Dear Diary,

So you know how my parents didn’t want me to take that film class?  Well, I had my first class today, and it changed my life.  Little did I know, when I sat down in a corner seat near the back of the class (a little late after getting lost), this day, August 27, 2010, would live forever in glory.  As the professor, Mr. Brantley, began talking about his class, teaching style, expectations, etc., I heard the back door to the classroom open and sensed someone sitting in the seat next to mine.  It was not until a few seconds later I looked up from writing down Mr. Brantley’s e-mail address to see, in the flesh, less than three feet away, opening his backpack…

JAMES FRANCO!!!!!!

Not wanting to get caught staring, I turned back to the front of the classroom, eyes inflated twice their size.  I couldn’t believe it!  It was James fucking Franco!!!  Calming down a bit, I glanced back his way, grateful that apparently no one else had yet noticed his existence.  He was wearing a black jacket with a gray scarf and blue jeans.  Unlike the rest of the class, he wasn’t taking frantic notes but looking blankly at the teacher, chin rested on his right hand.  Suddenly, Professor Brantley announced, “Now enough about me, learn about each other.  Turn to the person sitting next to you and tell a story.  It could be a video you made, your first day at Columbia, when you found a baby hedgehog, took it home, and named it Henry – I don’t care.  Just try and make it interesting.”

Looking around, I realized, sitting in the corner, HE was the only person within speaking-distance of me. 

“I’ll be your partner.”

I couldn’t believe my ears.

“Thanks,” I muttered shyly.  “I’m Nicole.”

“James.”  He smiled and my heart melted.  It took all of my self discipline to keep from squealing, sighing, or screaming at the top of my lungs, “I love you!”

Trying to act natural, I spoke.  “I actually haven’t made a real film, so I guess I’ll talk about my first day here, today.  This morning, I was looking for this class and decided to ask a teacher for directions.  After the short conversation, I took his advice to the dot, but it led me to the campus bookstore.  Confused, I looked in the window and saw a huge advertisement for the book signing that day, and, on the cover of the book, a familiar picture of the misleading professor.  That’s why I was late to class.”

“Hahahaha.”  His laugh danced out of his perfect mouth and wrapped me in feelings of admiration and, surprisingly, comfort.  “Professor Edmark.  He did the same thing to me last year.  I think he has his book signings at the beginning of the year on purpose, to trick freshmen into attending.”

“Well, it wasn’t my first film, but in my previous class I made a short film about naked guys playing basketball.”

“Oh, so you’re that guy, huh?”

“Haha, yeah.  Everyone else was doing documentaries on important issues and I was hiring nudes to shoot jumpers.”

Way too soon, Mr. Brantley announced, “That’s enough, class.  Now our first topic…”

While Brantley droned on about “film foundation,”  my eyes lit up as James leaned over.

“So you’ve never made a film before?  This class is gonna be tough then.  But don’t worry, I’ll help you out.  I’m Brantley’s TA this semester.  It’s required to graduate.”

My mind exploding with the highest kind of happiness I responded, “Looking forward to it.”