actor acts out, receives negative publicity, acts out in response to the publicity, and so on.

Mr. LaBeouf has been acting since he was a child, and often an actor’s need to tear down the public creation that constrains him occurs during the transition from young man to adult.  I think Mr. LaBeouf’s project, if it is a project, is a worthy one. I just hope that he is careful not to use up all the good will he has gained as an actor in order to show us that he is an artist.